The $350 Mascot
- Thread starter Laffo
- Start date
Laffo
Sr Member
Here's the updates for the day that was April Fool's.
Started really cranking on the head.
Three things you need:
1. A plan.
2. Decent needles in the right sizes.
3. Tough hands.
Man, this is rough on the mitts. I have hands like a 9 year old Malaysian Kid in a Nike Factory - the roughness not the size, my hands are the size of dinner plates - and this will tear them up.
Between the hot glue and pushing upholstery needles through 4 inches of glue and foam, the hands start to hurts I tell ya.
This is what I suggest:
I use kitchen twine because firstly I found a ton of it in the cutout bin at Ross Dress for Less, and two because it's awesome, slick, strong, nylon string. Better than thread because this is tough work. Braided fishing line is the best - it's like steel, but it's expensive and hard to find in white, and will slice your hand open because it does not break. I've had a fish cut me to the bone with the stuff because my finger was under the line when it hit.
Keep a lighter handy as well. You will need it to burn glue off your needles and keep them clean and smooth.
Think of the Mascot face in shapes and layers. What shape goes first, then, how do I stack the shapes together to get a readable face AND USE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF THESE EXPENSIVE SUPPLIES?
This is his lower jaw and his eyelids. His lower lip is already glued under the fur but has not been what I call "Sculpting Sewed." That's when you go back and redefine features by sewing into creases. It is all hand work and really tough - like I was saying before. Try to remember how a Cabbage Patch Doll was. That's what I mean.
I lay out the shapes on the head by cutting out rough patterns out of old Movie Posters - any recycled big paper works for patterns. I've used newspaper, grocery sacks, Divorce Decrees, what ever is free. after doing that I use it to get my foam cut.
Take your scissors and round your edges or you'll have square features. Hit it with the 581 on the outside of the foam and glue it to the fur.
PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WAY THE FUR NAP RUNS ON THE PIECE. It sucks to have upside down fur on the face. Looks terrible and there is nothing you can do to fix it.
Cut out your shape and cut you tabs to wrap the edges. Do not cut deep. We're going to make the fur's stretch work for us. Hot Glue these tabs down. Take your time, test fit before you glue, let it cool before you let go. The more confident your moves are - the more polished the final project.
This is first step in ruining your hands. After all these years and the, literally, 1000s of pounds of hot glue I've used, it no longer burns me. I can "WILL" the glue to not blister me or hurt as it cools.
I have this little zen chant I do as soon as the glue drips between my pinky and ring finger - in the finger pit - that goes like this:
"F@#K, F@#K, F@#K, F@#K, F@#K, F@#K."
It works. Spiritual and Scientific.
Here's one of the panels with the wrap finished.
This is cutting darts into the base shape so it will wrap under the jaw. 581 in the seams, and there are patches I didn't use on the clothes, glued to the back to reinforce the seams. I test fit the shape by pinning it down with wig T-Pins, and make adjustments as I go.
When I'm happy with the fit, I coat the back with 581 and start lacing the shape down.
Here it is done. You can see how it forms to the head now.
Decided he needs the groove in the middle of his top lip.
Test the shape:
Build the panels and test fit them:
Satisfied. Glue down and lace in. "Sculpting Sewing" can be used two ways - to define and to blend - depends on the stitch. This is what happens when you blend. See the difference from the picture above? It also creates a more stable piece because you are sewing and re-sewing:
Here's the eyelids and eye details in place, with the nose marked:
That's it for right now. Bout to go work some more on him so there will be more later.
Right on,
Laffo.
Started really cranking on the head.
Three things you need:
1. A plan.
2. Decent needles in the right sizes.
3. Tough hands.
Man, this is rough on the mitts. I have hands like a 9 year old Malaysian Kid in a Nike Factory - the roughness not the size, my hands are the size of dinner plates - and this will tear them up.
Between the hot glue and pushing upholstery needles through 4 inches of glue and foam, the hands start to hurts I tell ya.
This is what I suggest:
I use kitchen twine because firstly I found a ton of it in the cutout bin at Ross Dress for Less, and two because it's awesome, slick, strong, nylon string. Better than thread because this is tough work. Braided fishing line is the best - it's like steel, but it's expensive and hard to find in white, and will slice your hand open because it does not break. I've had a fish cut me to the bone with the stuff because my finger was under the line when it hit.
Keep a lighter handy as well. You will need it to burn glue off your needles and keep them clean and smooth.
Think of the Mascot face in shapes and layers. What shape goes first, then, how do I stack the shapes together to get a readable face AND USE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF THESE EXPENSIVE SUPPLIES?
This is his lower jaw and his eyelids. His lower lip is already glued under the fur but has not been what I call "Sculpting Sewed." That's when you go back and redefine features by sewing into creases. It is all hand work and really tough - like I was saying before. Try to remember how a Cabbage Patch Doll was. That's what I mean.
I lay out the shapes on the head by cutting out rough patterns out of old Movie Posters - any recycled big paper works for patterns. I've used newspaper, grocery sacks, Divorce Decrees, what ever is free. after doing that I use it to get my foam cut.
Take your scissors and round your edges or you'll have square features. Hit it with the 581 on the outside of the foam and glue it to the fur.
PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WAY THE FUR NAP RUNS ON THE PIECE. It sucks to have upside down fur on the face. Looks terrible and there is nothing you can do to fix it.
Cut out your shape and cut you tabs to wrap the edges. Do not cut deep. We're going to make the fur's stretch work for us. Hot Glue these tabs down. Take your time, test fit before you glue, let it cool before you let go. The more confident your moves are - the more polished the final project.
This is first step in ruining your hands. After all these years and the, literally, 1000s of pounds of hot glue I've used, it no longer burns me. I can "WILL" the glue to not blister me or hurt as it cools.
I have this little zen chant I do as soon as the glue drips between my pinky and ring finger - in the finger pit - that goes like this:
"F@#K, F@#K, F@#K, F@#K, F@#K, F@#K."
It works. Spiritual and Scientific.
Here's one of the panels with the wrap finished.
This is cutting darts into the base shape so it will wrap under the jaw. 581 in the seams, and there are patches I didn't use on the clothes, glued to the back to reinforce the seams. I test fit the shape by pinning it down with wig T-Pins, and make adjustments as I go.
When I'm happy with the fit, I coat the back with 581 and start lacing the shape down.
Here it is done. You can see how it forms to the head now.
Decided he needs the groove in the middle of his top lip.
Test the shape:
Build the panels and test fit them:
Satisfied. Glue down and lace in. "Sculpting Sewing" can be used two ways - to define and to blend - depends on the stitch. This is what happens when you blend. See the difference from the picture above? It also creates a more stable piece because you are sewing and re-sewing:
Here's the eyelids and eye details in place, with the nose marked:
That's it for right now. Bout to go work some more on him so there will be more later.
Right on,
Laffo.
Last edited:
FakeBritishAccent
Sr Member
Keep it rolling, buddy. I love this thread and can't wait to see the finished piece. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna try to figure out how to make that Bananas Foster corn dog.
-Jonaas
-Jonaas
Laffo
Sr Member
Make sure the Banana is frozen solid (Put the stick in before you freeze), and the grease is hot. Use a Waffle batter instead of Funnel Cake batter, and take the time to make homemade Caramel.
Laffo.
Homemade Caramel again:
-----
Take a can of Evaporated Milk and remove the label.
Place the can in a heavy pot twice as tall as the can.
Cover the can with a least two inches of water.
Boil for an hour.
Keep replacing water as it boils down.
Let cool before opening.
Here's another method from the Eagle website:
STOVETOP METHOD: Pour 1 can EAGLE BRAND® into top of double boiler; place over boiling water. Over low heat, simmer 1 to 1/2 hours or until thick and caramel-colored, stirring occasionally. Beat until smooth.
I like the first way because there is an element of danger. As long as you keep it well covered in water there is no chance of covering your kitchen in Caramel.
Laffo.
Laffo.
Homemade Caramel again:
-----
Take a can of Evaporated Milk and remove the label.
Place the can in a heavy pot twice as tall as the can.
Cover the can with a least two inches of water.
Boil for an hour.
Keep replacing water as it boils down.
Let cool before opening.
Here's another method from the Eagle website:
STOVETOP METHOD: Pour 1 can EAGLE BRAND® into top of double boiler; place over boiling water. Over low heat, simmer 1 to 1/2 hours or until thick and caramel-colored, stirring occasionally. Beat until smooth.
I like the first way because there is an element of danger. As long as you keep it well covered in water there is no chance of covering your kitchen in Caramel.
Laffo.
MaulWalker
Sr Member
Hmmm, that first way is the same way I make Dulce de Leche. Yummm....
Lynn
Lynn
Boba Binks
Well-Known Member
Looking good.
I am currently working on a Cringer from He-Man fursuit just for fun and a realistic werewolf suit for a film project.
I am currently working on a Cringer from He-Man fursuit just for fun and a realistic werewolf suit for a film project.
Darth Mule
Sr Member
Mmmm... Fried pickles. More reasons to look you up when I hit Atlanta this summer.
So... Question. I googled Palookaville and kept getting references to Star Bar... Do you have some connection therewith?
So... Question. I googled Palookaville and kept getting references to Star Bar... Do you have some connection therewith?
BDA TK7503
New Member
Thanks for making me laugh, been a rough month. Love this thread, can't wait for more.
Laffo
Sr Member
Oh good gravy I am sore. I mean physically sore like Armenian Mobsters have just let me know I'll have their money by Monday "Or Else." My body is sore, my Hands are like they've been through a Cat Fight, even my ass is sore and I have no idea how that happened. One too many Kegels I suppose.
Well the Mascot made his Debut to a rousing success. Children were hugging him and I saw a baby kiss him on the nose. That was the litmus test right there. If a Baby would kiss and hug his head - I had done something right.
Here's how he shaped up here in the final stretches:
Well first off, I was picking up film and saw this -
"I hate delivering Freight. No body understands why their packages are late. Nobody understands me."
A kick square in the head is the solution.
Okay on to the post -
Here's how the Homestretch worked out
Wednesday - 9 am up to start pre-clean the Wagon and all the gear.
Wash and clean till 3 pm and get started back on the Mascot at 6pm and work him till 3:00am.
Thursday - Meet Paving Contractors at 8am, 10:30 am and 12pm, go to pickup film at 2pm, unload Deliveries and finish some Drive-In work. Open the Theatre at 7:30 work till 1 am and put time in on him till 4 am.
Friday - 10am to the Bank and Post Office, catch the last 2 deliveries. Tornado watches for 18 hours straight. Open the Theatre at 6:30 pm. Movies start at 8:30 pm. 8:45 a lightning strike hits a Transformer and we are blacked out. I find the Georgia Power crew and know 2 of them. They promise to have me back on by 11pm. I close the Theatre. Power returns at 10:50 pm. at 11:01 second strike hits 1 of our 2 supply poles and blows all 3 phases and 2 lines off the pole. Great. My visions of working on the Mascot seems slim now, and I'm starting to doubt he's gonna get finished.
Power somehow returns in the Studio so I finish him at 4:30 am.
Saturday - 6:30 am - Open Flea Market, work till 12pm. Take a nap, get up at 3 pm and start loading the gear. Roll out at 5 pm. Set up -serve 1st Corndog at 7pm - suit up the Mascot at 8 pm. Cook until 12 am, load gear and get back to the lot at 1:45 am - close the Theatre hit the sack at 4:00am.
Sunday - Open Flea Market at 6:30 am...
To put it mildly, I am a complete and utter, raging A$$hole to everyone who gives me trouble at the Market. I wear my Freddy Kruger sweater and that does not help the matters at all.
So that gives you an in-site into the Glamorous World of Laffo.
Here's some info:
Bought $14 Santa belly and had to fix it.
and
Getting ready to do the mind numbing task of putting hair on this feller.
Here's what I did:
Take copper wire from an Electrical Cord and use it like a needle threader.
I cut little sections of weave leaving the sewed edge in tact. VERY IMPORTANT!
Here's what it looks like after a couple of hours:
I get the jaw, teeth and highlights and shadows done on the head. Starting to see the light:
Cutting and affixing his eyes...
Eyebrows:
Mohawk:
Checking him out as an ensemble -
Front
Leg check:
Back:
Well it's time for Corndogs!
Here's what I call:
The Cavalcade of Condiments
The Wagon is ready:
This was a Group Show called the "MAD Generation" and me and 18 of my friends had all MAD Magazine related pieces in it.
http://www.lowbrowgalleryatlanta.com/thegallery/The_MAD_Generation.html
I'll post the brilliant piece I bought that's not in this Gallery as soon as I get delivery.
My piece was the Fryinstein because without MAD, I wouldn't even think like this. The Weenie Queen went as Lil' Bo Peep because Sergio Aragonés is my favorite.
I think his Marginals are sheer brilliance:
http://www.amazon.com/Sergio-Aragoness-Mad-Marginals-Aragones/dp/0446352438
Sergio always has a pissed off Bo Peep in these things. We laughed and laughed at this. I was amazed at how many folks got the joke.
Everyone got MAD Magazine Tattoos for the evening. Here The Weenie Queen gets her classic lit Bomb:
I get mine Wednesday, as I was too busy to sit and get mine that night. It will be:
The MAD Zepplin.
After all that I only get one picture of the Fryinstein, standing with Sadie Hawkins and Barbarella dressed as Spy VS Spy.
Kind of a hasty picture, I have more coming from the kid that wore the suit. His Girlfriend is one of my Bigfeets Dancers and a great photographer.
In true Junkie fashion my Cousin has disappeared and stiffed me on wearing the damn thing. I am going to stab him in the eye with the IOU he has written me.
Till Later Jerks,
Laffo.
Well the Mascot made his Debut to a rousing success. Children were hugging him and I saw a baby kiss him on the nose. That was the litmus test right there. If a Baby would kiss and hug his head - I had done something right.
Here's how he shaped up here in the final stretches:
Well first off, I was picking up film and saw this -
"I hate delivering Freight. No body understands why their packages are late. Nobody understands me."
A kick square in the head is the solution.
Okay on to the post -
Here's how the Homestretch worked out
Wednesday - 9 am up to start pre-clean the Wagon and all the gear.
Wash and clean till 3 pm and get started back on the Mascot at 6pm and work him till 3:00am.
Thursday - Meet Paving Contractors at 8am, 10:30 am and 12pm, go to pickup film at 2pm, unload Deliveries and finish some Drive-In work. Open the Theatre at 7:30 work till 1 am and put time in on him till 4 am.
Friday - 10am to the Bank and Post Office, catch the last 2 deliveries. Tornado watches for 18 hours straight. Open the Theatre at 6:30 pm. Movies start at 8:30 pm. 8:45 a lightning strike hits a Transformer and we are blacked out. I find the Georgia Power crew and know 2 of them. They promise to have me back on by 11pm. I close the Theatre. Power returns at 10:50 pm. at 11:01 second strike hits 1 of our 2 supply poles and blows all 3 phases and 2 lines off the pole. Great. My visions of working on the Mascot seems slim now, and I'm starting to doubt he's gonna get finished.
Power somehow returns in the Studio so I finish him at 4:30 am.
Saturday - 6:30 am - Open Flea Market, work till 12pm. Take a nap, get up at 3 pm and start loading the gear. Roll out at 5 pm. Set up -serve 1st Corndog at 7pm - suit up the Mascot at 8 pm. Cook until 12 am, load gear and get back to the lot at 1:45 am - close the Theatre hit the sack at 4:00am.
Sunday - Open Flea Market at 6:30 am...
To put it mildly, I am a complete and utter, raging A$$hole to everyone who gives me trouble at the Market. I wear my Freddy Kruger sweater and that does not help the matters at all.
So that gives you an in-site into the Glamorous World of Laffo.
Here's some info:
Bought $14 Santa belly and had to fix it.
and
Getting ready to do the mind numbing task of putting hair on this feller.
Here's what I did:
Take copper wire from an Electrical Cord and use it like a needle threader.
I cut little sections of weave leaving the sewed edge in tact. VERY IMPORTANT!
Here's what it looks like after a couple of hours:
I get the jaw, teeth and highlights and shadows done on the head. Starting to see the light:
Cutting and affixing his eyes...
Eyebrows:
Mohawk:
Checking him out as an ensemble -
Front
Leg check:
Back:
Well it's time for Corndogs!
Here's what I call:
The Cavalcade of Condiments
The Wagon is ready:
This was a Group Show called the "MAD Generation" and me and 18 of my friends had all MAD Magazine related pieces in it.
http://www.lowbrowgalleryatlanta.com/thegallery/The_MAD_Generation.html
I'll post the brilliant piece I bought that's not in this Gallery as soon as I get delivery.
My piece was the Fryinstein because without MAD, I wouldn't even think like this. The Weenie Queen went as Lil' Bo Peep because Sergio Aragonés is my favorite.
I think his Marginals are sheer brilliance:
http://www.amazon.com/Sergio-Aragoness-Mad-Marginals-Aragones/dp/0446352438
Sergio always has a pissed off Bo Peep in these things. We laughed and laughed at this. I was amazed at how many folks got the joke.
Everyone got MAD Magazine Tattoos for the evening. Here The Weenie Queen gets her classic lit Bomb:
I get mine Wednesday, as I was too busy to sit and get mine that night. It will be:
The MAD Zepplin.
After all that I only get one picture of the Fryinstein, standing with Sadie Hawkins and Barbarella dressed as Spy VS Spy.
Kind of a hasty picture, I have more coming from the kid that wore the suit. His Girlfriend is one of my Bigfeets Dancers and a great photographer.
In true Junkie fashion my Cousin has disappeared and stiffed me on wearing the damn thing. I am going to stab him in the eye with the IOU he has written me.
Till Later Jerks,
Laffo.
Last edited:
Similar threads
