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Russian Japanophiles Craft Kawaii Clay Accessories

The online shop Moon Bunny features rings, necklaces, and charms with quirky characters and bright colors.
All images courtesy the artists via 

Browsing through Moon Bunny feels more like entering a dream-like world than it does scrolling through a standard online shop. A logo shows a light purple bunny sitting comfortable on a half moon while holding a star in its paw. Polka dots line the home page and spill over into the individual product shots. Each category name — earrings, charms, bracelets — gets sandwiched between heart emoticons.

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A description beneath the website name explains that the jewelry brand creates each piece with the utmost care and affection. “We’re trying out best to create a little fairytale in each piece,” the blurb reads. Moon Bunny is the project of Veronika Gorbunova and Tatiana Palamarchuk, Russia-based, self-taught artists that make each item by hand. Their polymer clay pieces combine their own whimsical visions with their love for Japanese street fashion, namely the Kawaii aesthetic.

The duo doesn’t know of many denizens in their area that share their love for the style. Moon Bunny came to fruition because the makers couldn’t find similar accessories in Russia. What began as a series of pieces for themselves turned into a brand that fulfilled others’ need for cute objects. The pieces mix Japanese culture with the duo’s own aesthetic. Some figures include the “Dreamy Star Kitten,” a cat’s head with closed eyes and a gold star on its forehead, and a bright orange figurine called “Kitsune,” Japanese for ‘fox.’

“We like to invent new ways to work with clay and yarn, to create new designs and make new pieces,” Gorbunova tells The Creators Project. “It's very cool to be capable to have fun and to improve your skills at the same time. We are best friends over 10 years, and we like to work and craft together, to inspire each other.”

The brooches, necklaces, and bracelets are carefully crafted and often include painstaking detail despite their small size. A “Box of Chocolate” ring measures only three centimeters but includes details that show the makers’ attentiveness. The fake chocolate are topped with fake nuts, fake frosting, and even a flower design. As the makers explain, crafting these pieces takes time — sometimes it can take an entire day just to make a few of the pieces.

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In addition to their clay pieces, the duo also creates other adorable items like a pair of fluffy yarn cat earrings, a pair of furry white cats with pink eyes, pink bows and small gold crosses. The makers also combine clay with ribbons in bright colors.

The duo recently experimented with print design and created a “Cosmic Cuties” shirt. The duo’s connection to the wearer seems to go beyond a customer transaction. The items are meant to accentuate cute outfits by people with similar styles. And maybe they can even help the wearer attract positive vibes.

“Right now my favorite items are MerBunnies,” says Gorbunova. “I had a lot of fun creating mermaid bunnies. I think, when you craft something with pleasure and nice emotions — it could bring good luck and positive energy to the future owner.”

To learn more about Moon Bunny click here.

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