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Click on images to enlarge and see accurate shades of grey
February 5th. More musical mice!
| The Flutist, $135.00 |
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| 3 1/2" x 4", Pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
| The Pianist, $135.00 |
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| 5 1/4 x 3 1/4. Pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
Good art!
| 1 of the 76, $135.00 |
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| 5" x 3 1/2", Pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
August 15th. Musical mice!
| The Cellist, $135.00 (sold) |
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| 3 1/2" x 4" , pencil on Arches hot press. unframed |
| The Folk singer, $135.00 |
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| 3 1/2" x 4", pencil on Arches hot press. unframed |
| Jazzman, $135.00 (sold) |
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| 3 1/4" x 4", pencil on Arches hot press. unframed |
June 14th. A troup of Revolutionary War enthusiasts
do their best to re-encact the painting "Spirit of '76" in the Von Stetinas' front yard.
| Spirit of '76 Revisited, $245.00 |
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| 6 3/4" x 5 1/2", pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
June 5th. The squirrels continue to perfect their dance
routines.
| High Kickin', $225.00 |
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| 6 3/4" x 4 1/2" , pencil on Arches hot press |
| Broadway Bound, $225.00 (sold) |
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| 7 1/2" x 4 3/4" , pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
| Grand Finale, $225.00 |
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| 5" x 4 1/2", pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
June 1st. The Von Stetina home is invaded by musical mice.
| Harp Solo, $135.00 (sold) |
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| 3 3/4" x 4 1/4"", pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
| Rock Star, $135.00 |
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| 4" x 5", pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
| Rockin!, $135.00 |
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| 4 3/4" x 3", pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
May 15th.
Spot dances his first waltz.
| Tuxedo Waltz, $495.00 |
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| 6 1/2" x 8", pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
| Gypsy Violinist, $120.00 (sold) |
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| 2 1/2" x 3", pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
The night is young and romance is in the air as Spot
and Lucy fall under the spell of a strolling gypsy violinist.
May 13th, 2007.
The Squirrels perform a new dance.
| Treetop Trio, $225.00 (sold) |
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| 4 1/2" x 7", pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
| Top hats 'N Tails, $225.00 (sold) |
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| 4 1/2" x 7", pencil on Arches hot press, unframed |
The squirrels
dedicated a new dance to their mother in celebration of Mothers’ Day. Their joyous performance proved
infectious, and before long 14 of their siblings had joined in. Later they thought back on previous dance routines, and the
"Top hats 'N Tails" tribute to Broadway was a universal favorite.
March 3, 2007. Irish Fluppies
fly into Florida.
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| Irish Fluppy, pencil (sold) |
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| Irish Fluppy2, pencil (sold) |
Although always present,
Irish Fluppies are more visible during the month of March, around St Patrick’s Day. The sighting of one is
considered to bring great good fortune.
Irish Fluppies are wonderful fun;
their great good nature is legend. Lovely gleaming reddish fur is their most noticeable feature, but some also have 4-leafed
clover markings on their wings. They are greatly attracted to wealth, and every pot of gold has at least one nesting among
the coins. Lore has it that these fluppies come to point upon spotting treasure, and people lucky enough to sneak up on one
can find untold riches by following its gaze. Most sightings have reported Irish Fluppies pointing towards banks, cash drawers
and coin purses. When not snoozing in a pot of gold, they love to roll in beds of clover, never failing to find the lucky
4-leaf variety. When searching for Irish Fluppies, look for small patches of flattened clover or tiny paw prints by the coin
jar.
March 15th, 2004. A rare Mexican
fluppy is sighted in Pinellas Park, Florida.
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| Mexican Fluppy, pencil on Arches hot press paper |
The Mexican Fluppy is native to
the hot southern regions of North America. This creature’s large ears serve
as rudders to help direct his flight. Both ears can also be raised at once to serve as an air brake in the event an emergency
stop is necessary.
These little animals feed on chili
peppers, the hotter the better, which give the fluppies an energy boost helpful in long migrations. Too many peppers however
and they get nervous and jittery. Some who overfeed have been known to become barking mad.
The oils from hot peppers accumulate
in wing tissue over time and the wing colors gradually change from the yellow-orange of a young Mexican Fluppy (hot peppers
are an acquired taste. Young Mexican Fluppies feed on mild orange banana peppers) to the bright red of the adults who have
become accustomed to feeding on hot red chilies.
On
hot still nights locals listen for the faint sounds of yipping from the pepper fields and know that a flock of Mexican Fluppies
has landed.
January 31st, 2003 Laura was enjoying the knowlege that there was one piece
of candy left, only to find that a flitten had gotten there first.
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| Ick, Coconut, pencil (sold) |
The joy at beating everyone to the last piece of candy was
dashed by the discovery that it was filled with coconut.
December 10th, 2003. Young flitten seen taking part in family reunion.
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| Family Reuinion, pencil (sold) |
Migrating butterflies come through Florida every year when the weather turns cold up north. Flittens that stay
in one place throughout the year yearn for news of their relations in other parts of the country, and the butterflies bring
the latest gossip. There is some argument as to how closely flittens are related to butterflies and moths. This little tabby
Laura spotted among the mandeville vines in her garden is thrilled to have learned that she is distantly related (on her mother’s
side) to the butterflies around her. Previously the only knowledge she had of her family tree was from her father. He believed
they were descended from royalty because he’d heard rumors that some of his ancestors were monarchs.
November 14th. Working on her butterfly garden, Laura discovers Papillon
Fluppies flitting with the butterflies among the flowers by the fence.
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| The Papillon fluppy (sold) |
Papillon fluppies are a particularly lovely and loving species of fluppy. Their
best identifying feature is their spectacular over-sized ears. These ears are great aids to flight, and sometimes these fluppies
fold their wings, spread their ears and glide. Although unseen in this illustration, Papillon fluppies also have magnificent
plumed tails. They have been known to chase their tails while in flight, their wings shimmering in the sun as they swoop in
big joyous circles. The sight is unforgettable.
Like true butterflies, Papillon fluppies are attracted to flowers. Planting a butterfly
garden will ensure frequent visits. These little fluppies are so attracted to flowers that they have even been seen fluttering
around floral displays and corsages. They will gladly move into florists’ shops, but form fast attachments to the fragrant
blossoms and howl woefully when floral arrangements are sent out. Deliveries of new flowers are greeted with a great deal
of fluttering, tail-wagging joy.
Papillon fluppies travel in flocks, and are so engaging that
people fortunate enough to be paid a visit are thrilled to host the entire flock.
October 18th. Laura is surprised in the kitchen and, for
the first time, a flitten is given a name.
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| Unexpected Visitor*, Pencil (sold) |
After a
trying morning spent sketching squirrels, Laura was ready to relax with a cup of tea. She was more than a little
surprised when a tiny flitten popped out of her favorite cup. Because she had tea on her mind, the first thing Laura said
was “well, that’s quite a cup of Earl Grey!” The name stuck, and the first flitten to be named is
called Earl. Hungry after his nap in the tea cup, little Earl immediately began making serious inroads into the cookies, putting
away a startling amount of baked goods for such a tiny creature. Laura’s love for flittens is obviously immeasurable,
because under normal circumstances no one comes between Laura and the cookies! Spot is happy to be sharing his home
with a new flitten, and life will remain peaceful as long as Earl does not develop a taste for tuna.
*This pencil drawing was awarded a first place in
the Miniature Art Society of Florida’s
Twenty-Ninth International Show.
October 1st. Continuing her research into the secret life
of squirrels, Laura was able to prove without a doubt that they know more than one dance routine.
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| Top Hats 'N Tails 2, Acrylic (sold) |
September 25th. Ready for a break after a morning
of sketching, Laura went to the kitchen for a snack. Finding a mess, she tracked tiny footprints to the sugar bowl and found
– a pair of Sugar Hounds.
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| Sugar Hounds, Pencil (sold) |
Sugar hounds were inadvertently imported
from Cuba
in a load of sugarcane. Fairly rare in their native land, the difficulty of obtaining food controlled the size of their population.
Many pieces of sugar cane had to be gnawed each day for each little creature to obtain adequate nourishment. After arriving
in The United States they found their way into kitchens, where they discovered refined sugar. With plenty of easily accessible,
and very tasty, nourishment handy, they settled in and began to multiply rapidly. Sugar hounds are now plentiful in pantries,
general stores (they can be found in the aisle with the baking goods) and candy stores. They love sugar in all its forms:
white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, and positively wag with happiness at holidays when colored sugars are used for baking.
Sugar hounds are so fond of maple sugar that they have been known to go overboard expressing their delight and roll in the
sweet treat. Once in a long while they become caught up in the moment and chow down on sprinkles. Contrary to popular belief,
they are not at all fond of sweet sugary substances like honey or molasses, finding them messy to eat. Long ears trail in
their food when they feed, and because they are vain about their lustrous coats, sugar hounds do not like to have the long
hair on the tips of their ears stuck up in goo.
Sugar bowls are favorite sleeping spots. The hounds
will alight in a bowl, have a tasty snack, turn around 3 times and go straight to sleep. They would have a bone to pick with
any housekeeper who habitually keeps the lid on the sugar bowl. Due to the fact that sugar is their only food they are understandably
high strung little creatures.
Minis are also known for having a fondness for
refined sugar. Competition for food will cause the sugar hounds to posture (usually by staring hungrily) in hopes of intimidating
the minis and driving them away. Brazen by nature however, the minis will not be forced from a source of sugar no matter how
thoroughly they are hounded.
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| Broadway Bound - Top Hats 'N Tails, Acrylic (sold) |
September 1st. While investigating the secret lives
of squirrels, Laura stumbled upon this unexpected scene. She discovered that when they think that humans can not see
them, squirrels enjoy dancing to Broadway show tunes. Several sights like this were observed, but there is still no evidence
as to where they get the little outfits.
Great Art!
August 19th. After a rain, Laura's garden fills
with beautiful pink lilies. Due to the recent heavy rains, there has been a profusion of these beautiful rain lilies. At first
it seemed as if these lilies had attracted many colorful butterflies. After looking more closely, Laura discovered a new species
of fluppy living among the flowers.
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| The Lily Lovin' Fluppy, Pencil |
As their name implies, Lily Lovin' Fluppies
adore lilies, even though their main source of food consists of other forms of vegetation. Flocks of lily lovin' fluppies
have been seen circling gardens, waiting for the lilies to bloom. Once a bed of the tasty plants is spotted, they swoop down
and begin to doggedly feed.
Many gardeners tolerate the damage done to their plants, thinking it is
fair trade for the good work the fluppies do. Pollen sticks to the animals' coats, and the plants are pollinated as the fluppies
wing their way from flower to flower, sampling a nip here, a bite there.
Lily lovin' fluppies may have a positive
impact on flower gardens, but they can spell disaster for florists. Even one of these fluppies in a flower shop can munch
its way through the better part of the stock of cut flowers. Popular legend states that the best deterrent is a prominent
display of rolled up newspapers.
August 8th. While gardening, Laura noticed what
she thought was a full-bodied moth. Closer inspection proved that the creature was a flunny. Laura did a pencil sketch
of the flunny; her drawing and related journal entry appear below.
Flunnies appear only during times of extreme drought.
Nothing is known of their life cycle, only that they emerge, as fully winged adults, from the dry earth at the back of cultivated
fields. They then immediately migrate in mass to irrigated kitchen gardens and begin to feed voraciously on any available
root vegetables, most commonly carrots. Due to the combination of the fact that they emerge from parched fields and their
unavoidable resemblance to rabbits, the origin of the term "dust bunny" can be traced to flunnies.
Legend states that if two or three flunnies are sighted on a Monday, then
one should be prepared to be overrun by flunnies no later than the following Thursday.
Because flunnies only appear during severe droughts, sightings are rare.
A record number of flunnies popped up in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, but by that time no one was left there to see them.
Steinbeck wrote of "flunny after flunny, bopping bouncing , as far as the eye can see" in the original draft of The Grapes
of Wrath, but was forced to remove the reference by a disbelieving editor who chastised him for writing about "unseemly silliness
in a story of such immense human tragedy".
August 1st. While continuing her research on flittens,
Laura Von Stetina came across an unusual winged creature in an apple orchard. Upon close inspection it appeared to be a tiny
puppy with wings! Laura realized that she had discovered a fluppy. Understanding the importance of this find to the scientific
community, she immediately did a detailed pencil drawing of the animal in its natural surroundings. Over the next few days
she studied the fluppy and made notes of her observations; interviews with local inhabitants familiar with orchard-dwelling
fluppies provided more information. Laura's drawing and a summary of her findings appear below.
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| The Orchard Dwelling Fluppy, Pencil (sold) |
Orchard-dwelling fluppies are
a sweet and bumbling species of fluppy. They look as if they are made up mostly of long legs, big feet and over-sized
wings. Many species of fluppy fitting this general description are clumsy when walking, but become visions of grace upon taking
flight. Not so with the orchard-dwellers, They are just as uncoordinated in the air as it is on land. Their sweet, happy dispositions make them so popular, however, that other animals don’t mind being
knocked about a bit by these erratically moving but well-meaning fluppies.
Orchard-dwelling fluppies
feed on apples and other products of the apple tree. In the spring they enjoy the tender new leaves and sweet-smelling flowers,
in the fall they feast on ripe fruit. The green layer underneath the bark provides sustenance during winter months. Good guests,
these fluppies never eat so much of the green under-bark from any one area as to injure the tree. Knotholes and crannies in
old apple trees make snug homes.
These little animals are
covered by long silky hair, and they need constant grooming to remain tangle free. Burs are a constant problem because one
good-sized sticktight can tangle up enough hair to bind the fluppy’s legs together, rendering him imobile. This potentially
deadly problem makes a fluppy vulnerable to predators. Orchard-dwelling flittens help out by regularly grooming these fluppies.
These seemingly dissimilar creatures have a close relationship, and can often be seen cuddled up together, snoozing on a comfortable
branch. It is uncommon for two animals competing for the same food source to get along so well. The only explanation
offered to date is that the flittens are so won over by the great good natures of these fluppies that they treat them as they
would those of their own kind.
Drunken fluppies are a common
sight in autumn when windfall apples ferment. Fluppies are not the only creatures susceptible to the intoxicating powers of
the fermenting apples, and the flocks of tiddly fluppies are commonly interspersed with inebriated bees, wasps and the occasional
flitten, all laying on their backs waving their legs drunkenly in the air.
Orchard-dwelling fluppies
are sometimes harvested with the apple crop and delivered in fruit baskets. Once inside a human dwelling they become disoriented
and gambol about knocking things over and nervously piddling on doilies and coasters. These fluppies commonly find their way
back outdoors when the resident canine is taken out for “walkies”. They are rarely indoors for more than a few
hours, depending on the schedule of the family dog. Cats are usually blamed for items knocked over on tables as well as for
the wet spots. Orchard-dwelling fluppies are not popular with house cats.
Orchard-dwelling fluppies
love apples and anything made from apples. They are perhaps the only creatures delighted to find an apple in a bag of candy
on Halloween. They always have good teeth. They hate artificial apple flavoring and citrus fruit.
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