Robin Kranitzky and Kim Overstreet aren't elves, and
they don't know Geppetto. But the two women have
a way with tiny objects and can bring them to life
with little tools and paintbrushes and subtle humor.
In their West End studio, they create small armies of people
-- tin folk.spice boys,domino elves - and add facial expres-
sions and individual details that cause customers to laugh
out loud as they recognize a friend or even an ex-husband
among the characters.
workshop is alive with activity as the artisans assemble holi-
day ornaments from objects such as old cookie tins, pine
cones, bits of moss, fabric, feathers and wrapping paper. Their
creations are unusual enough to warrant a second glance
and a special spot on the Christmas tree or gift package. The
busy bee ornaments, for example, have rose thorns for sting-
ers and acetate wings that are carved, melted and filigreed
with gold paint. Kranitzky and Overstreet use jeweler's twee-
zers and magnifying glasses to attach miniature hats, shoes
and props to each ornament. Some of the figures are singing
from music books, others eating cookies or holding gifts. All
are handmade with detailed precision.
The two women have worked together since 1985, first
creating jewelry to sell to Thalhimer's and Miller and Rhoads.
Their designs of intricate, stylized pins and precious-metalpieces gained
a national reputation and their work was chosen
for museums, private collections and galleries across the
country They shifted toward more manageable creations over the
past three years, getting a big order for ornaments from
venerable home fashion retailer ABC Carpet & Home in NewYork
in 2001. Their work was featured on the White House Christmas
tree during the Clinton years, and has been written about in
national publications.
This particular phase of their work started with an art
class at a local school. "I went in to do a project for
Crestview Elementary Kranitzky recalls, "and after that was
over, Kim and I looked at the ornaments and decided to keep
doing them, making them more sophisticated and embellishing
them in different ways; They built upon their concept by adding
different characters to their assembly line. "One idea sparks
another," Overstreet says, "and we always talk about ideas
together. Sometimes it might be an accident that we laugh about,
and then we work up a sample." They turn antique dominoes into
figures, and wrap packages for them to hold and ginger-bread
men of clay for them to eat. Spice balls, rolled in herbs,
become little round boys when they get little round faces.
Surrounded by photos and drawings of work that inspires or
amuses them, Kranitzky and Overstreet pull out small drills,
sanders and files to shape their creations.Then they decorate
each piece by hand, adding festive costumes and accessories.
Finally using nontoxic paints, they brush on little eyeballs
and smiles. Some are innocent, others slightly mischievous.
