Cool Crafts with Cardboard!

Dear Reader,

It's amazing how many cool craft toys and ideas are out there!

With just cardboard and paper alone we've recently been inspired by Milimbo's monkeys and the wonderful compressed cardboard chair stacking game that we came across at the San Diego Museum of Art.

We're now cogitating more crafting ideas from the Squirrel King and definitely these are inspiring us!

Stay tuned for more :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Squirrels At Large

Dear Reader,

One of the great joys of the last few weeks has been to see what others have done with their squirrels.

So inspired have we been by young and old alike that we've added a page to our new website to honor these magnificent efforts! The Squirrels At Large tab celebrates efforts by everyone who wishes to share.

We've just started it, but more are already in the wings. Moreover, if you've adorned your squirrels, given them a name and a favorite activity, please send us a pic and description and we'll include you in our Squirrels At Large gallery. Email to: thesquirrelking@squirrelking.org

Until then, happy squirreling!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

San Diego Museum of Art

Dear Reader,

Last Friday was a big day! Our squirrel kits found their way into their first retail store, and what a wonderful retail store to start with: the San Diego Museum of Art!

For those of you in San Diego, or with friends there, please go visit the wonderful museum and definitely stop by the store. Chacho, the amazing curator of the shop has done a wonderful job collecting all manner of fascinating objects.

And for those of you not in San Diego, consider heading that way in early April for Art Alive in which the centerpiece is florists' interpretations of select sculptures and paintings around the museum! Chacho's description sounded spectacular and a quick images search on google completely corroborated that assessment.

By the end of the day Alien One was skipping for joy :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Our New Website!

Dear Reader,

There's been a lot of work happening behind the scenes over the last few weeks, but none more exciting than our new website!

For those of you who have always wondered about those little squirrel characters, here is your chance to see their portraits and learn a little more :)

Like everything in life this new page will evolve ... quickly even, we hope. I'll keep you alerted here of new developments such as the soon-to-appear users

gallery of squirrels. For now though, check it out. And by all means order a craft kit of your own or get one for a friend! They make great presents :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

May your day and life be filled with love from those around you :)

The preparations alone this year brought great happiness to me with the Aliens and I cutting up scrapes of plantable paper from our squirrel kits to make cards for all their friends.

Recycle, reuse and spread the love! May there be fields of flowers spring up all over Santa Monica :)

xoxo

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Portrait Day

Dear Reader,

Last night they came out in all shapes and sizes. Squirrels from every walk of life showed up for their portrait.

See how many you can spot!

As part of the glossy new website we're putting together for the kits we're going to include a gallery of squirrels. Initially we're going to populate it with some of our own, but we'd love to add squirrels that you guys have made too.

Stay tuned for details!

In the meantime, check out our Etsy page, and if you're in need of another kit, consider buying it through Etsy and leaving a review :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

New Trees Rekindle Old Flames

Dear Reader,

We've been so focused on our kits for a while now that it feels like forever since we've worked on the moving pictures side of this wonderful endeavor. Well, I'm happy to report that there's a little something in the works again :)

And as part of that there's a new version of trees on the way ...

Well they're a kind of hybridized version of flora we've had in the past. With trunks inspired by Alien One's trees and leaves like those of our original forest (though a little smaller which means the need for recutting) these trees will no doubt find squirrels in their branches!

Stay tuned over the next couple of months as some of this comes to life again :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

The Best Laid Plans ...

Dear Reader,

Yesterday started with such a clear goal ... we need just one more crucial image before we take our wonderful kits to stores.

To achieve said goal we gathered all the props. We were even feeling adventurous; setting up in a new location. And then ... the sun was engulfed in rain ...

And so, as happens in life, the plan had to change!

Happily though, we have so many irons in the fire right now that simply turning around yields new possibilities! Look carefully under the table in this evening shot and what do you see ...?

That's right, a carton of boxes arrived! And check out the fantastic little detail Justus was able to add to our the postage labels!!

Now cross those fingers for sun today :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Let there be Light!

Dear Reader,

Yesterday started with a simple cardboard box and some online DIY instructions and ended up affirming once again how satisfying it can be to simply jump into the water and start start swimming.

And swim we did!

All the way to a product shot for our now-live Etsy site. Go check out our handiwork and please pass it along to anyone you think might be interested in ordering their own kit.

Stay tuned though, because we're not done yet. We're just days away from an all new kits website that includes a gallery of some of the squirrels :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

PS For those of you wonderful Kickstarter supporters awaiting your rewards, thank-you for your patience, we now have the actual boxing and mailing under control and your acorns will be heading out very shortly :)

Art for Facebook

Dear Reader,

Over the weekend I noticed Facebook is being populated by wonderful pictures of art. The genius is that you are easily involved in the selection! My friend Penny posted this Brett Whitely, which I "liked" and she in turn gave me Christo!

For some time I've felt that I should do a Christo post on The Squirrel King; his scale is something that strikes a deep resonance with our aesthetic. So here is Christo's ...

I'm posting this on The Squirrel King Facebook wall and anyone who likes it I will in turn give a Squirrel King inspired artist to post :)

And if you live in southern California, check out The San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art's Christo exhibit which started yesterday!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

PS Here I give you a Squirrel King bonus too, Vlad :)

PPS There's no need to feel at all intimidated by this process, a quick google images search readily supplies you with pics to choose from!