tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70925422823390599852024-03-14T05:28:24.121-05:00Theatre ProjectsJesse Gaffney is a prop master in Chicago. This blog serves as a catalog of all of the, how-to, how-not-to, and hey-that's-cool lessons I want to keep record of. I try to post something new every five days.
Please browse around, let me know what you think, and tell me all about your own propping adventures.Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-46256559820109097532014-09-10T12:00:00.000-05:002014-09-10T12:00:00.988-05:00Tin Beer Signs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The last time I did <i>Always...Patsy Cline, </i>I was able to get a wonderful <a href="http://theatreprojects.blogspot.com/2011/09/never-be-afraid-to-askneon-bar-sign.html">Schlitz beer neon sign</a> from a friend who is a beer distributor. </div>
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This time around I was hoping I could use the same tactic. Since this show wasn't in Chicago, I couldn't go through the same friend, but I figured I would just contact the distributors who service Door County Wisconsin to see if they would be willing to help (we have a bar on property at the theatre so there was already a bit of a relationship between the theatre and the distributing companies). I made several phone calls and was always able to talk to very helpful-sounding people who assured me that they would pass my message along to the correct person and that I would hear back from them soon. I would wait a couple days, not hear anything, and then call back again, with the same results. Eventually I decided that I wasn't going to be able to count on getting anything from these companies. We would take anything they were able to give us if they ended up coming through, but in the meantime we were going to explore making our own beer signs. </div>
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The two brands we knew we wanted were Lone Star (because it's a Texas beer) and Schlitz (because it is mentioned by name in the show). </div>
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For our first try, I found a Lone Star logo online and printed it out as large as I could, I used spray adhesive to attach it to a piece of tin sheeting, and then proceeded to paint over it, hoping to make the colors richer and get an enameled look. It looked okay, but had no dimension to it. Because of the solid layer of paper glued to the tin, it may as well have been a piece of posterboard. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiq3ozsvbM8zFUhbkl0P07VbYrna181cFnktzbQRt89JsAi5_k7RR9cTTpd9lw0_Nbzah0NJ6tcbr97JuZJvv8Y3htU744fAlkD7aSjLnxFR7UaxZ62U99y-_bmlp3WGl_geKFOHTDesI/s1600/20140828_203122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiq3ozsvbM8zFUhbkl0P07VbYrna181cFnktzbQRt89JsAi5_k7RR9cTTpd9lw0_Nbzah0NJ6tcbr97JuZJvv8Y3htU744fAlkD7aSjLnxFR7UaxZ62U99y-_bmlp3WGl_geKFOHTDesI/s1600/20140828_203122.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Our first attempt at adding dimension involved cutting out a piece of lauan to match the sign. After cutting out the full piece, we cut again along the inside border, creating a sort of frame.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlHEUvkCH10ZGCFciCE4Br0JpuEE4FEgsTWY9De-_SRBRzpAhIjgHj6w0wRna1KFFK276CU94CeYhbj5stjPN-n0RWGGzHHtOZHbJmA1yCdG9fkNWGcRzZujaqol4gG-vebDky1zt6V4/s1600/20140828_203125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlHEUvkCH10ZGCFciCE4Br0JpuEE4FEgsTWY9De-_SRBRzpAhIjgHj6w0wRna1KFFK276CU94CeYhbj5stjPN-n0RWGGzHHtOZHbJmA1yCdG9fkNWGcRzZujaqol4gG-vebDky1zt6V4/s1600/20140828_203125.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">The hope was that we could place the tine sign over the lauan cutout and hammer along the edges of the border to create a raised edge. </span></div>
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Below is the result. It turned out to be very difficult to hold the tin in place over the frame, and very difficult to use a consistent, even swing with the hammer to create the look of a machine punched sign. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUIHzSMIPgAxUZ0k-zujb4E9LulxqulI51CSAybQiw5vO_tXHEzi5Bw9xliVabJ4Fbgy3zqHkuSY_Ew8TqH2v1ZwIRgBDXfsRsq2Cb4xI271iC8i90y4CP6eHAVR8w1MAEhAAhz2o9QU/s1600/20140828_203148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUIHzSMIPgAxUZ0k-zujb4E9LulxqulI51CSAybQiw5vO_tXHEzi5Bw9xliVabJ4Fbgy3zqHkuSY_Ew8TqH2v1ZwIRgBDXfsRsq2Cb4xI271iC8i90y4CP6eHAVR8w1MAEhAAhz2o9QU/s1600/20140828_203148.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
For attempt number 2, we decided that a fully dimensional sign wasn't really what we needed. Just a little bit of dimension and surface variation would probably work. We started over with a new piece of tin, this time with no paper under it. We discovered that a simple ballpoint pen was the perfect tool for creating enough pressure to leave a dent on the line, without risking punching a hole in the thin tin. To do this, we placed the tin on a sheet of foam, so that the pressure was against a softer surface and the tin was able to give way and create the dent we needed when we pressed down.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC05GlfyUBwcNne19kBooKnVUAa1BOZ-L4CIes6GQme71Si2JoXH2oyg89PRR5N_ncP_1JsWXIT3VbLrqFCSyIxPriJbiR0Mbs6rXdFySJUW5-5gBygs_fwV1-ob0tHAN3B-rYxgBjt4o/s1600/20140828_203135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC05GlfyUBwcNne19kBooKnVUAa1BOZ-L4CIes6GQme71Si2JoXH2oyg89PRR5N_ncP_1JsWXIT3VbLrqFCSyIxPriJbiR0Mbs6rXdFySJUW5-5gBygs_fwV1-ob0tHAN3B-rYxgBjt4o/s1600/20140828_203135.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Since this method doesn't work at all of the design is printed out on paper and applied (the pen just causes the paper to scratch and peel away in places) we needed another method for getting the logos onto the tin. Here is our intern Shannon carefully tracing the logos onto the tin pieces using an overhead projector.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLSYYe98QwWpqL9wgJcj2abn2tmZe0T1Xh8jG0xy7u1s4IC91ccJ7mk0NqKsIFZ_CFOGx8C4i71iQwhbY13snpcR8qu89ByD9n5LjZjGDwR6FwLm5YYP5AbDOEAL_-bSasZADVQkzfeA/s1600/20140829_124114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLSYYe98QwWpqL9wgJcj2abn2tmZe0T1Xh8jG0xy7u1s4IC91ccJ7mk0NqKsIFZ_CFOGx8C4i71iQwhbY13snpcR8qu89ByD9n5LjZjGDwR6FwLm5YYP5AbDOEAL_-bSasZADVQkzfeA/s1600/20140829_124114.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once the logo was traced in sharpie, the next step was to trace it again with the pen, pressing down hard to create the dents along all the lines. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7CuBjwqxs2AGzfj0zTdMMfVACYMrYpFkqnC7-bAUy5KLToWUb1y_Rr6sr5-6rSgRYf4c3nQcH54wfXXJBM08_ggbQNeSLyag9zO1H-p5qzaiq8nOqvMrSfvLNWn1QPpWUxBcQkwToEA/s1600/20140829_124143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7CuBjwqxs2AGzfj0zTdMMfVACYMrYpFkqnC7-bAUy5KLToWUb1y_Rr6sr5-6rSgRYf4c3nQcH54wfXXJBM08_ggbQNeSLyag9zO1H-p5qzaiq8nOqvMrSfvLNWn1QPpWUxBcQkwToEA/s1600/20140829_124143.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here is the Lone Star sign after pen tracing. </div>
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After the sign was traced and cut out, we started with paint. I had some difficulty painting the Lone Star Sign, because the paint didn't want to stick to the smooth tin. As I tried to add second and third coats of paint, I kept accidentally rubbing away the previous coats of paint with my brush. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCzGtu1lvyPzd8112KwdgPPB072ArIyn9fND0ktiT3YBkYtVq1Nek-h16WguB8_9xmdcXATxmPWZSUqYewBfGPoG_-mQDMbeyIF7jHrAs-342XLeoh8Tn1g0b97ft2We0r2-VnyIIbrs/s1600/20140829_190152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCzGtu1lvyPzd8112KwdgPPB072ArIyn9fND0ktiT3YBkYtVq1Nek-h16WguB8_9xmdcXATxmPWZSUqYewBfGPoG_-mQDMbeyIF7jHrAs-342XLeoh8Tn1g0b97ft2We0r2-VnyIIbrs/s1600/20140829_190152.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Eventually, with a lot of patience, I was able to get three full coats of paint on the sign, and it looked pretty good. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUuJkxpKGFjR5T9obMvsSaD_LEkccaY29xZeQw-46RzT-I5PzmnCieq-7PeArjH6NaXQD0FDRX_a2pX8yN5flau32WSB6G2F45IT3FX5kSuz6x08frhFdsBJ17faciAVqqSXm_IhuA58/s1600/20140830_152812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUuJkxpKGFjR5T9obMvsSaD_LEkccaY29xZeQw-46RzT-I5PzmnCieq-7PeArjH6NaXQD0FDRX_a2pX8yN5flau32WSB6G2F45IT3FX5kSuz6x08frhFdsBJ17faciAVqqSXm_IhuA58/s1600/20140830_152812.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Learning from the mistakes of the Lone Star sign, we did things a bit differently on the Schlitz sign. First, I made sure that all of the sharpie lines had been scrubbed off before painting started (I had quite a bit of trouble with the paint absorbing the ink and staining all the way through on the first round). I also had Shannon use some steel wool to roughen up the surface of the tin so the paint would adhere better, and added some sealer to the paints so that the layers of paint might glide on a bit more easily. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVwOLszDKHNUmCsuxArtWzTn38tgtEUqTJa3lYybG0AGoIjcDL2q57LjppkJzF84Hj0oa4mFHab7M0HvoU0TLeigTISz7LwFTlHPIewsxYwLqkPh9UdmUWar7qZGh7aIO-Hh3qmRLdpY/s1600/20140830_152806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVwOLszDKHNUmCsuxArtWzTn38tgtEUqTJa3lYybG0AGoIjcDL2q57LjppkJzF84Hj0oa4mFHab7M0HvoU0TLeigTISz7LwFTlHPIewsxYwLqkPh9UdmUWar7qZGh7aIO-Hh3qmRLdpY/s1600/20140830_152806.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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after both signs were finished, and sealed with several layers of spray shellac for shine, I came back with some rough brown rusty paint around the edges and in select other places on the signs to make them seem older and more beat up. </div>
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And finally, here they are on set, collaged with other beer signs, our sconces, photos of other musical acts from the time, and lots of snapshots, postcards and news clippings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtg76joLBsSqUpd50MFu-mUhRGHKYQDU9DcgBIPH0wPD6JmcvVMhgDjsDnlSkz3DdjzhyphenhyphenjEWn1vBYDas4bdg-UIB-GElGiM0gixQF9QjE5VJgZWYukV-j6VIR_gNBLNDG3FGu4n2_Jwk/s1600/20140902_162344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtg76joLBsSqUpd50MFu-mUhRGHKYQDU9DcgBIPH0wPD6JmcvVMhgDjsDnlSkz3DdjzhyphenhyphenjEWn1vBYDas4bdg-UIB-GElGiM0gixQF9QjE5VJgZWYukV-j6VIR_gNBLNDG3FGu4n2_Jwk/s1600/20140902_162344.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And with our production manager Sarah pointing out her wedding photo that had made it onto the wall :)</div>
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<br />Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-21844625705256337402014-09-05T12:43:00.000-05:002014-09-05T12:43:54.425-05:00Honky Tonk Sconces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These western honky tonk sconces were created for the production of <i>Always...Patsy Cline </i>running right now at Peninsula Players Theatre. I went into the process thinking I would purchase something, and very quickly discovered that nothing like the designer's research image existed anywhere I could find. </div>
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I briefly toyed with the idea of purchasing a set of 6 of the most basic sconces I could find, and altering them, until the master electrician mentioned that he was hoping to clean out the chandelier stock this year. We were able to find a particularly ugly one (unfortunately I forget to get a photo) and cut the arms off of it, The resulting pieces, below, were my starting point. </div>
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Cutting the pieces off resulted in some pretty bent up ends.</div>
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To flatten them out, I tightened each one as far as I could into the bench vice in the shop, resulting in nice flat metal arms. </div>
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To create a more substantial base, we used these PVC reducing size connectors, painted copper. </div>
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And used liquid nails to attach them to the lamp bases. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXPKaNN69Q2wRoGlnyovSAAp6CZ9iGO5DnPVVG26npV5Tfy9OHYB_jaTC4h4pS-ISHvsc15h8oHe4jLflJb6AIOOLdMH7vtSScuwjA2Emd0inmy6cYS47WGkaUCXOntyVVjdp69lGlAA/s1600/20140828_115153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXPKaNN69Q2wRoGlnyovSAAp6CZ9iGO5DnPVVG26npV5Tfy9OHYB_jaTC4h4pS-ISHvsc15h8oHe4jLflJb6AIOOLdMH7vtSScuwjA2Emd0inmy6cYS47WGkaUCXOntyVVjdp69lGlAA/s1600/20140828_115153.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This stamped metal grating is available in many hardware stores and is often used for radiator covers. I cut narrow strips of it, and then cut a pattern into the top. Then we wrapped it around the PVC pieces and secured it with a couple screws through the grate and into the PVC on the back side. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy12k1stXBjpeAB5e8NmRGAseYjJ3dDbRmAT86PgoDEoJ9kQyGv6ihSz-AZd43i7YKiSt7iLTmsXdidFPD_qNZPxBudnNrx84Xo-UTXPTyIKatYH-uyHIpaWKoq4Ch4sodPCEg8cee620/s1600/20140828_112450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy12k1stXBjpeAB5e8NmRGAseYjJ3dDbRmAT86PgoDEoJ9kQyGv6ihSz-AZd43i7YKiSt7iLTmsXdidFPD_qNZPxBudnNrx84Xo-UTXPTyIKatYH-uyHIpaWKoq4Ch4sodPCEg8cee620/s1600/20140828_112450.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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To finalize the base, we needed one more horizontal layer. We cut some ethafoam insulation into quarters and painted it brown. Ethafoam does not take paint well, but I had heard that you could prep it for paint by spraying it with spray adhesive and then letting it dry completely until it isn't tacky anymore. I tried that this time and it worked beautifully. </div>
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I secured the ethafoam with more liquid nails (and a rubberband to hold everything in place while the glue dried), and the base of the sconce was finished. </div>
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For the shade of the sconce, I found these little tin bowls online. </div>
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We used a hole saw to cut a circular opening in the top and placed it on a stock glass hurricane. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa2oZKy9_rkL1iuwbHTfWbrlWbfCDyUIsvoU0fnh9IXcgvB2G8znogePDm9F-8G__Bc7VwJijUeQASbfrEIevZchL62O2FZ_zLQxXfXYjU7GYmtxBobn1xcjLbMf5siySG0tEHrL4TBE/s1600/20140829_130602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa2oZKy9_rkL1iuwbHTfWbrlWbfCDyUIsvoU0fnh9IXcgvB2G8znogePDm9F-8G__Bc7VwJijUeQASbfrEIevZchL62O2FZ_zLQxXfXYjU7GYmtxBobn1xcjLbMf5siySG0tEHrL4TBE/s1600/20140829_130602.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Finally we needed to mount the sconces to the wall. We cut six plywood circles and used the router to create a detailed outside edge. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTunUOOM2ds9UXkRVqNg27hOAL0L-TwhOv61ePgJTboupaleDSS92vC183ZhrfVG2Z8fpUIIE_bJMVtmajazeoxpTYGB8pn4N-W4EULQmQltd6xhnmGGNmOyTvpKisarQA89EQNfvaFU/s1600/20140827_123654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTunUOOM2ds9UXkRVqNg27hOAL0L-TwhOv61ePgJTboupaleDSS92vC183ZhrfVG2Z8fpUIIE_bJMVtmajazeoxpTYGB8pn4N-W4EULQmQltd6xhnmGGNmOyTvpKisarQA89EQNfvaFU/s1600/20140827_123654.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then cut out the individual spokes of a wagon wheel. The metal chandelier arm was able to attach to the back side of the wagon wheel with a couple screws, and then we only needed one screw through the front when it came time to attach the sconces to the walls of the set. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHexcVnY1ojpq_6CJlQpTAB0e2EzitaSCeYOm1YYZBEjAGTrvZ1hWWJS0faLuu_9fve6TO_GXW6SVVueQ8Ai1UcBry8HMKn2TRTkqkbpSb9VJKRsXfkaXWXj5P6nXPWqP_DjIppmSWcXw/s1600/20140830_162517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHexcVnY1ojpq_6CJlQpTAB0e2EzitaSCeYOm1YYZBEjAGTrvZ1hWWJS0faLuu_9fve6TO_GXW6SVVueQ8Ai1UcBry8HMKn2TRTkqkbpSb9VJKRsXfkaXWXj5P6nXPWqP_DjIppmSWcXw/s1600/20140830_162517.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And here is the finished product, installed and all lit up. I think they are kind of hilarious and adorable. </div>
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<span id="goog_3587741"></span><span id="goog_3587742"></span><br />Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-56558425359509476902014-08-25T12:00:00.000-05:002014-08-25T12:00:00.025-05:00Printed Canvas Map<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For <i>Butler </i>at Peninsula Players Theatre, we needed a canvas map to hang on the wall of the Civil War General's office. The set designer, Jack Magaw, provided the image and I had it printed on nice paper at Office Max, but it was still just paper. I needed it to be stronger, especially since it was going to be manipulated by the actors nightly. </div>
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I purchased a piece of "duck cloth" canvas and used spray adhesive to attach the paper to the canvas, then went to the costume shop to borrow their serger sewing machine and serge the two layers together. </div>
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Here is a close up of the two layers serged together from the front, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXak3Dc-06N0b3Em2z-obBw-s8nYdjEZ-m3F9-zDnUM5AzQIPGDc9Afhuduht-khD2NdAkhDchSsoVC-dLhB0U2etud-H13N9v4Wbia5_Yvu0KA3Gsokdk1YHs8CcABxjbZkQkjKMQ_0/s1600/20140817_121939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXak3Dc-06N0b3Em2z-obBw-s8nYdjEZ-m3F9-zDnUM5AzQIPGDc9Afhuduht-khD2NdAkhDchSsoVC-dLhB0U2etud-H13N9v4Wbia5_Yvu0KA3Gsokdk1YHs8CcABxjbZkQkjKMQ_0/s1600/20140817_121939.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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and on the back side. I am unsure of whether the method would have worked as well if I had printed the map on lower quality paper, but with the higher quality stronger paper, the sewing of the two layers together resulted in clean strong edges that I am confident will last throughout the run of the show. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqG_USrmB6hmZgHOAb2WpwsHH_-jfF3gTrmF__xZ-tURJyjmBH8FSE6epKR3FkDhFfUcEYGfnpltocM2HiWlhLaRk_ydned3g5fnThxHNw5XKOHmfqtgpCDnpLsZEX8OKMgvBrqRC95M/s1600/20140817_121942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqG_USrmB6hmZgHOAb2WpwsHH_-jfF3gTrmF__xZ-tURJyjmBH8FSE6epKR3FkDhFfUcEYGfnpltocM2HiWlhLaRk_ydned3g5fnThxHNw5XKOHmfqtgpCDnpLsZEX8OKMgvBrqRC95M/s1600/20140817_121942.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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To hang the map we purchased two 3/4 inch dowels and used the table saw to cut a groove into each. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcTVKrStmfcGimZM1lgMej2apN-aEHarPp0wLRRzrV91AqCheup0rRCGTchYpI0IWWdBxPRbdYyAMGLUZFoeHWD6m6VpiL6ZJqFYARvhDsd_YAw6rLmFodmajuWOH5gAjdrTdZ3LzcMU/s1600/20140817_121950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcTVKrStmfcGimZM1lgMej2apN-aEHarPp0wLRRzrV91AqCheup0rRCGTchYpI0IWWdBxPRbdYyAMGLUZFoeHWD6m6VpiL6ZJqFYARvhDsd_YAw6rLmFodmajuWOH5gAjdrTdZ3LzcMU/s1600/20140817_121950.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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We filled the gap with wood glue, slid the map into the slot, and then added brad nails to secure it in place. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1FGk4AB_R5CHgFBPs_VlATSF__E1xawB88tn37xuRT9Xclu-4dnNULuGnCC3xY2hkpUUKwOonEfq5v_riO0Xq2Zh9FAQyq2b7UtDXuYJUwRKRGQHr1HIMM4KxtV0lQoLJQKCHg5HMpo/s1600/20140817_160858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1FGk4AB_R5CHgFBPs_VlATSF__E1xawB88tn37xuRT9Xclu-4dnNULuGnCC3xY2hkpUUKwOonEfq5v_riO0Xq2Zh9FAQyq2b7UtDXuYJUwRKRGQHr1HIMM4KxtV0lQoLJQKCHg5HMpo/s1600/20140817_160858.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The brad nails were a bit too long, so once the glue was dry we took the map over to the grinder to smooth off the ends on the back. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpjGQ5BBQx9E4vriUz8dBKVRBni73myRW71Y4rKvje61tNLCSeO3UYJP3P4QHAacwh5oI-FJumq8tpIhTIjttxUN_ratF1x4gIFYbeOMkzReIBSzch4kpPi3B7mEa2OBO-pIzXyRaS_M/s1600/20140817_160903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpjGQ5BBQx9E4vriUz8dBKVRBni73myRW71Y4rKvje61tNLCSeO3UYJP3P4QHAacwh5oI-FJumq8tpIhTIjttxUN_ratF1x4gIFYbeOMkzReIBSzch4kpPi3B7mEa2OBO-pIzXyRaS_M/s1600/20140817_160903.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here is the final piece laid out on the floor, ready to be hung on the wall of the set, and hopefully looking like it is ready to be rolled up and taken onto the battlefield. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRoJMT7S9j-o07iNMHCDex2b3dA4L5VE_x7OvU0pmb6TJ3g7HkXktoAJcL5IhhZgUIR4NJCFKcQmCGKDydezzzlzvTNwan5aauoobYN0uo8yHpwBMeZ2jOJfRFjZQdB4XkmR-JAnzWNE/s1600/20140817_160920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRoJMT7S9j-o07iNMHCDex2b3dA4L5VE_x7OvU0pmb6TJ3g7HkXktoAJcL5IhhZgUIR4NJCFKcQmCGKDydezzzlzvTNwan5aauoobYN0uo8yHpwBMeZ2jOJfRFjZQdB4XkmR-JAnzWNE/s1600/20140817_160920.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And for good measure, and image of the canvas back side of the map too. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVNEdCRuz_aA_KORd4J-j9mG7mNtD2ATsX2mJo7WHbq2HpFLvwe6yjCGv-NWEuZxZE92H1zr6tqW5qI9nWJCNEDbeKpoACys93dcxAcHPjliK-ATYuPucdZ03cm_et_ROGdptIDN0Tg4/s1600/20140817_160930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVNEdCRuz_aA_KORd4J-j9mG7mNtD2ATsX2mJo7WHbq2HpFLvwe6yjCGv-NWEuZxZE92H1zr6tqW5qI9nWJCNEDbeKpoACys93dcxAcHPjliK-ATYuPucdZ03cm_et_ROGdptIDN0Tg4/s1600/20140817_160930.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-79102499789619255882014-08-20T10:00:00.000-05:002014-08-20T10:00:01.272-05:00Making Encyclopedias into Law Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For <i>Butler </i>at Peninsula Players Theatre (Opening tonight), we need to fill multiple book shelves. I was lucky to find a good number of books in stock and even luckier to come across a Goodwill store selling sets of nice encyclopedias for $15 each (I bought 4 sets). Some of the sets looked nice and could pass as period, but two sets looked much more modern. </div>
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What we really wanted for the show was a nice set of law books, but those are more expensive and hard to come by. Solution= turn the modern looking encyclopedias into law books, kind of like these. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hYqqBOuTioH2q9Ag1oU8oCiS1B3S5eTFG-kKMwJmub-GIfNV5k-YDecPzue23pRmQGou0NQn46Z3KLhIuEkcNPPekcE3AMWaLOa5FNy2-BAZJW-MIPaJ1UH9wW_hXBYJMiSvG690OuI/s1600/law+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hYqqBOuTioH2q9Ag1oU8oCiS1B3S5eTFG-kKMwJmub-GIfNV5k-YDecPzue23pRmQGou0NQn46Z3KLhIuEkcNPPekcE3AMWaLOa5FNy2-BAZJW-MIPaJ1UH9wW_hXBYJMiSvG690OuI/s1600/law+books.jpg" height="130" width="320" /></a></div>
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The first step was covering the spines of the books with Muslin. We used used a paint brush and some slightly thinned Elmers Glue for this. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjMU2tBJvNjjOsRm8iZfjmIBhdgemqtPfWSbf8i9219YkJGTHIol6HgoclLKXjwvAaRpEDBB3_6Y3A_sbtfRH9T19Oz4trZ4S-Cq_mL2hj5WfrR1LBpBWsw1K16YiMWNZp8FUjidqGe0/s1600/20140805_145924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjMU2tBJvNjjOsRm8iZfjmIBhdgemqtPfWSbf8i9219YkJGTHIol6HgoclLKXjwvAaRpEDBB3_6Y3A_sbtfRH9T19Oz4trZ4S-Cq_mL2hj5WfrR1LBpBWsw1K16YiMWNZp8FUjidqGe0/s1600/20140805_145924.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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After the glue was dry we trimmed the muslin to a clean edge and brushed on a bit more glue to smooth them. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG-7vP87_QXtkg0tVh5_DbQfk8VgGNSgGGjgJY39rusZxU6_oYiqyjde8Hzd3KIKQ9mJ2uHkn-hguG-eUiHVsAABf4Df3FbzmplRKw7d69l9mRkqQy7HU3fXfL766GFQF0M_6SlddJQA/s1600/20140806_140920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG-7vP87_QXtkg0tVh5_DbQfk8VgGNSgGGjgJY39rusZxU6_oYiqyjde8Hzd3KIKQ9mJ2uHkn-hguG-eUiHVsAABf4Df3FbzmplRKw7d69l9mRkqQy7HU3fXfL766GFQF0M_6SlddJQA/s1600/20140806_140920.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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We used a small brush to cut in around the edges. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NpXUN3KVCficY1cCAc1ij-6aIX3-tqF8JuuoXULgD7IwCZf7cKPaH7occ7hjHZ2hkwKYWySjNgrOxp1UTz_QCI3FCrzHr7LAsphTT7DBkHAzEPOM8La6YzaUGCPIs_RbbfhCjGFfP2M/s1600/20140806_140909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NpXUN3KVCficY1cCAc1ij-6aIX3-tqF8JuuoXULgD7IwCZf7cKPaH7occ7hjHZ2hkwKYWySjNgrOxp1UTz_QCI3FCrzHr7LAsphTT7DBkHAzEPOM8La6YzaUGCPIs_RbbfhCjGFfP2M/s1600/20140806_140909.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then painted the entire spine of the book. We decided where the stripes on the spine would go and carefully measured and marked the lines across all the books so they would be the same. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzJRIXVN-vT7SNZpBq4gcaAPCKe4r-GnTtcU57FATkzSEWeFJd9asgHPk0l3HiTD8JprO55LdS_KEyOK0JPMNSV5aSFv0dy7IVin0-Vfn3YOWTCuJIwl8DvVkWyPQzEGSFia1jGBvpjY/s1600/20140806_154926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzJRIXVN-vT7SNZpBq4gcaAPCKe4r-GnTtcU57FATkzSEWeFJd9asgHPk0l3HiTD8JprO55LdS_KEyOK0JPMNSV5aSFv0dy7IVin0-Vfn3YOWTCuJIwl8DvVkWyPQzEGSFia1jGBvpjY/s1600/20140806_154926.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The top stripe was painted red and the bottom black. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDI5rH4ZNkVXDQclmNlsqqOlvFJsk5BRgcpCN2ndfKR9X1vPHqlopBoRD0_XzM9IHo8LJSBRxeQuwKPhai4PFt7L-M_VovzbRlY4K6U09ZttaAYMg-Pmzhw1B72UztN9OSuZEzcfMJ-U/s1600/20140806_154950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDI5rH4ZNkVXDQclmNlsqqOlvFJsk5BRgcpCN2ndfKR9X1vPHqlopBoRD0_XzM9IHo8LJSBRxeQuwKPhai4PFt7L-M_VovzbRlY4K6U09ZttaAYMg-Pmzhw1B72UztN9OSuZEzcfMJ-U/s1600/20140806_154950.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then we painted over the whole things with a thin brown glaze to give all the color some depth and some shine. We used gold paint pens to add some detail stripes and squiggled in some fake writing for the titles. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtSBQ0uJY7FB3JRwUN0s4NRXw42w_sNfFKtE57MJ2m6hTnDRee0wc7f84hmSE0ze53PBKEBaOpsZ9-JjO3xCFzb-ksZ4vGqXE9-MXNDQbNxOY9ziWKNhzpnWAtMkh9QzfBKvhnrtBxEc/s1600/20140807_185436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtSBQ0uJY7FB3JRwUN0s4NRXw42w_sNfFKtE57MJ2m6hTnDRee0wc7f84hmSE0ze53PBKEBaOpsZ9-JjO3xCFzb-ksZ4vGqXE9-MXNDQbNxOY9ziWKNhzpnWAtMkh9QzfBKvhnrtBxEc/s1600/20140807_185436.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This was our first sample book. After finishing the spine, I still felt like the book looked very fake, so I painted the red cover a more muted green. It helped, but not enough. I realized the the biggest problem was my fake squiggled "writing."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvwS6IA7-x-L7W1xxJnJIwMf3hyeh0bvT7ZJGXK2Nw2-WUruuFqzeHP67osfquleuN_s5o-6zN0K3jL97ZhURSuF4FNuixSql1g4RuroEfkyy-dzFOxiPqFPbiW86ZvfQXDQ3eLuXPHk/s1600/20140807_185429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvwS6IA7-x-L7W1xxJnJIwMf3hyeh0bvT7ZJGXK2Nw2-WUruuFqzeHP67osfquleuN_s5o-6zN0K3jL97ZhURSuF4FNuixSql1g4RuroEfkyy-dzFOxiPqFPbiW86ZvfQXDQ3eLuXPHk/s1600/20140807_185429.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I needed a fine print, something that looked like it had been done by a machine instead of by hand (but without buying an expensive machine). The solution we came to was stamps. </div>
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We purchased a pad of gold stamp ink to experiment with and found that it didn't read very well. We had much more lucking using a gold leaf paint pen, drawing onto the stamp and then pressing it down on the book. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebPG5IveXRZ6CMVnrNQpK-W3lXCkKh7FJVEw898urcHIsqL8i6xiGlfxw57Hmzk70QRJjv3kLLCYdrKBSujukObrtbXV339HYptaGjTN6EUOTmG3tQd5XyFaOlk9H0WUH28Ynls6Nmpg/s1600/20140807_185521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebPG5IveXRZ6CMVnrNQpK-W3lXCkKh7FJVEw898urcHIsqL8i6xiGlfxw57Hmzk70QRJjv3kLLCYdrKBSujukObrtbXV339HYptaGjTN6EUOTmG3tQd5XyFaOlk9H0WUH28Ynls6Nmpg/s1600/20140807_185521.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GlAyal8Q5VOcYi8Ht9_Paf_tW9a7e1bA_umQNQ2gwlqEj2JrvbXcilZTqE7RT5sA7F04_I6QDsr9jScTeZrlpKikt0R07_1zK-5GQ0x0jE653g0TT3kY2MuO19KgnJ195QExAa775ZY/s1600/20140807_185526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GlAyal8Q5VOcYi8Ht9_Paf_tW9a7e1bA_umQNQ2gwlqEj2JrvbXcilZTqE7RT5sA7F04_I6QDsr9jScTeZrlpKikt0R07_1zK-5GQ0x0jE653g0TT3kY2MuO19KgnJ195QExAa775ZY/s1600/20140807_185526.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Here are the first set of books after the first stamp. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCJia54-S4vIuz-ysI813jCoUbH_2k3xEU62L9FsCWXDSuCi5P6pHs_wAzrhmCFifvH9fryhY_dcZy5Hem9oD5zHHKkXx4S4JQfpc7hN3HXWOHRxNDJaPbzYRfK4su_9N3bTH6qZT5hA/s1600/20140807_185514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCJia54-S4vIuz-ysI813jCoUbH_2k3xEU62L9FsCWXDSuCi5P6pHs_wAzrhmCFifvH9fryhY_dcZy5Hem9oD5zHHKkXx4S4JQfpc7hN3HXWOHRxNDJaPbzYRfK4su_9N3bTH6qZT5hA/s1600/20140807_185514.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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and completed with stamps on both stripes</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZwOO5fIFNcfhog5CbSbxjrSQytZCgoinuAgZwkOjx6CT0kLdgJJOTh_8T42KeYu47UvVm36j3f0j-JH1kKTyBZtgyU8aBURUj9NrYeVN9_2ynMtuKy-YuSWqCaEjCCJUpTm-cdHBVYw/s1600/20140808_110016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZwOO5fIFNcfhog5CbSbxjrSQytZCgoinuAgZwkOjx6CT0kLdgJJOTh_8T42KeYu47UvVm36j3f0j-JH1kKTyBZtgyU8aBURUj9NrYeVN9_2ynMtuKy-YuSWqCaEjCCJUpTm-cdHBVYw/s1600/20140808_110016.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the second set of books I varied up the stripes a bit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l7dqCdNxLzi02xGxaERDhC7HYaYJFKbVucZFJzSMV70ssdn0n7iSlNYOZjX33LnwR-VGDJOPRPWAemOAYvQOhs_PzWTmApLA_u7mj2fl7mgjjWDGif9gOpaB6wecBRVBuzFJ56NL1sk/s1600/20140807_185454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l7dqCdNxLzi02xGxaERDhC7HYaYJFKbVucZFJzSMV70ssdn0n7iSlNYOZjX33LnwR-VGDJOPRPWAemOAYvQOhs_PzWTmApLA_u7mj2fl7mgjjWDGif9gOpaB6wecBRVBuzFJ56NL1sk/s1600/20140807_185454.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And added stamps in four places on the spines. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLxnWnZvppCWH5x7ntPy0zSEL8EIdwJZvD_WBA4XUjdjvYOeciHUzPPuVMilu8bzaVLxT0yHvXlA1x8MyS1AM8IWuxffQr3bx0sqFnQDWzIFaBIruGsba-DAFb3guKi23DjCDkxfGfaA/s1600/20140808_110001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLxnWnZvppCWH5x7ntPy0zSEL8EIdwJZvD_WBA4XUjdjvYOeciHUzPPuVMilu8bzaVLxT0yHvXlA1x8MyS1AM8IWuxffQr3bx0sqFnQDWzIFaBIruGsba-DAFb3guKi23DjCDkxfGfaA/s1600/20140808_110001.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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From any distance the words are impossible to decipher, but I love that our polite books all say "Thank You" in the bottom stripe of the spine. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE8VeAMPzjZ5nNk8aPbHaWJBMm2D5xfmTphuHPuPiwrMg5L26sDAJ9dlVWxDSnu60Sja2_eF1om3QWzN0UecBg7kpfXURqLFk3ibxmVI20fg9hiAvb8OaBUmpJnpkhX-nFQpt0obAdEQ/s1600/20140808_110008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE8VeAMPzjZ5nNk8aPbHaWJBMm2D5xfmTphuHPuPiwrMg5L26sDAJ9dlVWxDSnu60Sja2_eF1om3QWzN0UecBg7kpfXURqLFk3ibxmVI20fg9hiAvb8OaBUmpJnpkhX-nFQpt0obAdEQ/s1600/20140808_110008.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-31222123497152301342014-08-15T12:00:00.000-05:002014-08-15T12:00:00.390-05:00Covered Victorian Diary. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This quick little covered book was for the character of Cecily in <i>The Importance of Being Earnest </i>at Oak Park Festival. I started with a small amount of brocade fabric, a $5 "leather" journal from Staples and some decorative scrapbook paper. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_12q8w-VFh4BUF7CX9VkssT8yBJnTplaTIGcaSOpqU_sNUk436Jo5TWo8sqEtsiGqLVDWEruNDAM02X0CJLfej7SzyXwD6wh-fVs4oZjrEQ3tFLNQSTQRNNCdDzwswRXiJJNTQfAyUbU/s1600/20140722_145611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_12q8w-VFh4BUF7CX9VkssT8yBJnTplaTIGcaSOpqU_sNUk436Jo5TWo8sqEtsiGqLVDWEruNDAM02X0CJLfej7SzyXwD6wh-fVs4oZjrEQ3tFLNQSTQRNNCdDzwswRXiJJNTQfAyUbU/s1600/20140722_145611.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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I covered the book with spray adhesive, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FiQxF98CiVcoPSgJWosJ7-5T21IGnujOJfKvByy7qCgPDoOYQP5hyphenhypheno_fl8oha28ABtU4m980aD_zM5_tPt4nbbPQ8SfxHaDxZvt9intCyUUkX3leegqWfhZEMBX-LjwlbYMUjzRYcYg/s1600/20140722_145720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FiQxF98CiVcoPSgJWosJ7-5T21IGnujOJfKvByy7qCgPDoOYQP5hyphenhypheno_fl8oha28ABtU4m980aD_zM5_tPt4nbbPQ8SfxHaDxZvt9intCyUUkX3leegqWfhZEMBX-LjwlbYMUjzRYcYg/s1600/20140722_145720.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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and then carefully pressed the fabric down onto it. When doing this be sure to start on one edge and then slowly work your way across to avoid trapping any wrinkles. Also notice that the fabric piece I cut is much larger than the book. It is always better to be generous with this. Extra can be cut off if needed, it is very hard to add more fabric if there isn't enough. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqQtRMB5BVEzgaAD6Gys4saNy8nj-JC7SK5d9V3RABvu2WcyJ8dNqikMvndFq2k3ehuHLYtgEGeu0eFDApg3R8wqfZ21ZUYcfmt-RdKWlJHVvXls2gVsj1uhbYMGrFwmDdJAsK-Olhtk/s1600/20140722_145824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqQtRMB5BVEzgaAD6Gys4saNy8nj-JC7SK5d9V3RABvu2WcyJ8dNqikMvndFq2k3ehuHLYtgEGeu0eFDApg3R8wqfZ21ZUYcfmt-RdKWlJHVvXls2gVsj1uhbYMGrFwmDdJAsK-Olhtk/s1600/20140722_145824.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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I trimmed the fabric on the corners and the seams so that they would fold over neatly. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mI3Ql7ANWmpLGmwJs0h7hdMIbPpuQW7xnvn5mIClKxyChJPRrxMfUwfv6JvcsEg6he87OMiFuZ68pxX76eZv35lbE98wFyAwR0q5f-oexPNYZFhi1tW1bx3Ip8Oc4RtPGqBNRd84m_4/s1600/20140722_145958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mI3Ql7ANWmpLGmwJs0h7hdMIbPpuQW7xnvn5mIClKxyChJPRrxMfUwfv6JvcsEg6he87OMiFuZ68pxX76eZv35lbE98wFyAwR0q5f-oexPNYZFhi1tW1bx3Ip8Oc4RtPGqBNRd84m_4/s1600/20140722_145958.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then sprayed a bit more spray adhesive inside the cover and folded the fabric over onto the glue. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUw9w2bBQL2CtlXy4sWeq5N5lYVFMNhzgQf7gvRNoeM_xtBWa08GLIk9sJ57NGqenS6aHq5wuUpJKf2i4UD7QRWMe97Xz04oRvlYc2tcrnQEaeJ2OaPn31gjU2whGtDj6Sew02QlfUic/s1600/20140722_150142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUw9w2bBQL2CtlXy4sWeq5N5lYVFMNhzgQf7gvRNoeM_xtBWa08GLIk9sJ57NGqenS6aHq5wuUpJKf2i4UD7QRWMe97Xz04oRvlYc2tcrnQEaeJ2OaPn31gjU2whGtDj6Sew02QlfUic/s1600/20140722_150142.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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Finally I cut two pieces from the scrapbook paper the height of the book. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSuN99qXLIgHQwpelwwRIxd0Cr7gpZ95ZTahaIMfRatss70kxkPwW70h2fbGOe0aqUp-ghc9ak2n410RfiPh4MKax6Eb9tiv5Rw_XYrQ6dbIGH3mLMjaMWdagjf7Cb-hhkyW2A9b-Rks/s1600/20140722_150358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSuN99qXLIgHQwpelwwRIxd0Cr7gpZ95ZTahaIMfRatss70kxkPwW70h2fbGOe0aqUp-ghc9ak2n410RfiPh4MKax6Eb9tiv5Rw_XYrQ6dbIGH3mLMjaMWdagjf7Cb-hhkyW2A9b-Rks/s1600/20140722_150358.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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I sprayed them and then wrapped them around the edge of the journal to give it a look much more in line with the period books I found in my research (when in doubt in a Victorian play, add more detail). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIp2pq-EweUj1EKt42jzUt_ataL87U1uwBJH1W0k82QQAAbvSQJC0WhfgmMK-TSJSC_JC9yIc_Bx1vgPmB-KZUAVOm4a7gHXbkPOFUg1iDS30hU3li1O1kIVVUYBfOV95exyeUr_KFGiA/s1600/20140722_150749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIp2pq-EweUj1EKt42jzUt_ataL87U1uwBJH1W0k82QQAAbvSQJC0WhfgmMK-TSJSC_JC9yIc_Bx1vgPmB-KZUAVOm4a7gHXbkPOFUg1iDS30hU3li1O1kIVVUYBfOV95exyeUr_KFGiA/s1600/20140722_150749.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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And here is the final book. Cute and it matched nicely with Cecily's dress. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBaij8tLPCNWLyRlh9aEMf57NjFXvLAi2akhR0VuxKhqHzJKH-wbJPL7vEL4R0UtmylCWxUfquz5KPAELoDq35hMRZZ2mAEyjQKQCHT5-DIY9WzKduPSGr8QpVEbY3fNgNbJRzH-mZFQ/s1600/20140722_150759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBaij8tLPCNWLyRlh9aEMf57NjFXvLAi2akhR0VuxKhqHzJKH-wbJPL7vEL4R0UtmylCWxUfquz5KPAELoDq35hMRZZ2mAEyjQKQCHT5-DIY9WzKduPSGr8QpVEbY3fNgNbJRzH-mZFQ/s1600/20140722_150759.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-82724107412782875922014-08-14T20:36:00.000-05:002014-08-14T20:37:34.244-05:00Oak Park Festival InterviewOne of the board members at Oak Park Festival Theatre sent me an email the other day asking me if I could answer some questions so that she could write a bit about me for their company newsletter.<br />
Here's the article she wrote with my answers-<br />
<a href="http://oakparkfestival.com/she-gets-serious-props/">http://oakparkfestival.com/she-gets-serious-props/</a>Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-77800187452684560802014-08-13T20:08:00.000-05:002014-08-13T20:08:59.964-05:00Civil War Period Pen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last week the stage manager for <i>Butler </i>at Peninsula Players Theatre asked me after rehearsal, "Greg wants to know if the General would be using a dip pen or a fountain pen." I started to answer and then realized, I had no idea. I told him I would do some research and then get back to them for rehearsal the next day. </div>
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In my research I discovered that the fountain pens that we know of today were patented in the 1880s, about 20 years after our play took place. Prior to that though, many companies were creating their own versions of something similar. Designs hadn't been perfected yet and could sometimes be leaky, or write a bit inconsistently, but people were using them. Based on this information I told stage management that the actor was free to make the choice himself. </div>
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He decided he would like to have a fountain pen, and then I set to work finding out what that would look like. As it turns out, examples of such pens are very hard to find. I ended up seeing three that all seemed to have this basic design. The body and the nib of the pen were very similar to a recognizable fountain pen (the first image has the nib removed). Then they have the long retracting plunger. It looks to me like this pen would be placed in a pot of ink, and then the plunger would be pulled back to draw the ink up into the reservoir. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG0uf5VaC3LOuRw-hsi99oDmFQkKjNZyfQdWNIKND1MwUkau4mo2yuMnLKWy3uQP-6xSsG6hd2geUBzdjgqtwmX8FFwNu61OqhfYyJ5YHDbfYbaQ_14W2GcCIzuumEe189Wf16PPn-lY/s1600/$(KGrHqZ%2C!hIFCtnY%2Bkt3BQ63eHfdPQ~~60_103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG0uf5VaC3LOuRw-hsi99oDmFQkKjNZyfQdWNIKND1MwUkau4mo2yuMnLKWy3uQP-6xSsG6hd2geUBzdjgqtwmX8FFwNu61OqhfYyJ5YHDbfYbaQ_14W2GcCIzuumEe189Wf16PPn-lY/s1600/$(KGrHqZ%2C!hIFCtnY%2Bkt3BQ63eHfdPQ~~60_103.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r4A3YDtzTXsVk_-ZIp8bZCHnUBZbvvOQFyt0Peneddxw8PvKTNhHbqUCiEkwMYGswFezN2J5-JUo1G4phBDTCdYV2aSXHHZqQC_UKdPai047a39z2G5Lsd2VdXkQP6m02KauRJ4Uj6Y/s1600/$(KGrHqZ%2C!lIFCecqLGShBQ63dt)m0!~~60_103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r4A3YDtzTXsVk_-ZIp8bZCHnUBZbvvOQFyt0Peneddxw8PvKTNhHbqUCiEkwMYGswFezN2J5-JUo1G4phBDTCdYV2aSXHHZqQC_UKdPai047a39z2G5Lsd2VdXkQP6m02KauRJ4Uj6Y/s1600/$(KGrHqZ%2C!lIFCecqLGShBQ63dt)m0!~~60_103.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGOrrYToK7hRT4ESATmrsG9hEA6hz3fvH-um5la6XkeDDLddLLYuLin4HFxD1c5bHKJ-fBzOYs_-_3kF2OuzkUzfhNWazjDxI7ggm7yzfQgUuNp2wLqYP-_4RIfhsJ8Z2S4AvuJRxrtw/s1600/160956831767_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGOrrYToK7hRT4ESATmrsG9hEA6hz3fvH-um5la6XkeDDLddLLYuLin4HFxD1c5bHKJ-fBzOYs_-_3kF2OuzkUzfhNWazjDxI7ggm7yzfQgUuNp2wLqYP-_4RIfhsJ8Z2S4AvuJRxrtw/s1600/160956831767_1.jpg" /></a></div>
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I was excited about my new knowledge of period pens, but at a bit of a loss for how to make one (purchasing is not an option, the one pictured above is on sale on ebay for $2200)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsBugd26WVawWS57FprNQLv3ma_K2Y84TemVzaMPY15a2eZge_dTLlpMq9-FU0kFE7v4I6vr08mFZlFqQYPYamh_PV64G3P6yUtO6U90jY6BGOjqug4cvlMdJ_SyT5U18FuSivTOqPtg/s1600/20140813_114449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsBugd26WVawWS57FprNQLv3ma_K2Y84TemVzaMPY15a2eZge_dTLlpMq9-FU0kFE7v4I6vr08mFZlFqQYPYamh_PV64G3P6yUtO6U90jY6BGOjqug4cvlMdJ_SyT5U18FuSivTOqPtg/s1600/20140813_114449.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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When scouting around for materials I came across these cheap aluminum knitting needles. I was able to buy several sets in different sizes so I could experiment with one fitting snugly inside another. After cutting a few apart, I discovered this purple and gold combination was the best. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJYBvc-Dz3lOwWOExH-QphT3WDeOCCd2xS4fSWDMxgFs4-1rPvZRftU7urcyYbCLHADsSl_ex7PU4xYQ5HuNfmOeDr2mHgNP5qlOF3Q-3BQ1Sbyd322vJrkFbit6zp8vn8pLcpjqwH9g/s1600/20140813_114622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJYBvc-Dz3lOwWOExH-QphT3WDeOCCd2xS4fSWDMxgFs4-1rPvZRftU7urcyYbCLHADsSl_ex7PU4xYQ5HuNfmOeDr2mHgNP5qlOF3Q-3BQ1Sbyd322vJrkFbit6zp8vn8pLcpjqwH9g/s1600/20140813_114622.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I cut the needles to the length I needed, leaving the end on the purple one. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHahp97PIwSWKriaio2UH20dvtyYhyphenhyphen_YbQqX1n4D9GO59T4OF2dty9RJfsLx7WE7SpIy00mEsSSoct9khKobFBvY3RSVIY2WqA-2w2OAeFpdcO7jJM9C9fqPfzxu04cSMWDFEA368bNM/s1600/20140813_114745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHahp97PIwSWKriaio2UH20dvtyYhyphenhyphen_YbQqX1n4D9GO59T4OF2dty9RJfsLx7WE7SpIy00mEsSSoct9khKobFBvY3RSVIY2WqA-2w2OAeFpdcO7jJM9C9fqPfzxu04cSMWDFEA368bNM/s1600/20140813_114745.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I wrapped the end of the purple needle with just a bit of tape to ensure a snug fit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iKld7wtt97Bf6OdH5YX4ChXBo_kGMyuGK_9zz6ZQnNchMB19JKtHrutBIVImgNFLIYVDOVMEnvyuqOBff5qsaBrgIhaHW9E-2SR5uSwvfEJ17D9OyHsTvRyDyKgKkg_e6AWb6tl1hPs/s1600/20140813_114937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iKld7wtt97Bf6OdH5YX4ChXBo_kGMyuGK_9zz6ZQnNchMB19JKtHrutBIVImgNFLIYVDOVMEnvyuqOBff5qsaBrgIhaHW9E-2SR5uSwvfEJ17D9OyHsTvRyDyKgKkg_e6AWb6tl1hPs/s1600/20140813_114937.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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We wanted to make sure that our pen was still functional, so I took apart this cheap ballpoint pen to use the ink. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JUb90qYugCRmzj-Ad2TTJO27VAgQ8PmEdd5h5uVOex8N1beFO5aLYnqCcyKVnbML95VSTsrAoOZDXw0B49XqvQpVthKn7TybpnvNmnPUCLEdvOVgAZWIrEjE7mSMxkwPjyP328bquUM/s1600/20140813_115037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JUb90qYugCRmzj-Ad2TTJO27VAgQ8PmEdd5h5uVOex8N1beFO5aLYnqCcyKVnbML95VSTsrAoOZDXw0B49XqvQpVthKn7TybpnvNmnPUCLEdvOVgAZWIrEjE7mSMxkwPjyP328bquUM/s1600/20140813_115037.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And slid it into the center of the tubes. These photos are from the second pen I made. When I made the first one I had to experiment a bit with the length of the tubes so that inner purple tube didn't get caught on the ink after it was pulled out. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCDaEwQXzxOBk7iLJZP8LqpScVPm-pFy_7nFX5VBT3LafKjLMWvzBxhOPbIKJF2QVRDZIbhsy-Bx3zRemgFwFfxVKorR44ylooOX0M46YBfosdUkk0W78ImpRG6d6sRqQxzMVSmvCShI/s1600/20140813_115114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCDaEwQXzxOBk7iLJZP8LqpScVPm-pFy_7nFX5VBT3LafKjLMWvzBxhOPbIKJF2QVRDZIbhsy-Bx3zRemgFwFfxVKorR44ylooOX0M46YBfosdUkk0W78ImpRG6d6sRqQxzMVSmvCShI/s1600/20140813_115114.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
To make the pen nib I cut a triangle shape from some metallic gold contact paper we had in stock (also seen in the previous pic).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UEQxmvwhsug_UG7876D5IHyaz4ZQErTjvezftTx0Oyaqmdcepa48XoRETAqmOBs0aTbLcX1qTEj5csriDgMnDlUUiJA_POLURkHooknZyn0aACcCuWDFyX0IdM36j_1EpDak4UyyAdQ/s1600/20140813_115142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UEQxmvwhsug_UG7876D5IHyaz4ZQErTjvezftTx0Oyaqmdcepa48XoRETAqmOBs0aTbLcX1qTEj5csriDgMnDlUUiJA_POLURkHooknZyn0aACcCuWDFyX0IdM36j_1EpDak4UyyAdQ/s1600/20140813_115142.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I simply wrapped the tape around the pen base to form a fairly convincing nib. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScawDsc_aTLHkXksCp7JQIy5VvQXt0RdwpL3T941xRfsQun2hoI7QRAlUkrmpEWpgq0vgjeMP65gycVRk6wzJPLrulXoMkyHJd7D5WQSxKnjR5kqjjGEZnBmD_ti86jHO7kchb2i1Q1c/s1600/20140813_115239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScawDsc_aTLHkXksCp7JQIy5VvQXt0RdwpL3T941xRfsQun2hoI7QRAlUkrmpEWpgq0vgjeMP65gycVRk6wzJPLrulXoMkyHJd7D5WQSxKnjR5kqjjGEZnBmD_ti86jHO7kchb2i1Q1c/s1600/20140813_115239.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I then filled in the nib with hot glue, to make the nib more sturdy and to hold the ball-point ink in place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8j1NBKDhuMOuJifzZ5NhLpYkAC8E4-Xau1QL96DtaIZLE5YWP_Oo76xxQQVG7qCnV-_6xIdmkR0Zu7-F8Syfl4r6zNaq3rjLdDwxB7nkZ5ZF84b3x14yprdE9SPczamY0h_zRxg8Fcr0/s1600/20140813_115418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8j1NBKDhuMOuJifzZ5NhLpYkAC8E4-Xau1QL96DtaIZLE5YWP_Oo76xxQQVG7qCnV-_6xIdmkR0Zu7-F8Syfl4r6zNaq3rjLdDwxB7nkZ5ZF84b3x14yprdE9SPczamY0h_zRxg8Fcr0/s1600/20140813_115418.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
I used this wood-grain contact paper to add a bit of visual interest to the center of the pen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNutxJ2UcstjOKCCMNgJYDu67tpTcMsApVGeirQ54TsqM10MLQ7t40V1WqihCpNcLpo7mrpJocqRFTJqhbYyE_MUS_59YQzFT1-Dnuq94yI1Umn8ECgakxVyeoE0dsgSW9PIjMMeQbPxQ/s1600/20140813_115516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNutxJ2UcstjOKCCMNgJYDu67tpTcMsApVGeirQ54TsqM10MLQ7t40V1WqihCpNcLpo7mrpJocqRFTJqhbYyE_MUS_59YQzFT1-Dnuq94yI1Umn8ECgakxVyeoE0dsgSW9PIjMMeQbPxQ/s1600/20140813_115516.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Like so</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-WaVumswI6r61_SHDFRgzVQX8jcH5jjLu2d_CgpBZJMcOS3JgimYNc0Xq6Mbsmp-arlqNEF7LJ-dgjnHFpWJvbLVaqiG4WNk47ckPRsA7eKMMe8O9Nqcw5i9XoKaSnjLzM63164fQU0/s1600/20140813_115904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-WaVumswI6r61_SHDFRgzVQX8jcH5jjLu2d_CgpBZJMcOS3JgimYNc0Xq6Mbsmp-arlqNEF7LJ-dgjnHFpWJvbLVaqiG4WNk47ckPRsA7eKMMe8O9Nqcw5i9XoKaSnjLzM63164fQU0/s1600/20140813_115904.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then used strips of the same gold contact paper to add these three stripes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgpiln_T9XfdoS1ERqKPpE6XfriTfqgMh-YErsOlkVtN8bqYYeXI36i3bg9Oqc4LHi4i9NHt_yaQ_VxQrQEglrr7_6lI4uhR0KdwypA4J8iFL888CB3w6ntNpHTdL8Dgb1RGip3Gg8pU/s1600/20140813_120156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgpiln_T9XfdoS1ERqKPpE6XfriTfqgMh-YErsOlkVtN8bqYYeXI36i3bg9Oqc4LHi4i9NHt_yaQ_VxQrQEglrr7_6lI4uhR0KdwypA4J8iFL888CB3w6ntNpHTdL8Dgb1RGip3Gg8pU/s1600/20140813_120156.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
A bit of gold paint to cover the purple needle and the hot glue on the pen nib, and the project is complete.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoh3GK6JUBMFGM_fHxHKzDzEvSh6K5N8ZlKpZdDflwGbeRmjBHZrFdqujYiI0dxpXipOHKnevhTf-bB85H4S8Ho7VVvz9k_gzyNYs0ol7vjXUSMTq4pLYGQ2z3i6v_2qfv4myvV8AZVU/s1600/20140813_120208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoh3GK6JUBMFGM_fHxHKzDzEvSh6K5N8ZlKpZdDflwGbeRmjBHZrFdqujYiI0dxpXipOHKnevhTf-bB85H4S8Ho7VVvz9k_gzyNYs0ol7vjXUSMTq4pLYGQ2z3i6v_2qfv4myvV8AZVU/s1600/20140813_120208.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here are the two finished pens, and below is the research image. Not very far off, and from a distance, rather convincing. </div>
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<br />Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-7038852513530300422014-08-09T19:06:00.000-05:002014-08-09T19:19:02.959-05:00Tea Sandwiches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For <i>The Importance of Being Earnest</i> at Oak Park Festival Theatre, I was lucky that these bread and butter sandwiches didn't need to be consumed, so I could save time and money by making fake ones. </div>
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I started with a scrap piece of upholstery foam I had left from a previous project. </div>
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I cut it into small rectangles, around 1 1/4" wide and 4" long</div>
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I then cut them in half width-wise by carefully wedging each piece between my scissors before cutting down.</div>
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I used some leftover liquid latex in between the two halves</div>
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The put the pieces back together for a nice little bread and butter tea sandwich. </div>
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Unfortunately I forgot to get a photo of all the tea sandwiches stacked daintily on the tray with the tea service, but trust me, it was lovely, and very convincing. </div>
Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-88396475971733689922014-08-09T18:48:00.000-05:002014-08-09T18:48:20.332-05:00Civil War bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For "Butler" at Peninsula Players Theatre, I needed a small bag stuffed with supplies for one of the actors. Usually, with a period play like this I would have to do a lot of research to get a good idea of what the bag may have looked like. Fortunately, with a Civil War play, a lot of the research has already been done and is easily accessible on sites used by Civil War reenactors. I was able to easily locate several images of white canvas "haversacks," and several sites that sold reproductions and even listed dimensions. I chose this one to base my bag on</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPD3pnBikIR19rTbwjs0NoGw3RLrncOEPFGXdBbxbCBdEkDgl-q_Dr0nC_b-ApfuHAg3E2UXrlzDGrHIbwnjOvxtM87rPb_VjyFdsYukBvbJc9-x1uFKHQmfHBzDns075ZeQUcTiHOXkk/s1600/civil-war-canvas-haversack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPD3pnBikIR19rTbwjs0NoGw3RLrncOEPFGXdBbxbCBdEkDgl-q_Dr0nC_b-ApfuHAg3E2UXrlzDGrHIbwnjOvxtM87rPb_VjyFdsYukBvbJc9-x1uFKHQmfHBzDns075ZeQUcTiHOXkk/s1600/civil-war-canvas-haversack.jpg" height="320" width="298" /></a></div>
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I found some cut up pieces of an old drop cloth lying around the shop, which turned out to be the perfect fabric. I cut a 16" square for the front, a 22" piece for the back, and a long thin strip which I sewed in half for the strap.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlyD_lrea5eW5ibI1NBDf5pjwAHERpFYBKHUL5cLMhoaQGvLD5TqVXPmvVoOEvjn9Ui2Ptrn81GSsHBASI8WmJ45Um9bPr0x8yFQdGSIXwpkdJrVKpWxKdHqJWm9dUnJenm7-K05EqgU/s1600/20140806_103217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlyD_lrea5eW5ibI1NBDf5pjwAHERpFYBKHUL5cLMhoaQGvLD5TqVXPmvVoOEvjn9Ui2Ptrn81GSsHBASI8WmJ45Um9bPr0x8yFQdGSIXwpkdJrVKpWxKdHqJWm9dUnJenm7-K05EqgU/s1600/20140806_103217.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I used a safety pin to slowly turn the strap inside out to hide the loose edges. </div>
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Then I pinned the front and back together, cut the angles on the two bottom corners and stitched around the outside. </div>
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Before turning the bag right-side out, I snipped the corners on the bottom so the seam would be flat and not bunchy.<br />
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I turned the bag right-side-out, cut a curve into the top edge of the back piece (the flap) then turned under the edge 1/2" and stitched it in place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9F_M-JHhCjRLuNFeEUjkdS1v5VO0KyKiY1dAbLRggy49AwkiJhELIONooWq8PkDoRLUDhN6A0AdPpLGyw8KWHr8nV_TSCzQB69Pdo_Hjd8MLmi6BxYbplqNdVrC_bJenkX7IZkeVlDs/s1600/20140806_105732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9F_M-JHhCjRLuNFeEUjkdS1v5VO0KyKiY1dAbLRggy49AwkiJhELIONooWq8PkDoRLUDhN6A0AdPpLGyw8KWHr8nV_TSCzQB69Pdo_Hjd8MLmi6BxYbplqNdVrC_bJenkX7IZkeVlDs/s1600/20140806_105732.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
The costume shop manager was able to give me a bit of a broken belt to use for the bag closure. I cut off a piece about 6" long and stitched the end to the flap of the bag.<br />
As a side note, I was a little worried about breaking the needle on the sewing machine by trying to stitch through the thick leather of the belt. As I have done before in these situations, I still used the machine, but I turned the wheel by hand as opposed to using the electric pedal. It takes a little longer, but allows me to control the needle a bit more so it doesn't get forced through somewhere it doesn't want to go. I still get the nice, strong even stitches of the sewing machine,, but don't risk breaking a machine that was not intended for such industrial materials.<br />
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I took another bit of the belt, about 4" long, and stitched it to the base of the bag, as a loop to hold the strap. I found a small buckle in our stock and stitched that on as well (that one I did by hand).<br />
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Here is a look at the finished closure. </div>
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The final step was to sew on the strap. In hindsight, it would have been MUCH easier if I had thought the project through before starting, and had attached the handles to the back of the bag before sewing the front and back of the bag together. I was still able to get a good stitch line down both edges of the strap, on both sides of the bag, but it required lots of twisting and pulling the stretching of fabric to get my needle where it needed to be without accidentally catching some bit of fabric I didn't want under my needle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzDKUqFg1IMJo32wkOpIe9Tz0TVeXh6EIeBqWiaUbWBnbiI1YTL9eo9-NouifkEx2kzuH-xFtzTPgBLmBJFP08diqlUKftuWCEMBOkwZMLrTRyakf93JALnBfVwGzmJb1PKI-TpsgvRg/s1600/20140806_112833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzDKUqFg1IMJo32wkOpIe9Tz0TVeXh6EIeBqWiaUbWBnbiI1YTL9eo9-NouifkEx2kzuH-xFtzTPgBLmBJFP08diqlUKftuWCEMBOkwZMLrTRyakf93JALnBfVwGzmJb1PKI-TpsgvRg/s1600/20140806_112833.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here is the strap nicely stitched in place. </div>
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Here is the finished bag. </div>
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And here is the finished bag loaded with supplies and ready to go into rehearsal. </div>
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Total, the project took about 2 hours and was a very satisfying productive break between some larger projects. </div>
<br />Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-10954286795822254882014-08-06T09:21:00.000-05:002014-08-06T09:38:25.547-05:00Thoughts on delegatingMost of the time in my props work, I am working solo. In the past year or so I've been able to have an assistant for tech week at times, but in general I research, shop, and create the props for a show entirely on my own.<br />
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Early this summer I had the opportunity to work several days as an overhire artisan at the Goodman Theatre. Working on a team with five full time props staff members and several other overhire workers was fun and very interesting. I learned a lot in a very short amount of time. With so many people around, there always seemed to be someone who was an expert in whatever task was at hand, and the shop turned out beautiful detailed work. </div>
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Right now, I am just finishing my first week at Peninsula Players Theatre. I have an assistant here who manages props all season, and an intern who has been assigned to props for this rotation (and has worked other jobs for the other productions this season). In this situation I'm the expert, and need to be in charge of the delegating, rather than being the one who is delegated to, as I was at the Goodman. </div>
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These two experiences have me thinking quite a bit about working as a team and the pros and cons of those experiences vs working solo. So, with my apologies for no organization strategy, here are some random thoughts on the subject. </div>
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-When I am the boss delegating, I find I can work very effectively by starting a project, teaching someone how to do it, and then leaving them to finish. Especially in my past experience as a tech director at a theatre where I had lots of unskilled intern labor, and very few skilled carpenters, I made it a personal rule to never finish a project. I would gather all the tools and supplies for a project, start laying it out, and create a sample if possible, so that when someone came wandering up asking "what should I do now" my answer was always, "this!" Since the project was already set up I didn't need to waste any time with long explanations and lists. The intern could get right to work and I could move on to the next project. </div>
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- The plus side of a large crew is that there is broader array of skills and expertise. If I encounter a problem with a project, I have five other people who can help me brainstorm and therefor will am more likely to find the best or most creative solution quickly. I often lament that my learning is limited while working as the only prop person on a show, because there is no one around to teach me, on a large crew there is always someone around who can teach you something, and I learned more in eight days at the Goodman than I probably did the entire rest of the summer. </div>
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- The down side to a big crew is that often, when things are busy, it is harder to learn a new skill. If I am a talented seamstress, and another crew member is a talented welder, there are rarely going to be occasions for me to improve my welding or her to improve her sewing. When those projects come up, it is most efficient to give the task to the person who has already perfected the skills to complete it. Artists end up growing much more specialized and less well rounded. </div>
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- You can delegate research. It's probably because most of the time when I have had an assistant it had been later in my process, but for some reason, before I was asked to do research at the Goodman, it hadn't occurred to me. I had the props intern do research for me on her first day of work and it was hugely helpful. It also helped to get her into the world of the show, which hopefully will continue to be a benefit no matter which projects I assign her going forward.<br />
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-The more people there are to delegate to, and supervise, the less you get to do yourself. This kind of goes along with the first point about never finishing a project, but I definitely get to a point where, after spending several days doing the shopping and the driving and the emailing I need to sit down and make something- even if it's something small. </div>
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Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-5934452149760351712014-04-20T12:00:00.000-05:002014-04-20T12:00:00.863-05:00Fake Quiche<div style="text-align: center;">
For the upcoming production of <i>Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche, </i>I needed quiche (obviously), a LOT of it. </div>
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I started picking up pie plates at thrift stores as soon as I agreed to do the show. Within the show itself I needed about a dozen quiches, but the company also was very interested in having lots of quiche in the lobby as the audience is entering. </div>
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It was decided I would aim for 50 quiches, so I set to work. </div>
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I mixed up salt dough for the crusts. To save a bit of mess (as the flour tends to get everywhere) I mixed the dough in the sink. </div>
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Then I pressed the dough into the pie pans. For clear glass dishes I had to make a full crust, but for the metal or ceramic dishes I could get away with just doing the sides. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKkt1-qnaYKPKNpHNMktcFsFbVZJMlCxSHght733pUU0Ded8ChVYRV5aSOGcxNq7c8GrWRmvKRRIbJmo8ZJ-AbLl4xGxmVbFfgjy1mDUxAEPqa2sj_sy29LLVhqfijSPzMxvoqFlqYZo/s1600/20140408_092752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKkt1-qnaYKPKNpHNMktcFsFbVZJMlCxSHght733pUU0Ded8ChVYRV5aSOGcxNq7c8GrWRmvKRRIbJmo8ZJ-AbLl4xGxmVbFfgjy1mDUxAEPqa2sj_sy29LLVhqfijSPzMxvoqFlqYZo/s1600/20140408_092752.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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To bake the crusts I preheated the oven to 400 degrees, put in the pans, then turned off the oven and left the pies in there for the rest of the day. This didn't all happen in one day, by the way. I made crusts every morning for a few days, then cycled through the steps as each quiche was ready. </div>
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Once the crusts were baked, I filled them with great-stuff expanding foam. </div>
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After the foam hardened and cured, I carved off anything that had expanded above the top of the crust</div>
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I learned as I went that it works best to have an uneven surface on top, with all of the foam stopping about a quarter inch lower than the top of the crust. </div>
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My plan was to melt down wax, add yellow dye and pour it on top to finish the quiches. My first attempts didn't turn out as planed though. They looked too yellow, and the wax was too translucent. I ended up buying opaque taper candles from the dollar store to mix in with my bulk craft wax in order to get the opacity correct. </div>
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Wax can be tricky to judge because, when it melts, it is all transparent. It is hard to know what the color will look like once everything hardens and become whiter and more opaque. </div>
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After everything was melted down, I poured the wax over the great stuff, and then left it to cool. </div>
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Here are the same two quiches after the wax cooled. </div>
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The color is close to right, but the texture is all wrong. </div>
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Since the color was right I decided to start experimenting with fillings. I collected spare bits of past projects from my craft closet and set to work. </div>
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The first try was with these multi-colored pom-pom balls. I spread them over the foam, </div>
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Then poured the wax on top. </div>
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Once the wax cured, it looked like this. Better than the plain ones, but the texture was still not right, and it was too obvious what the pom-poms were. </div>
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I ended up spooning a bit more hot wax onto the top of the quiche. I then strategically pressed it, piled it and moved it with my spoon until it dried, leaving a much more convincing texture, and obscuring the obvious shape of the pom-poms. </div>
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I tried again with bits of red pipe cleaner</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNigs7vI5IY8pxXKCQ3KZ8oeQdglmzpE1ccDsxScqW8ryh9ONAkgyoXPJYm0APTAbsPm6LsL_UEnX83bSXqHTrhnXhdmSrVOwzCBuV9Wuw-NHi7hKhJrcy_PmWPYM7VQrQKTSO_zXcE1w/s1600/20140410_100516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNigs7vI5IY8pxXKCQ3KZ8oeQdglmzpE1ccDsxScqW8ryh9ONAkgyoXPJYm0APTAbsPm6LsL_UEnX83bSXqHTrhnXhdmSrVOwzCBuV9Wuw-NHi7hKhJrcy_PmWPYM7VQrQKTSO_zXcE1w/s1600/20140410_100516.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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leftover fake leaves</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulcFSAtmpVnzoYTnOfnaAkI9POxqIF2uS_16TQpVlWrkqZCfqZ23FiziX5P3Wo-37WI1D82ghFU1Yik7DHRoQ9P-Ph3lr370vNz_KkPjJ2pNlvoofPPQG5jdkZgUScLTz771lG2WAVbE/s1600/20140410_100526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulcFSAtmpVnzoYTnOfnaAkI9POxqIF2uS_16TQpVlWrkqZCfqZ23FiziX5P3Wo-37WI1D82ghFU1Yik7DHRoQ9P-Ph3lr370vNz_KkPjJ2pNlvoofPPQG5jdkZgUScLTz771lG2WAVbE/s1600/20140410_100526.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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and rice- not my favorite</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDFwX1iXQe0vkuep-oeCuig-W4rN-raBBQJhmVdSShixaZohew_gdPhmtETsN1V8lzbHiIIyFfN0pBwd4Ml4Ck4WJ4zT6xM6IfCgky_QEHeJXyVDNTXiYeXE3TXPvirUsPqeq2W8v424/s1600/20140410_144716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDFwX1iXQe0vkuep-oeCuig-W4rN-raBBQJhmVdSShixaZohew_gdPhmtETsN1V8lzbHiIIyFfN0pBwd4Ml4Ck4WJ4zT6xM6IfCgky_QEHeJXyVDNTXiYeXE3TXPvirUsPqeq2W8v424/s1600/20140410_144716.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BuYcypboLmMDg-MJN3trJYLNog7Q6lPBZZJLL_ysCAqOdPk-kgG4kmYPXrkU-lOC5UgliJiisDqyKlqrcjBqWfoxBcL18GgbAuJsB5LqTiAFZNJkDWDXS2MkOGtjJlkrtJgBvSksJvY/s1600/20140410_115836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BuYcypboLmMDg-MJN3trJYLNog7Q6lPBZZJLL_ysCAqOdPk-kgG4kmYPXrkU-lOC5UgliJiisDqyKlqrcjBqWfoxBcL18GgbAuJsB5LqTiAFZNJkDWDXS2MkOGtjJlkrtJgBvSksJvY/s1600/20140410_115836.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And here are some of the results.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p1wU-MDnZHxgKE7qKW6mB3F_eOKOT-U8dZ_kG4WAaPiko78yhJVAKTPWRIQQhcF7XKuSB2elSx4QDIXgZz5W9c_2G3wVH_qxqVvUMfwM6ZpYG-pvC_UBPpMdndaBcVmYzPIjRL3miGc/s1600/20140410_115901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p1wU-MDnZHxgKE7qKW6mB3F_eOKOT-U8dZ_kG4WAaPiko78yhJVAKTPWRIQQhcF7XKuSB2elSx4QDIXgZz5W9c_2G3wVH_qxqVvUMfwM6ZpYG-pvC_UBPpMdndaBcVmYzPIjRL3miGc/s1600/20140410_115901.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is my first batch of 16, so I'm sure as I go forward they will get even better, and hopefully I'll find other filling options that give more interesting variety to the collection (I'm definitely want to try sprinkling the tops of some with real herbs while the wax is still hot). </div>
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Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-36152113901460401372014-04-15T12:01:00.000-05:002014-04-15T12:05:02.450-05:00Meat DomeToday I learned that this...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5s9k_hyphenhyphenQ_gX5NgGX-TNt0sIfMj7w7ucddXrlBeOHSMDPLLd7KoOn8msTlf5iaHjwp-9hZtE3BP7-R0YH41sfpVMCISfne51sukVe5Dtn7LkBXSUfJIv2i_fxpznXUddro4dlaJrQouI/s1600/meat+dome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5s9k_hyphenhyphenQ_gX5NgGX-TNt0sIfMj7w7ucddXrlBeOHSMDPLLd7KoOn8msTlf5iaHjwp-9hZtE3BP7-R0YH41sfpVMCISfne51sukVe5Dtn7LkBXSUfJIv2i_fxpznXUddro4dlaJrQouI/s1600/meat+dome.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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is called a "meat dome" which is why my searches for "covered silver tray" and other variations of those terms, were coming up empty.<br />
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I also learned that they are VERY expensive, and I will be making one instead of purchasing one.Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-74514338941513305452014-04-15T12:00:00.000-05:002014-04-15T12:00:00.859-05:00Bundt CakeI made this cake last summer for <i>Miracle on</i> <i>South Division Street </i>at Peninsula Players. I just noticed the photos still on my phone and realized it never made it onto the blog.<br />
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I puchased an nice bundt pan for the show to use as set dressing. As a bonus I was able to use the cheap plastic liner for this project. We filled the liner with great-stuff and let it expand overnight. It expanded to overfill the liner, but the foam at the very bottom of the mold (the top of the cake) hadn't cured because no air could get to it.<br />
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We removed the cake from the liner, cut off the over-expanded bottom of the cake so it would sit flat, and allowed the top to finish curing. Since it was no longer curing inside a mold the top became a bit more uneven and bubbly, which didn't particularly matter for this project, but is good to remember for next time.<br />
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I sprayed the cake with some glossy wood tone for color.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeDn3yvhRQv1ZxpJlWGPQPjKjbBenZZ194rbafboSJM4WPvmbj603EyvO_PE2Unt9lIh3Ji6SK0FblL3I-MZKpZviLtTgm16K4B9comsVnRsj2IEmMtFTOa-8Jh5p0hhkDoNxK6xiox4/s1600/20130824_140034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeDn3yvhRQv1ZxpJlWGPQPjKjbBenZZ194rbafboSJM4WPvmbj603EyvO_PE2Unt9lIh3Ji6SK0FblL3I-MZKpZviLtTgm16K4B9comsVnRsj2IEmMtFTOa-8Jh5p0hhkDoNxK6xiox4/s1600/20130824_140034.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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After the paint was dry, I mixed some plaster of paris with brown paint to make an icing. Once the plaster had hit the right consistancy, I carefully poured it over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSXr4Q7TU_Y3KD-SO2E4GtDiJLSE2yj6FZuxDgl2nLALvLHdwG7SfvGreNe-eIS1TJQlPUONOY4E0T0nohaJ8OBvOQjGPVjhsvHMTB2ctX1xOsec5Nc05SOrzs5PAU5es9XVOEBVtGN0/s1600/20130824_142914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSXr4Q7TU_Y3KD-SO2E4GtDiJLSE2yj6FZuxDgl2nLALvLHdwG7SfvGreNe-eIS1TJQlPUONOY4E0T0nohaJ8OBvOQjGPVjhsvHMTB2ctX1xOsec5Nc05SOrzs5PAU5es9XVOEBVtGN0/s1600/20130824_142914.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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It looked great initially, but after the plaster cured, the plaster looked dull and dry. </div>
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I added a final coat of clear gloss sealer to the icing to get the final look. </div>
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<br />Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-47757580051289181162014-04-10T12:00:00.000-05:002014-04-10T12:00:00.503-05:00A Day in the Life of a Freelance Prop Master- April 8, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It occurred to me yesterday, that while I regularly post about individual projects, I don't regularly post about how I do my work on a daily basis. So yesterday I decided to keep track of everything I did (on a particularly busy, interesting day).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIZJYPV9ykVdnFvR9LAuNyBi-qYgjIiGcYib00F1JLWBl-oiLu9p17MDKK4iMyu4VS1Ovfi6I3I4Pp8hCSitCTL8vyRVaxPbvJz_vtWRnnetGZEi9SJhmYWP90gbd2G3P6P-3yA0uz7g/s1600/20140408_091339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIZJYPV9ykVdnFvR9LAuNyBi-qYgjIiGcYib00F1JLWBl-oiLu9p17MDKK4iMyu4VS1Ovfi6I3I4Pp8hCSitCTL8vyRVaxPbvJz_vtWRnnetGZEi9SJhmYWP90gbd2G3P6P-3yA0uz7g/s1600/20140408_091339.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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9:00 am- I am working on a big fake food project for my next show, <i>Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche</i>, for which I need 60-80 fake quiches. Since they need to bake, take time to bake, and take up room in the oven, I am trying to do a few every morning. I mixed up some salt dough for the crusts, preheated to oven to 400 degrees, pressed the dough into the pie pans, put them in the oven, and then turned off the oven, closed the door and left them. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS26ovSU9YWjMN28orajhJ986owA80cF0A9I2qklgy0dR6QJwzUJM-7IOBBeMsJN8Vth1FNJf-32s0JzcGQV54VfoMyPDHWiNMY5EkUZuw2Qvg3CqP95cWif714Fpgk5ierJiFvuUBVRY/s1600/20140408_092752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS26ovSU9YWjMN28orajhJ986owA80cF0A9I2qklgy0dR6QJwzUJM-7IOBBeMsJN8Vth1FNJf-32s0JzcGQV54VfoMyPDHWiNMY5EkUZuw2Qvg3CqP95cWif714Fpgk5ierJiFvuUBVRY/s1600/20140408_092752.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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9:30 am- with the quiches all set, I got on my computer to respond to emails, enter in receipts from the past days, put some meetings onto my calendar etc. </div>
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10:00 am- Still on my computer at home, I switched to craigslist to do an initial search for some furniture pieces for <i>Five Lesbians</i>.</div>
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11:00 am- Ten minutes after getting out the door, I stopped by the Jewel (grocery store). I picked up more salt and flour for salt-dough crusts, some eggs for another project (more on that later), and a muffin and some milk for my breakfast (No worries Mom, I pulled over to take this pic).<br />
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11:30 am- I arrived at Michaels. I picked up wax and Model Magic for the quiches, and some egg decor items for the same show. </div>
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12:00 pm- I went to the Greenhouse Theatre. The building houses four theatres, which are rented out by different companies. I happen to be working on two shows, for different theatre companies, that are both in the Greenhouse right now.<br />
First, I went upstairs to finish the last note I have on <i>Cicada</i> with Route 66 Theatre Company. There is a scene in the show where a character has been ironing. We needed 10 starched, ironed white collared shirts. The shirts were provided by costumes, because she was being helpful, but starching and ironing them was my job. I did 6 of the shirts the day before, but had to leave to get to another appointment before finishing, so I was back to finish the last 4.<br />
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1:00 pm- After finishing the shirts, and discovering a new respect for wardrobe people, I went downstairs to take care of a last note for <i>Our Class. </i>The show was open, but I had gotten a note from the ASM that the leather on this reinforced suitcase was starting to give. There is a simple wood frame installed inside the suitcase to make it sit-able. I added a few screws to attach the leather case to the wood frame, so it stopped pulling away in strange ways when the case was lifted.<br />
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1:45 pm- After leaving the Greenhouse I headed north toward my 3pm <i>American Dead </i>meeting in Evanston. On the way I stopped into the Good Deal Garage. I wanted to have a few more rehearsal props to drop off at my <i>5 Lesbians </i>meeting tonight, and knew that they would have the frames I needed for a decent price. I paid, and was out the door in 15 minutes.<br />
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2:00 pm- As I continued up to the Northwestern campus in Evanston I kept an eye out for somewhere to stop for lunch. Hoosier Mama Pie shop was on the way, and I had heard good things about it. I stopped for a rootbeer and a slice of pork-apple-sage savory pie.<br />
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2:50 pm- I arrived a bit early for my <i>American Dead </i>meeting, but found the set designer and director already there. We discussed the layout of the space a bit, and then talked through the rest of the show with the master electrician, production manager and costume designer once they arrived.<br />
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4:30 pm- After leaving the meeting, I headed home (and this is when I stopped remembering to take pics...sorry). I stopped by a Salvation Army that was on my route. I was able to find a few more pie plates, and I also picked up an old sauce pan.<br />
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5:00 pm- I unloaded some of the days purchases from my car, quickly melted some wax and went to work on quiches. I wanted to have some samples of options ready for the my 6 pm meeting. I was able to pour a yellow wax filling into 2 quiche dishes, and to form the model magic into 4 crusts. As soon as the wax was set, I packed up what I could and was out the door.<br />
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6:00 pm- Luckily, the <i>5 Lesbians </i>meetings take place only 5 minutes from my house. The one hour meeting ended up being mostly about set dressing, props and special effects, so while I felt bad about taking up other people's time, I got lots of important answers to my questions.<br />
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7:15 pm- From the meeting I headed back down to the Greenhouse for final dress rehearsal of <i>Cicada. </i>On the way, I stopped by the same Jewel to get more starch for the shirts. I had just enough of the starch I purchased previously to do all ten shirts, but wanted to make sure the ASM had some to touch up the shirts if he needed to during the run. I also picked up a plate of to-go sushi for dinner (it wasn't very good).<br />
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7:30 pm- I arrived at final dress a bit late, and snuck in quietly to take a seat in the dark. I took a few notes during the show, but mostly everything was in good shape.<br />
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8:30 pm- After the run ended, there was a photo call with the cast onstage, and the production team talked through tech notes, and then we were done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZceOMgByp0IRXPb8A8jc0PMDNJSumToOc7ZawAMqU2mdG5egO3v4Z9OlBIF8A9d1-h0A7_XGbA0HBaPCvEfSiD5CkFqmF1eNc3M9aZarUVbYtRyVHpICcmmrVxqA9M24lZ4mfuAO7ZI/s1600/20140408_222831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZceOMgByp0IRXPb8A8jc0PMDNJSumToOc7ZawAMqU2mdG5egO3v4Z9OlBIF8A9d1-h0A7_XGbA0HBaPCvEfSiD5CkFqmF1eNc3M9aZarUVbYtRyVHpICcmmrVxqA9M24lZ4mfuAO7ZI/s1600/20140408_222831.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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10:00 pm- I arrived back at home after a long day. I still had those eggs sitting out on the counter though and Warwick, my husband, was showering and shaving. So while I waited for him I decided to get one more note done. <br />
In <i>Pinkolandia, </i>about to open at 16th Street Theatre, I needed 3 hollowed out eggs nightly. I poked holes in them with the end of my beater and then blew out the insides. I did about a dozen eggs, and then was done for the night.Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-71260422489856468872014-04-09T12:28:00.001-05:002014-04-09T12:28:58.004-05:00Greenware breakable dishesIt is an old theatrical trick to use "greenware" when plates or other dishes need to be broken onstage. Greenware is essentially un-fired pottery.<br />
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I had a bit of trouble tracking some down in Chicago, but was eventually able to speak to a manager of a "paint your own pattery" store, who was able to order them directly from his supplier when he went out for his weekly pickup. I needed enough mugs, plates and bowls to smash one set every show for ten runs (Four perfomances, plus 6 rehearsals).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBe5yqdB1lgxmN2YneaQCwkFZmi9WFGdjEjrWl3NdjVymXIVG5U67b-nIjNa9OvU0LFhe8o8pqo5O-pDMkGmdXutLxejCgXd-ZRBGT8Oz7EKofRoSGtrxRjm1NkFCmuVFCI2aKM29XKk/s1600/20140319_142916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBe5yqdB1lgxmN2YneaQCwkFZmi9WFGdjEjrWl3NdjVymXIVG5U67b-nIjNa9OvU0LFhe8o8pqo5O-pDMkGmdXutLxejCgXd-ZRBGT8Oz7EKofRoSGtrxRjm1NkFCmuVFCI2aKM29XKk/s1600/20140319_142916.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I was able to get the pieces for $3 each, which was about what I was expecting. For a long running show, this would have been a serious portion of my budget, but for this short run, the price was reasonable. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTtkrJvc575y4vJO_4kXHwUV26wAkbcJ9akH1Hcy6pgACIbH1zvB1HGAWfCCpyD5JAgLu4-uaTn8Diu53BciNY8q6nh9zuSAN4thSIg6DX8fUmf939LJ9rdE-PrKpu3U7D6NbyCDaLEE/s1600/20140319_142922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTtkrJvc575y4vJO_4kXHwUV26wAkbcJ9akH1Hcy6pgACIbH1zvB1HGAWfCCpyD5JAgLu4-uaTn8Diu53BciNY8q6nh9zuSAN4thSIg6DX8fUmf939LJ9rdE-PrKpu3U7D6NbyCDaLEE/s1600/20140319_142922.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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It did take much longer than expected to track down the pieces and then to get them from the supplier. Next time I will already have made the contact (if I am here in the city) but I still will make sure to start the process from the moment I have a hint of needing breakable objects, to make sure we have them in plenty of time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2alveRxOi8xjdAM_lBlvEGOeVEdRD0yxNknp2UEK-NWwFjUhURAPH4geoX7fDw9LAIkE7iXIunGv4aEoBRex-XjdBGUDpaJ6EISqdaAqZom3WgoTYTyjoOu0CGn8muYbV47SEOnKbH4/s1600/20140319_150004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2alveRxOi8xjdAM_lBlvEGOeVEdRD0yxNknp2UEK-NWwFjUhURAPH4geoX7fDw9LAIkE7iXIunGv4aEoBRex-XjdBGUDpaJ6EISqdaAqZom3WgoTYTyjoOu0CGn8muYbV47SEOnKbH4/s1600/20140319_150004.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once we determined that the pieces worked during tech, the biggest problem was that they seemed obvious. As soon as the actor picked up the dish of the shelf you could guess he was going to break it. The simple grey color was begging to be smashed. So we decided to add a pattern. The first thing I tried were some wide artist's markers, but the not-quite-dry clay soaked up the ink, dried out the markers and gummed up the tips. It looked great, but was time consuming and wasteful of the nice markers. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kJO0NWf6ypzuak7-PuyDhf15a7MkLbFojRkHBKfuW20zHfjBC1ooCq-qDvtTG2dlvu0dZGte2C2HHhK1HPkBpe0nIUt7cxg8hkNZK8J0-3DR0T2FigByBm07Ij_-bdlK_Q4d1QpTsOo/s1600/20140319_142944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kJO0NWf6ypzuak7-PuyDhf15a7MkLbFojRkHBKfuW20zHfjBC1ooCq-qDvtTG2dlvu0dZGte2C2HHhK1HPkBpe0nIUt7cxg8hkNZK8J0-3DR0T2FigByBm07Ij_-bdlK_Q4d1QpTsOo/s1600/20140319_142944.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I took a trip to Blick Art supplies to find a solution, and the man there recommended I try oil pastels. They worked perfectly. I was able to trace lines smoothly and quickly on the surface of the dishes, and a coat of spray sealer over each dish kept the pastel from rubbing off when I was finished. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TvBHdoDCAzs7PXDCXQfnv0zvHhH9sz5zLCstHnhxWz9iYLrXmDogeQh09oL4pyODvD1kz2_C0dwMkzb3TUxm1iV-y8-x23Iki6NSDm2-el8x72n2m7_LdidCfpcbrs6J-i8UNmjy7-4/s1600/20140319_144801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TvBHdoDCAzs7PXDCXQfnv0zvHhH9sz5zLCstHnhxWz9iYLrXmDogeQh09oL4pyODvD1kz2_C0dwMkzb3TUxm1iV-y8-x23Iki6NSDm2-el8x72n2m7_LdidCfpcbrs6J-i8UNmjy7-4/s1600/20140319_144801.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Best of all, the design achieved the desired effect. From a distance the dishes looked so nicely designed that seeing them smashed was much more shocking. </div>
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I have very few photos of the smashed dishes. They crumble easily (which is the point), but since the scene continued with 20 more minutes of very physical comedy after the plates were smashed, the pieces onstage were basically dust by the time we hit a break. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-rf6OiTkczgGFEAJvcDlszbe12wlhX6sTVeO84Jm6Zt-n5RJBhG5ncQ-9EkLLbEkqw7K_mZ-bIH5NWbkOUe-XJrioAC0Fwh3AI9iWQsqMdEHUvsB5VONmsoDzWCTZKlACQL5ij1brKY/s1600/20140323_171745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-rf6OiTkczgGFEAJvcDlszbe12wlhX6sTVeO84Jm6Zt-n5RJBhG5ncQ-9EkLLbEkqw7K_mZ-bIH5NWbkOUe-XJrioAC0Fwh3AI9iWQsqMdEHUvsB5VONmsoDzWCTZKlACQL5ij1brKY/s1600/20140323_171745.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This photo shows the sharpest point I could find on the smashed plate I was able to photograph. I was able to run my finger back and forth across this point without any pain. In fact, the only damage done by rubbing my finger across it, was to the plate, which became more worn down and rounded each time I dragged my finger across. </div>
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One safety concern we did have to consider, as actors continued to walk back and forth on the smashed dishes in the scene, the dust go on their shoes. They tracked that dust around the stage, which caused things to get very slick and slippery. Once we realized the problem, we were able to mostly guard against it, and the stage crew made sure to be extra diligent when they cleaned at intermission, but it is something to be aware of and plan for if you can. </div>
Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-50912008261432649252014-04-01T12:00:00.000-05:002014-04-01T12:00:00.663-05:00Liverwurst<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After having success using modeling clay to make <a href="http://theatreprojects.blogspot.com/2013/09/slice-able-cheese-and-sausage.html">slice-able cheese and sausage</a> last summer, I was excited to try it again for the liverwurst in <i>The Suicide. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08lKFvKpT4kzDEnjbXmU9L_ifRprFcIPMJrE8JuxLhn_tjJSipbHs5tZzj6X_NwOt3A2aRMt6BD-kBFwSi5EFBqQmom3OC4uX8QBzYVV7Qdw8JHsrsQrpbt6fzMWLAo5i6ldUcC08EiY/s1600/20140227_223441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08lKFvKpT4kzDEnjbXmU9L_ifRprFcIPMJrE8JuxLhn_tjJSipbHs5tZzj6X_NwOt3A2aRMt6BD-kBFwSi5EFBqQmom3OC4uX8QBzYVV7Qdw8JHsrsQrpbt6fzMWLAo5i6ldUcC08EiY/s1600/20140227_223441.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This time the sausage didn't need to be sliced, but it did need to be used for all sorts of "bits" in this very physical comedy. The clay gave the liverwurst a very believable weight without it being dangerous to hit someone with, gently, in scene. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Hd4HpIZ29Ii3S3aXm3MYLz4VeTg2Kg7ake2VDx_WoWDsugij9bYbA3t4K2Lv7YI5qg4qmDM_G-fZ3mBw2Y68Of8VQvSV7rabXAaZ3aQwKzUMAh4AGzVINtUIhHnKViyBLmyz_JQkFGA/s1600/20140227_223453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Hd4HpIZ29Ii3S3aXm3MYLz4VeTg2Kg7ake2VDx_WoWDsugij9bYbA3t4K2Lv7YI5qg4qmDM_G-fZ3mBw2Y68Of8VQvSV7rabXAaZ3aQwKzUMAh4AGzVINtUIhHnKViyBLmyz_JQkFGA/s1600/20140227_223453.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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It was rigid enough to be used as a fake gun in someone's pocket, and could be molded and manipulated by the actors for an endless number of phallic jokes.</div>
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The clay did get a bit dirty by the end of rehearsals and the run (which was only one weekend because this was a college show). For a longer run I would have needed to be prepared with backups. </div>
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<br />Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-33588437042610956722014-03-30T12:00:00.000-05:002014-03-30T12:00:00.779-05:00Cheap Floral WreathsFake flowers are expensive. Often not as expensive as real flowers, but still not cheap.<br />
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*Side note: I learned a while back that not everyone knows the dollar store sells fake floral. It might need some extra glue because the flowers like to fall off their stems, and you'll likely want to fill out your arrangement with some higher quality fake flowers, but for bulk fake floral, the price can't be beat.<br />
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I was lucky when working on <i>The Suicide </i>at Roosevelt University, that there was already a stock of flowers and greenery to pull from, but I still needed six wreaths to create my arrangements. The foam wreath forms at the craft store were small and expensive. But these basic wire boxwood wreath forms were cheap and just the right size.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIA2J79adhDdEZIq0IHaMV6E7TV7mC4iZg6QXiP0RWnuF9Qw4aiPrVgQ31Xg61TrA20cy6veJXuDArDrS99k1Eha_iLP6ae3p0jJJX9_5oZO7hBRFRPeVHgivbDSSNO4Z1XWj0Pe0o0Qk/s1600/20140303_171835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIA2J79adhDdEZIq0IHaMV6E7TV7mC4iZg6QXiP0RWnuF9Qw4aiPrVgQ31Xg61TrA20cy6veJXuDArDrS99k1Eha_iLP6ae3p0jJJX9_5oZO7hBRFRPeVHgivbDSSNO4Z1XWj0Pe0o0Qk/s1600/20140303_171835.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I traced the wire form onto some 1.5" scraps of pink foam, and cut out the foam pieces with a jigsaw. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhMjX69AUsK8xn4iKGDfjdwF1fbbg74HYwY0dctWbKCHIoE44WxPe6mgntr2jVXyixdS0VG0xlDsl9Eni13AFozEkDbHJTf_IZG4BPusfKZtOZ5s9MQCTJFQBqdEm_-__rRF94ROL7a0/s1600/20140303_171726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhMjX69AUsK8xn4iKGDfjdwF1fbbg74HYwY0dctWbKCHIoE44WxPe6mgntr2jVXyixdS0VG0xlDsl9Eni13AFozEkDbHJTf_IZG4BPusfKZtOZ5s9MQCTJFQBqdEm_-__rRF94ROL7a0/s1600/20140303_171726.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Then I used floral wire to wire the foam onto the form. You can see in this photo that my pieces of foam didn't always fit exactly, but under all the layers and flowers, small inconsistencies like this disappeared.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8969Y6ARiG-e2Te3KHC6qUE5FiKNX8qQcbPtTEbglFqe25-sJoYfVB2PgyVdt6wDO_HJnX0Rloq6mgdOcwe7hx3usO577LeGPZ_r0J2v0B6F9QMULC4cKhla6oT3w_e3TV9ZOQKIo87c/s1600/20140303_171733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8969Y6ARiG-e2Te3KHC6qUE5FiKNX8qQcbPtTEbglFqe25-sJoYfVB2PgyVdt6wDO_HJnX0Rloq6mgdOcwe7hx3usO577LeGPZ_r0J2v0B6F9QMULC4cKhla6oT3w_e3TV9ZOQKIo87c/s1600/20140303_171733.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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and here is a view of the same wiring from the back side. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOQgxPW3HmwPTlVqba2IDecGpKtYluWe7uMZ7yjzczoTJatdJlBt-MZBFCxuPN3_C5wONvmkNkBte3_1tl5ipHM5KoqD3qarldsVIRjIWqKqmY_pUUZ2LqKOiyta5fVKXC2BuaAIrank/s1600/20140303_171743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOQgxPW3HmwPTlVqba2IDecGpKtYluWe7uMZ7yjzczoTJatdJlBt-MZBFCxuPN3_C5wONvmkNkBte3_1tl5ipHM5KoqD3qarldsVIRjIWqKqmY_pUUZ2LqKOiyta5fVKXC2BuaAIrank/s1600/20140303_171743.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Some of the wreath forms I left pink, and just started adding flowers. On others, like this one, I wrapped the wreath in colored tissue paper and tulle first. The Tissue paper and tulle was thin enough that the wire stems of the flowers could poke right through, and into the foam without much effort. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPufNZqgopy-23CWCs-ngQNTPn1wyFZtNqoTepVDu1hMl9GX6lLNHeODT_LPTVLzgw-N3M68hRf17wc_tEACiiPTspGN8fwvoUYZHCXNIKm02JTw8n42stRhHBcHl4Xfvu9310oBahDvU/s1600/20140303_181138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPufNZqgopy-23CWCs-ngQNTPn1wyFZtNqoTepVDu1hMl9GX6lLNHeODT_LPTVLzgw-N3M68hRf17wc_tEACiiPTspGN8fwvoUYZHCXNIKm02JTw8n42stRhHBcHl4Xfvu9310oBahDvU/s1600/20140303_181138.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The floral arranging itself was mostly just about finding enough flowers in the right color family to fill the space. </div>
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And here are some of the finished wreaths (we ended up making four and pulling 2 from stock). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOZPM71Skkc057k8VEbxHOEwfe91j2sjHcd285rCDnBw6IhmDZg15shlq0RH_Vbv2O-HLjL79owPKw2pFhXBUkv2JstNSjGIHPG2lO-pTIZHvXOFJuqhrHFmOkGcnyLfcfSPPholaF2E/s1600/20140319_180302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOZPM71Skkc057k8VEbxHOEwfe91j2sjHcd285rCDnBw6IhmDZg15shlq0RH_Vbv2O-HLjL79owPKw2pFhXBUkv2JstNSjGIHPG2lO-pTIZHvXOFJuqhrHFmOkGcnyLfcfSPPholaF2E/s1600/20140319_180302.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-87673736426581011582014-03-27T21:36:00.000-05:002014-03-27T21:36:25.946-05:00"Period appropriate" is relative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This last, overdue, post on <i>A Tale </i><i>of Two Cities </i>at Lifeline Theatre is in not about anything I made. All of this glassware was purchased or pulled from stock.</div>
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The interesting challenge here was that the show took place in so many different locations. The disparities between those with money and without is also a huge theme in the show. I needed to have people drinking wine in four different scenes, in four different locations. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5crk7r2-3_V9U5qLqMTMwrWpwAAEg7HINkh0pCOA8sdgZdhI5KQ1yuF3jlMiEMy9hsvB8iHoc-iQvG0gwWbeZwA-87-pXRCjG8pgDaRSg4Ju-RC1LHdoKK0a4bS_Sb2d9FWEFXJrfxw/s1600/20140217_150813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5crk7r2-3_V9U5qLqMTMwrWpwAAEg7HINkh0pCOA8sdgZdhI5KQ1yuF3jlMiEMy9hsvB8iHoc-iQvG0gwWbeZwA-87-pXRCjG8pgDaRSg4Ju-RC1LHdoKK0a4bS_Sb2d9FWEFXJrfxw/s1600/20140217_150813.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Starting with the richest character in the richest setting, I used cut glass (meant to look like crystal) for the Marquis St Evremonde. Glasses like these would have been a more recent innovation at the time of the show, and only the rich would have owned it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHEiq53zcXy8LOSPOuBSxZi8mU9S0xY2UFDSL1hNi_H0yuit89cEABe_wEWMulIw-Kw-Af3dtjG9x8I1Pzyplpl3avx2XesSyOsagZiqWagM-4MV4k6jFzVcCnmwVOB328gmuqFJzeQc/s1600/20140217_150850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHEiq53zcXy8LOSPOuBSxZi8mU9S0xY2UFDSL1hNi_H0yuit89cEABe_wEWMulIw-Kw-Af3dtjG9x8I1Pzyplpl3avx2XesSyOsagZiqWagM-4MV4k6jFzVcCnmwVOB328gmuqFJzeQc/s1600/20140217_150850.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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One step below the Marquis, would be the Mannettes. I was thrilled to find these etched glasses at a local rental shop. They almost exactly matched some antique period glasses I had in my research. The ones at the time would have been a thicker glass, and not as perfectly matched (as they would have been hand-blown). Not as nice as the crystal, but solidly upper middle-class. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ_pSzPGQOe92E3zx8ig95DmBekYwCqVSsRciziLKDXe7yaZ7ArZWx-s-IPoc9d9Z0_7y3T-MhCjjd4atbTEeWi5Mu5_yxW5W5wzySSAqCgHyTKj6usykg2pQfPYb8r5nobVt0SgcpTA/s1600/20140217_150842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ_pSzPGQOe92E3zx8ig95DmBekYwCqVSsRciziLKDXe7yaZ7ArZWx-s-IPoc9d9Z0_7y3T-MhCjjd4atbTEeWi5Mu5_yxW5W5wzySSAqCgHyTKj6usykg2pQfPYb8r5nobVt0SgcpTA/s1600/20140217_150842.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Next came glasses at the English pub. I wanted to convey that this was a fairly nice place, but logically could not image any pub at the time using hand blown glass wine glasses. That would be far to expensive to purchase in bulk, in a place where they are likely to get broken. I knew found the right balance when I found these glasses made of brown glazed ceramic. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqZr7-fHcs7vvTM9w_UHGYYfv4w2Lo2N8-viFzoQnLLCUvuSDJsByP3Qs5vqhZWCQayoWLQBZcCZJwr7ZlmINxuqAZSwtEf0p4VfwVnCKgCIgYsW8j2B9PcpX-fo831EX9xxr371MpSs/s1600/20140217_150834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqZr7-fHcs7vvTM9w_UHGYYfv4w2Lo2N8-viFzoQnLLCUvuSDJsByP3Qs5vqhZWCQayoWLQBZcCZJwr7ZlmINxuqAZSwtEf0p4VfwVnCKgCIgYsW8j2B9PcpX-fo831EX9xxr371MpSs/s1600/20140217_150834.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And finally, the lowest class glasses would have been in the Defarge wine shop. They sold cheap wine to the poorest villagers in their suburb of Paris. The glasses in that shop only needed to be functional, cheap, and easy to replace. These clay mugs were the perfect solution. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7Hebeex5pEewJXdNaQIda_HFiFdUdVCsWCGmer27lrddqzwn6cOTJj-wGBj_SNxS56GSqlfMWdqA1E6ejAUEendBAzzbN8L0lWcmyaB4j8HmoVEsyIp2lfNovunT5qtj945XuwGPwJ4/s1600/20140217_150827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7Hebeex5pEewJXdNaQIda_HFiFdUdVCsWCGmer27lrddqzwn6cOTJj-wGBj_SNxS56GSqlfMWdqA1E6ejAUEendBAzzbN8L0lWcmyaB4j8HmoVEsyIp2lfNovunT5qtj945XuwGPwJ4/s1600/20140217_150827.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Working through these different wine glasses served as a good reminder of the importance of research. It can be very easy, especially when working on shows set further in the past, to find one or two images research images and move on; "That is what wine glasses looked like in 1790." But class, region and wealth also need to be factored in. </div>
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<br />Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-86143338522613608872014-02-25T12:00:00.000-06:002014-02-25T12:00:01.951-06:00Doug the DummyIn <i>A Tale of Two Cities, </i>a young boy is supposed to be run down by a carriage and killed in the street. We couldn't cast a seven year old boy to just lay and pretend to be dead nightly. A dummy was needed, and it needed to be good. My <a href="http://theatreprojects.blogspot.com/2011/01/cheap-duct-tape-dummy.html">cheap duct-tape dummies</a> can be good when no one moves them, but this needed to be carried in and out realistically. When in someone's arms it needed flop convincingly and be articulated correctly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjIOch1orR1o1pvdkp9hj6B3k6CYN6T1MdMCUYmqbQSdX_LkvXoOEtsFxD1w_3L36bTV8CcQrmx9UCzh_C2dJiHuQ4ntzOCgnvo5w2z55GibGixHhMQrShZ_KkmMrTFMdF8Py1C1liQg/s1600/20140207_190523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjIOch1orR1o1pvdkp9hj6B3k6CYN6T1MdMCUYmqbQSdX_LkvXoOEtsFxD1w_3L36bTV8CcQrmx9UCzh_C2dJiHuQ4ntzOCgnvo5w2z55GibGixHhMQrShZ_KkmMrTFMdF8Py1C1liQg/s1600/20140207_190523.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
I started by building a wooden skeleton. To get the proportions right I measured my own body and then took two-thirds of each measurement (I figure a seven-year-old boy is about two-thirds my size).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFytdljiztUafrrOqBL9o2jXR1jE_8bwShlFCchvJGLQjG3XeEpvXS8FwswpxYCHDR07p8Vi4gzHgdumQTCCnsTB1CA-DBoqOiWCLhfpl4YW3ToGhxJn-usGacmutBNrbRlxb63efndE/s1600/20140207_190533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFytdljiztUafrrOqBL9o2jXR1jE_8bwShlFCchvJGLQjG3XeEpvXS8FwswpxYCHDR07p8Vi4gzHgdumQTCCnsTB1CA-DBoqOiWCLhfpl4YW3ToGhxJn-usGacmutBNrbRlxb63efndE/s1600/20140207_190533.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLz0J5_1XySRHxL3Z7JIaRZhn-nmuSZKCDpPyPo5OOwgBROQkTV1zPbGvR3hT1Bt7FLYwGu6RVxNxtgZ2ulbYepTp9V727GiyWBm58YnJIvdTQRVlb-x9hUqqVyXAUG_Eo1r6wGyZkWM/s1600/20140207_190545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLz0J5_1XySRHxL3Z7JIaRZhn-nmuSZKCDpPyPo5OOwgBROQkTV1zPbGvR3hT1Bt7FLYwGu6RVxNxtgZ2ulbYepTp9V727GiyWBm58YnJIvdTQRVlb-x9hUqqVyXAUG_Eo1r6wGyZkWM/s1600/20140207_190545.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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For the elbow and knee joints I used small hinges. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnABdWvm1KdEDmdBEcEs_h3_1vdBfpfitD9aUFYw38TB5xGCzHkGdzUlXX3uoqtLtKt2aETlcWrSKI8RNkY1QKTl4NYLZfkiDvVsxNTmXfD1iG-iwbSQ9f-G95RrEi5AXQQlo6JJtMgY/s1600/20140207_190555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnABdWvm1KdEDmdBEcEs_h3_1vdBfpfitD9aUFYw38TB5xGCzHkGdzUlXX3uoqtLtKt2aETlcWrSKI8RNkY1QKTl4NYLZfkiDvVsxNTmXfD1iG-iwbSQ9f-G95RrEi5AXQQlo6JJtMgY/s1600/20140207_190555.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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For neck, shoulder, hip and wrist joints I used an screw-eye in each side, and a S-hook between to get a more random natural movement. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySddBvcf92UcMxYwb1QJS2Y2N2qfv79-Fh2W9IBWkJNcq4wLFlODTwfXvEKmxeixfJ3kotp3Z0pjtzorMYEuAt_jH4yyg-auaaiHhMzCkuCZAczJkoiKeS5fVmtKGTLAPfSslgKrJ7L8/s1600/20140213_191132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySddBvcf92UcMxYwb1QJS2Y2N2qfv79-Fh2W9IBWkJNcq4wLFlODTwfXvEKmxeixfJ3kotp3Z0pjtzorMYEuAt_jH4yyg-auaaiHhMzCkuCZAczJkoiKeS5fVmtKGTLAPfSslgKrJ7L8/s1600/20140213_191132.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Late in the process I had to go back to these joints to wrap them in strips of muslin. Doug was looking pretty great in rehearsals, but the metallic clicking of these joints completely ruined the illusion. Wrapping the joints allowed them to keep their free natural movement, but muffled the sound considerably. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3UASPxU3Qr6AP8JZcraz4Uo3T8xRI_nuTgBs3xnnlsWQdoaVAKFnR045hamCQao6kzq1cz0o1oz_ybCEIonWkaN1-rYMrM-8FjOIUHPfNTEvLHicE0OaT4UGsDSiXQamgc_mX9iwE0w/s1600/20140207_191348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3UASPxU3Qr6AP8JZcraz4Uo3T8xRI_nuTgBs3xnnlsWQdoaVAKFnR045hamCQao6kzq1cz0o1oz_ybCEIonWkaN1-rYMrM-8FjOIUHPfNTEvLHicE0OaT4UGsDSiXQamgc_mX9iwE0w/s1600/20140207_191348.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once all the joints were attached together, I started adding some muscle and flesh. I cut strips of quilt batting and wrapped them around each part of his body. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGBKQOS-kl2D-hMYyrvveMmOL0lLEcLCChxL_IO1ctLf5lRDKMOCi2cioDXX0J1xHD6-2SyM8KTTyMliC3iVD5m2c5PUShFDCl08-27ECeJF5Kq9fUsP8PG4ZEHP-5DtZtAEhbQeCess/s1600/20140207_192322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGBKQOS-kl2D-hMYyrvveMmOL0lLEcLCChxL_IO1ctLf5lRDKMOCi2cioDXX0J1xHD6-2SyM8KTTyMliC3iVD5m2c5PUShFDCl08-27ECeJF5Kq9fUsP8PG4ZEHP-5DtZtAEhbQeCess/s1600/20140207_192322.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJY0KsVyqG-uyHt2HOCKNOQhZKFMgZrQQQktYQXqs8YsO9Xv5tlOVyKecTU9ZRTgI8gMUQrBQnclbLyeCx2VX18RoNoR6vxOVyWJQOMFRA_vEdNylTNLm3Rm5C0N4qKx66MK-o9Wh054w/s1600/20140207_193841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJY0KsVyqG-uyHt2HOCKNOQhZKFMgZrQQQktYQXqs8YsO9Xv5tlOVyKecTU9ZRTgI8gMUQrBQnclbLyeCx2VX18RoNoR6vxOVyWJQOMFRA_vEdNylTNLm3Rm5C0N4qKx66MK-o9Wh054w/s1600/20140207_193841.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtTa9yRZvQnmTBkqKsgxAjm76J4qYgTsCtOlVMzNjKci0V-WIvh7xFQpZDXtONKkTWqJIi1gNj6_jbFv_N6Xk5R8my7FPf3yeCPjcG_VRXUXKV619sHEOAitqj_Bhs0QtVxTk9lGw3kA/s1600/20140207_194827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtTa9yRZvQnmTBkqKsgxAjm76J4qYgTsCtOlVMzNjKci0V-WIvh7xFQpZDXtONKkTWqJIi1gNj6_jbFv_N6Xk5R8my7FPf3yeCPjcG_VRXUXKV619sHEOAitqj_Bhs0QtVxTk9lGw3kA/s1600/20140207_194827.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Once I had added enough batting to fill out the shape I started adding clothing. The costumes department was kind enough to loan me some pieces that they didn't end up using.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL0ZlKyRkOF8vTtvnHRkjkVgnFjDV-9ACTqKYxNh49XkSYX2plyupcBrZfu801M5-q-eWQbM6EdIP47sBaUq6Y0Mx444BWEjQcBhbYaGjkRS6E3vWmfSyEuJ8qpNVqGh-BbVjEu-N88g/s1600/20140208_213700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL0ZlKyRkOF8vTtvnHRkjkVgnFjDV-9ACTqKYxNh49XkSYX2plyupcBrZfu801M5-q-eWQbM6EdIP47sBaUq6Y0Mx444BWEjQcBhbYaGjkRS6E3vWmfSyEuJ8qpNVqGh-BbVjEu-N88g/s1600/20140208_213700.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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We tried to stage the scene so that Doug's face would be hidden as much as possible, but he still needed to have something in case the audience got a glimpse of him. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLelHfZ9S8BNxias_DoioPPW2318o00wXthYulHp7pcsQi8mV3KHHBQaTWF4ba_2JiNh-7-xivI1vmcTy3gy9tETX3d-bb18Ba2T8bUhQteSURvRtENZehNu2TM0Qj44LqHwB_4PqR6Y/s1600/20140211_121323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLelHfZ9S8BNxias_DoioPPW2318o00wXthYulHp7pcsQi8mV3KHHBQaTWF4ba_2JiNh-7-xivI1vmcTy3gy9tETX3d-bb18Ba2T8bUhQteSURvRtENZehNu2TM0Qj44LqHwB_4PqR6Y/s1600/20140211_121323.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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At a local costumes store, I bought the cheapest wig I could find, a cheap mask, and a pair of nylons. I attached the mask to Doug's head then pulled the nylons over his whole head. The nylons give the skin a much more natural look than the clearly plastic mask, and help smooth the transition between the mask and the rest of the head. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwuE20YVAXvcCnTNL9yzvQ4TMfIFX6VFyYmD4xHiVJTA5GfFA8OYFRy4TczAjpRKf3Ayo-Xa4Zxd4xzOVrHUwRDFqgB3FRgf4NSynh4VxQ0uFvUCFaAMwP20nCd-GcCSHQ2ioam5Olwc/s1600/20140213_190959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwuE20YVAXvcCnTNL9yzvQ4TMfIFX6VFyYmD4xHiVJTA5GfFA8OYFRy4TczAjpRKf3Ayo-Xa4Zxd4xzOVrHUwRDFqgB3FRgf4NSynh4VxQ0uFvUCFaAMwP20nCd-GcCSHQ2ioam5Olwc/s1600/20140213_190959.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here is Doug fully dressed. He looks pretty convincing in person, and has certainly startled some of the theatre staff when they walk backstage. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtwevdplmwK1S8NVZxJXxMi7MmmmbwuA4YKB02wemQmW3VzbGlKiwKJHVH2kP7NUHegJVq0X57UGquxugq2yq3lM2BY4iwd3nVGWRPLljMbolriph9MBTOztm2UM5Hc1cw_qzyqCUTJ0/s1600/20140213_191010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtwevdplmwK1S8NVZxJXxMi7MmmmbwuA4YKB02wemQmW3VzbGlKiwKJHVH2kP7NUHegJVq0X57UGquxugq2yq3lM2BY4iwd3nVGWRPLljMbolriph9MBTOztm2UM5Hc1cw_qzyqCUTJ0/s1600/20140213_191010.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXdw7AXpX_g_woBTI__7vIpsgehEM6Sd5bsQjUdnfMZ78PJPjE5qDyqTlwblyqZ473FiPWbXVtgCm8gtIN__sBS0zwBOcNa4FxljmN7WUuxf78ZPPWi9V14diJFZh-BzptLZ4uu4a6Ow/s1600/20140213_191059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXdw7AXpX_g_woBTI__7vIpsgehEM6Sd5bsQjUdnfMZ78PJPjE5qDyqTlwblyqZ473FiPWbXVtgCm8gtIN__sBS0zwBOcNa4FxljmN7WUuxf78ZPPWi9V14diJFZh-BzptLZ4uu4a6Ow/s1600/20140213_191059.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-34169964913247219432014-02-20T12:00:00.000-06:002014-02-22T11:18:52.073-06:00Madame Defarge's Knitting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In <i>A Tale of Two Cites,</i> the "villain" Madame Defarge is continually knitting. Her knitting project, we discover, is a coded list of all the people who need to die when the revolution happens. Our production takes place over the course of several years, so we needed several pieces of knitting to make it appear that she has been making progress (after this photo was taken, the long piece got several inches longer). We tracked the knitting throughout the show and determined that it needed to make four appearances. Three times she would be working on the knitting, and once, after the revolution had begun, the knitting would be off the needles as a "finished" list. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2_JX4tgOrE7eUYuj3Zp3Vay4alAFFR0PykCG9RgXpelxWBHUKrNjWEsh8jcw_W9umD9EjQFosaLfPptst6wF3nPhq3PyuKafELV_QzB0rnShMX05F7i8_5x4Z37UNFXyaHm8_njtdrU/s1600/20140211_135334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2_JX4tgOrE7eUYuj3Zp3Vay4alAFFR0PykCG9RgXpelxWBHUKrNjWEsh8jcw_W9umD9EjQFosaLfPptst6wF3nPhq3PyuKafELV_QzB0rnShMX05F7i8_5x4Z37UNFXyaHm8_njtdrU/s1600/20140211_135334.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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To save myself a LOT of knitting, I decided to find a way to make the long "working" knitting the same as the knitting off the needles. Unfortunately, with knitting, pulling the project off the needles and then putting it back on is not an option. I proposed that we do something similar to the <a href="http://theatreprojects.blogspot.com/2011/11/reusable-knitting.html">reusable knitting I created several years ago for Goodnight Moon</a>. I carefully knotted in small red rubberbands as I was casting off to finish the knitting. As you can see, it was possible to continue knitting normally through the red bands. This allowed our actress to knit normally through the final scene when she needed to do so. At intermission the ASM was able to pull the project off the needles and unravel it back to the permanent row of rubberbands. This process can be repeated for each show without ever damaging the knitting. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuUHR3TFEx5lGtYvUIQcxzieU4acSrNpC6ZM1c2sPfFwyeXdCE30xdcV7CYwIyhne6QLhNgHrbmwKzPq59Vc9aWP-3QAOmKi-BOJ-NuHgnwd31WZr_kjAoE8Hq1NmlB2Y7DQQxzMgCmk/s1600/20140213_194725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuUHR3TFEx5lGtYvUIQcxzieU4acSrNpC6ZM1c2sPfFwyeXdCE30xdcV7CYwIyhne6QLhNgHrbmwKzPq59Vc9aWP-3QAOmKi-BOJ-NuHgnwd31WZr_kjAoE8Hq1NmlB2Y7DQQxzMgCmk/s1600/20140213_194725.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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For the knitting itself, I did quite a bit of research to find the right pattern. Much of what I saw was either too patterned (I didn't believe there was a code in it that said different things), too random (with so many different colors and patterns I couldn't believe anyone could decode it), or way too obvious (if you are knitting visible letters, it's not a very good code)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8hXQ-n87huDsHc891nxgO442EopWIDLKhrhk8JyGHcIU3LXZYLC-tnJXj_jW5-giDnNy96TV1HAZA-yVRdn2EHrxADG6Vkaqf9Y3cIBjiW1lKANIXKMw8Sb1ISUdGGMlMnQrMe_sfDw/s1600/madame+defarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8hXQ-n87huDsHc891nxgO442EopWIDLKhrhk8JyGHcIU3LXZYLC-tnJXj_jW5-giDnNy96TV1HAZA-yVRdn2EHrxADG6Vkaqf9Y3cIBjiW1lKANIXKMw8Sb1ISUdGGMlMnQrMe_sfDw/s1600/madame+defarge.jpg" /></a></div>
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Eventually I came across a knitting code that made perfect sense. It broke down each letter of the alphabet as a distinct set of three stitches, and suggested including rows of uniform stitches in between to set off the code. </div>
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You can find a link to the <a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/88695775/MADAME-DEFARGE-S-KNITTING-CIPHER">entire document here</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEL4lb3ThW5v1gR-lI-Aj3R6xBnE-qxi9DrgSpzIfMXh_CCpxHG9FI5mBMs23vT4ZBo_VhxdHjpS8Kj6B9iXbkWb5azzQglX9YhyphenhyphenrpxnXviFs7KLf9ZV4kUKv0uYO2tTlGz-os3UzxBjo/s1600/20140213_194754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEL4lb3ThW5v1gR-lI-Aj3R6xBnE-qxi9DrgSpzIfMXh_CCpxHG9FI5mBMs23vT4ZBo_VhxdHjpS8Kj6B9iXbkWb5azzQglX9YhyphenhyphenrpxnXviFs7KLf9ZV4kUKv0uYO2tTlGz-os3UzxBjo/s1600/20140213_194754.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Neither of these photos captures it as well as I would like, but they can give you a bit of an idea of how the pattern worked. When looking at the knitting from far away, there are clearly irregular rows and regular rows. Closer audience members might be able to see all the small holes and skipped stitches that make up the pattern. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGukrSB-vzaYzj-YQlO70yVNwSFmKliah2Vz49UvyyfbHLLfbtaFR29w2CxUO3Ee1fx53xdoC03XTyADG4JmAH9n9FtkTKF7SH4NXoG2eV7UOWL8oINuzfcGwxYninSt9cyOHQ33xb22k/s1600/20140213_194830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGukrSB-vzaYzj-YQlO70yVNwSFmKliah2Vz49UvyyfbHLLfbtaFR29w2CxUO3Ee1fx53xdoC03XTyADG4JmAH9n9FtkTKF7SH4NXoG2eV7UOWL8oINuzfcGwxYninSt9cyOHQ33xb22k/s1600/20140213_194830.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This project took me many hours, but was one that allowed me to overlap work and down-time. For about a month I brought it with me wherever I went, kept a printed copy of the code with me, worked while watching tv at night and while waiting at the airport for a family vacation. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvJSFlbDdlY3vJpJBy7WJLDXkFloS2MBCYMwlJnXbYNvHWx9jYclfzXwweOIveisSBpRMvXsqeuZf33vwLpmAdv2Ldpkd5l7Jn7_JsLCuLFreC08J36WPyXIAUOjCs86n-bb4Vb4ObBU/s1600/20140211_203721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvJSFlbDdlY3vJpJBy7WJLDXkFloS2MBCYMwlJnXbYNvHWx9jYclfzXwweOIveisSBpRMvXsqeuZf33vwLpmAdv2Ldpkd5l7Jn7_JsLCuLFreC08J36WPyXIAUOjCs86n-bb4Vb4ObBU/s1600/20140211_203721.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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It is also worth noting that I barely knew how to knit when I started this project. In order to learn the stitches in the code I spent quite a bit of time looking up tutorials and youtube videos of each stitch that I needed. By the end of the third piece of knitting I was moving five times faster than when I started. I am confident that the next time knitting comes up in a show I will be able to create something with more detail, and with much more speed. </div>
Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-26707480680629582142014-02-15T12:00:00.000-06:002014-02-15T12:00:00.083-06:00Decapitated Head<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I tried a version of this project 4 years ago, when I was just starting out doing props. It didn't turn out very well. </div>
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The idea was to find a cheap and durable item to serve as a decapitated head. We didn't need a realistic face or hair, as the head would be wrapped in a bloody cloth. We just needed believable shape and weight. </div>
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The first time, I started with a base of a hard rubber ball, then tried to sculpt the face around it. I think I ended up getting the shape close to right, but the weight was all wrong. The way the head moved and swayed in the hand of the actor revealed immediately that it was too light, and therefor clearly fake. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5FLZpKP6WviayHkdFtlUaz387VFwd-Xo7dhoGJH9EdGsjZUP1E3eiSTPi2ATleTzvR_UyLmH_jKgvgIxeHSCUiOo6-KNjn9bcIovBUqj2O0ik7GYrC3uQQEOArCWNreKOp5cHQTBte4/s1600/20131022_204619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5FLZpKP6WviayHkdFtlUaz387VFwd-Xo7dhoGJH9EdGsjZUP1E3eiSTPi2ATleTzvR_UyLmH_jKgvgIxeHSCUiOo6-KNjn9bcIovBUqj2O0ik7GYrC3uQQEOArCWNreKOp5cHQTBte4/s320/20131022_204619.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This time, I again planned to use masking tape to do the sculpting, but instead of the rubber ball, I started with a 5lb bag of sugar as my base. In addition to the weight, it had the added benefit of already being larger and a more oblong head-shape, which saved me some work in building up bulk. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzuEWe-wdeF179oROknlHtc-dIKFZSy3MJqZkNLYcxXmkI8Ev6BlK6AVZawkTQSnUgwrdKrZK4X0dznJwOwyB-7lJKi9GoRapOoNA8wDW8OcW2ees_dWHodVoxLSHuqv6e2KNh-uKp7M/s1600/20131022_205311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzuEWe-wdeF179oROknlHtc-dIKFZSy3MJqZkNLYcxXmkI8Ev6BlK6AVZawkTQSnUgwrdKrZK4X0dznJwOwyB-7lJKi9GoRapOoNA8wDW8OcW2ees_dWHodVoxLSHuqv6e2KNh-uKp7M/s320/20131022_205311.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I covered the bag of sugar with an initial layer of the masking tape, to make sure the sugar was sealed and prevent me from accidentally causing a tear in the bag while I was working on it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mG2HCx0_oHecFQD5q2Ji0UjIyOdDlD_2gNHzmOTt7XEsqj40lMVnb5Zb_STU6xFTgvn8nOz2cj4idx5SJmdZvJStRWTlE8F4uDdUzD7TWJt4UZTDnw-Nz2IWNqSnYxNXMXBofg85_q8/s1600/20131022_215038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mG2HCx0_oHecFQD5q2Ji0UjIyOdDlD_2gNHzmOTt7XEsqj40lMVnb5Zb_STU6xFTgvn8nOz2cj4idx5SJmdZvJStRWTlE8F4uDdUzD7TWJt4UZTDnw-Nz2IWNqSnYxNXMXBofg85_q8/s320/20131022_215038.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Sculpting with masking tape is done by creating long twisted strands. I tear of a long piece, stick the other end to a table, then proceed to twist the tape, sticky side out, in to a long rope. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5A5WSqY9Vhfgu-zvAnIzO803439sKuaN1i5fKPvoUvWc-gGXbk6Fmf5C6VV9zlUQZ-t7LlOLlczZLF2uFOEXiIC_7_uswBwZ8kFFOHztVvIP63Ycr1_rVusQAi3_tb1f_u52v80kfLQ/s1600/20131022_212021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5A5WSqY9Vhfgu-zvAnIzO803439sKuaN1i5fKPvoUvWc-gGXbk6Fmf5C6VV9zlUQZ-t7LlOLlczZLF2uFOEXiIC_7_uswBwZ8kFFOHztVvIP63Ycr1_rVusQAi3_tb1f_u52v80kfLQ/s320/20131022_212021.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The ropes have far more bulk that just a single layer of tape would. I layer the tape ropes, first all over to round out the base shape, </div>
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And then gradually in a more deliberate manner to sculpt the face. </div>
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Until I have something that I think will be believable. </div>
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Once the head is completely sculpted, it needs the final finish. </div>
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A couple layers of masking tape stuck flat and face down creates a nice smooth skin.<br />
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I meant to finish this post with a photo of the head, wrapped in the bloody cloth, but I never managed to get a photo of it. I am pleased to say though that it was a success. Just before the head was brought onstage, the ASM dipped it into a bowl of watered down stage blood. It was gruesomely effective as the actor hoisted the head in the air and we could see the blood dripping down onto the stage.<br />
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To keep everything in good shape, the ASM wiped the head down nightly so none of the blood dried onto it, and the bloody cloth was put in with the laundry, to make sure it didn't get crusty. </div>
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Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-71754118401515879772014-02-13T14:36:00.000-06:002014-02-13T14:36:43.089-06:00Wooden Rock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have some pretty cool projects coming up from Lifeline's production of <i>A Tale of Two Cities</i>. This first simple one only took about an hour, and turned out very well. I'll probably use this trick again. </div>
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I needed a large rock that would be used, by an actor, to hit another actor on the head and knock him out. The moment was well choreographed stage violence, so the rock never really comes in contact with the actor's head. Still a real rock would have been heavy, dangerous, and harder to control. </div>
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After the hit happens, the rock is dropped onto the wooden deck where the actors are standing. The fake rock needed to be hard and dense enough to make a convincing noise when dropped. </div>
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I decided the use a similar solution to the one I used for the <a href="http://theatreprojects.blogspot.com/search?q=axe">axe</a> a few months ago. I decided to create the rock from a large piece of wood. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheovUR4Pa2GDMZUfmhbDJbah_4dtk9RcvKnr-dSyu73EmoUASJfHd-2Rd-UOJ8vqMQoWjzzV5uHZNXIcS3KzxGUBrfx8QYPIETW02S5dx4V7hQG6BX3dY2MbNtFEMtkd2nmkm48cFLC8w/s1600/20140208_163339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheovUR4Pa2GDMZUfmhbDJbah_4dtk9RcvKnr-dSyu73EmoUASJfHd-2Rd-UOJ8vqMQoWjzzV5uHZNXIcS3KzxGUBrfx8QYPIETW02S5dx4V7hQG6BX3dY2MbNtFEMtkd2nmkm48cFLC8w/s1600/20140208_163339.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I found this 4x4x6" piece in the scrap bin in the shop. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OfwkVcOYT6UnRxWKjrCZac1wmtNMmfggObRUU18bv8Upxoin0dniNfVFRrorQVyP5RSacTb99Z_DxVYToDLNOqFQD4mBbglDMi9U1Y4gXr-EBgmRlM-kLe2qxhpsU4SyWImPWHwPs7Q/s1600/20140208_163355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OfwkVcOYT6UnRxWKjrCZac1wmtNMmfggObRUU18bv8Upxoin0dniNfVFRrorQVyP5RSacTb99Z_DxVYToDLNOqFQD4mBbglDMi9U1Y4gXr-EBgmRlM-kLe2qxhpsU4SyWImPWHwPs7Q/s1600/20140208_163355.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I started by taking it to the chop saw. I set a 45 degree angle and began cutting off corners to give myself a rough shape. I twisted and turned the block until I had made a cut on every square edge I could (as soon as I could no longer safely and firmly hold a flat edge against the fence while I cut, I stopped). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqh2YQkXzi4gOL6krST0RGoYjpI2x_zcbT1gmtmLMUS_mh-JHbimkWsdd2UhPFg3ylxlvjPFUDuhGlYmbbDt6YNp5RCQg9-kM6QqQkUulG2hqle95Nv29eVAqMEug4SACYVgE0m80ITw/s1600/20140208_195327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqh2YQkXzi4gOL6krST0RGoYjpI2x_zcbT1gmtmLMUS_mh-JHbimkWsdd2UhPFg3ylxlvjPFUDuhGlYmbbDt6YNp5RCQg9-kM6QqQkUulG2hqle95Nv29eVAqMEug4SACYVgE0m80ITw/s1600/20140208_195327.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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After the chop saw I took my rough-cut-crystal-looking piece of wood to the belt sander. </div>
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I used the flat part of the belt sander to round over all the hard edges and then used the rounded end of the sander to introduce new ridges and divots, trying to remove all flat and smooth surfaces. </div>
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After getting approval from the director on the size and shape. I took it to paint. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezaaYnk8imG5_rvF-sYYywba74_02eHAtW8gQAju-_T1I5mqqyZEpRIH-XkI2HlbrrjEGaxVnvpPmFabV8NXle9L3rVe3KzV7WHcq6O650jsg7FNVl2RhgM1PWwTdUpa0tSXOGUd4Z1c/s1600/20140208_195542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezaaYnk8imG5_rvF-sYYywba74_02eHAtW8gQAju-_T1I5mqqyZEpRIH-XkI2HlbrrjEGaxVnvpPmFabV8NXle9L3rVe3KzV7WHcq6O650jsg7FNVl2RhgM1PWwTdUpa0tSXOGUd4Z1c/s1600/20140208_195542.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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A first coat of brown paint provided the base, </div>
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Then an uneven dusting of grey spray paint gave it texture. </div>
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The final piece is large enough to appear dangerous, easily gripped, light enough to be well controlled by the actor, but heavy and solid enough to provide a convincing sound when dropped. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOUF4VH9XSQV5vvlebtT4PbVTqnfpQ0nmOqD5y8wBJoCY3buo_yx7qn85D8DaAJAiLrZJKAktvpHAFmrwrbI2HUuSf-ldomGQ4GeF-owPleno3bLbQNsPipi2M_ZQKoD8-y6poW5ryQY/s1600/20140208_213107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOUF4VH9XSQV5vvlebtT4PbVTqnfpQ0nmOqD5y8wBJoCY3buo_yx7qn85D8DaAJAiLrZJKAktvpHAFmrwrbI2HUuSf-ldomGQ4GeF-owPleno3bLbQNsPipi2M_ZQKoD8-y6poW5ryQY/s1600/20140208_213107.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-51570729812190298862013-12-15T12:00:00.000-06:002013-12-15T12:00:00.187-06:00Never be afraid to ask...for WAY more than you can afford<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>An Inspector Calls</i> at Remy Bumppo, turned out beautifully, with a huge beautiful oriental rug and beautifully finished wood furniture. </div>
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When we started work on the show, and the set designer sent me research with images of the type of furniture he was imagining, I was worried. I knew my budget was not enough to be able to purchase anything. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyxpMHUEY7GN0dmGrkMn-ax7FuMWr1YNEk7YCcUkrsQbUANcQ3zWqnxcIjE8kXhiifIEgLHxvgDLqgyOMD2QkRoyEmDkfShl-DmISvWdGpUQRsXoOFzKyvvzHX52FzIryndKfPGnvnag/s1600/20131203_183842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyxpMHUEY7GN0dmGrkMn-ax7FuMWr1YNEk7YCcUkrsQbUANcQ3zWqnxcIjE8kXhiifIEgLHxvgDLqgyOMD2QkRoyEmDkfShl-DmISvWdGpUQRsXoOFzKyvvzHX52FzIryndKfPGnvnag/s320/20131203_183842.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then, when I discovered that none of my go-to rental sources had anything, I was even more worried. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9PUGON6bQ27uNSUdsKoBnmhO0C9b2Afbb8mQsVl5B9OZ-1fhgJKwB_FTLsFLjh7DIQ9HKsswhqY9ERECLepJMJu4O_TwqdCCDbkAcCRjkQJZjl29F5sik4WSgdhmXiPYGQBPR-fPVvU/s1600/20131203_183900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9PUGON6bQ27uNSUdsKoBnmhO0C9b2Afbb8mQsVl5B9OZ-1fhgJKwB_FTLsFLjh7DIQ9HKsswhqY9ERECLepJMJu4O_TwqdCCDbkAcCRjkQJZjl29F5sik4WSgdhmXiPYGQBPR-fPVvU/s320/20131203_183900.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I hoped that I would find someone on craigslist selling something beat-up that I could repair, or something they didn't know the value of. But after weeks of looking I had nothing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHdxqg-FlBS5Gzgfv3I-ClaqHV4qQqbiVkyArlJsolWqiSNQFbzzMKqv_kH7eI8nn4LYRxf6zshtu25x-mfw6Bnh6ngxIKk2v0gzfuZaO-r3DISoyWhV3220AwMeJX6JVdpTDLhd7Vpk/s1600/20131203_183930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHdxqg-FlBS5Gzgfv3I-ClaqHV4qQqbiVkyArlJsolWqiSNQFbzzMKqv_kH7eI8nn4LYRxf6zshtu25x-mfw6Bnh6ngxIKk2v0gzfuZaO-r3DISoyWhV3220AwMeJX6JVdpTDLhd7Vpk/s320/20131203_183930.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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While out running other errands in the city, I drove past an antique store that I hadn't been in for years. I had long ago ruled it out as being more expensive that I could afford on any of my budgets. I figured it couldn't hurt to stop in, and I was desperate. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79bYs9b1cyIxUsy2uMnaYXyHod4gwloBaBuPXuutCghyphenhyphendQGk_Cnl4fMtdwm5iQzkxjXlx5acnlvah82a44qJ71pFro8EaHQHTocysy6MTOHo_gG0kYN0ATzyzEHB-TdexvCF2UIwSa4g/s1600/20131203_183937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79bYs9b1cyIxUsy2uMnaYXyHod4gwloBaBuPXuutCghyphenhyphendQGk_Cnl4fMtdwm5iQzkxjXlx5acnlvah82a44qJ71pFro8EaHQHTocysy6MTOHo_gG0kYN0ATzyzEHB-TdexvCF2UIwSa4g/s320/20131203_183937.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Walking into the store I immediately knew I had to find a way to work with them. The furniture in the store was right out of the research images. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPDwaop5meV_i0wpkatppSj80iSsi7K0BneQWJSR-4SmmfF_S6rlNbxEphpumI5HeyZKWsw0NarUX0p6yU7sZBsAkTpspK6EYPbHlu_QdS1g8tx20cFSv1AmZAQxuZZpZhaWzoCN6qII/s1600/20131203_184020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPDwaop5meV_i0wpkatppSj80iSsi7K0BneQWJSR-4SmmfF_S6rlNbxEphpumI5HeyZKWsw0NarUX0p6yU7sZBsAkTpspK6EYPbHlu_QdS1g8tx20cFSv1AmZAQxuZZpZhaWzoCN6qII/s320/20131203_184020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I approached the owner and told him the situation. I had $X to spend and knew that was far less than he should charge me for a rental of all the pieces I wanted. I could offer him comp tickets to see the show and an insert ad in the program (with a guesstimated value of $X, which would be seen by approximately X number of people). I would take responsibility for the safety of the items while they were in the theater's possession, and the show itself is fairly tame, no large fights, no one treating the furniture roughly etc.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmn1H1YZ6iGKpe_Fo0fTWXA3UsfbtgsVbn5FhK9F_n1izzBum_VqpuPZOn40Msn8T-_NO_PFtSC2TTHzAuMLHEOvRlQ48NNlGBieMiSFmAuy6oYoz0aDIuPyyrXi3UmS8C_3xl8hr1tQY/s1600/20131203_184054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmn1H1YZ6iGKpe_Fo0fTWXA3UsfbtgsVbn5FhK9F_n1izzBum_VqpuPZOn40Msn8T-_NO_PFtSC2TTHzAuMLHEOvRlQ48NNlGBieMiSFmAuy6oYoz0aDIuPyyrXi3UmS8C_3xl8hr1tQY/s320/20131203_184054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was also able to provide him with a copy of the company's insurance policy, to assure him that, should some unforeseen incident harm his pieces, we would be able to compensate him. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ96G3zXRqjIhjz6i_s65BESqCTEvSNHQzDer8NQ9p3r-2okeBI2YHoDgtkdWFx6pbqS_h-8Z1TOzJZm450gTH44B8MenrRuI7qIt6zvcvXXFDHD8DuEjIwLqAKnH_Zsq3EOv7MYtMBB8/s1600/20131203_184121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ96G3zXRqjIhjz6i_s65BESqCTEvSNHQzDer8NQ9p3r-2okeBI2YHoDgtkdWFx6pbqS_h-8Z1TOzJZm450gTH44B8MenrRuI7qIt6zvcvXXFDHD8DuEjIwLqAKnH_Zsq3EOv7MYtMBB8/s320/20131203_184121.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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He agreed to the rental and we have a beautiful dining room set with a table, six chairs, two beautiful gold mirrors, an overhead light fixture, and buffet and a marble top server for exactly what I had in the budget. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bA60ajlvJwLHEEHBwznZlm5MczhLZ8zIJvu2gmswVqEbKMGiPg-fMzzJlrVSaRRyTmlAVkTsKnZWEKfu96747x87iBUOhmfLnJckPZiyS75UhViRWJIQxzvOB0DG7TBHU0sEKsVKT_4/s1600/20131203_184535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bA60ajlvJwLHEEHBwznZlm5MczhLZ8zIJvu2gmswVqEbKMGiPg-fMzzJlrVSaRRyTmlAVkTsKnZWEKfu96747x87iBUOhmfLnJckPZiyS75UhViRWJIQxzvOB0DG7TBHU0sEKsVKT_4/s320/20131203_184535.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As precautions to preserve the condition of the furniture, we made sure to tell the cast and the set construction crew that it was rented and valuable, so that they take extra care with it. I have also given the ASM some nice furniture polish and rags. Every evening after the performance she wipes off and polishes the top of the dining table, to make sure no drops of liquid from the show are left on it, and to keep it in beautiful condition. </div>
Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-40118704945789719272013-12-10T16:04:00.000-06:002013-12-10T16:04:00.029-06:00Scraps of dessert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For <i>An Inspector Calls </i>at Remy Bumppo, the show opens at the end of a dinner party. The characters are supposed to be finishing last bites of dessert as the maid cleans the plates and dishes away. I made these quick plates of lemon cake and custard from upholstery foam and wax. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJKX8JMyzUIme9E8HnwXOy35lHqISLTZzUAhw8a3oZxwInE5IfbHOju7W9vaFgF5coXaQTxzMiytJdbvypaMsQVNwJzaxw8eKY0uFAP0eJ73EnAsWE7CyNFjh9kgXvL7pyOWRhy6PjNQ/s1600/20131203_083309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJKX8JMyzUIme9E8HnwXOy35lHqISLTZzUAhw8a3oZxwInE5IfbHOju7W9vaFgF5coXaQTxzMiytJdbvypaMsQVNwJzaxw8eKY0uFAP0eJ73EnAsWE7CyNFjh9kgXvL7pyOWRhy6PjNQ/s320/20131203_083309.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I tore very small bits of upholstery foam from a block I had, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9psIM1Dha9at825DG971Aj43SPHnlB9e3T2XrD8NHP88mXmEzmFi1QfOgBfw0TTtYujE9hj6buNGtv5RA0ZfRb7V3f1AYanw3K7VKPBbckteBq7VPkZY-OGYRxUq8X4fopo8r2NuInaM/s1600/20131203_084838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9psIM1Dha9at825DG971Aj43SPHnlB9e3T2XrD8NHP88mXmEzmFi1QfOgBfw0TTtYujE9hj6buNGtv5RA0ZfRb7V3f1AYanw3K7VKPBbckteBq7VPkZY-OGYRxUq8X4fopo8r2NuInaM/s320/20131203_084838.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I arranged the bits onto plates and then poured a bit of wax that I dyed to look like custard over each piece. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzO7g1lQ-AZSaLdGGSd_EMkRMgmP-Uf41iKFezTIa4Cabov714uBX_tMdxfOUMqslxhzATk2cpyR_Ew3NJ8GdBPgwht1uceR-QwK_Lw073OAiRBBCWlC1TMTHTcXkMKljc9N_VpPeqDE/s1600/20131203_084844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzO7g1lQ-AZSaLdGGSd_EMkRMgmP-Uf41iKFezTIa4Cabov714uBX_tMdxfOUMqslxhzATk2cpyR_Ew3NJ8GdBPgwht1uceR-QwK_Lw073OAiRBBCWlC1TMTHTcXkMKljc9N_VpPeqDE/s320/20131203_084844.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
In addition to creating a nice appearance of sauce, the wax served as the adhesive to attach the foam to the plates.<br />
We purchased one small loaf of lemon cake at the grocery store. We will slice the cake and freeze it. Each week the stage manager will thaw a slice of cake and put one bite onto one of the plates so that one of our characters can have a real piece of cake on her fork to eat before the plates are taken away.Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092542282339059985.post-81606401812616578942013-12-05T12:00:00.000-06:002013-12-05T12:00:00.928-06:00Newspaper with inserted articlesPeriod newspaper props are getting more and more difficult passing year. As color ink gets cheaper and more common, it is harder and harder to find generic newspapers without large color photos or ads. At one point I could just remove the cover pages as interior pages rarely had color, then the color spread to those pages too. Just recently, my go-to generic newspaper, the Wall Street Journal started printing with color ads and photos on all the pages.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScOD-l24LvtEC9cZsfuY6OEgEKoP2yoItOhcW0sQt9u5RHAGrF5eun-bBBQDrQ2bv8CuWPHkbtSO2hdS5VXp25sV1MS2haWEUoL48d9mtoqmwdfQxBXCYuOP64MyBv5DvoKaXSIMS0Og/s1600/20131201_141221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScOD-l24LvtEC9cZsfuY6OEgEKoP2yoItOhcW0sQt9u5RHAGrF5eun-bBBQDrQ2bv8CuWPHkbtSO2hdS5VXp25sV1MS2haWEUoL48d9mtoqmwdfQxBXCYuOP64MyBv5DvoKaXSIMS0Og/s320/20131201_141221.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
It is also difficult to print your own newspaper. You need a large format printer, and many print shops will refuse the hastle of printing onto newsprint, even if you bring the paper in yourself. It gets tangled and jammed in the printers easily because the paper is so thin.<br />
For newspaper props that don't take a lot of wear and tear, this is my solution.<br />
I start with a small drawing pad of newsprint. I bought this one several years ago and it has lasted me through multiple projects.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO_dAk2kde2twAAC9lv0JzQdLsXiZKe4tx_ihNjVDB7oZpIyMuCdHcUFl7x3UDghr0IGc-y4dtTtUVkSTfEHQABlk04yoY31pYNShvplA-kQZ7x8cF46nk5np2xp6UvG23XMpQAPKsLE/s1600/20131201_141523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO_dAk2kde2twAAC9lv0JzQdLsXiZKe4tx_ihNjVDB7oZpIyMuCdHcUFl7x3UDghr0IGc-y4dtTtUVkSTfEHQABlk04yoY31pYNShvplA-kQZ7x8cF46nk5np2xp6UvG23XMpQAPKsLE/s320/20131201_141523.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
The pad is 9x12, so each sheet needs to be cut to 8.5 x11 to fit into my home printer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsNSjkRRyYrQbGapteQf5TEzku0MD2CjlI7RUfDi6oZaaL-2ZKLmdQf5jtr8r6csdrqhwXIMEyQt_Cf7wANWMsXBDea9CePzTzLiRLK_FsfqgdiSvLx3S2d5utKOt-f6uAKned56_LIk/s1600/20131202_140313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsNSjkRRyYrQbGapteQf5TEzku0MD2CjlI7RUfDi6oZaaL-2ZKLmdQf5jtr8r6csdrqhwXIMEyQt_Cf7wANWMsXBDea9CePzTzLiRLK_FsfqgdiSvLx3S2d5utKOt-f6uAKned56_LIk/s320/20131202_140313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I pull images offline and type out a few headlines,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsB3IoiwdMVvSfUNFxiCIh0rjgRL2mNqvptbUjOPYhq_SKYSV3noDiSAP0GeMMnBQ_CO75lRsboBv_2qKP3hEsrdEO97cTN-dZbRNtvhsp6R7UsOnaUDePqE1wptOTcIuCN81_pxALp7M/s1600/20131202_143218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsB3IoiwdMVvSfUNFxiCIh0rjgRL2mNqvptbUjOPYhq_SKYSV3noDiSAP0GeMMnBQ_CO75lRsboBv_2qKP3hEsrdEO97cTN-dZbRNtvhsp6R7UsOnaUDePqE1wptOTcIuCN81_pxALp7M/s320/20131202_143218.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Then glue the articles and headlines into my purchased newspaper to cover up the color photos.On this one I added the photo of the Titanic, the headline about war, and the small section of a period newspaper under the photo (to cover the larger photo on the page).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BbkgGALD2maiECW4nZgSFy04ApxIMZ3Zuesg_GDSQjhjo5p7JGTFzAQAdytSeG0XEJ_MATuX8-MLNK81IOe1otZeCmCH13SXXDiaTZJ8y9vHjM_6wGdcN5Casf4s2_GULB1oa1dDdUk/s1600/20131202_143228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BbkgGALD2maiECW4nZgSFy04ApxIMZ3Zuesg_GDSQjhjo5p7JGTFzAQAdytSeG0XEJ_MATuX8-MLNK81IOe1otZeCmCH13SXXDiaTZJ8y9vHjM_6wGdcN5Casf4s2_GULB1oa1dDdUk/s320/20131202_143228.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Since newsprint is so thin, the extra layer of print tends to blend seamlessly into the base paper and not cause too much stiffness. </div>
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This is easier to do if you buy the paper you are going to be gluing into first, then you can measure the areas you are going to need to cover and format your images and text columns to fit. </div>
Jesse Gaffneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03655487372148212897noreply@blogger.com0