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Mini Cabinet of Wonders- Oooh!

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Mini Cabinet of Wonders- Oooh!
Swap Coordinator:Changeling (contact)
Swap categories: Challenges 
Number of people in swap:15
Location:Other
Type:None
Last day to signup/drop:January 20, 2008
Date items must be sent by:March 23, 2008
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

This swap was inspired by a really cool Cabinet of Wonders exhibit I saw in Jamestown, Virginia. As you can read in this link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinetofcuriosities

Cabinets of Wonder or Cabinets of Curiosities were galleries of the rare, odd, and precious in natural history, science, archaeology, geology, ethnology and religious relics. They inspired the modern museum. We now know that some of the wonders/specimens/relics were faked.

This swap will be to create a mini "Cabinet of Wonders" for fun. I am guessing most people do not have precious artifacts around their house and if they do they are probably not keen on mailing them out. Therefore, we will have to use our imagination in creating our wonders!

For your cabinet:

You may wish to use a small wooden shadow box for your cabinet. You could make a cabinet from cardboard.You could also make booklet style catalog with the wonders inside the booklet. The cabinet should only be about 2 ft by 2 ft at the most.

For your "wonders": ~This is the part where your imagination comes in and makes the mundane into the fantastical.~ Oooh! -It may just be a rock from your driveway but in your cabinet of wonders you can bill it as "A sacred pebble from the shore of the boiling green lake in the lost land of Tuminanicha in the far away country of Aagee." -It may just be a drawing of little angels from a holiday card but you can bill it as "Detail of putti from the rare painting by Master So and So, circa 1507." -It may be just a chipmunk bone you found in the woods but in your cabinet of wonder it can be a part of the "Blessed finger bone of Saint Annawanda of Prague." You get the idea. (If you don't get the idea, don't sign up.)

Nothing too gross. Let's leave the shrunken heads, locks of hair, and narwhal horns out of our cabinets. Of course, a fake shrunken head made from an apple or papermache unicorn horn is okay. Actually, that would be cool. *****Please do not sign up if you would be offended if your partner sent something odd.****** Cabinets of wonders contained oddities.

But- No real human products (ick!) and nothing taken from an animal by violence like ivory or pelts. Picking up a whisker that your cat dropped in the kitchen and saying it is from the Mythical Cat Bassett, Companion to the Pharaohs, is okay. ;)

Your cabinet or booklet should contain at least 10 "wonders."

USA and Canada only due to weight. Please feel free to open an international version if you wish.

Open to people with a 4.9 rating and a number of completed swaps. I'll be banning anyone who looks shady for any reason or has a history of not doing quality work.

You will be creating the best cabinet of curiosities you can for one partner.

Thanks for reading.

Discussion

TeaNi 12/30/2007 #

I do not have the creative self confidence to participate in this swap, but I just had to comment to say that this is by far the coolest swap I have ever seen! Kudos, Changeling!

Changeling 12/30/2007 #

Thanks, TeaNi! From reading your profile and feedback you sound like you would be a wonderful cabinet of wonders maker! This swap focuses on using imagination in making up "whoppers" about your objects as much as crafting. So, I hope you will join, anyway. Thanks again!

enakitty 12/31/2007 #

i have the perfect little "cabinet" i could use for this...but it's pretty small (like 7x7 or something) would that be too little? does it need to be 2feetby 2feet?

thanks :)

Rosearamma 12/31/2007 #

For a great read.....the Cabinet of Curiousities has been one of my favourite mystery/thrillers ever!

Changeling 12/31/2007 #

Hi, enakitty. There is no size limit just so you include at least ten wonders.

And Rosea, that sounds fun. Will have to check it out!

LMM 12/31/2007 #

I have some smaller boxes that would work well too...this should be fun!

earthnk 01/ 1/2008 #

I noticed you mentioned booklet style in your description. Does that mean sort of like a catalogue? I would like to do the swap but shipping a big box to Canada might take the fun out of it for me. However, that booklet deal might be an option should I happen to get an Int'l send to partner.

I guess I could use further descriptive help here:)

Also I've never heard of this. I'm going to have to check So Cal Museums to see if there are exhibits here.

Changeling 01/ 1/2008 #

Hi, I was trying to be pretty open on the interpretation of a "cabinet." The original cabinets could have been actual rooms. So, yes, I was thinking a booklet might be a way to go for someone who does not want to mail a small cabinet. The specimens could be flat enough to fit inside a booklet. It would be kind of like an enhanced catalogue.

sararenee 01/ 2/2008 #

I'm BEYOND excited about this swap and am already thinking and figuring out ideas!

enakitty 01/ 4/2008 #

the link in the description did not work for me

i think i get the idea of what i'm suspposed to send, but i'd like to check out the link if possible

enakitty 01/ 4/2008 #

nevermind! i was able to google it and get the info :)

enakitty 01/ 5/2008 #

OMG i am soooo excited for whoever is my partner! i have TONS of great ideas for this, and have already started making some of the "wonders" this is the best swap EVAH!

TeaNi 01/ 5/2008 #

OK, y'all, I am so admiring this swap from afar! PLEASE let me know if you post pics of these creations up on Flickster. WE, the creatively challenged do enjoy admiring the craftyness of others ;-P

teresa 01/ 6/2008 #

Wow. I can't join this swap but I have to say this is one of the coolest swaps I have ever seen! Have an awesome time

renaemarie 01/10/2008 #

This swap is just fantastic. I'll get started with my world-wide travels, in search of quaint and curious relics and specimens, right away. :D

It's wonderful to have such a nice amount of time between being assigned partners and shipping the cabinet. Brilliant idea and execution.

Changeling 01/11/2008 #

Thank you to everyone has said nice things about the idea!

Ikyoto 01/13/2008 #

I'm am incredibly excited about this so I thought I would share some links from my prior experiences with wonder cabinets:

www.mjt.org

http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/events/curiosities.html

Mrrranda 01/20/2008 #

Welllll... I can see myself sinking at least 20 hrs. into this, so I have to drop - just can't guarantee the time to finish anything I'm satisfied w/'til I'm done moving. Raaaaaaarrr! If anyone wants to do a one-on-one like this with me in the future, please e-mail or PM me....

SadieGunSlinger 01/20/2008 #

So wait.. Can it be smaller then 24"x24"?

I have a perfect little thing that I'd like to use for this, but its probably less then 1/2 that size.

Changeling 01/20/2008 #

Will miss you Mrrranda. :(

SadieGS, sure, just so it includes at least ten wonders. :)

SadieGunSlinger 01/21/2008 #

it shall ^-^! Its actually more like a "dresser" of wonders. lol! ahh! I can't wait to see who I get to send to!!

enakitty 02/19/2008 #

woohoo! i sent mine out today! hope my partner loves it!

LMM 03/23/2008 #

Good to see I am not the only procrastinator in this bunch! I gathered all my items and started decorating the box ages ago...but still need to finish my documentation and add the finishing touches! Hope to get it out in Tuesday's mail!

Coffeelatte 03/24/2008 #

Storylaura and Changeling - See my messages to you, please. I've got my cabinet done, but am sick with bronchitis and having trouble getting it to the post office. Will send as soon as I can -- I'll try to get my son to take it to the post office this afternoon and will keep you in the loop!

oreon 03/25/2008 #

My pic (bad quality, sorry) of my Cabinet. Changeling, if you want to be surprised...don't look :-)

nellnere 04/ 4/2008 #

I had the time ever discovering my cabinet of curiosities and its cotents. I am excited to get feedback about my discoveries! I am more excited about the discoveries that will be snet to me. This is a swap that resonated with me right away when I saw the description.

LMM 04/10/2008 #

I enjoyed making this swap too, although I am frustrated that both my partners are MIA.

I seem to always have bad luck with swaps that require a big investment of time. I tell myself I will never do another one, then a great idea (like this one) comes along and I can't help myself.

I guess I will go back to limiting myself to ATCs for a while.

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