Workshops with Sarah and Sarah!

Headdress and Mask Workshop

Drawing inks through a diffuser is much easier to spray than using a brush, though you can use acrylic paint. 

You can also PVA fabric to plasterzote, then cut out the shapes.

Materials you can combine to make these headdresses/masks: Garden canes gaffa tape, things from junk shops, 

Fibre glass tape stops plasterzote from ripping. put a little on both sides if possible, only one if not.

Can use cable ties to attach it all together. 

Plaster zote is quite waterproof when the paint has dried. 

How to Make a Headdress

First you need to measure the circumference of the head. Mine is 58.2cm + room for overlap.

Easier to do your sewing yourself than let the children do it. The prototype will give you an idea of how it will take to make. When working in schools, take in flat. Take in biros and template. Felt tips are a NIGHTMARE!!! 

Fibre glass tape – sticky back, stops it from ripping.  (plumbers is just a mesh)

Gaffa tape works as well but not as neat.

Can out darts in foam, so it bends better.

Polystyrene balls – craft mill

Centre cane

Masks

Make many templates to speed things up.

Hold Plasterzote to face and press gently to show eyes. Then cut eyes out.

Note down steps on what to do – they will have scissors.

Vac Forming

Styrene plastic (on the rolls) (use smaller vac former). Large get to 25 not full.

Give a bit of overlap – as it creates the seal. Put item at bottom on the moving shelf. Make sure the wire mesh is not overlapping the shelf seal. (Have to wait until warm)

Leave 20mm around the edge for thicker Plasterzote need to adjust clamps.

Pull over the grill. Plasterzote only takes seconds to heat. Turn on and off vacuum not too over vacuum.

Styrene much longer – wait until soft ripples at side.

Smooth middle means it’s ready.  

For the Mould

Clay/ leather hard – ½ day, maybe overnight

Blue foam- have to be careful as could melt – make sure for lots you cover in styrene first.

Nothing undercut – it will pop!

Good Suppliers
Plasterzote: www.trylon.co.uk, www.hindleys.co.uk or the Scrap store for thin (1mm) Plasterzote
Centre cane: www.fredaldous.co.uk

Preparing Workshops (Planning-Ahead)

·        Be organised.

·        Make a prototype.

·        Order materials and wait a week to arrive.

·        Make it clear with teachers – what needs doing for next session.

·        Light, comfortable, easy to make, bright, gig.

Risk assessment – email beforehand. Ask about cable ties. Break down into easy steps.

Do things in advance. Make templates. Arrive hour early. Get children to write names on masking tape. Deliver creative not have to get children to behave.

If flag or held belt from tool shop to put end in to hold weight.

Willow Workshop

• ·        Need to soak overnight. As when dry it is brittle.
• ·        Small and large scale
• ·        Lanterns – put lights inside
• ·        Basketry
• ·        Types of willow.
• ·        Living willow shape then plant.
• ·        Musgrove willows - £25/£30
• ·        Buffalo willow – bark removed.
• ·        Soak min 1 hour
• ·        Submerge in water and weigh down
• ·        Only take what you need.
• ·        Bend while wet.
• ·        Tease with your thumbs to bend it.
• ·        If it dries out, it is fine to re-soak.
• ·        Two willows together – even strength.
• ·        Secure with masking tape.
• ·        As willow is wet, stick to itself then wrap around.
• ·        Cable ties.
• ·        Clear cable ties (synthetic) – can dye them

Can remove masking tape – you don’t need it any more.

Make sphere – think about strength and where you want the strength.

Wrap masking around one way and then the other (cable ties more permanent)

Make extra length.

Decoration

Always to make to shape on small lengths to strengthen.

Sit it inside the groove as it will make it stronger.

If you are doing larger, simply join two together.

Draw a shape on cardboard, (make side 1^st and tape)

Tape down to table.

Use string to anchor until it dries.

Handles – bamboo

Good as strong and doesn’t bend.

Attach using aluminium rod.

Drill hole through bamboo cable. (L Shape)

Bind in rope

Bamboo moving plant – rope to stop slipping.

Leather can act as joint sewn in cover.

First in any type clingfilm not if light inside. Can stitch everything to tissue paper, handmade paper.

Masking tape can get rid of cable tie and cover in raffia and PVA glue.

Can cover also in skrim and PVA – dries hard. Can stretch leather (holes where soldering iron) Can leave gaps – so can see weave.

Cotton lycra can combine with other things – paint on top

Cling film – try to make it flat around all edges. Can either do section or hole-thing.