How Tumble Creatures Got Its Name

Recent pair of Tailor Made Tumble Ponies

 

When I first opened up the Tumble Creatures Etsy shop nearly two years ago I agonized over what to call it.  I wanted something cute and unique. Something that wasn't too long or hard to remember. Something that felt authentic to me as the creator. Something that summed up exactly how I felt about making these little characters out of clay. Something that I could call them in my mind that was endearing and sweet.

 

As you can see from the photo below. I came up with some pretty terrible names. Haha. :)

 

A page from my journal when I was brainstorming name ideas for Tumble Creatures.

 

I stumbled across this journal a few months back and had almost totally forgotten I wrote any of this down. But as soon as I found it I instantly remembered how much thought I gave to naming this Creature shop. I'm a huge fan of the book "Where the Wild Things Are" and I think you can see from the photo that some of my ideas were trying to honor that. Other names are just plain crazy town. Some words I'd looked up that had some kind of meaning with creatures, wild things, mixtures, and possibly. . . cute. I can't tell you for sure, clearly I was scrambling for ideas. :)

 

I remember finally settling on Tumble Creatures because of a memory I had of my mom. When I was little she used to hold me on her lap with my hand in hers and she would sort of sing along to this Danish (I think) rhyme that we called Tumble Tot, while she named my little fingers. It went like this: (I'm pretty sure I've spelled all this wrong, but this is how I remember her sounding as she said it) ;)

 

'Tumble tot (thumb)

Lick-a-pot (index finger

Long-a-mon (middle finger)

Gold-a-band (ring finger)

And little-bitty-speeler-mon (pinky)'

 

Every time I think of that rhyme I think of my mom. And of being a kid, and feeling safe and happy and like the world was just wide open and full of magic and endless possibilities. I think of picnics on fluffy blankets under an enormous blue sky. Tea parties with stuffed animals wearing their best dress. Summer afternoons on my horse in an endless grassy field. That's what I wanted Tumble Creatures to be about. Magic. Hope. Love. Endless possibilities. Maybe that's too much to ask of clay sculptures. . .  but I sort of think they're up to the task.

 

There's magic in creating something purely because you want there to be cuteness where there was nothing but a lump of clay before. :) I believe that. And if you're reading this. I'm pretty sure you do too.

 

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”
― Roald Dahl

 

A page from my sketchbook this week.

 

 

I want to quickly say a very big thank you to all of you out there who are Tumble fans. You make my dreams a reality on a daily basis, and you prove to me that by believing in magic you will find it. Thank you so much.

 

Love, Hugs, and Pony kisses,

Crystal and the Tumbles

Listening to: Gary Clark Jr.
Watching: The Escape Artist
Reading: The Rook
Snacking on: Hummus and pita chips
Drinking: Peppermint herbal tea