Top Ten Questions Elayne Watrus Gets Asked!

QUESTION 1: Are these made of of phyllo dough?
ANSWER: No, phyllo dough is used to make Baklava. I use FIMO clay. FIMO is a pre-colored, waterproof, colorfast polymer clay that is made in Germany. It comes in a wide variety of fun colors and can be baked in your average American oven.

QUESTION 2: Do you have really tiny hands?
ANSWER: No, I form the tiny parts with my normal size hands and then use a toothpick to put the parts together.

QUESTION 3: How did you get started?
ANSWER: As long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with tiny things. In high school, during a sculpting class, I began making very small people out of clay. Several years later, I discovered FIMO and it was a match made in heaven. FIMO is a very firm clay that lends itself perfectly to detail. In fact, I jokingly call it "magic" clay.

QUESTION 4: Where do you get your ideas?
ANSWER: Mostly, in my crazy head. Also, I have a very imaginative husband who is always eager to lend to ,and sometimes "force" his creativity on me. My customers are also a valuable source. Many of my most popular pieces are a result of special orders that I have taken through the years and continue to make today.

QUESTION 5: Don't your eyes hurt?
ANSWER: Nope, but my back does regularly!!

QUESTION 6: Haven't I seen these little people somewhere before?
ANSWER: Maybe. They were nationally marketed as a toy called "Callie and Friends" in the early 1990's and again as "The Littlestreet Collection" in 2001. You may have seen these reproductions in a store near you. The ones you see on my official web sight and at arts and craft festivals, though, will always be originals, signed and dated by only me.

QUESTION 7: Where else can I purchase the little people?
ANSWER: The list of the shows I plan to attend can be seen on my web sight. You can also purchase pieces directly on the web: www.thelittlestreetcollection.com

QUESTION 8: These look like Wallace and Grommet. ( An often heard comment)
ANSWER: Lets see. I am always flattered by this comparison being a huge W&G fan myself, however, I have been making the little people for 35 years. Wallace and Grommet movies were first seen in the USA in the early 1990's. So, technically, Wallace and Grommet look like the little people!!! (smile).

QUESTION 9: How long does it take to make one?
ANSWER: Each single person takes about 45 minutes. It takes more time to make the garden pieces than any other because each piece of grass and every single little flower petal is formed and applied one at a time. Taking a whopping ten hours, the piece that takes me the longest to complete is the Christmas train. It has five little cars chock full of gingerbread men, Christmas trees, dolls and bears, surrounded by a snowy forest. With Santa as the engineer, this wonderful piece will definitely bring joy to your holiday collection.

QUESTION 10: Do you ever plan to retire?
ANSWER: Nope. My husband tells me that my job is to make America happy, and although it seems like a tall order these days..... it makes me happy to keep on trying.

Enjoy your visit and be sure to stop at the collection pages on the way out.