Miniature Diorama Inside An Altoids Mint Box

Submitted by Michael Ely December 20th, 2010
Certifikitsch Winner
This is a little Christmas piece created by an artist friend, Cindy Lind. It is a decorated Altoids mint box featuring a picture of Cindy and cat on the lid, and when you open it, you discover a miniature diorama inside featuring a tiny day-of-the-dead Santa standing next to a fireplace in a room with a decorated tree, presents and a Christmas wreath (a miniature replica of Cindy’s real life living room). All the little pieces are handmade including the tiny Santa (made from flour and water, hand-painted, his red suit and hat trimmed in fur). I love things in miniature, so this is right up my holiday alley.
I’m getting ready to fly to NC to see family for Christmas, so I want to wish everyone a happy holiday and a happy new year! One of the nicest things that happened to me in 2010 was connecting with the amazing Allee Willis and all of my new AWMOK friends, and I can’t wait to see and share more kitsch in 2011! I leave you with a version of my favorite Christmas song recorded by myself and my partner…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CyMOPP2cog

9 Responses to “Miniature Diorama Inside An Altoids Mint Box”

  1. Allee Willis

    The mere fact that all of this occurs in an Altoid box is fabulous enough but many extra points are given for the fact that everything is made from flour and water – how does that work? Do you just cook it? – and that it’s a replica of the artist’s own living room.

    Was this a Christmas present this year? Does Cindy always make miniatures? I absolutely love that it’s inside that box!

    That track is great! Did you guys record it yourself? Who’s playing guitar? The amount reverb on it is fantastic. Excellent job!!

    I will agree that one of the nicest things to happen in 2010 is connecting with all my AWMOK aKitschionados. I’ve especially enjoyed your collection, Michael, and getting to know you, not to mention doing your radio show. https://www.alleewillis.com/press/2010/big_blend_radio_10-17-10_edit.mp3

    I hope you have a fabulous time in NC and I look forward to seeing a lot more of your wonderful stash in 2011!!

    • Michael Ely

      Cindy makes a unique present for her friends every year. The miniature is from a couple of years ago and is one of my favorites. This year, she made piñatas.

      My partner, Spider, and I recorded the track last year. Normally we compose original music. Spider plays guitar and is known for his “heavy on the reverb” / spaghetti western meets south seas style of guitar playing. I play the keyboards, however I’m not really a musician. That is, I compose music and play keys, but I don’t really understand how to play my instrument. I just experiment with lines, layering my parts and making it up as I go along! :)

      It was an honor to have you on the radio show, Allee. Hope you will consent to a future show as I barely scratched the surface with my questions (so much to ask you, so little time).

      • BRBill

        The box is definitely up there on the cool scale Michael. I’ll have to run that idea by my friend who decorates lighters with fabric paint. She also does altoid boxes but doesn’t do dioramas in them, yet.
        Merry Christmas to ya’ll. And where/when is your radio show and how can we listen, ie do you webcast?

  2. Allee Willis

    > I don’t really understand how to play my instrument. I just experiment with lines, layering my parts and making it up as I go along!

    That’s exactly how I write other than I don’t know how to play an instrument at all so just do a few notes at a time. I never have any idea what I’m doing. I just turn the computer on and figure out a way to poke out whatever’s in my head. It seems to work for me!

    I’m ready to come back on the show whenever you want so just let me know.

  3. Mark Milligan

    Your friend is so creative. And obviously you are too! Safe travels, see you next year!