Looking for some arts- or crafts-related inspiration these days? Allow me to help by sharing these fun things, two in video form, that have recently crossed my own artistic path. (And, no, for once these did not come from Etsy!)

The Craftster.org blog recently did a feature on Coraline-inspired crafts that have been popping up online, and while I found it fun to see what things the movie’s (or book’s?) fans have been creating, I was especially happy to learn about the behind-the-scenes videos (click on "Films") that are posted on the Coraline movie website. Each features a different artist or person involved with the film talking about how they created and/or worked with the set pieces and puppets used in the Coraline movie, which they’re calling "the first handmade film shot in 3D." I particularly enjoyed this video below, in which we meet Althea Crome who knitted the teeny tiny sweaters worn by the tiny Coraline puppet in the movie. Amazing!The website also has a PDF of the knitting pattern for Coraline’s star-studded sweater, so that you can knit one of your own. (And, yes, this pattern can be used to knit adult-sized sweaters — not just teeny tiny ones.)

Now we go from talk of "crafting" to talk about fine art. (But I promise things here will be no more dry!) I know you will all be amazed and entertained by this great video of Brazilian-born, Brooklyn-based artist Vik Muniz talking about his art:

Finally, for those of you who like edible crafts best, take a look at this Where the Wild Things Are cake that was featured recently (as an example of a NON wreck) on Cake Wrecks. (Thanks to Carin Siegfried of Baker and Taylor for bringing it to my attention!)

A quick search on Flickr shows that other bakers are also finding inspiration from this same source, and some bento-box makers are too! I am in awe of these two bento boxes made by Anna the Red and posted on her blog Anna the Red’s Bento Factory.

Let the artistic rumpus start!