From Publishers Weekly
Brandywine Critters were born in 1971 at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadd's Ford, Pa., when volunteers transformed woodland materials such as pine cones, teasel pods, milkweed cases and dried flowers and corn husks into a variety of cute animals, angels, historical figures and storybook characters. Critter construction, according to this down-to-earth manual, takes little more than a hot glue gun, good dried stuff and a roving imagination. Directions for making the 27 figures here come with detailed instructions, an illustration and a ranking of its level of difficulty: beginner (reindeer, koala, musical notes) intermediate (elephant, camel, duck in eggshell) or advanced (Santa Claus, hedgehog choir, Goldilocks and the Three Bears). An opening chapter counsels on how to collect and preserve the natural materials needed to create critters. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Midwest Book Review
Every Christmas the Museum decorates its trees and galleries with 'critters': the volunteers and staff which create these specialties share their secrets for the first time, in a title which includes plenty of color photos and step-by-step instructions for making the critters. From reindeer and musical notes to owls, this includes many fun tree decorations made from largely natural materials.

ANNOTATION

Every Christmas season the Brandywine River Museum, famous for its Andrew Wyeth paintings collection, decorates its trees and galleries with "critters"--whimsical characters made by hand from dried grasses, weeds, and pods. Now the creators of these delightful displays share their secrets and techniques. Color photos throughouut.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Every Christmas season the Brandywine River Museum decorates its trees and galleries with "critters." These whimsical characters are fashioned by volunteers of the Brandywine Conservancy from a vast collection of natural dried flowers, grasses, seeds, and pods. Each year the display draws many thousands of visitors from around the country eager to see new creations, as well as old favorites such as the Musical Tree, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, or the three "critter" tenors - Pavoratti, Carreras, and Domingo. Now, for the first time in a major book, the staff and volunteers share their secrets and techniques. You can make these "critters" yourself! Here are easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for making 26 Brandywine critters (each shown in vibrant color).

SYNOPSIS

From the Inside Flap

Every Christmas season the Brandywine River Museum decorates its trees and galleries with "critters." These whimsical characters are fashioned by volunteers of the Brandywine Conservancy from a vast collection of natural dried flowers, grasses, seeds, and pods.

Each year the display draws many thousands of visitors from around the country eager to see new creations, as well as old favorites such as the Musical Tree, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, or the three "critter" tenors-Pavoratti, Carreras, and Domingo.

Now, for the first time in a major book, the staff and volunteers share their secrets and techniques. You can make these "critters" yourself! Here are easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for making 26 Brandywine critters (each shown in vibrant color).

About the Brandywine River Museum

Founded in 1971, the Brandywine River Museum holds American art, especially the foremost collection of art by members of the Wyeth family, including N. C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, and Jamie Wyeth. The Museum also features renowned collections of American illustration and landscape and still life painting.

Located in a restored, mid-19th century grist mill on the banks of the Brandywine River, amidst gardens featuring wildflowers and native plants, the Museum is a pleasure in any season. It is particularly charming each year at Christmas, when its remarkable collections are accented by the volunteers' critters, angels, and stars.

Libby Dean and Anne Scarlett have been involved with the Brandywine River Museum since it opened in 1971. They have volunteered in a multitude of capacities, serving as docents, creating masterful flower arrangements, and supporting the volunteers' annual fund raising efforts, including the Antiques Show and Critter Sale. They created the first critters in 1973 and have helped to bring national recognition to the Brandywine River Museum and its annual holiday display.

Roberta Domenick has volunteered for the Brandywine River Museum since 1984. Her expertise is critters. She has served as chairperson of the Critter Workshop for six years, shepherding the program to its present level of excellence and creating thousands of critters herself. Bert's husband, Ben, is equally involved in the Critter Workshop.

Other volunteers currently in the critter program: Grace Barrington, Kitty Benton, Jeanne Bicking (1995 workshop assistant chairperson), Ellen Craney, Bette Daller, Jack Daller, Dotty Dalrymple, Marie Dalton, Doris Dengler, Ginger Doran, Olga Fischer, Mary Lou Hale, Jo Harpham, Penny Hirannet, Naomi Hirano, Christine Hodapp, Evelyn Hopkins, Adrienne Karr, Basil Kershner, Helen Kershner, June Libbey, Ruth Lieberman, Lorraine Mostyn, Yachai McCarthy, Jan McClelland, Pat McGrail, Jim Michell, Donna Neithammer, Norma Nelson, Anna Marie Newman, Sandra Pacitti, Marjorie Payne, Dorothy Plank, Joanna Savery, Maggie Scott, Estelle Sherman, Eva Shultis, Shirley Stowe, Evie Strawbridge, Lilian Sundet, Connie Swensson, Alice Taylor, Nance Tieste, and Jeanette Webber.

About the Editors
Donna M. Gormel is Coordinator of Volunteers for the Brandywine Conservancy and its Brandywine River Museum. She has been with the Conservancy since 1982 and presently manages a volunteer force of more than 200 people.
Lucinda C. Laird is Director of Public Relations for the Brandywine Conservancy and its Brandywine River Museum. She has directed publications, media relations, and special events for the Conservancy since 1990. She is the author of American Elegance (New York, Abbeville Press, 1988).
About the Photographer
Michael Kahn has contributed photographs to many magazines, newspapers, and other publications. A book of his photographs, Brandywine,/ was published in 1990 by Jared Press (Wilmington, Delaware). His work has been exhibited at several museums and galleries, including the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. His current projects include books on Pennsylvania and Maine.
About the Brandywine River Museum
Founded in 1971, the Brandywine River Museum's American art collections include the foremost collection of art by members of the Wyeth family, including N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth. The Museum also features renowned collections of American illustration and landscape and still life painting. Located in a restored, mid-19th century grist mill on the banks of the Brandywine River amidst gardens featuring wildflowers and native plants, the Museum is a pleasure in any season. It is particularly charming each year at Christmas, when its remarkable collections are accented by the volunteers' critters, angels, and stars.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly