Rain, Rain...

[furtech]

El Nino has arrived in Los Angeles and has lived up to its fanfare so far. Several inches of rain have fallen already, with the worst of the storms scheduled to arrive something this morning. Just in time to drive through it to FC. I don't mind pouring rain or monsoons, but snow on the Grapevine pass would mean driving up the dread 101 freeway. At this point I'm due out Thursday night, but if it's clear Wednesday night I might dash off early. The house sitter won't be in until the next day, but I think it can stand alone for a few hours. The weather teases with short, crystal-clear breaks of sunlight, but usually too late to do anything (plus, everything is still soaked). A house full of stir-crazy border collies is never dull...



Yesterday the rain took out a local transformer: the power was out from about 1pm until 4:30am the next morning. I'm used to black-outs in the summer, when I can always sit out in the yard and read or take the dogs to the dogpark or a hike...but this time neither option was viable: too dark to read and too wet to dogpark or hike! I find it amazing to find so little I can do in such situations: we have so many devices and entertainments at our fingertips that it's a bit shocking to suddenly go cold turkey. I could have used my iPod, but it wasn't charged up. On the other hand, after a few weeks of 100+ hour weeks getting things finished in time for the con, getting some extra sleep wasn't such a bad thing: when it's too dark to read and you don't have anything to work on in the dark, sleep is just dandy. I think I've actually caught up just in time for the con!

Among the many things I am working on for FC, this is one of the casualties of poor planning/running out of time: a hare mask/head I was trying to get done in time for the convention. At least I can use her as a demo of one of my head-making techniques.



I have two panels this year: one on advanced head-making on Saturday at 5PM (with Whitefox) and another panel on exotic materials and safety stuff on Sunday at 5PM. I will have special stuff for those of you willing to stay for the Sunday talk!

Comments

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

THOSE ARE SOME MUDDY DOGS! I wish I could be a dog, to frolic in the mud without a care in the world.

That hare head looks great! Really nice sculpting job on it.

[gilmorelion.livejournal.com]

Try not to float down-river out there!

You know I'd be there for your workshops if I could. One of these days I'll make it out there. (I hope) We have a lot of catching up to do!

(the hare head is awesome looking, btw)

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

YIKES! Time for the hose....

[merrycalliope.livejournal.com]

Wow, muddy dogs are muddy! Burning off some energy is good though! I've lived through winters of stir-crazy basenji--I can only imagine what a house full of border collies with cabin fever must be like!

May I ask what you used on that mask? Looks like styrene? I've been considering to get into mask-making. I'm not really "furry" per se but I love the costumes. If I could I'd attend that con just for your panels!

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

*sigh* Missing your panels is about the only reason I regret not being able to make FC this year. Well, that and not being able to profit madly off of having a monopoly on decent tails, because nobody ever brings *decent* tails. But I don't miss the three weeks of doing nothing but sewing tails, so meh to that.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Yeah-- I'd -love- to know what it's like to run flat out like that or to be able to hike without caring if I slop right through a creek (or better, to just hunker down in a muddy pool to cool off). Thanks also for the hare props!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Thanks-- we'll get together at some point, I'm sure. Isn't there a costume con bid for Colorado coming up?

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Hose those monkeys back into their cages!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I don't mind the frenzy so much as the pleading, guilt-inducing looks begging me to stop that nasty rain so we can go out...

The mask is made out of evac foam-- it's pretty much the same stuff as craft foam (and some camping mats). I pattern and glue it using Barge (a shoe adhesive).

[furtech.livejournal.com]

It's been a tough year. I had to forgo several cons I usually never pass up.

[merrycalliope.livejournal.com]

They don't get too destructive? Lucky fellow! Tano would dig holes...in the carpet. I took to luring squirrels into the yard to give her incentive to go out even in the rain. ^o^

So the mask is done up sort of like a papercraft figure? That's clever! Now I'm eyeing my yoga mat in a whole new way. :D Google didn't turn up much for evac foam--is your source a secret? I'm just considering my options right now. I'd like to do fiberglass or resin but I just don't have the workspace for it.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

That's one of the goodies I'm handing out at the "Exotic Materials And How Not To Kill Yourself Using Them" panel I'm doing at FC: a resource sheet for reliable suppliers of the stuff I'm going to talk about.

For evac foam, there are two places I know of that ship:Foam Mart and Atlas Foam. Foam Mart is the recommended place: they're a tad more expensive than Atlas, but Atlas is a commercial supplier and you should know -exactly- what you want (type, density, thickness, etc.) if you are going to order from them. Atlas is far more consumer-friendly: tell them you want "L-200" (the local name for evac foam) and the thickness (1/8" on up). The stuff is not cheap, though: a 1"X4'X8' sheet is about $140.

Foam Mart
628 North Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
Phone: 1-800-943-8362 .
Fax: 323 849-4245
www.foammart.com



Atlas Foam Products
12836 Arroyo St.
Sylmar, CA 91342
PHONE: (818) 837-3626
FAX: (818) 837- 1114
www.atlasfoam.com


Sometimes it's just easier and cheaper to get the thick craft foam sheets...

[merrycalliope.livejournal.com]

Wow, I wish I could get to FC. Will you be attending the Seattle area furry con this year? Or Sakuracon?

Thanks for the info! Duly noted. :) $140 isn't bad for that size sheet, really. If I go this route I'd probably start with a camping mat or similar, as you suggest, to see how I like the technique. Thanks again!

[nicodemusrat.livejournal.com]

Ooh, nice. Very cool ear shaping; really captures the animal. As always, I love to see your "sculpted" head forms.

[jovino.livejournal.com]

I'm hosting a conflicting panel on Sunday at 5pm, but I certainly want to check out this head! Very cool!!

See you tomorrow, or Friday. :)