Totally Chuffed!

Glancing through my Facebook news feed today, I was excited to find this:

Dharma Trading featured one of my tutorials!  Being Halloween and all, it's kind of nice when my PAST comes back to haunt me!

More Magnificent Masks!

You might remember I did a series of  Mask-Making posts, using Dharma Trading Mask Blanks?

The following Video is an Overview of a series by my  fellow artist Jennifer .    Her Mask Tutorials give step-by-step instructions for using Acrylic and Enamel paints, Assemblage techniques, and Spray Dyes.

CharlesChaplin, Chocolate Chips, Quiche + Kells

The opening scene from "Benny and Joon"  is a picture of what living the creative life is like.

Masks! from Mistakes to Miracles

Carnevale-Mardis Gras-Faschings:  It's that time of year!  My friend Jennifer and I set up a couple of  "work days" in my home studio to do these, and 5 others. We used a spray-dye technique,  with a Preval Portable Spray Gun, and Procion dyes and Masks from Dharma Trading.
          There are 4 blogs below, with Step-by-Step Photos, Tips and Screw-Ups,
for an Ombre Mask, a Malachite Cat,  and an Iridescent Lizard.    The Granny Zanni Mask used spray acrylic and lace overlay.  All of them passed the "Torchlight Test".**

How To Photos: The Malachite Cat

The way I'd intended to decorate this mask didn't happen.  The outcome was a complete surprise! See below for my partner's Very Clever Way to cut air holes in them,  because they fit so closely to your face.

How To Photos: Jennifer's Clever Cat-Mask-Nose-Trick!

My Partner-in-Crime, Jennifer, came up with this procedure.  Now we can all breathe easier in our cat masks!  Just click on the image to enlarge.

How To Photos: Granny Zanni Nose Mask

We had this pair of  Commedia dell'Arte Zanni masks.  My partner created the rich, traditional brown and gold one for a man.  I frankly can't stand the things, so tried to come up with the most bizarre companion mask I could think of: Roses, Ribbons, and Embroidered netting.  A granny Zanni.

How To Photos: Irridescent Lizard Mask

My partner created a Pink Feathered mask on her Cat Mask base.  I wanted a coordinating mask, that a man might feel comfortable wearing; so I chose to use a lizard scale pattern.
Studying everything from geckos to gila monsters, I was surprised at how uneven the scales were. (thankfully! Much easier to draw!)  You use an overlap technique.  The top scales meet in the middle of the underlying scale.

How To Photos: The Ombre Mask

 I wanted the graded colors of Ombre Dying in this project, going from Yellow, to Orange, then Red.  There are tips at the end of this article. (Translation: how I'll probably do it differently next time. ;^) )

Senior Gift of Sustainability

What do these 3 images have in common?
Air Compressors.
One of the best gifts any Senior Class could give to their school, is a greener way to do things.
Airbrushing is the Way Forward.

Uncycle Parade Float (part 1)

 Happy Thanksgiving!
As I write this, the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade is being broadcast.  A perfect day to post about making uncycled parade floats from plastic shopping bags.

Below, you'll find step-by-step pictorial, demonstrated by my assistant Maia.   We used spray paint from cans for this project, but see my blog "Senior Gift of Sustainability", for an ecologically better painting solution.
Happy Celebrating!

The Slipper of 10,000 Hapinesses

Packing up the last box of ornaments, I realized the Fu Slipper was missing.

Once belonging to a doll, this slipper was used mainly on our Siamese cat, Wan Fu.  Her name means 10,000 Happinesses.

To this day, I have no idea how our daughter Diana managed to lace the ribbons up the cat's haunches...and more, that Fu Kitty let her.  Anyone else trying it would be missing an arm or a leg.

Looking for this slipper led me circuitously to a world of Magic:

The 2010 Christmasworld in Frankfurt Germany

Mailing International: "Indestructible Cookies"

What gift is small, light, + fits in an envelope?

(hint: if you said "Gift Card", you'll have to see my next post)

Sending cookies to my family is a very Global affair. It costs a small fortune to send tins to four different continents, so this year I want to try Sending Cookies In Envelopes!

Start a Christmas Heirloom Tonight; Counted Crosstitch Crismons

Roughly 20 years ago, I was in a very cool group called M.O.P.S. (Mothers of Preschoolers)  I was introduced to  these beautiful tree ornaments called Crismons.  They were originally Greek letters or "monograms" for the names of Christ.  Eventually they were made with all kinds of Christian Symbols.

The Kid-Friendly Creche

I encourage you to find or make a kid-friendly creche for Christmas this year.
By "kid-friendly", I mean, all the people and animals are soft, cuddly, and Washable. I found a pre-printed creche fabric at a fabric store one year, that had all the main players. It was roughly 1 yard, simple to sew and stuff, and totally washable. That creche has survived almost 20 years!
and the cool thing is:
You can sneak Baby Jesus into your room, and sleep with him under your pillow!