All About the Wonderful World of Wiggins
The Wonderful World of Wiggins series of food safe stoneware face pottery is made up of a fantasy world of 50+ different "breeds" of people, animals, and trees all originating from the unseen imaginary world existing right under the very noses of those who live and work in Stone County, Mississippi! They are all made lovingly by hand one at a time and designed just to make you smile. Each piece of pottery is then given a unique name and it's own tongue and cheek story meant to make you giggle. Just like people, each piece has it's own set of characters for family members and their story will give you a little glimpse into their 'life', whether it's about their kind, their family, or something that happened that day.
Here are just a few examples of some of the characters found in The Wonderful World of Wiggins:
Here are just a few examples of some of the characters found in The Wonderful World of Wiggins:
Fumswuddle Teapots
Meet "Kodj" a 'fumswuddle' teapot. Fumswuddle are always teapots (small, medium, large, and extra large) and are found in the Southwest corner of Stone County. Personality wise, they are rather dull beasts, lumbering about grazing on the marshy silts found around the wetlands. They are pestered notoriously by Dunderdinn who's sole purpose in life is to hunt down and capture a fumswuddle. Though no one knows exactly what a Dunderdinn would actually do with a fumswuddle if they actually caught one as there has never been a successful capture recorded, it doesn't stop them from trying. The Fumswuddle take it all in stride. The Dunderdinn plot and strategize, and the fumswuddle, well... they just ignore them.
Dunderdinn
Dunderdinn are always small, usually cups that accompany teapots, but can be shot glasses, small vases, and tiny pitchers (with and without accessories). As I told you about the fumswuddle, of course, I had to introduce you to the Dunderdinn which almost always have overblown personalities. They are clannish and natural born hunters and notorious for getting into real pickles. They can be really, really smart sometimes, but their ambition always trips them up. Likewise they can have moments when they couldn't find their way out of a wet paper bag!
Sandpeppers
Rarely forgetting a thing, they are the more intellectual of the people potteri. Generally natural scholars, more serious minded, sense of humor is a bit dry usually. They enjoy a good joke, but rarely make them. They are work oriented, a bit anal, complex, and quite often hold a higher than deserved opinion of themselves. They are kind, generous to those in need, the first to volunteer, and are known for their leadership ability. They are also dependable and highly organized. Sandpeppers are the most common folk, always a speckle pottery, with any color eyes but purple.
Flames
Flames are pretty easy to identify as they are any of several groups of folks that need a flame to light their way such as candle holders (such as this bathroom fellow), potpourri burners, and garden lanterns. Flames are very open, as every part of their personality is illuminated, they leave nothing in the dark. They tend to say exactly what's on their minds, sometimes with more bluntness than should probably be expected. But at least with a Flame, you never have to wonder what is thought of you, for A flame will always let you know just exactly where you stand.
Xenoo
Xenoo are always dark clay, but the eyes, though most often brown, green, or gold, can be any color with more elaborate facial details. Xenoo are easy going, and love a good barbeque! They will use just about any excuse in the world to have one and everyone is invited! They also love a good chili cookoff or a nice thick soup in the summer time, and they have literally thousands and thousands of recipes! They enjoy the jazz and the blues and will stay up way into the night long after their people have gone to sleep having a wonderful time. But of course, you won't ever know it!
Snorts
Snorts are the people potteri version of our pigs. They come in all kinds of clay colors and patterns, and just like real pigs, some are so very cute, and some are so very ugly. They are found throughout the Wonderful World of Wiggins, but are usually found on the edge of wooded areas preferring places where they can root in weeds. Unlike real pigs, people potteri snorts don't care anything at all for mud, and prefer to stay as clean as possible. They don't even like messy food, but will accommodate as long as you share.
Mutts
No one has the foggiest idea when and where mutts came about. No one is really sure what their heritage is, or exactly which people potteri married who for them to come about. Most people potteri prefer to stick with their own kind, or cross with only a few of the many different folk, as it's their nature. But somewhere along the lines, Mutts came about, and they can be any color clay you can think of with any color eyes, or features - tall, short, fat, skinny, tiny eyes, huge eyes, big nose or small, Mutts have them all. They also come in as many personalities as there are types of Mutts, but most of them are easy going and pleasant. I've never met a Mutt with the personality of a Ru (thank goodness!) so at least there are none that are just purely mean spirited. Maybe a few grumblies or two, but still, always willing to come through with doing the right thing in a pinch.
Wubbie
This is a Wubbie beer stein, though Wubbies come in great variety. Wubbies are very sweet tempered paradoxs, with terrible memories. They very rarely ever leave their village because they not only would forget the way home, but why they left in the first place! Sandpeppers just love them as mates because they are very forgiving (as forgetting is a given). Oddly enough, they are quiet good friends with the Umpees. Ironically, sophisticated to brainy, good tempered, they rarely take themselves or anyone or or anything too seriously. They often appear just a few bricks shy of a load - a little odd, quirky, but intelligent despite their short term memory handicap and unusually good diplomats. While the usual family of people potteri is around 15, Wubbies have been known to have unusually large families. They have thinner lips, smaller eyes, lower cheeks, light to yellow complection, no moles, and their eyes can be any color but usually lighter colors prevail.
Makookoo
Makookoo's are bread bakers. If you are familiar with coffee can bread (ask your grandmother), then you will love these little bakers. These animals were rediscovered in 2005 when a young bull was captured grazing by the sidewalk across the street from the power company in downtown Wiggins. There are two types of Makookoo, the Flugs which aren't even called makookoo by the locals which are not rare, but not that common either and have been used for centuries mostly in the Northwest part of Stone County as farm animals. They are the result of the smaller culls turned out by those who once bred the War Makookoo. Terrible animals with no fear used to carry the Ru into battle, it was thought the last of them were all hunted down and broken after the War. But more and more have been found wandering the fields near Wiggins which means that the Ru are about again. It's unclear how these animals have escaped their handlers and oddly enough, seem to tame down quite easily once caught, unlike their predasessors, but no one has had one long enough to know for sure if this is a true trait or the exception. So no one is entirely sure whether they are just throw backs from wild Flugs or whether they are actually being bred again and have just somehow gotten loose and found their way into town. Males are always striped at maturity (calves are usually born without markings, with females getting their markings first). Both sexes can have a variety of eye colors and eye color combinations with the rarest being gold with purple rims. The females can be quite elaborately colorful, ranging from simplet monotone designs to quite intricate ones with many colors and can even change color and patterns something like an octopus can to better blend in with their surroundings. But once caught, whatever color they are at that time becomes permanent. Always bread bakers, they can grow quite amazingly large in size.
Red Brick Indians
Brick Indians are always made from red clay. They have average sized features, though their noses can sometimes be quite impressive. I’ve never seen a homely female Brick Indian. All of them have rather pleasing, almond shaped eyes, and they always smile. They typically have green or brown eyes in a wide range of hues and their lips are usually more thin than not.
Brick Indians were discovered around the year 2000. They once lived beneath the High School which was originally located in Blaylock Park and hunted the surrounding woods. But as the town grew, the woods began to disappear and it wasn’t long after that, that the old high school was torn down to make way for the new park. At first, they hid beneath the bridge behind the old movie house (which is still there to this day, but now serves wonderful food rather than movies). They decided they liked the lovely shaded creek so much, they decided to make their home in the sides of it nearest the restaurant. As it’s located at the bottom of the brick street in Wiggins, (rather than the more obvious fact that they are the same color as the old red brick) they became known as the Brick Indians.
Brick Indians were discovered around the year 2000. They once lived beneath the High School which was originally located in Blaylock Park and hunted the surrounding woods. But as the town grew, the woods began to disappear and it wasn’t long after that, that the old high school was torn down to make way for the new park. At first, they hid beneath the bridge behind the old movie house (which is still there to this day, but now serves wonderful food rather than movies). They decided they liked the lovely shaded creek so much, they decided to make their home in the sides of it nearest the restaurant. As it’s located at the bottom of the brick street in Wiggins, (rather than the more obvious fact that they are the same color as the old red brick) they became known as the Brick Indians.
Heifergot
Heifergots are found in all the forests of Stone County, Mississippi, where they hunt their favorite food, honey. They have elongated, pointy ears and a snout something like a fox, and eyes that are big and oval in shape. You probably wonder why a honey eater has such sharp teeth. Heifergots don’t climb very well, so they rely on their teeth to help them climb up inside hollow trees and to defend them from bees. They use their long, flat ears like fly swatters. Of course, bee stings don’t bother the heifergot, but they are quite an annoyance when one is trying to have lunch and bugs are trying to sting you while you’re trying to have a meal. They are irritable little creatures and only in a contented mood when their belly is full of honey.
Jade
Jade come in just about all forms of potter, and are from the Province of Tall under the House of Colors which is located near a large church near Sunflower Rd in Stone County, Mississippi. Usually lighter colored, similar to the Sandpeppers. They have oversized, obviously slanted eyes and small noses and mouths. Without exception Jade always have a shade of green eyes. They are a shy, soft spoken people, kind and intelligent with an insaitable curiosity which can often get them into trouble.
Crackpot
The difference between Crackles and Crackpots is the crack. Crackles are cracked only throughout the glaze, whereas Crackpots are cracked in the clay itself. Crackpots are the hardest of all the people potteri to make as great care must be taken to let the clay dry before adding the facial features at just the right time. Too much and the clay features will crack too much or blow off completely - too little, and the clay won't crack. Needless to say, they are not made as often, so more collectible. From the Wonderful World of Wiggins eye of looking at things - it's said that they crack because they are so ticklish that they can't be still to dry.
Peppereater
Peppereaters are always salsa pots, without exception. These fellows are glazed inside and out and are brightly decorated in reds, greens, sometimes yellows and oranges. The expression on their faces pretty much tells it all. They are really into the hot stuff.
Cream and Sugar folk
Okay, so I threw in a couple of folks I've already listed their breed here - can you guess what kind they are? This cream and sugar set was just something I absolutely got such a hoot out of making, I just had to share! so, enjoy!
Taleon Splatts
Taleon Splatts are rather talented fellows, expecially with poetry and music, though they don't play, but stick purely with the writing and directing end of things. They are almost always vases, but occasionally found in other shapes as well. They are glazed inside, with the traditional dripping glaze found on most pieces of Wonderful World of Wiggins ware, with 'splats' all over their bodies.
Beeboogal
Beeboogals are, of course, honeypots. For practical reasons, they are always glazed inside and out, and have a small hole in their lids for a honey dipper to stick through. They can be colorful or natural clay, but either way, they will faithfully keep your honey safe.
Silverlite
Silverlite are from the 5th Kingdom, ruled by the Jade which is full of mystery and magical beings. The Silverlite males never marry outside of their own and the females will only marry those outside who are of exceptional (usually royal) linage or of outstanding character and accomplishments. The males are extremely loyal, rather serious minded individuals gifted with negotiation and strategy. Their council was often sought in the days of The Great War fought between the seven kingdoms and the Ru. The females are brought up very well mannered and gracious, the perfect socialite, and spend most of their 'lives' at court. They are gifted peacemakers and most welcome at all of the kingdoms as they only speak the truth. Silverlite are always honorable, driven by strong moral conscience. It is said that those who look into the eyes of a Silverlite can see themselves for who or what they really are as they only reflect the truth. Silverlite girls are kept in private schools until they are twenty eight years old and not considered fully "Laaza" (young girl of marriageable age) until they are thirty five. They earn the spots or "doe" on the outside of the natural curleque of their eyes which will extend upwards toward the temples when they have mastered certain aspects of character considered essential to becoming Laaza.
Goofoo Indian
The Goofoos are a timid people, rarely seen in daylight. Their eyes are always lazy, and though in varying shades – always a bright yellow to goldish brown. Their lips are dark, to almost plum, their bodies varying from brown to olive green with yellow tones. They are completely wild and not easily domesticated. But wonderful smells keep them tranquil, which is probably why most of them which are caught and trapped are vases and steins because the scent of flowers and fruity drinks sends them into a trance that makes them tranquil and lazy. Take good care of your Goofoo Indian and don’t let him out of your sight. They are very quick if not contained with flowers and fruty things, and he’s liable to make a run for it.
Fleckles are quite unique looking, glazed inside and out, with no eyelashes or eyebrows, no moles or other markings, with large freckles throughout the clay. They aren't common folk, so they're rarely seen. They are very shy folk, living in the domain of The House of Parks. It wasn’t even known if they truly existed until just a few years ago as the only time one was seen was when he or she cropped up in a family of Sandpeppers or Wubbies. It was thought that perhaps they might even be a throwback from some earlier time, but the truth was found when a Sandpepper doctor filled in for a Wubbie doctor at a hospital one week. A young Fleckle couple had disguised themselves to come into the Wubbie hospital to have their newest little darling because Fleckles know of the Wubbie’s bad memories, so they felt they should soon be forgotten after the birth. When the Sandpepper doctor figured this out, he realized that the Wubbies bumbling were the reason for Fleckles showing up among Sandpeppers and Wubbies, else they may not have ever known of their existence. A kind people, they dwell in the surrounding forests, usually only venturing out in the shadows of the shrubbery or in twight light as their lack of lashes and odd complexion leave them vulnerable to the sun. Their dappled coloring helps to hide them in the shade and they blend in quite well among many sands and pebbles. They don’t speak much, and rarely attend anything public.
Hoogar Tree
Hoogar trees are always vases. A bit shorter, fatter trees, somewhat resembling an oak - a bit lumpy, with a one piece bright to dark green canopy and several spreading roots. Hoogar trees, as all people potteri trees, have no last name, and they have a grumpy temperment. They are perfectly harmless and enjoy helping, but would never admit it because that's just not the Hoogar way. As any self respecting Hoogar tree, they gripe if it's sunny, they gripe if it rains, though it really affects them neither way. Hoogar trees, begin made of stone, do not rely on water to grow of course, being more of the petrified variety. Nothing much may seem to please them on the outside, but on the inside, they are tickled plum pink with any company at all, thus it's not uncommon to see various critters climbing their branches or birds nesting on their shoulders.
Tahudju Fish
Tahudju Fish are somewhat catfish like and found in the Wolf River in Stone County, Mississippi, and are always jars glazed inside and out. They are found in a variety of colors, (though red is most common) always with yellow or orange eyes, and white detail. They are slippery little fellows and uncommonly found as they are rather hard to catch so feel quite lucky if you own one!