Do I have some fun for you today, brought to my attention by Alison Morris of Publishers Weekly!  And it’s not just delightful fun for adults, but for kids, too.

I confess.  I’ve read Gaiman’s dark book Coraline, but I’ve not seen the movie.  I will after viewing these exquisite behind-the-scenes videos on how Coraline the movie was made–everything handmade!  [Update on 10.9.10: Once you’re at the site, click on the “Enter Site” button at the center top.  Some of this material has been removed and can only be found on the DVD, which has since been released.]  If you get the DVD, view how they made a forest of cherry blossoms from painted pink popcorn…or 500 Scottie dogs that fill an entire theater…or how the puppets were made.

See that sweater Coraline’s wearing above?  Hand-knit on the tiniest needles you’ve ever seen.  By Althea Crome who designs such things.  It takes her 6 weeks to 6 months to make one tiny item–from start to finish.  Wanna see?

Isn’t that amazing?  And guess what?  You can make Coraline’s sweater, if you so desire.  Here’s the pattern.  I know you’re simply wallowing in extra time.

Remember Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak?  Well, isn’t this clever and fun?  I found this on Cake Wreck, as an example of a cake that is not a wreck:

Don’t you just want to make one right this minute?  “Yummy in my tummy,” as Liliana says.  I’ll add, “Yummy on the eyes, too.”