Project Wish List - Viking Knit

Just learned about a new wire weaving technique (new to me at least) that I want to try called Viking Knit. Here's a decent vid I found. Think I'd grab some wire when I can afford it and give this a go.

Peeling Garlic - Super Speed!

Since props involved real food at times, I think I'm completely justified to add this nifty link I found on the fastest garlic peeling technique I have ever seen ;)

Dangerous Liaisons - footstool build pt. 3

Now that the muslin is on come the final touches of adding the outer fabric and extras to make it pretty. We used the same upholstery fabric as we do later with the chairs since the fabric and accent shapes are suppose to match. I was nervous working with the very expensive fabric, but I found it easier and more forgiving to shape with than the muslin had been.

I thought we'd add some gimp or something to the final fabric, but we ended up not needing to do more then add a couple decretive tacks near the corner folds. I stapled the black fabric to to bottom (I had to do this a couple of times because of actors somehow sticking their hands through the bottom and tearing the fabric :0, but it was an easy fix) and they were ready to go.

(I will add the final show pics of the footstool here when I get them)

Dangerous Liaisons - footstool build pt. 2

Okay next part of the footstool build involves turning it from a bunch of wood into something that one might find comfy enough to actually rest their feet on. This began with something I first started to get any experience with in puppetry… the Foam.

Dangerous Liaisons - footstool build pt. 1

Okay, the show is done (Dangerous Liaisons), but I wanted to go back and go over and talk about my big challenges for the build, the first which was my first attempt at building furniture… the footstools to match the chairs.  The designs my prop master gave me didn't have much info on them regarding measurements so I had to figure out a lot of stuff as I went along.  I don't have pics of the early build this time, but I managed to borrow an iPhone later in the semester (which ended up being gifted to me after) so I have process pics from the staining on.

The biggest speed bumps in the build was firstly the legs, due to the bolt holes I had to work around when adding the pocket holes. This caused big complications and some weak areas so I added supporter squares inside each corner to add stability to the joints. The other issues involved the making of the curves (the bandsaw was having issues) for the top, from, and back, and the unknown element that added to the measurement of the footstool. I went through more frustration with then then any other part of the show build, but in the end by the time I got to staining I managed to make to workable footstools. The staining went much better, with two coats of dark walnut, a coat of special walnut, and three coats of poly.  I was pretty pleased with the final results of the finishing work.

Sewing Series: Teach Yourself to Sew - season 1-3

Today I ordered a Threads magazine subscription after running across their website looking for a good pattern making software (I'll talk about that later) and saw this great sewing series for beginners and people who want to brush up on their sewing skills. Since I fit into both categories I figured it'd be a good match. Here's a vid where they talk about what's in the series. Season 1 is very basic projects, but the info is great foundation stuff like seams, zippers, buttons, understanding patterns etc... Season 2 is more advanced techniques like elastic, gathering, invis. zippers, and even making your own dress form... and Season 3 talks about things like pattern manipulation and fitting techniques. I can't wait for the videos to come in the mail, and will be sure to share my thoughts on them as I watch and hopefully learn. If you're more curious you can find some series info here.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson - Cosmic Sermon

Where was this guy when I was struggling with science in high school? Just this first video is not only amazing in his passion for his flavor of science, but he speaks about astrophysics in a very accessible
way.


 

Making Millinery Blocks

After the millinery class I took a couple semesters ago I've been thinking about hat blocking, namely for use stretching wool felt and fosshape. I have priced a few, most of the good quality wood hat blocks are prices in the low hundreds. So, DIY lass that I am, I looked around on how to make my own. Here's some useful stuff I found.

 The first gem is a video from the show Threadbangers in with milliner Victor Osborne talks about making a hot block using some inexpensive and easy methods.

 

Here's a tutorial on how to carve and prepare styrofoam for use as a hat block (as well as some other ideas I'd like to give a go. Carve Your Own Utility Hat Block