Studios & Organization

My Studio Table (April, 2006)

I am working on cleaning and organizing my studio. The main problem I run into is that I have several different areas of concentration, all of which have materials that don't store together very easily...

Ok, I'm lying. The main problem I run into is the fact that I have boxes full of stuff, like fruit-shaped beads I've had since I was 8 that I'm not willing to part with.

My plan this week (in the midst of finishing up some costumes for this weekend's convention) is to try and be as ruthless as possible and actually get rid of some of the stuff I've been hoarding for so long.

I'm a little sad, because if I'd been hoarding yarn, I'd have tons of local pals that I could pass it off to. As it is, I have tons of random stuff. I think I may have to start up the weekly art-craft challenges again, because this is getting ridiculous!

Next week, I'll post a picture tour of my current (cleaned and organized hopefully) studio!
If you can't wait till then to look at studios, then you can browse around in the Etsy Open Studio group on flickr (I would suggest starting here at buenostyle or here at jenny b allsorts, if you like drooling).

Roving and Needle-Felting

Mr. Mallow, dressed to impress (this was supposed to end up being a penguin)

I have accumulated a great deal of wool roving. At first, I bought some of it (to make those infamous bacon bracelets), but then my friend Annie had bought some and decided that she had plenty of hobbies and gave me more. It's beautiful stuff, ranging through a rainbow of colors... but what to do with it?

Well, I could just make more of the 2-dimensional style items, like the bacon bracelets and the birds I like to make, but I decided I would try my hand at the 3-dimensional needle felting. I've watched a few videos online, but I still think I haven't quite got a handle on it. My ice cream cone turned into a pear, and this Mr. Mallow here was going to be a penguin, but he persisted in lacking the appropriately rounded shape!


I may have to resign myself to just letting the process dictate what the roving becomes, but it's hard to get started. Does anyone have any recommendations for 3-d needle felting? Or should I just stick with the 2-d stuff?

Art/Craft Book Review: "What It Is" by Lynda Barry

Lynda Barry's What It Is

Part personal journal and part instructional course, What It Is is Lynda Barry's guide to getting yourself writing and drawing, without agonizing and antagonizing yourself. Each page is entirely covered with stories, drawings, doodles, and collage.

The book has three different areas, all interwoven, but distinct. The first is autobiographical, how an artist or writer can come to fear and stress about their work, to the point where they no longer feel creative and instead feel they are glued to the spot, doomed. The second is a background of Lynda Barry's childhood experiences growing up and drawing, and the third is a series of essay questions and exercises, examples of how to regain that lightheaded giddy feeling that we all initially experience when we first start making up stories.

Though the essay questions were thought-provoking ("Where are images found?"), as someone who's managed to turn hobbies into work several times, the sections about the fear and stress of the creative process really struck me. They were honest without histrionics, and led directly to the exercises, which I've found to be fun and very successful.

Now that I'm returning this library copy, I had to order a copy for myself! If you're someone who wants to do more art or writing, and seems to have hit a wall, check out this book and see if it speaks to you.

Doctor Who-ish: The Beauty of Side Character Costumes

Cat Nurses from Doctor Who, and me, smiling like a moron, DragonCon 2007

I have some costume advice for you. This isn't Doctor Who specific, but there are a lot of examples that I've seen that come from the Doctor Who universe. The advice is: never underestimate the appeal of recognizable side characters as a viable option!

For you, you don't have to compete for being the most realistic, best dressed or what-have-you of say, the Doctor Who's in attendance. For other fans, there is nothing like the warm thrill of vague snobbery when you recognize a character that "outsiders" (i.e. people unfamiliar with whatever canon you are) won't.


The Last Living Human Being, DragonCon 2007

That isn't to say that you should always dress as something obscure, or strange, but it can be really fun working on getting the details right. And it feels extra rewarding when people recognize you - it's like you share an understanding.

Dressing as side characters in a group is also a great way to make an impact - I have some friends who are dressing up as the Kyoshi warriors from Avatar: The Last Airbender for this year's Animazement. And I mean, c'mon, have you seen the literal army of stormtroopers that is the 501st Legion?


To end my rant about side characters and obscure costumes, I will post this piece of brilliance:
New Age Retro Hippie, DragonCon 2008

A costume of a random enemy called the New Age Retro Hippie from Earthbound (released in US 1995), a videogame for the SNES. Just awesome.

Doctor Who Week: Let's Make a Tardis

Click on image to view larger

I've built and painted a lot of props in my time. One summer I spent painting backdrops for a photography studio, including a room-sized oceanfront. But I must say, that my dressing room TARDIS is one of my favorites!

In case you're interested in building your own, here's the measurements and supply list! Be aware, of course, that this is just one side of the TARDIS, and that I in *no way* guarantee time travel or the arrival of Doctor Who. I didn't even bother to do the top part.

If you'd like to see the process of putting together the TARDIS, start here.
My favorite part of prop-making is the aging process (which shouldn't surprise anyone that's seen some of my steampunk stuff). Essentially, just get some dark brown and black paint, and use a very wet sea sponge to lightly dab them on the TARDIS. You can also give the object some extra fake-dimensions with this.

Here are the things that I discovered when building my own TARDIS which may be of help to you:
- The "Police Box" font is Futura
- If you, like me, can't find a life-size version of the flyer on the front you can download my version of the TARDIS flyer and print it out
- Making a small TARDIS means you should check this DadCanDo's post - it has all the stuff you need
- Off-white paint will look better than bright white

If instructions on the internet were all you were waiting for, then you are set!

Just Call Me "The Doctor"

Will as "Ross" (Rose Tyler) and I am The Doctor

This was what I was working on last week, in that delightfully confusing picture. There was a Doctor Who party, and I thought "David Tennant's Doctor will be popular... but what if it was a LADY Doctor?!" I got my brown suit from the thrift store, but finding a Union Jack t-shirt is not easy in North Carolina on short notice, so I just used some scraps and one of Will's blank white t-shirts and voila!

For uninitiated, we're doing what is called "crossplay" wherein we dress as the person of the opposite gender. VOCABULARILY!

I believe that blonde wig is one of the funniest ones we own (yes, we own a lot of wigs). It's funnier on Will than it is on me, I'm not sure why that is.

I declare this week to be Doctor Who week on my corner of the internet! So you have that to look forward to!

Union Jack & Jill

We interrupt all crafting to work on costume sewing!

This weekend has a costume party that I've already committed myself to sewing for. The truly geeky may be able to recognize what kind of party it is just from the quarter-finished tshirt in the picture.

I'll be sure to post pictures, I'm sure. In the meantime, I've got some pants to hem and some Gallifrey text to inscribe!