Wired Frog Buttons, First Attempts

I found pictures of my first attempts at the wired frog buttons. I don't make them this way anymore, but it's fun to look back.

I made a photocopy of actual wired frog buttons and used them as a template. I placed pins in the areas where I wanted to bend or shape.


Now instead of a template I just free form them with my hands and some pliers. Ah the joys of trail and error. I'm pretty sure I'll figure out a better faster method next time.

Screen Printing 101

One of my projects from my summer screen printing class.

My projects were simplistic but I was aiming for understanding rather than trying to print my own art work like the other students. It also helps that I don't have my own artwork and have no drawing talent, which I need to work on. I only say that it helped, because some students got so caught up in their art they didn't have time to finish their projects. So their art became a hindrance.

I've only taken pictures of one project so far. I'll have to dig out the other ones.

This is one of my later projects. Art was done by a friend who requested this shirt.


Shirt: Koalas are 8's because they're telepathic and can control the weather

What's the meaning behind the shirt. I don't have first hand knowledge, but it's supposedly based off of a movie called The Nines with Ryan Reynolds, who my friend is a huge fan of, hence why this shirt was made. If you want to know about the meaning click on the link, I don't know if I can properly explain it since I've never seen the movie.

Qi Pao II

Here are the pictures of the qi pao I made for Sailor Venus. Her mom said that it was a nice dress but the colors are too dark. Her mom's right, I have no idea why Sailor Venus didn't want a gaudy and loud dress that would over power the brides wedding gown.

Wired Frog Buttons

A more in depth discussion on wired frog buttons. For a while now I've been trying to make my own version of these buttons. I've actually tried my hand several times at it, if you all remember Grip N Flip's Winter Formal Dress last year. I mean other than self torture why not buy the button. Well other than my masochistic tendencies, I do have legitimate reasons for trying to make my own.

Reasons for Making Wired Frog Buttons:

1. Color - No explanation needed.
   
2. Material - When I do find one in a matching color the cheap polyester just doesn't match the nice silk I bought.
3. Design - I would like to have the button match my fabric motif.
   
4. Originality - I know that no one in the world will have the same buttons as the dresses I produce. I can't make two buttons the same anyways, my skill level is still lacking.

I think this time I produced a much better button. There are still a few kinks I need to work out. But overall I'm satisfied with it's outcome. Here is a better picture of the button on the dress.


Through all that trail and error, meticulous prototyping, and the agony of failures, I proudly presented this button to my father. And his response was, "why didn't you buy a book?" And he claims to have seen one before. In a 30 second conversation with my father, he has the ability to make me want to gouge my eyes out in frustration. I might be a bit crazy, but if there was a book out there that would have taught me how to make these buttons I would have bought it, I don't enjoy torturing myself. But the twist is that after some thought he finishes with, "oh maybe you couldn't find these books because I think I saw them in Chinese." My father is an emotional roller coaster. If anyone out there wants to develop the urge gouge their eyes out in frustration, I will gladly send my father over for a visit.

Thailand T-shirts and Screen Printing

Last year in May I traveled to Thailand for a friend's wedding. One of the souvenirs I brought home were t-shirts made by local artists at Chatuchak Market Bangkok (aka Weekend Market). It was stuffy and a bit claustrophobic but really fun.


I was drawn to the artwork. I love the whimsical and off beat nature of the pieces that have a dash of steam punk surrealism mixed in. And I'm all for supporting local artist.








If you all haven't noticed I've been interested in screen printing for a while now. If the Tako Shirt and all those links at the side didn't give you that indication.

So after all these ghetto screen printing trails and tribulations, I decided to take a Textile Screen Printing Class over the summer. It was a short intense 4 week class, but I had a lot of fun. I'll have to pull them out of the garage and take pictures of them.