Every Time I Turn Around

 There's another reboot to watch. This time it was the Punky Brewster one. 

I hoped it would be watchable, but I wasn't expecting a whole lot from it. I was pleansantly surprised, though.

**************SPOILERS AHEAD*************************

Obviously, there are a lot of references to the original series; my favorite is when Cherie's fiancé says to her "You have an irrational fear of refrigerators" and Cherie replies "I have my reasons" because that's a pretty memorable episode. It's also basically an homage to the 80s, and there's as almost as  much cheese as Fuller House served up.

However, as I watched the series (yes I binged it in all of two days)I realized that the series was actually doing a nice service to the original, and also similar types of programs, by making inclusiveness a priority.

For example, Punky's longtime BFF Cherie is gay, and gets engaged to her girlfriend. Cherie confesses that if her grandmother were still alive, she might've have been critical about that idea. Also, when Punky is planning an 80s themed block party and talking about how much fun the decade was, Cherie reminds her how much homophobia existed back then (and obviously, the AIDS epidemic was also raging) and how she is glad we've moved beyond that time.

I was also glad to see how much emphasis on different family make-ups there was. Punky herself was abandoned by her mother as a child, sent to a group home, and was eventually adopted by Henry. Grown up Punky has a daughter, as well as two adopted sons, and fosters another girl. There is family discussion about the difference between foster care and adoption, and Punky reminds her two sons that if they ever become curious about their birth parents, she will support them and help them search. 

That is one aspect that really disappointed me about Fuller House; Stephanie originally says she is not able to have children, and that would have been a great opportunity to have a wonderful story arc about the adoption process, but instead they have Kimmy Gibbler be the surrogate mother (because that leads to more wackiness) and then at the series end Stephanie finds out that she has somehow become pregnant anyways. It all magically worked out with no inconvenience or setbacks or anything! Not only does Punky Brewster give screen time to foster care and adoption, but it also shows us the mixed emotions that come when adopted children make contact with their birth parents (when Punky's mother finds her).

The last thing I feel is worth discussing is Punky's son Daniel is gender non-conforming. He uses his male name and sometimes wears boys' clothing, but he also wears his hair long and paints his nails and wears a sarong at one point. When Punky tries to find the correct terms to describe him, and have a discussion with him (gender fluid, transgender, non-binary, etc) her daughter simply asks "Why do you need to label it?"

I loved Punky Brewster when I was little, and I continued to watch it when it went to reruns. I even read the graphic novel version that came out a few years go, and put it in my library at school.  In fact, I kind of credit this character for influencing my home décor style; I love my house to be colorful and whimsical and a little funky, and I loved the sets on the new series.

It may not been a show that everyone was clambering for a reboot of, but there's more substance there than the trailers let on.

Man, I wish so much that I still had my Punky Brewster sneakers:

Awkward Artist: Part 3

 I've been having a good run on Etsy lately.

I've been selling thrift store finds as well as some random things from collections that were spending more time in the attic than on display.

I've also sold a few original creations on Etsy, which still weirds me out.

The first time I ever offered any art for sale was a charity auction for UNH PLAN organization, and I was just happy that my art got some bids, but then it went higher than I expected.

And then following that, I displayed some pieces in Dos Amigos, just for fun, and someone emailed me, wanting to purchase one of the mixed media collages.

I was encouraged by some of my friends to sell things on Etsy, so I reluctantly listed a few things. One of my mixed media collages was my first sale, a couple years ago:

Since then, I've sold a few of my little windchimes, which is great because it just gives me more reason to make more, and more room to display them:

And last night another one of my mixed media pieces sold:

It's strange to think that different things I've made have been purchased by people, and are now out there in places like California and Alaska, on display for people to see. 

Hippie Camper from from Recycled Cardboard: Part 2

 Back in April, I posted about a Hippie Camper dollhouse I had made out of cardboard. I had an idea to do a little airstream type of camper for a while, but I didn't feel like spending money on a kit, so I decided to make it myself. It's not perfect, but it's been a lot of fun.

It's inspired by two figures from pop culture: Jenny from Forrest Gump and Karen Arnold from The Wonder Years.

I picture a young woman living here: listening to records, strumming a guitar, painting, and of course reading a lot of feminist theory books.

The protest sign is a little decorative pick from Dollar Tree, with a printout glued on, and the little knapsack is a jewlrey charm from Hobby Lobby

The nightstand is a drawer pull, and the candle is a birthday candle that I cut down (and actually lit for a few minutes) The little rainbow decoration is a jewelry charm from Hobby Lobby 

The bed platform is cardboard, and I put a sleeping bag and pillow I got on sale at Earth and Tree miniatures on it along with the orange doily, to look like an afghan. The purse and the dreamcatcher hanging from the ceiling are jewelry charms from Hobby Lobby.

The guitar is a scrapbook sticker from Dollar Tree, and the pink table is a candle holder. The record player is an old Barbie one I've had for a long time.

I printed out the book cover and attached it to a regular mini book.

All I need is 4" hippie girl

Another cardboard box creation

 

Back in November, I  was feeling like I needed a new project to work on. I love working on dollhouses, but I don't love spending money on them on the all the time, so I am trying to create more items for myself rather than buying everything. Last April, I wrote a post about creating a dollhouse from a cardboard box. So I found a cardboard box, and designed a whimsical one room cottage.

 I've had the idea for years now to make a witch cottage; not a Halloween witch, but more like a Stevie Nicks-inspired retreat that is all about nature and celestial beauty.

I covered the exterior in birch bark scrap paper, and painted the inside a deep purple color.

I am proud of this little cottage because I've been able to do it very cheaply. I was able to find some great things at Dollar Tree, like the star stickers on the walls, the blue lights on the ceiling, some of the furniture.  .  .

The gray shelf is a Barbie accessory from Dollar Tree that I painted, and I filled the tiny glass bottles with spices

The table is from Dollar Tree- the chair I got with a coupon at Hobby Lobby

The crystal chandelier is a Christmas ornament

I love the way it's coming along, and how I am trying to spend as little money as possible on this project. I made an alter using birthday cake candles

It doesn't have a resident yet, but I may not put one in at all. For now I'm just enjoying seeing it all come together.