lucky things store (favourite things #115)

Artist's notes on style, materials and inspiration:

There are so many lucky things in Japan - fruits in funny shapes, bamboo rakes with things stuck all over them, fish, cranes, turtles, you name it. This girl is dressed up as a fancy store that sells the more well known lucky objects.

Under different styles of tiled roof you will find a little store selling all manner of lucky object - in the main window: a teru teru bozu to keep the rain away, omamori lucky amulets, and a large daruma. In one side window you will find a lucky red ox (akabeko) and an ema prayer board. Around the back of the store you will find some more - a tanuki, a maneki neko, an inu hariko and a set of okiagari-koboshi (roly poly toys). On top of the store girls head is another lucky cat for all to see. There's also a red bicycle, a deliveries door and a noren entrance curtain over the front door.

My 'favourite things' wood girl series share the places and things I love, a favourite motif, object or theme, or are inspired by a microseason. Turned from American Tulipwood, a sustainable and interestingly grained timber, the pieces are turned by a production wood turner in the UK to my designs, then added to and painted by me, a British artist. They are finished in a clear matt acrylic protective top coat.

Favourite Things girls are numbered on the base, this one is #115.

This girl is approximately 25.5cm in height.

My pieces are painted in a naïve and simple style, with visible brush strokes and differing paint consistencies. It is important to note that these dolls are made from real wood which will have naturally occurring markings and grain, and sometimes there will be small amount of bleeding along the grain, or knots, which is to be expected when using untreated wood - please make sure you consult the pictures carefully before purchasing.

PLEASE NOTE: Wood girls should be kept away from water which can damage the wood and painted surface, and also away from direct heat/ sunlight which also can affect the surface colour and the timber itself.