Tongue wagging good time

Stuart Bray has put some wonderful instructional videos on youtube detailing how to make some wonderfully realistic tongues.

So..if you just don't know what to do for the Holidays ..I say tongues are in this season.  =P


Stuart Bray tongue-tastic video Number #1 Video Number #2 shows you how to make those tongue gruesome! But of course you could paint it all pretty with sparkles and glitter...just sayin'. For more of Stuarts makeup fx check out his youtube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/stuartbray73 Enjoy! CJ

Double Talk 2013 featuring Ronn Lucas September 15th!!

Less than a month for a great show!!

Ronn Lucas will feature his one man show at Double Talk 2013 sponsored by the Vent Haven Museum.  Ronn is a wonderfully talented Ventriloquist and all around good guy.

Be sure to get your tickets soon as there will only be one show this year.

 

 

 

Don't wait, hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

Handmade Leather Bracers completed

The previous post shows the process and here is the finished piece(s).

It was fun to see the patterns emerging from the leather as I tooled them in.  I am happy with the way they turned out and might work on another pair of bracers or another leather project when time allows.

Let me know what you think.  :)

Have a great weekend!

Bracer project for Michigan Renaissance festival

I am working on making some leather bracers for my wife and I for the Michigan Renaissance Festival this year. Each year we have tried to add a little bit to our outfit and this year I decided to make leather bracers for us. It has been fun really, to see the progress and to learn more each time I work with them. I bought the materials from Tandy Leather factory's local store in Westland, MI. They have been a real big help.

 

This is the pattern and leather for Tamara's bracers before being cut out. I made the pattern by putting a plastic bag over her wrist and covering that with duct tape, onto which I traced where the bracer should sit when she wears it. I cut that tape pattern out and transferred it to card stock to make the template.

 

Here I have transferred the pattern to the leather prior to beginning to cut in and tool the leather.

 

and like on television when they put a dish in the oven and banm! it's already done..here is the tooled leather before dying.(well actually I did a test run on the first bracer that I tooled to see how it would look dyed black.

 

 

The bracers were dyed and left to dry overnight and here they are with the conchos set on top to see how they will work out. Now to set the conchos and grommet the lace holes after making them of course. Final pics to follow.

Thanks for lookin'

Chris

Reminder: Vent Haven Ventriloquist Convention Coming up THIS week!

It is the final count down to the biggest and "bestest" Ventriloquist convention on the plant! Grab your keys, suitcases and get to Hebron Kentucky for this great event! last year they relocated to the Airport Marriott in Hebron Kentucky and it is a great venue with wonderful amenities! The line up shows and vendors is top notch. If your a performer, collector or fan of ventriloquism this IS the place to be! Check out the schedule for this year:

LOOK at the line up! Jeff Dunham! Terry Fator! Taylor Mason, Paul Zerdin, and So many more! WOW! The dealer room has everything you can imagine and even some things you might not have thought about. Be sure to check them out! This year the convention is the theme is “Celebrating Clinton and Adelia Detweiler” Vent Haven ConVENTion 2013. Clinton and Adelia Detweiler owned and operated the Maher School of Ventriloquism for many years after purchasing it from Madeline Maher in the early 1970's. My first books and training came from them when I was around 13. Always there with help and answers and a great selection of puppets, books, and accessories. Sadly Clinton passed away earlier this year, but he will be there in spirit.

After years of talking to them over the phone I finally had the honor of meeting them in person at teh 2008 Vent Haven ConVention. While at the convention they do a tour of the Vent Haven Museum! This is a must see for everyone whether your a Ventriloquist or not. This collection was started by W.S. Burger and is maintained today by the greatest group passionate to keep W.S.'s dream alive.

If you cannot go to the ConVention you can still contact the Vent Haven museum and arrange a tour.

Hope you can make it! Have a safe and happy Summer! Chris and the Gang.

Farewell George Jones

It is sad to hear that country legand George Jones passed away on April 26th.

In honor of George and his legacy, Don't rock the jukebox, I wanna hear some Jones.

Rest peacfully George.

Set Your Calendars- Free Comic Book Day

Yes, You heard it right, Free Comic Book day is upon us.

 

May 4th, 2013

 

Head over to your local Comic book shop for some free Comic Book Goodness!

While your there check out some of the great titles available... like X-Men, Avengers, Batman, Superman, and SO many more great books.

 

Be sure to check it out!

 

 

 

Olympus has Fallen

We went to see the latest entry from Morgan Freeman and Gerard Butler, Olympus has fallen. 

"When the White House (Secret Service Code: "Olympus") is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As our national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning's inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President and avert an even bigger crisis. Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) directs an all-star cast featuring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Ashley Judd and Rick Yune."

The movie is action packed but sadly all of the events take place at night, thus leaving us with a dark picture most of the time.  A lot of the action takes place with some small degree of back lighting, sometimes very small.  We both liked the movie but wish perhaps it could have been lit a little more.

Worth the price of a matinee.

Tell me what you thought of the film.

CJ

March 2013 already!?!/

And so here it is...March 2013.  This year is flying by with reckless abandon and I have not posted once..Not Once!  What the heck was I thinking??

Witht hat in mind here is whats on my mind right now.

In April We will be attending the Local horror con, Motor City Nightmares.  I went last year and it was fun so made it a point that even though we have SO much to do at home we will go and enjoy the Horror of the local film scene.  Might even dress up..we will see ;)

Be sure to check out the site and attend this home grown local event!

 

 

We went to see Oz: The Great and Powerful last weekend.  Over all I enjoyed the movie and it was nice to see something made in Michigan again.  I really think KNB Efx did a great job with the makeup, they are a Very talented group of make up artists.  I enjoyed that Oz was a vaudeville Magician and the back story he had.

 

My 6 yr old Daughter enjoyed it as well as my 17 yr old son, so it's a movie good for all ages. 

 

Check it out.