The Muse's Idea Jar

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:48 pm

I've been struck by a papercrafts muse lately. I made some lovely greeting cards (one of which is currently on its way to Anti-M, and one of which will soon head for my mother-in-law, with Cardstock, brown paper bag paper (I love that stuff, especially with torn instead of cut edges), tissue paper (also torn) and photos printed on transparency film (like you use for overhead projectors). I'm really pleased with the results, but they're really labor-intensive little pieces. I'm half tempted to take a few requests to have an excuse to make them....someone have a loved one with an important event approaching?

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 12:36 am

I wouldn't mind getting a limerick on a nice homemade card. Or, my birthday is in May ...

gizray · Post by **gizray** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 12:49 am

may ?

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 6:28 am

PM me with some personal information, blue. A couple details about you, and your address.

buckethead alien · Post by **buckethead alien** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 6:58 am

On the subject of ideas, for a long time, I have wanted to build a big-assed sphere of automobile headlights that blinked in response to people when they passed near enough for hidden sensors to detect their presence. Headlights are so bright, it'd be an amazing effect out in the deep playa. Kind of like a sun sitting on the horizon, but when you get close, it begins to interact with you and send uberfreaky shadows and beams of light. I don't have a clue how much power such a rig would require or how to do the electronics, but given enough time and money, I bet I could figure it all out. Then there's shipping the whole setup in one of the containers from New York City. Some day.....

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:06 pm

So how ARE people dealing with the theme visually?

Or are we all just going to recycle our halloween devil costumes as ids?

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:10 pm

how ARE people dealing with the theme visually

poorly

it sucks total ass for me

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:11 pm

stuart wrote:
how ARE people dealing with the theme visually

poorly

ITYM 'scraping my eyeballs out'

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:13 pm

shut up you! BM is a family event!

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:14 pm

fine then. with a spoon. in the dark.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:14 pm

Rian Jackson wrote:
stuart wrote:
how ARE people dealing with the theme visually
poorly

ITYM 'scraping my eyeballs out'

See that' why I suggested defieing the theme. I'd be happy to do space or water again.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:16 pm

I'd happily do water again. I was not doing installations then so I missed the boat.

so sorry

buckethead alien · Post by **buckethead alien** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:26 pm

a theme makes no difference to me, never did, never will.

I am still going to suit up and clomp around on my buckets, fly my fucking lights, and have a good fucking time.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:27 pm

I like having one. It provides grist for the program mill for me. Last years was super handy.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:33 pm

buckethead alien wrote:a theme makes no difference to me, never did, never will.

I am still going to suit up and clomp around on my buckets, fly my fucking lights, and have a good fucking time.

Forgive me for my lack of purity.

buckethead alien · Post by **buckethead alien** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:37 pm

...but on the subject of costumes, I see plenty of hipster frat boys with goatees wearing lab coats and smoking big cigars...

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:42 pm

ARRRRGH!!!
What a nightmare!!!!

I'm pretty much "theme schmeme" in a lot of ways, but as a visual artist, I can't think of a hook and as a colorist the thought of all that grey matter just bores me.

Donita · Post by **Donita** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:58 pm

Jeez, I can't remember where or what or who, but somebody was asking me about crafting with Fimo... Was it you, MSky?? Starting my new pendants for this year. Making a bunch of tribal faces... I heart Fimo!!

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:07 pm

Yup, it was me Donita! I was worried about cooking Fimo and the fumes. I don't have an extra oven (or the space to get another one) for just cooking it. I guess when I do I should open the door in the kitchen to vent the odors/fumes?
You didn't by chance get the tribal faces mold to make your face necklaces did you?

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 8:16 am

it shouldn't be a problem. i've never died from it. i think they're intentionally non-toxic.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 8:16 am

You can use a fan too, I suppose. Do you have instructions on how to make molds from fimo? That way you can mold your best pieces or make molds from things around you that are cool.

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:30 am

I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to tackle this years theme yet. Got a few ideas brewing but nothing solid yet.

I was thinking about a costume that personifies my screen name. What do you guys think? Lame? Not inspired enough?

A lot of people seem to be thinking about the physical aspects, like brain matter and what not. I'm trying to think more ethereal. I don't know. I'm gonna have to think on this more.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 5:20 am

buckethead alien wrote:I think I have found my muse, judging from my recent work in a variety of forms. Fucking amazing feeling, to begin to reach what I have always imagined was the potential. Wow. Just wow.

Isn't it amazing how that just kinda "gels"? It' always seems to be slightly off from what you expect, which, I suppose, is why it's a surprise...I have to keep my studio/nest cluttered so I can grab whatever materials the new epiphany points me towards.....Yesterday I was granted a great boon by my local thrift store/art supply place- An entire (broken) bigscreen projection television! I've only begun to dissect it, but have already made a valuable discovery- Inside of the huge and very cool lens-units is a big slug of mineral oil. Studio cleanup comprised the remainder of my @#!!evening. I think I can turn these optics into a light-based piece for the playa, which is ALMOST the opposite of what I was working on before.

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 9:56 am

Fishy, I'd love to learn how to make Fimo molds!!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 10:06 am

Okay, I have your address anyway, I'll try and remember to include some photocopying.

Googling got me this website which has this to say.

You can make your own molds from polymer clay, fire them, and use them just like any other mold. To make a mold of an object, condition a ball of clay, apply mold release to it, and press the object into it to create your mold. While the object is still in place, flatten the back of the mold against your work surface. Carefully remove the object from the clay, then fire the mold. The process works just like making a clay item from a push mold, but in reverse.

Molds can be made from any strong clay, but Super Elasticlay is especially good for mold-making because it's flexible after firing, which makes it easier to pop clay out of the mold.

"mold release" might mean baby powder. I'll see if I have more detailed directions with pics, but that ought to get you started. I made molds from cowry shells as the traditional (I always feel a little odd when I see a guy wearing them and want to aks questions) c*nt symbol and have a bunch of pins that I made from them, as an for instance.

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 10:15 am

I checked out that site quickly and will have to reread it more thoroughly.
OOH! Metallic powder as a release! That would be pretty!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 10:44 am

You'd have to make sure it stayed on somehow. Ever used Fingernail polish on fimo?

Basically making a mold is kind of like making something FROM a mold, if you see what i mean.

Donita · Post by **Donita** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 12:01 pm

Martiansky wrote:Yup, it was me Donita! I was worried about cooking Fimo and the fumes. I don't have an extra oven (or the space to get another one) for just cooking it. I guess when I do I should open the door in the kitchen to vent the odors/fumes? You didn't by chance get the tribal faces mold to make your face necklaces did you?

I haven't experienced fumes from Fimo. And, yes, I use a mold on some. Not all, but some.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 10:30 am

Okay, what sort of Barbie Warping are we doing for the Doc?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 1:56 pm

Although I've often toyed with the idea of redoing famous martyrdoms with Barbie, including
St. Lucy

St. Sebastian

And my personal favorite (loosely speaking), St. Agatha.

Is this permitted even though I'm not Catholic?