Baking with Medusa

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.

'titREX 2011

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:49:00 +0000

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.

gold plated lobsters stuck in my throat

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:22:00 +0000

the best way to start any day.

nothing like horrible lounge acts, battling frankensteins + russ tamblyn.
war of the gargantuas

mythical monsters

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:57:00 +0000

i found these LIFE magazine clippings in a old box of saved images and articles. illustrations by Roudolf Freund, wildlife artist and long time illustrator for LIFE.
click images for larger viewing.

the best of storytellers

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:53:00 +0000

this man will forever be one of my all time favorites.
for more Nick Cave and the Death of Bunny Munro.

true blooded... all the way.

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:18:00 +0000

below is a piece i finally finished for the sarah!, sarah!, sarah! invitational. thanks john for the invite. so nice to be drawing again, but i'm so glad it's done + i no longer have to contemplate the existence of such a person as sarahP.

... and a tip of the hat to miss jeffie for all those years of dance, sequins + bubble gum... oh + for photographic proof that i am quite the american.

click for larger viewing

if only...

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:20:00 +0000

Said the Shark - True Love from Iwave records on Vimeo.

Dr. Phibes... he's so abominable

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:32:00 +0000

in celebration of the most delightful villian in town, on what would have been his 99th birthday.
happy birthday Vincent Price!

film stills from The Abominable Dr. Phibes.
staring: Vincent Price, Joseph Cotten, and Virginia North
costumes + wardrobe: Elsa Fennell

you'll find few more Phibes pics on Obscure Hollow.

a good way to start the day

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:25:00 +0000

originally posted at Monster Brains

spanish folk crafts

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:09:00 +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.

HULK as rock star

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:23:00 +0000

rock star mackenzie has deep thoughts before the show...

...but later that night at the show.

...damn, the HULK rocks harder than me.

"Metamorphosis"
season three, episode one

tooled + stamped book covers

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:49:00 +0000

click on photos for larger viewing.

i know the feeling...

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:03:00 +0000

...all too well.

photo film still from salome.

let HULK sew in peace

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:24:00 +0000

"Patterns"
season four, episode eighteen

tiny projects*

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:54:00 +0000

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.

HULK always in need of tailor*

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:45:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Bix!!! To the man who can always use a good tailor. What could be better than David banner working in a garment factory? HULKing out in a garment factory. Its fabric + sewing machines, Bix + Louie in the INCREDIBLE HULK.

"Patterns"
season four, episode eighteen

new pocket notebooks

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:46:00 +0000

the advantages of being a self-professed pack rat is never running out of supplies. i love sewing with collected ephemera, in this case old library cards. they make for a nice contrast... the typed word, stamped dates and the handwritten signatures. pocket notebooks coming soon to etsy.

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

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:07:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:28:00 +0000

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

We LOVE Boris K*

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:41:00 +0000

with over 100 blogs participating in the Boris Karloff Blogathon this week, i think it's fair to say no one does it quite like Boris. for me, his very name launches a million smiles throughout my entire being and a slight tingle up my spine. what is it about him, the stare, the voice, or the heartbreaking tortured sensitivity of the eternally misunderstood? i can't even begin to explain it, i'll just embrace it.

my Boris K offerings this week are more of the do-it-yourself variety... and if your up for the challenge, please feel free to join in. this week i have a few crafty tutorials planed in honor our boy Boris. So pull out the construction paper, glue + glitter, cause it's Things to Make & Do... with Boris Karloff. stay tuned for future posts.

be sure to visit Frankensteinia for more madness with Boris.

artist of interest - danny treacy*

noreply@blogger.com (micha michelle) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:08:00 +0000

in the throws of costume making insanity, i stumble across this brilliant reminder.... a costume can be made from just about anything. found objects and a little ingenuity are all you really need. these refashioned, recovered clothes pieced together and photographed by Danny Treacy are prime examples.

*Baking with Medusa*