The summer full of trolls

One of the most famous elements of Scandinavian folklore are trolls. 

They are believed to inhabit the areas of Scandinavia that are intact 

by humans - isolated rocks, mountains, or caves.

Trolls are famous for that they love to play pranks. They also have 

some traits in common with humans: they are vindictive and malicious. 

That is at least what humans say about trolls - and it might easily 

be that these were humans who actually invented trolls and equipped 

them with these unattracitve (and very human) traits to improve 

the overall image of the human kind.
It is so much easier to dump responsibility on a malicious troll than 

to admit that you have made a mistake, isn't it?

Here are the trolls I made: Mom troll (7cm tall) and two babies. 

I made a polymer clay stroller especially for the troll twins. 

The stroller is equipped with a felt pillow and a felt oak leaf used 

as a cover. There is also a bag with baby accessories: a baby bottle, 

two dummies and two miniature cones to play.

I made the trolls during this year's holidays which I spent at my 

parents cottage. It was wonderful time...

I love the unique atmosphere of that place hidden in the vast prime
forests of Eastern Poland. I also do like the local community of the
place - people happily cultivating the simplicity of life. 

The same neighbors for 30 years - this definitely gives
a sense of stability. A wooden wicket often giving a cracking
sound to welcome the neighbours dropping by to chat over
a steaming cup of coffee and a piece of deliciously smelling cake.

It is the place that shaped me and it will stay in my heart forever...

 

  

Bakery under the Lucky Rooster

I do like freshly baked crusty bread and all the baked goods. 

In particular, when they are still warm...

I also like baking them by myself - a wonderful process that integrates me with "Mother Nature". 

I always treat this process as a celebration at home.  The roughness of the table, my hands dipped in cold flour and the natural leaven, living its own life.  Like a small wonder... 

As a little girl I liked so much watching my grandmother baking breads. My lovely grandmother baked bread according to old recipes,  in a real bread oven. She baked such large quantities of bread that she could share with her neighbors. 

My grandmother has unfortunately passed away, but there are still connecting threads between us, one of them being the recipes my grandma left me. I use them frequently.

That is why I could not resist making a wooden stall with bread goods and an old-fashioned baker. You will find a variety of delicious goods there: breads, bagels, pretzels, baguettes...
And all this is made ​​by me with polymer clay and unfortunately inedible ... :-) 

The stall is made by me of wood. The rooster is a decorative element I sculptured in polymer clay, and it appears on the top of the stick with pretzels.

The baker is large and thick. He is 20 cm tall. He is dressed fashionably old. He has an orange doublet, brown knickerbockers and a white cap. 

His face suggests the involvement in his occupation, which he loves and has been doing for years...

Bon appetit!

"Siuda Baba" prowls...

According to folklore it is believed that on Easter Monday in the Polish city of Wieliczka  Siuda Baba prowls... Who is she?

Her legend dates back to pagan times. In a period renowned for lawlessness and exceptional ruthlessness, primitive people were always ready to trample over others to achieve one's aim. I can get the impression sometimes that nothing has changed in human relationships since then...

Well… Siuda Baba was a fire guardian in a pagan temple. She was obliged to guard the flames and keep it burning the whole year round. There was a rule that Siuda Baba could not leave the fire, as such her skin was stained black from the smoke and soot. Also, her role allowed her no time to wash.

After years of extreme desperation, with a pagan determination, like a monster, Siuda Baba, was leaving the temple in search of a successor. That's why she started to hunt. Who will be the next victim? Of course the next one who is dumb enough to get caught...

My doll is 25 cm tall. She's not tidy. She carries a large cross in hand and she has a necklace made of chestnuts around her neck, and a large bag filled with potatoes. She is also dressed in modern jeans and dark blue sneakers. This is because her legend is now preserved through the custom of people dressing and performing as Siuda Baba each year in and around Wieliczka.

The period I spent creating this character was a profoundly interesting time for me. :-)

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siuda_Baba
http://vimeo.com/54204113