Critter Time!
This past week I met up with critter maker Marilyn DePhillips, and talked about all things critter!
She has been a critter maker for about 7 years in the critter workshop of the Brandywine Conservancy, and has the skills to prove it. We had a lot of fun talking about the different materials she uses, including, eggplant skin, crushed up eggshell, and even the tops of bananas. She is always on the lookout for new materials, as are all Brandywine critter makers.
I got to inspect some of her critters, and I was amazed that every single piece was made from natural materials. She said that a walk in the woods has takenon a new meaning, and I can see why! One of her newest tricks is to soak a certain type of weed, which dissolves in water, and leaves behind tiny black ‘beads.’ These beads have become eyes in many of her critters! And, when making critters, beware, because living critters such as mice enjoy chomping on seeds and various natural materials which serve as critter parts. Protect your little critters!
For 2013 there are 150 Brandywine, critter-making volunteers and last year, 11,298 critters were created for the 2012 Christmas season sale. Critter sales have raised over 1 million dollars, which has helped purchase 200 works of art for the museum’s permanent collection. All proceeds from critter sales support the Volunteers Art Purchase Fund. They are consistently beating their records, and it’s so exciting to watch! This year’s theme is, “It’s Raining Cats and Dogs,” but there will still be a plethora of other critters. What kind of critter would you like this year?
For this year’s big critter sale, the museum’s lecture room will transform into ‘Critterland’ in preparation for the Critter Sale weekend, which opens to the public on Saturday, December 7th from 9:30 am to 4:30 p.m. and continues on Sunday the 8th with the same hours. After that, critters will be for sale in the museum’s shop throughout the holiday season during regular museum hours. Members get a special preview day on Friday the 6th of December.
