A few months ago, I had a blast painting a paper mache mask in the style of Day of the Dead sugar skulls. It was tricky work to get everything even and come out exactly as I envisioned it, but I love the result. It sold within days of being listed, and I knew I should definitely make more. I got caught up in other projects though, so I put off painting more.
Well, now is the time! I plan on painting at least two more in Day of the Dead style, in different colors and designs of course. I may paint a few others with something a little different, but I'm not sure what. What springs to mind first is leaves and flowers, because of course I love them and I can't seem to stop putting them on masks, whether in synthetic, preserved natural, or painted form!
So what I'm asking from YOU is to submit your ideas! Especially if you'd like to order one for yourself. Remember, there's only 76 more days til Halloween! The paper mache masks are pre-made, but I can alter the eye shape, edge shape, and ribbon color, and I prefer to line the back in a soft-to-the-touch felt. If you'd like, I can even add a lace trim to the edges, or add a cluster of hanging ribbons/rhinestones/beaded chain on one side. The possibilities are endless! I only have five pre-made masks but I have so many fun ideas for them that I may have to get more!
If you'd like to make a custom order, visit my Etsy store and send me a message! On the left side of the screen, under my Shop Owner picture, there are two buttons you can click to send me a message; doesn't matter which. Or, if you just have an idea you'd like to share, leave a comment here on the blog or on my Facebook page, or you can even send me a tweet.
When I get more painted, I will definitely be sharing them here. Look for more updates soon! :)
Since there was such a large gap in between posts, I'd like to try to catch you up on my activities over the past few months. The Mothman LARP masks featured in my last post have definitely taken up a good chunk of my time, but of course there are always other projects to keep my hands and mind busy.
Today I'm featuring my tiny top hats. I love tiny top hats - they are so very Victorian, and the possibilities for adornment are endless. Here are a few I've put together, some recent and some not so much.
Ivory Rose and Tulle - a simple yet elegant clip on hat with a beautiful fabric rose, a twist of tulle, and ivory peacock herl feathers.
White Lace and Feather - a beautiful applique wrapped around the clip on hat, featuring a fluffy white feather.
Dogwood Flower and Ivy - the clip on hat is a subtle dark green, featuring a dogwood flower, ivy leaves, and a few natural and dyed bright green peacock herl feathers.
White Lace and Black Rose - the clip on hat features a band of white lace and a matching white lace bow, and a black glittery rose with black leaves. (This item is sold.)
Deer Antler and Ivy - the plastic clip-on hat features ceramic deer horns broken off an ornament, with ivy leaves at the base of the horns. This is my favorite, and I will be sad to see it go!
I hope you enjoyed a peek at one of my favorite things to make. I hope to be making more extravagant tiny top hats in time for Halloween, to suit your costuming needs! As always, check out my Etsy store for more interesting pieces, and message me if you'd like custom work!
Wow, no new post since February. Oops! Well, let's just get right back into the swing of things. I'd like to start updating this at least once a week, so watch for lots more!
I am super excited to show you my latest project: Mothman Masks.
This is (again) for a LARP, this one themed around the legendary Mothman.
This project has definitely put me through my paces. It took me some trial and error to find just the right materials. I am pretty proud of the result, and I think the LARP group will look pretty badass when they add these masks to their matching winged and furry costumes. If I get pictures of it, I will definitely share!
I recently completed a set of natural birch bark masks. It was a lovely experience to make them, and it really took me back to the very first mask I ever made. So I thought I would share a bit on how this whole thing got started. This is a long post, be prepared!
I'm a Pagan in a pretty loose sense of the word. I have trouble nailing a label to myself or putting myself in a box. I don't believe in a specific pantheon or practice, nor do I take my time setting up and following through with complicated rituals. What I can easily say in all honesty though, is that I believe in nature. I believe that nature is powerful and wild, tempered and kind, inexplicable and amazing. Nature is everything! I am passionate about science, and what is science but the study of nature? I've been asked before how I reconcile my scientific views and my spiritual ones; I guess the answer is that they're so interconnected that there is no conflict. Yes, there's things that science tries to prove or disprove, and yes, some people feel it takes the magic out of things. I'd say yes and no to that. Nature is still amazing, no matter how far we break down DNA, no matter how many theories and discoveries we make. Nature will always throw something new at us.
Most of all, nothing beats the spiritual feeling I get when I walk in nature. Nothing compares to the sun on my skin, the wind in my hair, the sound of the rolling ocean and the sand between my toes, or the sound of birds in the forest and tree branches scratching at my arms, ferns at my feet; the sight of a mountain or a rock formation or an endless beach or a tree so tall I can't even see the top.
When I started my crafting business ages ago, it was all based on a strange idea. I wanted to make masks. I have always loved masquerade balls, and my wedding reception was masquerade themed. I wanted to take that idea and put a natural spin on it. I wanted to take tree bark, leaves, and feathers, and make masks. My husband and I went up to his father's Northern Wisconsin property and collected all sorts of bark and natural materials, all things that had already fallen to the ground. I wouldn't let him peel any bark off the trees. I wanted it naturally shed, to cause no harm to the trees.
We took our materials home and were excited to get to work. However, we quickly realized our mistake. The bark that we had was moist, as it had recently rained; it crumbled under our hands and was generally useless. However, the single birch bark piece I had was bendy and easy to work with. With a little bit of work, I created my first birch bark mask.
I was so excited when I put it up on Etsy, which at the time was under the username Crysiira, a screen name I've been using since high school. Up until then I just had a few paintings listed but no sales. The birch bark mask was my first sale, to a fellow Pagan Team member. I was thrilled to pieces!
I wanted to create more and more, but I didn't have another birch tree handy and I couldn't always get to the property up north for more. I really wanted to make an entire mask of leaves, but worried about how to preserve it. I made the decision to switch from natural to synthetic materials, and my signature leaf masks were born.
From masks spawned the idea for matching accessories, so I started making leafy hair clips and headbands. This soon turned to feathers, since feathers are both natural and very in style. I changed my business name to Natura Pluma, Latin for Nature and Feather, to reflect my new niche. The synthetic material withstood the durability test, and the popularity test, and I was so consumed with making them that it was a very long time before I turned back to natural materials for another birch bark mask.
Whenever I need inspiration, I take a walk through nature. Even if there aren't any hiking trails or nature paths available, a walk through the park or the cemetery or any neighborhood with a lot of trees will do. I just need that time with nature to clear my head and fill it with peace and new ideas. In fact, my good old friend Science backs this up, showing that being outside in nature for just 20 minutes a day does wonders to boost energy and vitality. I don't always get the requisite 20 minutes a day, but I try to make up for it by overloading and taking an hour or two at a time at least once a week.
In my new home, I'm closer to nature than ever. My town is quite small, and surrounded by fruit and nut orchards on all sides. In fact, not three blocks from my house is a road that has an orchard on either side, and connects to a longer country road with never-ending trees. Granted, it is February, and there are no leaves on the trees; but the weather is warmish and sunny, and the birds are active and noisy, and taking a walk down that orchard road is something I try to do at least a few times a week. There are no birch trees here, but when I was packing up my craft things to move, I realized that I had an entire drawer of natural materials, including some very nice pieces of bark awaiting my hands. So when I was looking for a project to keep my mind off the distance between my friends and family and I, I dived into that drawer of nature.
I took walks down the orchard road. I watched movies that inspire me like My Neighbor Totoro (an anime kid's movie about two girls who move into a new home and discover that the woods they live next to is filled with earth spirits), Mirrormask (a movie based on a Neil Gaiman story about a girl who enters a world in which every single person always wears a mask), and Pan's Labyrinth (a not-for-kids fairytale about Spain's civil war in 1944 and a girl who must complete tasks set to her by a faun to become a princess of a faerie world). And I listened to music by Qntal, a band that effortlessly combines medieval style music with modern electronica. In fact, they have a wonderful video with art by Brian Froud (Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, lots more awesomeness) that has always been insanely inspirational to me.
So that's the story behind my birch bark masks. I like to make them because it reminds me of my roots; because the natural materials coming together under my hands feels like magic; because if you must hide yourself behind a mask, what better mask than nature?
I haven't been very active with the blog lately, but if you're on my Facebook page, you know that I recently relocated. I'm no longer in snowy Wisconsin, I'm in sunny California! The move was a long time coming; we've been planning it for the better part of a year. It was so lovely to finally set a date on it. Things were so busy I closed down shop for a bit.
Now that I'm here and fairly settled in, I'm back to work! My Etsy shop is fully stocked and ready for a sale - 10% off when you use the coupon code BUYHANDMADE. Despite having a major sale just before the holidays, I still have almost 200 items in stock, and I'd love to clear them out and make room for new!
It is so beautiful here. The weather is so warm and the sky so clear and blue. I feel so much inspiration that I've been shifting focus from accessories to painting. If my ideas go well, I might end up putting a few paintings in the shop; we'll see. I'm currently not working so I have plenty of time to work on art! I am also trying to get in better shape while I'm at it. My schedule has been 1/2 hour to 1 & 1/2 hours of exercise in the morning, housework and/or walks and exploring my new surroundings for a good chunk of the day, and then working on projects for as many hours as I can stay awake for in the evening. Currently I'm working on a tattoo design for a friend, two paintings, and a couple other little projects to keep my hands busy.
I will post more when I have more pictures of ART to show you! I better get to work so I can finish them! :D
So I have finally finished a two-month-long major project: Creating eight original masks for a Cthulhu-themed Live Action Role Playing event. It was a challenge, but I enjoyed almost every minute of it!
The tentacles were made from polyfill fiber stuffed into plastic cones,
with a wire center to create the twists and curls. The mask itself was
cut from a piece of vinyl, then a layer of fusible webbing was added to
the back, then a layer of felt for the wearer's comfort. The front was
layered in small sequins. The entire mask was then painted with liquid
latex. The paint job is entirely done by hand. Then a clear coat to seal
everything completed the piece!
I couldn't believe how long it took me. I set them up assembly-line style, so they were all completed right around the same time. I think much of the time was waiting for the glue to dry, and of course those damn tentacles. If I were to make just one, I think it would take me a week... times that by eight... yeah, two months! I'm glad I got started nice and early...
Each mask is different, but they all look like something crawled up from the deep ocean... with the sole purpose of driving me completely insane. I read H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu for inspiration, along with an entire book of other Lovecraft stories of the weird. I can't believe I never read them before; they were perfectly to my strange tastes. Cthulhu fhtagn! :D
This project was a blast, but I need a break after all the hectic insanity. No rest for the wicked though; I have a bridal party that needs hair clips!
This review is for an order from Country Soaps by Marlene, an Etsy shop selling handmade goat's milk soaps, shampoos, and other body products. I happen to be on the same Etsy team as her, WIST Moo Crew - all Wisconsinites! In fact she is based a mere 40 miles from me. I am also a Facebook fan of hers!
I ordered her natural deodorant in the Satsuma scent, which was on sale since the label was misspelled. I also ordered her goat's milk soap in Tangerine Twist. As a bonus, I received a thank-you gift of a small portion of Cucumber Melon scented shampoo bar. Here are my thoughts on these products.
Tangerine Twist Goat's Milk Soap
Upon opening the box and smelling the soap, I was at first disappointed. The tangerine was overpowered by a soapy smell. However, when I took it in the shower and lathered it up in my loofah, the tangerine smell was really let loose. It was very pleasant! This is the official description of the scent: "A refreshing blend of fresh, juicy tangerines, mandarin, and lemon, balanced with soft florals, mint, and sweet green herbs." The citrus was definitely the top note, with just a hint of herbs underneath. Because there are no sulfates, there wasn't a huge amount of lather, but it still did a wonderful job cleaning, and my skin felt lovely afterward. With some bar soaps, there seems to be a residue on the skin - this bar did not leave me with any unpleasant residue. Just a bit of rubbing into the loofah lasted for my entire body, and the soap washed out of my loofah easily.
All in all, I recommend this greatly!
Cucumber Melon Shampoo Bar
I have to admit something here - I am a professional shampoo and conditioner junkie. I love Paul Mitchell and Bedhead, Sexy Hair and Kenra. I worked in a salon for many years and thus received many many free samples. I'm finally running out of my stash, and I've been thinking about trying something more natural for a long time anyway. So finding this little thank-you gift was a nice surprise! However, because I am so used to my professional brands, I was totally at a loss as to how to use this. I tried to lather it in my hands without success. (Once again, the smell really came out when wet, and it was a pleasant, unobtrusive cucumber melon scent.) I did some quick googling and found a description of how to use shampoo bars: Getting the Most from a Shampoo Bar.
As the article states, shampoo bars are better for those who are used to washing their hair less often. I am a daily shampooer, though I've been trying to cut that down to every other day. It's better for the hair and better on your wallet! How to apply the shampoo bar? Basically you will be pretending to comb your hair from front to back with the bar. Then lather it up. The article recommends to rinse and repeat. The bar does have conditioners built in, so the second time around leave the lather sit in the hair for a bit before rinsing. As the article points out, your hair will need an adjustment period to get used to this new routine!
The first time I used the bar, since I didn't know what I was doing, I didn't realize it had conditioners built in and so I conditioned it again. My hair felt very heavy and greasy that day. The second time, it seemed too dry afterwards, so I used some spray conditioner at the ends and was mostly pleased. I think I would like to try it a few more times before deciding if I would recommend this one or not. It is definitely an acquired taste, but if you have used bars before, I'm sure it's wonderful. I will have to practice with it some more and get back to you!
Satsuma All Natural Deodorant
This was on sale due to a printing error, but the product itself is just fine! This is the description of the smell: "The Japanese Satsuma is a unique, aromatic citrus fruit. Satsuma
fragrance is a wonderful blend of orange, mandarin, mango, peach, lime,
jasmine, and orange flowers. Energizing and intoxicating! This was not
made with an essential oil but a Phthalate-Free & Nitro Musk Free
Fragrance oil" I have to say I am absolutely in LOVE with the scent! Intoxicating is a correct assessment. Even my husband, who was skeptical of the whole idea of a "natural deodorant," admitted the scent was attractive.
I, too, was a little skeptical of natural deodorant, though I dearly wanted it to work. I've been looking for natural alternatives to my normal bath and body routine for awhile. I tried Secret Natural Mineral antiperspirant, but as you can see from this website, the ingredient list is pretty much the same as normal deodorant/antiperspirants. The ingredients of Marlene's natural deodorant are as follows: "natural bees wax, natural cocoa butter, coconut oil, castor oil, fragrance and corn starch." Seems to me like a much better definition of natural!
I put it on after my shower in the morning, and did a vigorous workout immediately after. The scent held up quite well, and there was minimal wetness. I did notice it starting to fail in the wetness department by the end of the day, but in the heat of the summer, I'd say it did a pretty good job. The scent was still there as well, though not as strong. It wasn't until I woke up the next morning that I could really tell it had all worn off.
All in all I strongly recommend this product as well, and in general I'm impressed with Marlene's work! I will definitely be purchasing from her again, and I hope you consider doing so as well!
