PRETEND IT EXISTS

PRETEND IT EXISTS

Once upon a time: Alice in Wonderland (Part 2)

Do I feel small? Am I bigger than I think? And the mini rabbit-hole set I made out of paper

Melody Hansen's avatar
Melody Hansen
Mar 22, 2024
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Alice's Adventures Under Ground by Lewis Carroll, Part 2

I’m back. This time, with a craft—I built a small set out of paper for this week’s Alice in Wonderland, Part 2. (I know, it’s been a few weeks, but sometimes you just need a little more time than you think)

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If you missed it, I introduced a new series last month, Once upon a time, where we explore fairy tales and children’s stories, starting with Alice in Wonderland.

I’m adventuring through the original book, Alices’s Adventures Under Ground, a manuscript of 4 chapters written by Lewis Carroll.

Chapter 2, a summary

Alice comes out of the water (her tears) with a group of animals.

They converse.

The white rabbit asks Alice to find his white gloves, and tells her to go to his house.

Alice arrives at the house, sees the gloves, as well as a looking-glass and a small bottle. She drinks the bottle and becomes larger than the house.

“I used to read fairy-tales, I fancied that sort of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one! […] Shall I never get any older than I am now?”

Alice in Wonderland – The Precedent
Alice in Wonderland, 1951
Mattel Creations Limited Edition Alice in Wonderland Doll
Mattel Limited Edition Disney Collector Alice in Wonderland Doll

Feeling like Alice

I wanted to make something for this book. A craft. So I made a paper set from an old pj set box I had.

Having been in this in-between space the past few months, looking for new work and uncertain what comes next, let alone where the next paycheck is coming from, this paper rabbit-hole has felt like both an escape and an inner reflection.

I feel like Alice, tumbling down into an unknown; I feel big and I feel small. The clock is ticking—am I running behind?
Perhaps, I am right on time.

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