I Like Characters.com by Steve Rack

Cute just got cuter.

People all over are adopting Kit Lane’s adorable Jacabunnies and Jacabobs (above). As for me, I am just totally lost within her whimsical, woolen wonderland. And I’m not the only one!

Kit’s Jacabunnies and Jacabobs are literally flying off of her shelves! But lucky for us, Kit took time out of her hectic schedule of preparing for upcoming shows to talk about her Jacabunnies and Jacabobs, amongst other things!

And as I write this, Kit is weaving her magic: creating a Jacabob exclusively for ILikeCharacter’s July contest. Details are at the bottom of this interview!

Steve Rack (SR):
What came first, the Jacabobs or the Jacabunnies?

Kit Lane:
The Jacabobs came first, little creatures with their large ears trailing down behind their heads who as the story goes, live in the woods past the end of my garden made completely by the donations of wool from Bernice, Clarice and Evelynn, a trio of delightful sheep sisters who reside in a pasture down the lane. Jacabobs were born out of my need to make something with my hands, to get away from my computer. Nearly all my work at the dawning of the Jacabob age was digital, quite dark in its themes and could only be shared within the framework of a specific software.

I had never made anything “cute” nor crafted a single thing in all my days on the planet with the exception during a short stint with the Girl Scouts over 4 decades ago. (I liked the uniform in an odd twisted sort of way) We made pin cushions from pink felt covered recycled tuna cans and Christmas trees from thick folded Minneapolis phone books spray painted and glittered. I was underwhelmed to say the least.

SR:
What are Jacabunnies?

Kit:
A not so short but most delicately put answer…

Winters are long on the tundra and often times folks including myself are in their hovels and wigwams days and days at a time hunkered down in semi-hibernation against the inhospitable and dangerous climate here in the cultural wasteland of West Central Minnesota. The same is true for the woodland creatures who inhabit the trees and fields beyond my weedy patch I call home. Poor dears. Jacabobs and bunnies nestled snugly, one on top of the other in their burrows while swirly white snow storms rage outside dumping blankets of heavy fluffage that muffle the sounds of the world. Jacabobs, being a rather friendly and gregarious lot and bunnies who are quite accommodating in nature, coupled with spotty TV reception and the pure boredom of living indoors for 9 months of the year inspired the wee creatures to create a bit of their own fun. The result a few spring times ago was unsurprisingly the birth of the Jacabunnies who look much like both sides of the family with the sweet smiles of Jacabobs and upward ears of the Bunnies.

SR:
I’d love to know more about where they live!

Kit:
Answer #1:
It’s quite lovely really. Idyllic with a preponderance of woolly wee Jacabobs and bunnies who make their homes in the woods over the path at the end of my garden; the sheep sisters in a nearby pasture, the migrating Pods and of course the Nurblets and Burbles. Oh, and we can’t forget the Feezles.

Answer #2:
It’s a bustling summer in the garden where the woolly creatures spend their days. The Jacabobs, Bunnies and Nurbletts have awoken from their long snugly snow blanketed winter naps and are busying themselves tending their new giggling progeny. The green nomadic Pods have arrived from the South and are occupied doing what Pods do. They skitter about in the warm twilight, weary from their journey North in the sweltering heat of summer and foraging for the best places to take root for the season.

I too am occupied doing what my species does and knowing for the most part that the creatures on this side of the river often do quite well without my meddling in their affairs. I, on occasion, peek out the window of my wee abode mostly to make sure that Larry the Goat from the pasture across the glen hasn’t wandered in for a munch, a most dangerous situation for the Jacabobs and Pods, especially the green ones. Even more mortifying for Larry but I’ll leave that story for another day.

Bernice, Evelynn and Clarice the sheep sisters who contribute most of their wool to my cause are shaved naked and out to a much deserved vacation on the grassy hills just down the lane. They scamper like school girls with the rest of their ilk, a nudist colony of four legged pink beasties.

I was sipping coffee clad in my bathrobe with my hair standing sideways in a frazzled mess from the secret night-coiffure in front of the magic white slotted box braced for the startling moment when it would fling out two hot pieces of toasty bread in a direction that never can be calculated with any accuracy. I glanced out the window while I waited and saw an unusual movement at the end of the path. Squinting a bit more than my common morning squint, I looked again to observe a growing gathering of small creatures out in the garden who seemed to be organizing themselves into a cheerful mob. Collecting my toast, one slice from the dish drainer and the other from the far edge of the counter, I slipped into my Wellies (the ones that match my bathrobe as I’m awake by now) and headed out the back door and down the path to get a closer look.

Generally I avoid gatherings like this in the glen for a number of reasons, one being that while I’m rather stumpy for my species, I’m a towering giant among the natives of the wooded garden. The Jacabobs don’t mean to, but often stare, especially the young ones. I’m sure its my height but I’ve heard rumors that it might be the bathrobe or the fact that I get whacked by the ugly-stick every night without fail. I have digressed…

There was a hush over the crowd as everyone took their place along the edge of the path. Then could be heard a tiny melody that wafted in the breeze from downwind. The furry crowd lifted up a cheer. As I turned to see, a wee procession was starting up the path and I knelt to have a better view and listen, careful not to squish a critter with my knees or blanket a smaller one with my billowy robe.

Lumbering woodchucks came first, one by one and groomed to perfection soon followed by the hedgehogs with quills standing out proudly glistening in the morning sun. The Fez-clad golden squirrels like little Shriners did ornate tumbling tricks as they scampered after the hedgehogs much to the great amusement of the baby Jacabobs and Nurblets who stood next to me on the path struggling at times to let go of the hands of their parents in all their excitement. A glorious morning indeed and the tune in the air caught in my ear.

The music got louder as band of Jacabunnies thumped their bunny feet in unison to the melody they played lead by a Feezle all decked out in a top hat twirling a baton. The Jacabunnies played with their noses so they could still smile while tooting Ocarinas fashioned from the hollow tubes of last years dried Rhubarb stalks. The percussionists marched to the beat of thrumming on the lids of fresh plucked mushrooms, sometimes throwing them into the air only to catch them and thrum again in a decorous display of musical agility. The melody was helped along by humming Burbles clutching chubby green caterpillars under their arms, gently squeezling them to the rhythm until they purred. (making a caterpillar purr by gently applying pressure is fine art and lots of them were sadly lost in trying to perfect the technique last spring)

Giant black June Bugs came next marching four wide and ten deep all tethered and harnessed each with their six legs trotting in time with the June Bug next to them. They were the famous Regal Lipizzaner June Bugs known throughout the land for their tidy and tight toe stepping wonders. Their tank-like wings shined like rich black onyx and about their necks were strings of perfect just bloomed puffy yellow dandelions to add to their glory.

Tune in next week for the continuing saga. Does Kit Lane squish a little one by accident under her Wellies? Does she ever fix her toaster? Will the sheep form an anti-tail lopping union? Gripping stuff indeed.

SR:
Please describe at least one Jacabunny?

Kit:
Really? I’m fairly sure you shouldn’t risk giving me licence to prattle on much longer. Suffice to say that the majority of Jacabunnies enjoy dewy fresh mornings, a nice cup of chocolate accompanied by a wee smidgen of jam on a crumpet, the soft glow of a computer monitor and squeezles.

There have been a few who have a penchant for adventure, occasionally bringing home new friends. One early morning there was a kerfuffle at the far end of the garden, about the time the cows come home. Bernice and Evelyn the sheep gave a bleat as they were rudely awoken from a warm woolly snooze by a thumping kerplunk and a fizzle. A glowing orb had plopped into the grass nearby. The ball squeaked open and out wandered a wee green creature of most questionable DNA. He appeared to be quite like the Jacabobs from the woods down the lane both in features and disposition but the ball topped antennas said otherwise. Return of an ancient astronaut? The Jacabunnies found him quite agreeable and brought him home for tea.

SR:
The photos of your creations are fantastic and I can imagine them in picture book form. Have you thought about maybe putting a story book together, or perhaps even an animation?

Kit:
I can’t write for beans, couldn’t scribble my way out of a paper bag. I have entertained the idea though as you are not the first to ask. So I’m currently working on a bit of verbal fluffage that on occasion has to be rescued from the yard after being tossed quite forcefully out the window. We’ll see. An animation would send me right over the moon with joy but alas my skills in that area truly stink.

SR:
What inspires you?

Kit:
Finally, I eek along doing my own thing after years and years of doing someone else’s thing. Autonomy inspires me. I watch too with amazement the great flood of talent coming now from both the “Hand Made” movement and the acceptance by a broader public for Pop Surrealism and Low-Brow. Many who have trudged along in relative obscurity painting and crafting their passions are suddenly thrust into the light. I cheer for them. There are so many to mention that I fear I will leave some out, but it is they who light a fire under my heiney to perhaps someday share more openly some of my less publicly normal “not meant for small children” works.

SR:
Where can I buy your creations?

Kit:
www.kitlane.etsy.com: although often my little shop is quite bare. The little ones go as fast as they come! In July some of my work can be had at ArtWhino.com in DC for the show “Mortal Plush: I am not your toy.” and also at “Bear and Bird” for the Stitch Wars show. Soo Visual Art Center in Minneapolis has a collection as well as various other galleries here and abroad. The woolly creatures can also be seen at my Flickr.

I’m happy to entertain any questions or comments.

SR:
What do YOU think makes a great character design?

Kit:
Simplicity, transparency and readily identifiable from the rest.

SR:
And the last question: Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck?

Kit:
Neither, sorry. Now on the other hand if you had asked “Angry Beavers or Rocko” I’d have said most definitely Angry Beavers.

Links:
www.kitlane.etsy.com
Kit Lane’s Flickr
ArtWhino.com
Stitch Wars
Soo Visual Art Center

Did you Know: Kit Lane recently created a Jabba the Hut for an upcoming show!

Contest: Press HERE for the contest! You can win a Jacabob called Tibble! Below is a picture of Tibble. He is preparing for his journey.