Thursday, March 5, 2015

The One (Teething) Ring and More Geekcrafting

I feel like I'm just repeating myself over and over sometimes: no, SHB isn't sleeping any better, no, I'm not really doing much sewing (brain too tired), and yes, I made more geeky wood-burned items.

I went to Daiso again (it's far enough away that SHB will fall asleep on the drive, and that's really the only reliable way to get him to nap. That, and wearing him, but I can't wear him for all four naps or else my torso might collapse in on itself) and got another box identical to my tea box. While I knew I wanted to burn it, I couldn't figure out what other Tolkien-y panels I could do; the dimensions make it difficult to do another map or anything else based on his drawings. I was having a hard time thinking of another geeky theme that would be suitable for the rustic-ness (rusticity?) of wood-burning, when during one of the interminable middle of the night feedings, my delirious brain hit upon it: Daiso...is a Japanese store...Japanese animation is great...Totoro is a great film...it takes place in a forest...trees are made of wood...

As you can see, I decided to experiment with adding color. I used color pencils, which worked astonishingly well. 

The white color pencil didn't work as well as the other colors. I just love these little forest sprites though!
The title, Tonari no Totoro, and some soot sprites.  

The classic large Totoro with his umbrella!



And of course, a little bonus on the inside!

Since I couldn't manage to make the box into a Tolkien piece, I had to look elsewhere to get my LOTR fix. Thanks to Becky for cluing me in as to the existence of The One Ring teething toys! It was fairly easy to order some blank, unfinished wooden teething rings and burn them myself. It's like these rings are made for the One Ring inscription, because the length of the four lines is just right for the smallest Elvish font that my finest wood-burning tip can manage. I added SHB's Elvish name on the back of the ring as well, then polished it up with coconut oil.

In the Black Speech, it reads, "Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul."

The top, lighter-colored ring hasn't been oiled yet. I love how the oil gives such a warm honey color to the wood. Also it makes them smell delicious. 

On the back, I put SHB's name in Elvish. The other ring is for Becky's coming Hobbit. 


You may wonder what I'm planning to do with the last, unfinished ring, since SHB doesn't need more than one One Ring (hah!). Well, I'm putting it up for grabs! If you know of a small human being in your life who would appreciate such a mighty gift, leave me a comment and I'll choose a winner on Sunday night. And if the name of your small human being is one that has a Google-able Elvish translation, I'll even add it to the back before oiling it up and mailing it to you.

Of course, if you just want a approximately 3" wooden ring with the One Ring inscription on it for yourself, you can go ahead and throw your name into the running and I won't tell. Do not deny that your heart has greatly desired what I offer! After all,  I offer it to you freely. If you ask it of me, I will give you the One Ring...as long as your name is the one the random number generator picks. 

30 comments:

  1. I'd love a ring! The boxes are gorgeous as well, you're super talented x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Obviously, I'm not entering for the extra ring! I just wanted to say thank you again for your generosity in making an extra one for Hobbit. And to say how adorable the Totoro box is. (I actually haven't seen that one, though I have seen several other Miyazaki movies. The more I see connected to it, the more I'm convinced I need to remedy that!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your work is gorgeous! I'm especially fond of the forest sprites on the box. I'm expecting a small nerd in September (name and sex undetermined as of yet) and would love for them to be able to teethe on the One Ring when the time comes. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love a ring! I'm so glad you still have time for geekcrafting with a SHB :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would love one! I really love your wood burning, it's a hobby I've gotten into a bit, but I can't believe how amazing yours are. It's tricky!

    As tempting as it would be to just take it for myself, I do have a nephew who is getting some teeth in named Edwin who could probably get more use out of it than myself.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh man these are awesome! I am so impressed by your wood burning skills!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would really love to have this ring for my new grandson! His parents are super geeky and huge LOTR fans (they all have costumes including the Hobbit baby) and I'm sure, would love this too!
    I really enjoy all your beautiful work.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Awe these are so cute!!!! Did you ever see the emailI sent you this time last year with our Hobbit pregnancy announcement? "Desolation of Sleep" is 100% what we've been going through now that teeth are emerging! This would be wonderful!

    Did you just color in the sprites and leave them be or did you coconut oil them/the box too?

    ReplyDelete
  9. You are really very talented, the practice of wood burning is entirely new to me and it seems you must have a very steady hand and a good eye to do a design justice. I feel mine would be big smears of burn on the wood with a few burn marks on my hands as well ;)

    I have a friend who is about to give birth to her second child. She loves LOTR and would adore the teething ring, I'm sure.

    And here's to a bit more napping from baby and some well deserved rest for you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love seeing all these wood crafts that you've been coming up with!! (Well everything really - motherhood seems unimagineably demanding, I have a friend who just had a boy and who will love your blog) I probably should not throw my hat in the ring for the teething ring though, as I currently only have 2 friends with babies and neither jumps out at me as uber LOTR fans ... which means it'll head to another grateful recipient instead :-). Thanks for bringing us along in your crafting journey!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dude I am three years off from having kids, but I am putting my name in the running. And I will save it for then. This is awesome. So creative. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Watching you kick ass at woodburning makes me want to start! I also happen to know a geeky baby whose parents would appreciate this :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. My boys are well past that, but I love LOTR and would give it a good home in the home country of the movies!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful work on both the Totoro box (great movie!) and the LOTR rings! You have such a talent for script and drawing. I definitely know someone who would appreciate the One Ring!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Brilliant! One teething ring, because that baby does rule us all ;) And I promise you, the sleep does get better (eventually). My second is a hopeless sleeper (and terrible teether), but first child did get the hang of sleep after a while so I'm hoping second child gets the hang of it soon too!

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is amazing! The forest sprite on the inside is a nice touch :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing.

    Please enter me. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. These are great! I love how well the colored pencil worked on the boxes!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Those are real pieces of art! I can't imagine how I could do that having a baby.

    A friend of mine is having hers this August and she's a LotR fan. It would be a lovely present.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow I love your wood burning, it looks so beautiful. I would love a One Ring for my littl'un who is 6 and a half months old and teething with a vengeance. Poor thing has the tips of her 2 bottom teeth coming thru and it's causing her so much discomfort :( But she's so cute even when she's whingeing and whining! Hope SHB is good!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am always amazed and delighted by your creativity. My sister is expecting a SHB in July. No name yet (they've chosen to be surprised as to the child's sex), but I know she would love the One Ring anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow. Nice rings! Extra points for handwriting!

    As a mom of teens, I don't want a ring. Instead, I suggest making a part of your baby driving kit a MOM kit. A book, some handwork, a set of cutlery for eating in the car...window shades. Then, locations where you can park in the shade and get some stuff done while SHB gets the needed zzzzz. Or, if you have a garage or a secure enough facility, you nap then, too. I think this is why I was so obsessed with getting the windows of the Volvo wagon tinted really really dark. Sinister Sleeping Snackwagon!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Holy doodle, you are amazing! That Totoro box is totally adorable, and what an amazing idea for a teething ring - in addition to it's uber geeky awesomeness, it's a thousand percent more healthy and safe for baby to be ingesting coconut oil and wood than plastic chemicals! :) I do not have any SHB's but I have a friend with one on the way and I think they would get a real kick out of the one ring :D

    ReplyDelete
  24. Some friends of mine are due for the birth of their firstborn on the 13th! I would love to gift it to them. Dad fancies himself a dwarf. Ha!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wonderful craftsmanship -- (no entry for drawing)
    For toddler-friendly Tolkien artwork, have you considered "The Father Christmas letters / J.R.R. Tolkien ; edited by Baillie Tolkien" -- several copies available on Amazon.

    ReplyDelete
  26. This would be awesome for baby Lia, the daughter of our friends:) She is almost a year old, super sweet, we totally adore her:)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ok, genius move to use colored pencil on wood, it looks so good! And I am forever in awe of your woodburning/art skills. My hand drawing is nowhere near as good as yours! Of course, I would love to be in the running for the One Ring, as I have suddenly been inundated by friends with SHBs.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh my gosh, these are all hilarious and awesome! You can leave me out of the giveaway as, um, I'm 32 and childless, so don't need a teething ring although it is AWESOME. But Cindy- how is it that you're good at everything?!?!?! Tell me your secret!!!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to tell me your thoughts! I appreciate reading them and I try to reply to most, if not all, comments, especially when they are questions. I ask that you keep your comments polite, and if you're a spammer, don't bother because your comment will just be deleted! Also, if you're commenting on a post that's more than two weeks old, it will be moderated.