Attempt #2 tomorrow? 👀

Them: What are you doing? Us: Painting pumpkins!! Who’s excited for Halloween? 🎃

The Mickey Mouse Club is 70 years old today. Through the years, we’ve had the fun of creating a lot of art and merchandise to celebrate the television program which debuted on October 3, 1955. Here’s an original hand-painted tribute by Jody for the Mouseketeers’ 55th anniversary in 2010.

Welcome to Lord Henry’s Mystic Manor, our latest commissioned piece for an ardent admirer of the dark ride attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland. Our one-of-a-kind dimensional miniature is wood and colorful acrylic paints with some metallic layers for a little extra magic. We loved working on this.✨

Another recent commission: Small World wooden toys that are also portrait caricatures of the real-life couple that commissioned them! The cowboy spinning his rope has teensy handmade spectacles, and the little German lass is holding a salted pretzel. A lot of fun to make!

Weekend plans 🦕 (📸 from 2005)

Us in 1996 at the Kon-Tiki in Tucson, Arizona. We asked the bartender if we could keep a drink menu, and we still have it! 🍹🩵🍹

We are astonished to be honored by the Walt Disney Archives as “Archives Angels”. Everything we’ve ever accomplished as Disney designers and historians over the past 30+ years has relied on the holdings of the Disney Studio’s Archives and the support of its incredible Staff.

The summer wind, came blowin’ in from across the sea. We just completed a commissioned “wall artwork” for a special Tiki lover. It’s Tangaroa-Ru, the East Wind! She’s a tall 32-inches, and built entirely of wood. We’re loving all the fun requests we’ve been getting!

These fabulous fellows dropped by our studio recently for minor repairs and a cleanup. This is the original “park statue” prop from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando. The attraction opened in 1971 and closed forever in 1998, already almost thirty years ago.

We just finished another commission at our Anaheim studio which includes this hand-carved one-of-a-kind wooden perch. There’s more to it, of course, which we’ll show you later! 🦜

A merry member of the band from our “Pirates of the Caribbean” series of figures for Disneyland Paris. The concertina-player in his long red coat has always been a favorite!

This trio of pirate musicians are now available exclusively at Disneyland Paris, the next in our series of classic characters from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” adventure. There are only 600 of these rascals available. 🏴‍☠️ Shout out to @regisalart.bsky.social

Finishing up a custom shadow box for a special commissioned art piece. Where do you suppose these doors lead to?

The devil is in the details. This “hellish homie” is about to spend their eternity in a miniature diorama underworld. Hand painted paperboard and carved wood.

Today in the studio, a brand new art commission has commenced. Any guesses what these are? 😈

“Anything for you, Mary Poppins!” A little hand-painted wood sculpture we did awhile ago (sold, by the way). Part of a series inspired by Mary Blair’s work.

I'm thrilled to share a recent paper portrait of the sweetest Doberman! Working on commissioned pieces like this is always a pleasure. (Thanks Dobis & Abbey! ) 🍃

On our way to Glendale tonight for the Bob Gurr documentary premiere, and talking about those fun Chevy Impala ads from the 60s. Anyone remember this one?? Back when TV magic was done with fabulous practical effects!🧡 youtu.be/s-_2EUCK6oM?...

Yesterday we met one of our favorite actresses of all time, Margaret O’Brien—who played the wonderful “Tootie” in “Meet Me in St Louis” with Judy Garland. What a treat! There’s a terrific movie poster show at the MUZEO in downtown Anaheim which ends next week—Go see it if you can!

A relic from the late 1980s, I think. Mixed emotions of fun business travels in my youth, and memories of struggling to draw decent lips on the Little Mermaid.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Strong Water Anaheim in support of “The Donn of Tiki” today.

We’re excited for the “Donn of Tiki” mug release at Strong Water Anaheim on Sunday. Here are the original concept designs for the stop motion puppet.

Behind-the-scenes with the stop-motion puppet designed and sculpted for “The Donn of Tiki”. The filmmakers are currently looking for a distributor. Have you been able to see it at a special screening or film festival yet? It turned out beautifully!

Excited for the “Donn of Tiki” mug release this Sunday at Strongwater Anaheim! Reserve tix here: resy.com/cities/anahe...

Tonight’s bedtime reading.

The answer to yesterday’s ‘mystery sculpture’ is our hefty Big Al ceramic mug, released in July 2022 at Walt Disney World. Ideal for drinks or just a place to keep your guitar picks. If you own one, imagine all that wood and aluminum foil inside his head next time you’re sipping your moonshine!

Back in 2022, we began making this ‘mystery object’ out of wood, foil and sculpey. If you’re an old-school Disney fan you might have the finished product in your personal collection. Any guesses what it could be? Answer to be revealed tomorrow. 😁

A big heartfelt thanks to all for kind wishes and emojis for our 30th anniversary. We celebrated at a bunch of our favorite LA spots, hiked all over Mt Washington (our old neighborhood for 12 years ), and saw Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” on the big screen at the Vista theater. Full of gratitude tonight! 💚🧡

It’s our anniversary today—30 years!

Thanks to all who came to The Lucky Tiki in West Hollywood on Sunday to get a mug signed. And thanks especially to our host Bobby Green and the entire LT crew! It’s always a massive pleasure to visit this sparkling jewel of a place. (BTW, The mugs are now available online or at the bar in person 😊.)

Hey everyone, after twenty years in the making, the official Lucky Tiki Mug will be released at The Lucky Tiki bar in West Hollywood this Sunday 2/9. Kevin will be there from 1pm-3pm to sign mugs (One per person only, $50 each.) Hope to see you there!

Feeling sentimental today. This is us thirty years ago on a road trip together to Arizona. Time sure goes by quickly.

Coming soon. (IYKYK) 😊

Spending our New Year’s Eve at the dining room cinema 🍿.

Each year we try to find time to make a few one-of-a-kind wooden toys for friends. This is our version of old St. Nick’s adorable cottage at Santa’s Village in Skyforest, California.

‘Tis the season.

Guess who digitized the documentation Kevin has been hanging on to for 36 years?? 🙋

Nov. 18, 1988: Mickey Mouse’s 60th birthday event at the United Nations in New York. Hundreds of invited guests came to see Mickey on tour. Myself (Kevin Kidney), Steve Davison, and Michael Tobias from the Disneyland Art Dept. set up the event wearing Main Str. costumes brought from Anaheim😆.

We were just reminded of an even bigger “Mickey” we designed for Mickey’s Soundsational Parade at Disneyland, back in 2011. Did you see it?

Here’s to 96 years of Mickey Mouse—with one of the biggest “Mickey things” we ever designed for the Disney parks.

Happy to bring our studio to Bluesky. Feels good here!