Publisher's Weekly Review
Brandywine Critters were born in 1971 at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadd's Ford, Pa., when volunteers transformed woodland materials such as pine cones, teasel pods, milkweed cases and dried flowers and corn husks into a variety of cute animals, angels, historical figures and storybook characters. Critter construction, according to this down-to-earth manual, takes little more than a hot glue gun, good dried stuff and a roving imagination. Directions for making the 27 figures here come with detailed instructions, an illustration and a ranking of its level of difficulty: beginner (reindeer, koala, musical notes) intermediate (elephant, camel, duck in eggshell) or advanced (Santa Claus, hedgehog choir, Goldilocks and the Three Bears). An opening chapter counsels on how to collect and preserve the natural materials needed to create critters. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Excerpts
Introduction Teasel, pokeweed, indigo, curly pea. These might be the ingredients of a magic potion or a wizard's brew, but they are not. Rather, they are the elements for one of the most enchanting holiday experiences in North America. These natural materials are among the components used to create the remarkable "critters" for which the Brandywine River Museum's annual holiday display, "A Brandywine Christmas," has gained renown. Critters can be animals or angels. They are historical figures and storybook characters. They depict famous and infamous people. However, they are not the usual fare for a museum of American art. How, then, did they come to be at the Brandywine River Museum? Early in the Brandywine River Museum's history, a group of volunteers was asked to decorate a small Christmas tree as part of "A randywine Christmas," the Museum's annual holiday display. To emphasize the Museum's role as part of the Brandywine Conservancy, which is dedicated to protecting the natural, cultural, and historical resources of the region, it was suggested that the tree be decorated with natural materials such as pods, seeds, grasses, and leaves. It was early November, and the holiday display was scheduled to open the day after Thanksgiving. By necessity, the woods, fields, and roadsides of the Brandywine Valley became the volunteers' main resource. Those first ornaments were simple, unadorned pinecones, teasel pods, milkweed cases, and dried flowers. Through the years, the critters have become more and more elaborate. Each year, a theme is chosen and thousands of critters are created to bring it to life. An Americana tree featured Betsy Ross stitching Old Glory, and the Statue of Liberty, holding her torch aloft. The Story Book tree was adorned with Cinderella, Big Bird and Babar, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Recently, a Musical tree inspired the creation of three "critter" tenors-Pavoratti, Carreras, and Domingo-along with critter choirs, orchestras, and instruments. For each critter the basic ingredients are the same. It is the way the materials are put together that lends each critter its distinct character. Interesting shapes, colors, and textures are of primary importance. Because critter construction is part of the Brandywine Conservancy, gathering plant materials is always done with conservation in mind. Plants are always cut, never pulled out by the roots. Seeds are shaken out of the seed head at the site, allowing future plants to germinate. Materials are carefully preserved and stored; what is not used one year is saved for the next. In 1984 the volunteers' hard work and creativity paid off when they were invited to decorate the main Christmas tree in the Reagan White House. Because more than 3,000 ornaments were required for the project, many hours of preparation by both volunteers and museum personnel preceded the trip to Washington. Because the first lady-Nancy Reagan-loved red, many ornaments incorporating that color were created. Lots of cockscomb and euonymous was used! The critters continue to be a source of joy each year for the volunteers and visitors alike. Through articles in national magazines, the critters have become known nationwide. It is a source of pride for both the Brandywine River Museum and the Brandywine Conservancy that these little creatures have become ambassadors for the mission of preserving the art and nature of the beautiful Brandywine River valley. The Brandywine critters can be seen by visitors from late November through early January as part of the Brandywine River Museum's annual holiday display. --Libby Dean and Anne Scarlett, Museum Volunteers Excerpted from Brandywine Critters: Nature Crafts from "A Brandywine Christmas" by Brandywine Conservancy Staff, Brandywine River Museum, Brandywine Conservancy All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.