Monday, September 3, 2012

good things ...

... come in small packages


I've been going a little bit matchbox crazy this summer


I collect early to mid-century photographs of anonymous people
the scenes and the poses really spark my imagination
it was the birth of the snapshot era
everyone had a camera
- just like everyone today has a smart phone -


it's been fun to make miniature theaters inside the matchboxes
they tell the beginnings of a story


this one is my favorite
it just makes me smile


ok, ok, ma'am, I'm pulling them up already!

:)


27 comments:

Yvonne said...

These are wonderful little treasures and perfect for those who don't have much room for art, like full time RV'ers etc. Very creative work Kimmie. I love them.

Rebeca Trevino said...

Kimmie, these are terrific! i love their petite size, and the attention and detail given to each one.
do you you use original photographs for these? what a great use of vintage photos.
great job!

Denise said...

I love to do altered matchboxes too.Your are fantastic.Denise

Elizabeth said...

I don't know what to say, sometimes, when I see what you create. It sounds over-the-top and superfluous, but I adore these. I would be happy in a room with hundreds of these to look through. Really. :)

Carola Zajdman said...

Love them all, you´re great Kimmie !!

Dianne said...

Very cute!

Anonymous said...

These are spectacular. Mini shadow boxes from another century. Only you could come up with something so darn charming! xox

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

It's been forever since I decorated a matchbox. Yours are fantastic. I love how you attached the words you used to create each of these gems. I've never tried anything this complicated, especially anything this small. You may well be on your way to being the Queen of Matchboxes!

Ms. said...

Just spectacular whimsy! I admire your careful crafting, and sense of humor too. I too have old photos dating back to the turn of the century--1800-1900's...some from my actual family. Being seventy (almost) I am of that age where memorabilia lurks everywhere in my rooms....and I have a certain Victorian era snapshot of an anonymous woman's church band I've been meaning to do a piece about...I've got the Rand McNally pocket atlas for the year 1907, along with some other research material, and speculating on the lives of the individual women therein based on their body language and facial expressions. Perhaps I'll get to it this Fall...maybe writings, maybe cloth, maybe painting.

Gayle Price said...

So very cute and creative !! Love your fun match boxes. xx

Rita said...

What a sweet, clever idea. She makes me chuckle, too! :)

sharon said...

These are fantastic Kim! Love!

Kim Henkel Creations said...

These are great! They make me smile! Thanks. I agree good things come in small packages. I love to create small... maybe it is because my mom always told me that good things come in small packages (being as how I was the tiny one in the family .. not the youngest, but definitely the smallest)
Keep on creating your beautiful work!

Lynn Cohen said...

I love martha and her garter! What a clever idea and how cute these are! Just wonderful!!!!

Halle said...

Funny!!! Love the Martha one... I always name the people in old photos too. It's fun to give them a name and personality based on that snapshot of time.

Catharina Maria said...

This is a funny idea !
love ♥RINI♥

Unknown said...

This is an awesome idea! I have a lot of old photos that need a small format. Your Martha box is hilarious (my favorite too!) The zipper embellishment is also a great idea (I love zippers!)

I've been gone from T Tuesday for awhile, but I'm baaaaack- with a giveaway!
http://nathaliethompson.blogspot.com/2012/09/teacup-pincushion-tuesday-giveaway.html

Now apparently, your T Tuesday has become a more fluid concept. heehee
Stop by anyway!

sukipoet said...

amazing, so original and creative. i too love the garter. gosh, glad those days are gone. I am old enough to have had a garter belt in high school. LOL.

Jill said...

These are great fun!

Unknown said...

Hi Rebecca - Yes, I use original photos - I suppose I ought to photocopy them, but I especially like the silvery finish of the originals - a photocopy, no matter how good, would not be the same

Unknown said...

I hadn't thought of that for RV'ers :)
I should have an RV :)

Unknown said...

I was spared that particular torture I guess! Thank God!!

rivergardenstudio said...

I haven't meant to be gone for so long. You have so many posts that are treasures here, I love the numbers, your milky coffee thats not tea, the buttons, your workspaces and these glorious little stages!!
roxanne

Deb said...

Thanks for the inspiration!

~*~Patty S said...

your altered matchboxes are wonderful!!!
such an array of creativity...they must be hard to part with!
oxo

She Who Doodles said...

what fun. love #99, what a great little surprise to tuck in a drawer at a vacation house for someone to find.

*jean* said...

ok, i'm calling you Martha from now on...xo love, ethel... ;)

LOVE THESE! and the little inside plays are perfection!! well done, matchbox queen...