Pinata Party

i suppose it's a bit crazy to spend 18 hours building a pinata knowing full well it will be decimated in less than 10 minutes.  i think that is what i like best about pinatas, their temporary nature... and watching the candy fly.

spanish folk crafts

this is an amazing book detailing the traditional folk crafts of spain. i still haven't had the chance to really read much of it [i keep getting wrapped up in all the glorious images]. what i like best about this book is that there are plenty photos of the actual craftsmen + women. text by maria antonia pelauzy + photos by f. catala roca, published in 1978. ISBN 84-7031-060-7

my favorite section is a chapter on traditional breads + sweets. i have a particular interest in figurative + decorative breads. this book is more of an overview or history of spanish craft. unfortunately there are no instructional elements... but it's still an absolute joy. the palmas + palmones made for Palm Sunday are nothing short of breath-taking.

here's the table of contents + a few of my favorite images from various chapters. click images for larger viewing.

more photos may be found here.

halloween printing + stitching

busy-busy trying to finish up halloween projects for my etsy shop. i finally finished these halloween capes. this has been a long term project, but i am most pleased with the end result. the capes are 100% handmade from print to stitch. images original to baking with medusa and screen-printed by hand. wish i had documented the printing process. printing prior to garment construction has it's challenges. perhaps next time.

this is a project idea i've had for quite sometime now. I truly love vintage manufactured halloween costumes and the use of print. in these items the garment contruction is simple, but the costume is made by the printed elements. i definitely hope to do more of such projects in the future.

there are three separate styles in both child and adult sizes. more images may be found here on flickr. capes available for purchase in my etsy shop.

something new

there's nothing quite like making something custom made for yourself or celebrating the completion of a new project. it's been far too long since i made myself a new purse. this one was a year in the making, or at least in the contemplating. that bright red corduroy is from an upcycled shirt i got at the abita springs garage sale last year. i knew what it was destined, it just took a while to become a physical reality. actual sewing time was about a days work though. more pics of this purse + others, can be found here.

'titREX 2011

mardi gras is fast approaching. it's been a mad flurry trying to finish up all things 'titREX. we're counting down the days to the micro spectacle that is 'titREX Parade.

tiny projects*

here's a few pics of the tiny float i made this year for our 2nd annual 'titREX Parade, New Orleans only micro-krewe. this year's theme, la petite mort, [the little death] interpretations varied from float to float. my float title, sugar coma, a chronicle of the euphoria and eminent crash that is my sugar addiction... and that's why, even though i'm a non practicing former catholic, i'm still giving up sugar for lent this year. this love/hate affair has to come to and end sometime. more 'titREX pics can be found here and here.

Things to Make and Do... with Boris K: Part Two

be sure to visit Frankensteinia for more Boris.




Don't put away the scissors + craft paper just yet. It's time for my second installment of Craft Experiments with Boris Karloff. This selection may be an obvious choice, the Clothespin Theater. Well, in this case the re-adapted No-Clothespin Theater. I have a tendency to disregard directions. This project is basically a papercraft diorama. The perfect showcase to stage a Boris K mini-production. Today's dramatization will be the windmill scene from Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein.

Here are the original instructions from Things to Make and Do.
click to enlarge


***
Project Number Two
No-Clothespin Theater

Bring back the internet images of Boris K as used in Project Number One. Again print them out in a desired size on cardstock paper. Embellish with paint if you like and cut out figures with an exacto knife.

You may cut out each character using the original backgrounds or trim closely and glue them on colored cardstock. Spray mount works best, but elmers glue may be used sparingly. Cut out background cardstock in desired shape. Be sure to use a strait edge when cutting the bottom edge. This will help your characters stand up better.

I have opted to disregard the clothespins in this project and make each character free standing. For stability, glue, paste or sew each character cutout to another sheet of cardstock or old folder. After image has been fixed trim around each cutout. You may use with pinking sheers for a decorative edge.

Cut two notches on each end about a 1/2 inch long. Make tabs of double ply cardstock or folder scraps [1/2 inch high x 2 inches long]. Line up one tab with one notch on your character. The tab should sit perpendicular to the bottom edge of your paper character. Fit two tabs to each character. Now they are ready for free standing. It's very similar to a paperdoll stand.

When making your theater, choose a medium to large sized box. Cover with craft paper and corresponding scene imagery from magazines, discarded books or internet printouts. For simplicities sake I just used random forest images. Now, set the stage.

If you'd like a few readmade paper characters, feel free to click, enlarge + download the images below.

...and if anyone should take on this Boris K Craft Challenge, please take pictures and share the love. Either post a link to your images in my comments box or email images to: bakingwithmedusa[at]gmail.com

Things to Make and Do... with Boris K: Part One

be sure to visit Frankensteinia for seven days with Boris.

One of my favorite books as a child was Douglas Downey's 1976 publication, Things to Make and Do. I used to poor over the pages planning which project to do next. To this day, I still live to make things. So when it came time to whip up a few posts for the Boris Karloff Blogathon I naturally gravitated towards craft. My two blogathon contributions are a bit like chocolate + peanut butter to me... [stay with me] if crafts are great on their own + Boris K is somewhere beyond awesome, what do I get when I mix the to together? Limitless joy, that's what. I decided to revisit the old tride + true handicraft bible that is Things to Make and Do. I took two original projects and reworked them with Boris in mind. Now, on with the experiments.

Here are the original instructions from Things to Make and Do.
click to enlarge

***
Project Number One
Boris Karloff Finger-Puppets

First comb the internet for Boris images. Print chosen images on cardstock. Cut, paste + Frankenstein together your collected bits of Boris. Most Boris images tend to be black+white, so feel free to add color with paint or paperscraps. Cut two finger sized circles side by side on the bottom of each puppet.

Once your puppets are complete, trace the outside of each on an other sheet of cardstock or old folder. Cut out each backing silhouette slightly smaller than the original. Don't forget to cut out the finger holes as well. The backing will provide extra stability.

Line up the backing silhouette on the back of your puppet. Trace an outline for easy placement when gluing. Now, glue the backing to your puppet using glue or spray mount. Make sure to use your outlines as a placement guide.

Once your placement is set, press together from the center moving towards each edge. It's helpful to do this using a bone folder or the edge of a ruler.

Now your Boris K Puppets are ready for action.

If you'd like a few readymade Boris K Finger-Puppets, feel free to click, enlarge + download the images below. There are also a few Boris heads to choose from, if your up for the challenge.

... and if anyone should take up this Boris K Craft Challenge, please take picture and share the love. Either post a link to your images in my comments box or email images to: bakingwithmedusa[at]gmail.com