The Wood Wind Troupe

I have 6 party horns for Hallowe'en and Vine! Each horn looks like a tree branch with leaves in its hair and measures about 12" long from front to back. The six little guys are making rude faces by pulling their mouths open with their fingers. The tongues are counter-balanced so that they waggle from side to side as they are held. Blow the horn and there is a whirring roar to scare off all of the little things that go bump in the night.

Cornelius

Florian

Giles

Humphry

Titus

Wayland

Really Scary Costumes - part 2

A few years ago year Black Cat dressed up as bush.

He managed to frighten the Byrd brothers when they decided to check out the nest. They have stopped being a bit of a nuisance in BC's life. I am not so sure that it's a one way street when it comes to the "being a bit of a nuisance" though. Jack is nodding his head at the moment in agreement. 

Black Cat and Jack put the finishing touches on BC's costume a few days ago. This costume was Black Cat's idea, I think that it is quite amazing. Jack managed to make the cage. I am not certain where all of the feathers came from but they very quickly informed me that no birds were harmed in making this costume.

The two of them were laughing at the part that covers Black Cat's head, Jack said that it looks like a bad comb-over.

The shoes that cover his feet look pretty impressive.

I asked the two of them why they thought that it was a really scary costume and Black Cat was a little too excited when he mentioned that when the birds come to visit the great big bird in the cage he'd say something very cattish to give them a scare. I'm not sure what something very cattish is but BC said that it would be VERY scary to a bird.

Well I had better get back to work, I'll try and post a little more often but don't hold your breath!

Really Scary Costumes - part 1

About a month or so ago I was talking with Jack and Black Cat about making some really scary costumes, well needless to say it took off from there. Marty of "Marty's Mercantile and Great Goods" came up with this costume. At first I didn't think that this costume was very scary but then I realized that if you are a vegetable, a lot of my friends are, a caterpillar is scary.

I must go back to the studio and work. Black Cat and Jack have finished their costume so I will show it to you in the next post in a few days.

Another piece for Hallowe'en and Vine

I wanted to show you one the latest pieces for Hallowe'en and Vine. There are still a few areas to touch up on it but here it is.

The piece is called, "Decorating for the Costume Ball". It stands 17" high. The JOL has a handmade fabric collar and cotton bow tie. I was thinking for a short moment of giving him cuffs but decided not to, he would have looked too much like a Chippendale dancer.

There will be more posts of pieces as they get finished. I have about 6 figures that I am working on at the moment. There are also "Some Really Scary Costumes" coming up as well.

Well this was a short update so back to the studio!

Book inspiration and some paper lanterns.

Last year I bought some books that I had been wanting for several years. I love children's books, and books with a lot of pictures.

One of those books was a picture book called "The Truth About Jack-O-Lanterns" published by Green Tiger Press. This book has been in print since 2006. They have also published  "The Truth About Easter Rabbits" and "The Truth About Snow-People", both of which I now own. The books are created using vintage and antique illustrations to show the likes, dislikes and the daily routine of each subject. There are one and sometimes two illustrations per page so it is a great inspiration source.

This image has been a source for quite a few ideas. It is the feeling of fun and childhood innocence that I find so inspiring as well as those paper lanterns.

Here is another page from the book. The bottom image is the one that is so intriguing, that garland is wonderful.

Years ago I borrowed a book from the library about Japanese crafts. In the book was a section on how the paper and cane lanterns were made, unfortunately I did not photocopy the directions. I have forgotten the name of the book and have tried to find it ever since. These small paper lanterns are made to look like a large size rice paper lantern. I am very pleased with them. They will be held by a large figure in the process of decorating for the costume ball.

I must get back to work. I will post items as I have time.

A mini update.

This is just a quick update about how things are progressing in the studio. I work on a whole lot of the same thing at one time, I think(?) it saves me time working this way. So when I am working on things that tend to be detailed not a lot seems to be getting done over a week or so, think making fingers, then hands, applying papier-mache, making toes, making feet, and finally applying papier-mache to the feet. It doesn't make for an exciting blog post.

Here is a photo of the way that I go about building the feet for my standing characters. Everything is wired together and then papier- mache placed over the wire armatures. The two wire prongs at the bottom of the feet will be glued into holes in the base that the figure stands on.

That is about all for now, I'll keep you updated as to goings on in and about the studio. I also haven't mentioned much at all about Black Cat and Jack for quite a while. Black Cat pointed this out to me the other day. Check these 4 links if you are not familiar with my two friends - link 1, link 2, link 3, and link 4.  I must get back to work.