Baking with Medusa

emerging from the cocoon

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 05:27:00 +0000

I've been on a long hiatus... not from making things, but i certainly haven't been posting like i should. Finally got around to photographing my 'titRex floats for 2015 + 2016. It's been a rough few years living in two cities + focusing on selling my house. Now just trying to generate momentum + create better work habits.

'titRex has been a constant for me. At times my only creative outlet. Was fun to spend some time crafting these much overdue photo shoots. Have also spent time updating the website and Flickr. Just a few images to share for now.

For additional 'titRex Parade photos click here.

carnival is crazy early this year...

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 04:56:00 +0000

For more parade details be sure to visit our website.

it's that time again...

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 03:13:00 +0000

parade time.

tarantula eyes

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 20:38:00 +0000

tarantula eyes: a continuation of the reptile-girl saga and my submission to FEAST 2014

[new orleans annual comic magazine]

IT Came From The LIBRARY

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 19:57:00 +0000

A sample of the spook-tacular graphics I've been working on.

Additional graphics found here. Event details here.

‘tit Rәx 2014

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 18:23:00 +0000

poster + map for ‘tit Rәx 2014

check website for details.

Fairy Tale Reference

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 16:51:00 +0000

Project Gutenberg's Fairy Tales from All Nations, by Antony R. Montalba

the devil wears a hypocrite shoe

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 02:04:00 +0000

is that a girl or a gator?

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Thu, 30 May 2013 02:57:00 +0000

reptile-girl: my submission to FEAST 2013 [new orleans annual comic magazine]

you can pick up the 4th Issue of FEAST at the following locations:
Hey! Cafe, Crescent City Comics, More Fun Comics, and Brothers 3 Bar.

character reference No. 2 + 3

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:43:00 +0000

interpretive character sketches from films.

Farwell Ray Harryhausen

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:51:00 +0000

i hold this man completely responsible for my medusa fixation.

news like this makes me wanna stay home all day + watch every ray harryhausen movie ever made.

there's a great post with lots of pictures + a video at monster brains.

character reference #1

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Sat, 04 May 2013 18:18:00 +0000

project: character reference

description: interpretive character sketches from various films for general practice + reference

nightmares with teeth

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:33:00 +0000

this is what happens when you watch the first 15 minutes of JAWS at age 5.

here's the piece of i've submitted to Joetta Maue's Down To Sleep show opening soon in Lawrence, Massachusetts. check link for details.

TITLE: nightshift gallery – Act I

DATE: 2012

MEDIUM: applique, embroidery, garment construction

SIZE: 24” x 30” [girl’s size 7]

Artist Statement:

Two constants throughout my life have been sewing machines + monsters.

Sewing, is a magical process that allows me to make flat materials 3-dimentional or stitch together any combination of elements. As a medium, it possesses limitless possibility regarding form, method and application. Either by hand or machine, I choose sewing because it is my inheritance.

The combination of girlie and non-girlie elements is a particular favorite. Nightmares, a preoccupation with fear, and an ongoing obsession with horror films and fairy tales are forever present. I love monsters because they are never what they seem.

the HIVE

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:14:00 +0000

several new projects in mind for the new year, all involving stitching.

eyes stare in the darkness with no form

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 02:39:00 +0000

new, new, new

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:33:00 +0000

the Curio Coinpurse, a handbag with a tiny window… displaying a tiny keepsake trapped inside. this particular clutch i made for myself, but i've got lots more tiny toys + vintage fabrics to work with here in the Medusa factory.

Pinata Party

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Tue, 29 May 2012 01:21:00 +0000

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.

mercerized

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Sun, 13 May 2012 22:13:00 +0000

spanish folk crafts

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:25:00 +0000

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.

latest project

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 03:02:00 +0000

So I just completed designing a couple exhibits for the Monroe Library Special Collections & Archives at Loyola University New Orleans. This May 2012 marks the schools 100th anniversary. The university is celebrating with a series of performances, events and exhibits. These posters are from The Performing Arts at Loyola exhibit. More examples from this project may be found here on flickr.

halloween printing + stitching

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:57:00 +0000

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.

dream of dreams

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:02:00 +0000

something new

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:04:00 +0000

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.

always rememeber

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:24:00 +0000

today marks the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in New York City.

on that tragic day, March 25, 1911, a scrap bin on the eighth floor of the Asch Building caught fire. the Triangle Shirtwaist Co., an industrial age garment factory, occupied the top three floors [8-10]. the fire spread quickly. eighth floor workers were aware of the situation and most were evacuated. the switchboard to the offices on the tenth floor helped notify and evacuate practically all tenth floor employees... but ninth floor workers were unaware until the fire was on them and it was too late for escape.

the dangers were compounded by a list of inadequacies in a time predating fire safety or effective labor codes: the doors opened inwards, not out - only one inept fire escape which collapsed under the weight of so many - the elevators were inoperable after only three trips – and most heart breaking of all, it was common practice to lock the exits to prevent workers form leaving their machines.

many of the remaining workers, mostly poor, first generation, immigrant women, chose to jump from the ninth floor windows than be burned alive. when the firemen arrived they provided little help. both ladders and water hoses failed to reach past the sixth floor, and their nets all ruptured from the force of such heights. hundreds amassed below in terror, all incapable of stopping or even helping.

18 minutes - 146 lives- 133 women- lost - to fire, fall and greed.

I wish I had more time to write about this, but there are so many who already have:

Cornell University has a tremendous site dedicated to the fire with time-lines, firsthand accounts, photos and more.

PBS has an episode of the American Experience: Triangle Fire that you can watch online.

the International Labor Rights Forum has a great article entitled the Legacy of the Triangle Factory Fire by Kristi Ellis + Arthur Friedman originally published in Women's Wear Daily.

visit Clean Clothes Campaign to learn more about working conditions in the global garment industry today.

all boldface type will lead to links.

i've been making needlebooks about the Triangle Fire and passing them around today in remembrance of all the women and seamstresses who died that day. i plan to send them out with future etsy orders too. i guess that means i need to get busy and make new items since my etsy cupboard has been bare for fare to long now. today is as good a day to crank up nadine as any.

Parade Day

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:35:00 +0000

a few pics from 'titREX Parade 2011. more images may be found filed away in flickr. wish i had more to say, but i believe i'm still experiencing post-parade letdown. you work so hard for so long to finish everything up for this one moment, then mourn the loss of a project completed. oh well there is always next year.

a few examples of tiny throws. this year i made: tiny beads [as always] - glitterized army men - handpainted dolls, firemen + action figures in 'titREX colors - sewing kits memorializing the Triangle Fire of 1911 [my float subject this year].

my too little, too late float subject was the Triangle Fire of 1911. the tragedy brought to light the inhumane conditions of garment factory workers, which lead to labor reform and nation wide safety standards... but all too late for the 146 lives lost. march 25th this year will mark the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Fire of New York City. i'll have more on that subject closer to the 25th. till then, check out the link above in boldface for more information.

click on images for larger viewing.

*Baking with Medusa*