Analog Hand

wooden hand
By misterbonkers

I just made this for my sister, Erin.

Cedar fence posts seem to be a favorite material of mine. You can find some interesting grain and it's cheap as hell. Now that I have a working Craftsmen belt sander, I'm able to smooth them out quite quickly. I've gotten tons of use out of this sander in the past 2 weeks.

Roughing out the fingers on a band saw is easy. I get everything about the size I want and start shaping things over on the sander. (It's on a stand.) I can get all the detail you see here with the belt sander. In the future, I'll try working with a Dremel, but I'm not really looking to make this perfect. It fits more with the story in my head, to keep this as imperfect.

hand detail
By misterbonkers

Oddly, I didn't explain this story to anyone who saw the hand in person. While constructing this piece, I had quickly imagined a person in the future needing a bionic hand. Not having the money nor resources, they were outfitted with this second-rate hand constructed of old electronics and discarded wood. At first glance many think the hand is decorated with beads. These are actually old analog electronic resistors.

Found Milk

harv3
Originally uploaded by misterbonkers

"If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door."

I'm going to a special screening of Milk at the Grove in LA this Tuesday, November 25, 2008. We're lucky enough to get an introduction from producer, Dan Jinks.

If you happen to be in the theatre with me tonight, you might find one of these images I made of Harvey Milk. I'm hoping you took the time to visit my blog, in order that you can share a little of your story.

If you care to, would you list your image number (oops! I was in a hurry and forgot to number them) and your name? I'd like to know what your thoughts are on whatever issue you'd like to speak. Also, please mention what you were thinking when you found the image. Did you know you were supposed to take it? Let's hear your story. Have at it!

Credit to Joe Sanchez for encouraging me to leave art around for people to find. I know others are doing it as well. I have another image in the works that I will be dropping soon.

I'm calling all the various pieces "Dropped and Found."

All That and a Bag of . . .

Yeah, that expression is quite old. What of it?!?!?

Here we have an unnamed student modeling a bag made for my good friend, Marcella. This bag was tailored after another purse Norma showed me. I did lengthen the bottom by several inches. This gave it a nicer scale than the original one I was shown. Very simple construction; but still, it has a warm quality about it.

The patches work nicely together even though they came from separate estate sales. I had been saving the Camp Norris patch for a while until the leather "Honor Cabin" and "Hiking" came along. Those things are the greatest!

It's difficult to tell, but the strap is double wide and opens up to reveal the same greenish lining of the purse. I love how the red/black/grey checker squares are reminiscent of the old Coleman sleeping bags we had in our family. It ties in perfectly with the outdoors theme of this purse.

More bags to come. I'll be installing a magnetic clasp and an inside pocket for a cell phone. Last month, I purchased the best vintage fabric ever! I added almost 40 large pieces to my collection and they are ALL amazingly cool. Can't wait to show you!

Reclaimed Birthday

I was in Portland two months ago visiting my wonderful friend, Michelle. Luckily enough, I was able to be there on her birthday. Here's a look at what I made for Michelle.

Most of you know I'm at an estate sale quite often. Every now and again I look through the old postcards Cynthia has for sale. I was happy to see a Portland postcard pop up, and I immediately thought of Meesh. I was unfamiliar with the landmarks, but I had an intersection off the postcard's back to go by. Thanks to Google maps, I was able to find it quite easily. However, from the street view, I was disappointed to see that the old Paramount sign had been changed to say Portland. After doing some research, I discovered that the sign originally did say Portland, and my postcard showed the changed version. To be verbose the sign has gone form Portland . . . to Paramount . . . and back to Portland again.

To continue the theme of reclaiming this landmark, I found some interesting reclaimed lumber at another sale. I put my new nail gun to the test and was surprised to find how easy it was to construct this frame with double paned plexi-glass to enable the postcard to float.

Once in Portland, Michelle picked me up at the airport and we went for a great dinner. After, I had her drive me to the intersection listed on the back of the postcard. I was hoping to get near as possible to the perspective shown in the postcard. Michelle was very surprised when I pulled the frame from my backpack, standing nearly in the middle of the street. It now hangs warmly on the wall of her new home.

Here's a shot of Michelle, across the street from the landmark. The building across the way houses some old signs inside and this wonderful wall poster of an even older scene than the one on the postcard. Happy birthday Michelle!

Something Fun

Do you know about Big Huge Labs?
They have plenty of cool stuff you can do with your photos.

Haven't had your 15 minutes of fame yet? Try the Warholizer then!

Here's a clay man I sculpted. He even has working suspenders! The Hockneyizer makes it appear as if I shot a bunch of Polaroids.



I think my brother, Dan, will like this work around for a Flickr shortcoming. Check it:
View On Black

Still Waiting Around

It's not the brides fault, but I haven't seen pictures from the center piece boxes i made for her Tunisian-style wedding. I created two 6-inch boxes, seventeen 30-inch boxes, and one 5-foot box. The boxes were filled with either flowers or these amazing candles that they had custom made to match their chosen colors. They look little like the original post from months ago, so it probably remains a mystery to most of you as to what I have accomplished.

Here I am ready to stain the boxes, before moving on to the complicated stencils. Incidentally, I'm standing in the future spot of my very own regulation-sized four square court. I can't wait to paint that thing and have you people over for a fun party.

It's coming, it's coming!

Flower Bag

This bag hangs on the wall at my parent's house in Valley Center. It's a simple design, but I think that adds to its elegance. My sister, Erin, added the copper pieces.

All the material was purchased at garage sales, estate sales, or thrift stores.

The wooden "handles" serve as the hanging device, as well as being visually interesting. I picked these up in Florida years ago while at this enormous outdoor junkyard slash garage sale slash flea market. (I have about 200 more of these spindles, used in textile mills to hold cones of thread.)

While there, I overheard these 2 old biddies walking along the dirt path in their great New York accent, "Oh, Emeril; he's the hottest right now, doncha know!?"