Evolution of a Sunflower

Helianthus annuus, Sunflowers, are annual plants native to the Americas, that possess a large inflorescence (flowering head).

The sunflower is native to the Central Americas. The evidence thus far is that it was first domesticated in Mesoamerica, present day Mexico, by at least 2600 BC

To grow well, sunflowers need full sun. They grow best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with a lot of mulch. In commercial planting, seeds are planted 45 cm (1.5 ft) apart and 2.5 cm (1 in) deep.

• The sunflower is the state flower of the US state of Kansas, and one of the city flowers of Kitakyūshū, Japan.
• The sunflower is often used as a symbol of green ideology, much as the red rose is a symbol of socialism or social democracy. *The sunflower is also the symbol of the Vegan Society.
• During the late 19th century, the flower was used as the symbol of the Aesthetic Movement.
• Subject of Van Gogh's most famous still life, Sunflowers (series of paintings).
• The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine.

With all this in mind, a $4. pack of Mammoth Sunflower seeds became a sweeping 20 ft arc in the garden this year. Contending with the heat and drought they still reached heights of 10-15 ft with heads the size of well, GIANT sunflowers. The stalks are still like corded baseball bats. 

After they had given all their seed to the Gold Finches, Sparrows, and Cardinals, I cut off the heads and dried them in the loft of the garage. I meant to paint and mount them as a display for Halloween inside. 

Later it occurred to me that I should buy nearly 7000 stick matches in different colors and drill and sink them into the sunflower heads, mount them to a post and light it up for our annual Halloween bash. Please don't ask how I made this creative stumble/leap- no one knows. XD

Party was great, people were awesome- costumes were so cool. Too many to mention. Great melon carves, too. I had great fun with my Sonic Screwdriver as the 9th Doctor.  

"Who are you?"  

"I'm the Doctor."  

"Doctor Who?"  

"That's right!  Run for your life."  

Music, fire, food, drink, and more fire. Lighting it up and moving off to turn on the hose, just in case, I stood back as it went up and watched this group of people. I'm really grateful to know them. It's this kind of moment that will catch and hold you in the present sometimes.

And then you wake the next morning groggy and confused, until a yellow leaf hits the bathroom window and presses itself against the glass. 

It says 'I will be lost without your love.' An invisible force holds it close to you. It fills you up with yellow and streaking green, a memory. 

Hold your breath.

You look away. The plunger is still in the bathtub. What do we do today?

You look back and the leaf is gone.

Happy Halloween, from Me to You.

bc

 

 

Chrome and Fire, Happy Halloween!

Heya!  It's almost Halloween!  Around here, just like your place, that means I'm stepping into high gear for last minute decorations and creations.  I think we're hitting a record of four costume events this weekend for the continued cosplaying of Pirate Hunter Zoro, of One Piece, Luna Lovegood, from Harry Potter, and the ninth Doctor, of Doctor Who.  I has a Sonic Screwdriver.  What's your name, again?  Fantastic.  Run for your life! 

The Sunflower Totem is coming along nicely.  It may actually be finished.  There's a huge list of things to do before party zero, so today and tomorrow will be the essentials of the list and then pick up whatever else I can.  I still have pumpkins to carve!  What a slacker!  Full pics, video of the burning, and description of the finished  project will follow in a post with the working title of 'Evolution of a Sunflower'. 

The shop is an absolute mess, strewn with baby doll parts, sunflower leavings, foam, tools, etc.  So today's the day folks!  It's your day, too!  Kick ass!

A pot of coffee's on the brew, and I'm gearing up to create the Shell Bullet from  s-CRY-ed (スクライド

 Should be a super fun build from the armored shoulder to clawed hand, and the three back/shoulder wings.  A mixture of craft foam, carved foam, resin topped and painted.  Gotta love the common theme of props that are a representation of the character's soul.  Again, it's your day- kick ass.

Coffee's on, I'm on, you're on or you wouldn't be here.
Be good to you.
bc

Calling Sora- the Buster Cleveland Kingdom Keyblade Tutorial

 

Calling Sora

Buster Cleveland's

Kingdom Keyblade

Heya. As requested, I've begun to put together some basic tutorials on the props/replicas I've built. I'll give as much description as I think is worthy, and as always- give me a shout to ask questions or opinions.

This build is a mixed media one-off/original.

It starts with finding an image of the prop and either hand-copying it (as I often do) or having it printed out. I like to put my hand to things, and sometimes that means a hand-drawn template/pattern can be a great way to gear my brain to what's to come. Then again, sometimes less work is a great thing, too. If you're new to prop building go simple.

The Kingdom Keyblade is a pretty simple shape- this is no Gunblade or crazy build. We're talking about a handle, a central body, the key end, and a key chain and charm. Using your template or drawing by hand, cut out and trace the pattern onto a piece of plywood or other for your handles and cut them out with a jigsaw. Take your time and pay attention to your line. Do the same for the charm and the key end.

For the main body choose a length of 1 ½ inch PVC pipe and cut it to your preferred length. I usually range from 37-40 inches for most keyblades. Working with a rotary tool like a dremel, sandpaper, and bondo (auto body filler available at any auto store), clean up your handle, key end, and charm edges, fix any cosmetic boo-boos that haven't been already sanded out, and then then fit them to your PVC pipe. Use your template to help guide you.

Scuff/sand your materials at the contact points. Paying close attention to keeping things straight, glue your handles and key end to the PVC. OMG, there's a keyblade! If you find out later that it's crooked and you have the time- take it off and get it straight- you'll be glad you did.

For the rounded butt on the end I used bondo to slowly build up the shape until I had what I wanted. Take it slow. You can always add more, but it's harder to take it away. When using bondo- particularly when sanding anything, wear a good dust mask.

The key chain is a u-bolt, chain, snap hook and charm with a ring from a key chain. Use the u-bolt to mark where your holes should go and then use a drill to make small 'pilot' holes. This will allow you to see if they're in the right spot, and also keep your bondo from breaking away from the edges of your holes. Move from your pilot hole to larger bits until you reach the size for your u-bolt. Hook everything up, and glue in your u-bolt.

Now for paint. I like acrylics because they're water based and easy to use. Often I airbrush now, but there are still some effects and texture that only a brush can give. A bomb can or spray paint can be used. Enamel provides an instant shine. I use whatever I have at hand most often for a mixed media build. Use painter's tape (low-adhesion) and paper to protect the prop from unwanted paint- it's how I ended up with a clean gold-blue-silver edge. With a brush this isn't a problem.

That's the basic rundown. There's a lot of work and thought in between there- but I can't give you that. Oooh, I got all zen there for a moment! Give it a shot. YOU CAN DO IT!

Be good to you.

bc

Html learning Curves, Secret Projects, Heya, Neighbor!

Heya.  The last few days have been busy.  Chicken Ranch templates finished and ready, along with a gift for a friend that I'll not mention in case he happens here.  :)  I have this tiny window for Halloween, which I'm really grateful for.  Here I am, Halloween freak that I am, with no decorations, no yard haunt, nada.  Sigh.  But I'll amend that today!  At least that's the plan.  So I'm up and at em early as usual, trying to figure exactly what I want to do this year round the house and for our annual bash.  Ideas are welcome if you've done something particularly cool and worth crowing about, or just tell me what's to be feared in your neck of the woods.
Oh, yeah.  You'll also notice that most of the posts have lost their pics, which to begin with I attributed to my learning curve with html, but gladly (?) it wasn't me, but some other silly tech fault on the other end.  I'll be going back to replace them in short order.  Show me your work!  And say hello, Fairfield!  We're neighbors!
Be good to you.
bc

Kingdom Hearts' Oathkeeper and Oblivion Fini!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Oathkeeper and Oblivion Fini!

Heya! Tonight I'm chilling. Oathkeeper and Oblivion are finished and ready to (sniff) leave. What a trip this project was. I learned some great things about airbrush maintenance. Doing two parts at once really worked the brushes, teaching me how often and thoroughly they need cleaned. May post a tutorial on that, showing a breakdown and reassembly of brushes plus tips and tricks. I also have a number of prop tutorials in mind, based on the props I've made. Any votes? Let me know to see those first!
So what's for Halloween? I STILL DON'T KNOW! Sigh. Tomorrow is packing and crating day, as O & O are off to make a date with Halloween themselves. I do have some interesting ideas about a Nightmare Before Xmas display, but we'll see what happens. To all of you who are requesting props- I will answer your mail in a few days time. You guys are tenacious! Good for you.
It was fun to take the props out for a photoshoot, but I was glad to put them back on their blankets and tuck them safely away, lest a rogue squirrel start lobbing acorns just for jest. Yeah, I know. But that's me. ;) I'm out. I'm freaking tired, boys and squirrels.
Be good to you.
bc

Threatening Traffic, Kingdom Heart's Keyblades, and the Chicken Ranch

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Threatening Traffic

Heya! Spirits are up as this project is coming to a close. And yes, I am a little sad, too. Oathkeeper and Oblivion have been on my list of want to do forever! Many thanks to C, for helping to make that happen.
I'm irritated, though, as after so much work work work, it's all about dry-time now. Boo. Give the compulsive a job and he's happy. Give him dry-time and he's insane! You mean I can't even clean up?! No. Dust, fool. Sigh. K. Shuffles off for a cup of coffee.
Here are the final pics of Oathkeeper and Oblivion. Clear coat in a few moments and then the charms are added tomorrow and yet more dry-time. Then off to threaten traffic with them and take photographs in a number of locales, pack and crate, and away they go. Can't wait to see them in full Org13 regalia!

Next up is a Chicken Ranch sign for, laughably, a chickencoop. A short, fun project headed for Idaho, yo. After that, a number of smaller projects leading into the first of the year, and most importantly- my own Halloween projects that have taken a back seat until now. And what's the dig on Halloween props you ask? Nunya. ;) Because I've yet to have the real time to think and put my hand to them! But I'll post pics and madness soon enough. I'll post the spiffy pics of Oathkeeper and Oblivion. Until then, be good to you.
bc

Cosplay Progress

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Heya. Finally up for air! Oathkeeper and Oblivion in varying stages of bodywork, headed for paint. The charms always present a challenge. Settled on joining the leaf and star-arm for strength. A loose leaf would ding the paint over time.

Ready for paint! These have been a very interesting build. It's funny how there are always a few details you just don"t know until you put both brain and hand to it. How are you going to make that? Dunno.

Paint is going to be awesome, and then good pics. I've been trying to keep an eye out for good places to shoot them, and have come up with zip. Any suggestions welcome.
Paint next!
Be good to you.
bc