Sooner or Later ...

I had to hit a snag on something. However, this is more of a "good" snag than anything else. It definitely does not rise to the level of a "Greg Podgorny".

Andrea was busily finishing up the Minbari ranger outfit when she got to the belt/baldric buckle. We thought we could dress something up using a leather buckle and some Angelus silver paint, but she wasn't happy with the results.

Given the way we both feel about how a costume should look, we agreed that we'd have to find an alternative for the buckle. More like a real metal buckle. But this thing is going to be BIG. About 5.5 by 4.5 inches big. And it would have to match the "feel" of the rest of the outfit.

Enter my hero, savior, and all-around partner-in-crime, Russ Sharek of the Minbari Ranger badge fame. Russ will do the buckle and will send it down to Andrea for it's final fitting. I wanted something that will complement the badge and we've discussed using his renowned "Mitsuro" technique to create an organic-type buckle for the outfit.

For those not in the know, here's a description of the process, directly from the Master's website:

Mitsuro is a 1300-year-old Japanese sculpture technique which was almost lost to history. Originally used in Nara era Japan in the construction of Daibatsu, the Great Buddha, Mitsuro is a veritable fusion of alchemy and artistry. In 2002 artistan-jeweler Russ Sharek of The Morpheus Company revived this ancient technique.

Western lost-wax sculpture methods involve either carving pieces from a larger block or building up a design in successive layers of wax, clay, or other material. By contrast, the Mitsuro technique is a dynamic, organic process.

Small pieces of the material are warmed in the hands to body temperature, and then the entire mass can be stretched, pulled, twisted and formed in a highly kinetic manner. By careful folding and twisting, natural line patterns called hikime are formed in the Mitsuro, further adding to the organic look the technique produces.

Mitsuro is a demanding technique, which requires great focus and an incredibly delicate touch. The slightest over-handling can ruin the delicate textures created or even work the wax to the point where it becomes unusable.

Mitsuro's working properties are affected by many variables. Humidity, temperature and even the body chemistry and fingerprints of the artist cause every piece to have its own signature hikime patterns. These details are so delicate that they can not be duplicated with any kind of molding process; making each piece of Mitsuro completely unique.

So, the outfit will take a little longer to finish, but I'll be 100% satisfied with the completed work of art.

What would I do without these two??

Preparing for Glory ... Part III: The Greaves

Well, JJ has been busy with many things, my stuff included. I don't know if he's working on my sandals and shield yet, but I've emailed him and wait with bated breath for an answer. I have several folks - Andrea and Russ among them - waiting to see what I look like in the full outfit (or lack thereof). I'm really looking forward to it too.

I got WIP (work in progress) photos of my greaves and they indeed look spectacular. I know they will be comfortable since this is the same expert that did my LOTR greaves. JJ is going to put straps on the greaves rather than the lacing in the movie version. From his experience and mine, straps on steel on your arms and/or legs are a LOT more comfortable than lacing.

"Steel, not bronze?" I hear you say? Well, bronze is harder to work with according to JJ and also doesn't last as well. We decided to chemically and heat treat the steel to give it that burnished look and it's also is a good deal lighter to wear. Excellent reasons for using modern materials!!

To Live and Die in Starlight ....

Russ has finished the badge for the Minbari Ranger uniform! I have sworn a blood oath to him that he will see his creation prominently displayed on the outfit once Andrea completes it. After I fondle it for a while in my grubby little hands, I'm going to send it down to her to make sure the outfits have enough tensile strength to hold the item. According to Russ, this thing is HEAVY. Ready? Here's the completed, one-of-a-kind insignia.

From this:


To this:


This work of art - "wearable art" is the correct term - just makes me more itchy to have uniform sooner rather than later. But - as with every project - patience is a virtue.

We also used a completely new process to design and develop this badge - but, I want to let Russ explain it on his website. Now Russ - being the sick and twisted individual that I know and love - titled his post "Frickin' Laser Beams."

I (being equally sick and twisted) could NOT let that slide. So - hat's off to Russ and his EVIL fabrication technology!

Mirror, mirror ...

In a fit of pique - I was told, "You shouldn't own a house. You don't want to take care of it. Look at these plumbers and garbagemen - they have beautiful homes and everything has to be perfect in them! For you, if it's good enough, that's fine. The only things that have to be perfect with you are your computers and your clothes!"

This tirade was the result neglecting to repair an area on the inside of a closet door next to the lower hinge. The rant continued with my reluctance to repair edges of floor moldings that had 2mm gouges and my refusal to sand down and refinish a portion of an archway that had a 10mm paint drip.

Of course, I had some good reasons:

• Major items and items in full view take precedence
• I can find a better use of my time than crawling on the floor and looking for minutiae to repair
• There is a major discontinuity between the person looking at items to fix and the person who has to fix them. I am a ardent supporter of Microsoft's tenet of "eating your own dog food" -- if it bothers you so much, then you fix it.

All of the above drove the rantor into further paroxyms of fury and more and more examples of my carelessness and "cutting corners" going back to the year of the flood.

I ignored it.

Which is a feat in itself since as of a few years ago, I would have engaged the rantor and kept the argument going for several days. The verbal assaults would escalate and would eventually culminate in a week-long vinegar act by the rantor who would claim, "It's not a vinegar act ... I don't feel well. Fighting with you always makes me sick."

Then why in God's name did you pick a fight in the first place?

The rantor did have a valid point, however. Over the last two years, my confidence levels have soared in parallel with the visible results of my workouts and over the last year, my attitude has changed completely with my changes in wardrobe. I've gone from shlubby and/or "conservative" colors and styles to more vibrant and casual ones.

Think from L.L. Bean to Express for Men and American Eagle Outfitters.

Or loose shirts and pleat-front pants to tapered shirts and slim-cut pants and graphic t's, hoodies and low-rise jeans.

And yes, I have become somewhat vain. When I was younger, I had absolutely no reason to be - or at least I didn't think so. Just like the Grand Covenant - "as above, so below" - my outside mirrored my inside and I was withdrawn, shy and completely unaware of actually how good I could (or did) look. When I was getting my haircut last week, my stylist of fifteen-plus years mentioned that I'm getting so much deep golden red highlights in my hair that it starting to look like "spun copper."

I guess I'm making up for lost time. And damn, I'm enjoying every minute of it! If this is some type of mid-life crisis, I should have had it twenty years ago!

Addendum

I go into American Eagle Outfitters yesterday since they were having a sale. I pick up a pair of low rise jeans (the ab work is definitely having an effect!) and just for the hell of it, I pick up a muscle shirt and try it on. It looked great and I even surprised myself. Even in hot weather, I would have never even thought of putting on a sleeveless shirt.

I went out of the dressing room to see how the jeans and shirt would look (tucked/untucked) and someone comes up to me and asks about an item they are looking for.

Guy #1: "Excuse me, where are the board shorts?"

Me: "I don't know. I don't work here."

Guy #1: "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you did. You look just like that guy on the poster over there."

I look in the direction he's pointing and there is my almost-doppleganger on the wall. Lighter and longer hair and wearing sunglasses but the facial features and the physique were identical!

And, it continued this morning ... I get on the bus and I'm pondering the various meetings I have today when I get a tap on the arm.

Guy #2: "Excuse me, where do you get your hair cut?"

I tell him. It's a local place about a half mile from my house.

Guy #2: "Thanks! They do a really good job. You look like you should be in a magazine."

Preparing For Glory ... Part II: The Vambraces

Two down. Two to go! JJ's queue has been quite full as of late, and my poor armorer is working his fingers to the bone to get all of his commissions back on a reasonable time track, my Spartan, Faramir and shield commissions included.

The good news, though, is that I got an email from JJ that he's finished the vambraces. And I must say, they look as authentic as the helmet. JJ suggested that we use buckles and straps instead of lacing. JJ has had some experience in this area, and he had a severe case of chafing when he used laces. Of course, Gerard Butler and the other Spartans had armor made of resin; mine is bronzed mild steel - there's a whole world of difference between the two materials. I'm used to wearing real metal maille and plate over many hours and JJ said the buckle/strap combination would be more comfortable.

So, for this commission I'm only waiting for the greaves and sandals. With JJ, it's always better to let him work at his own pace. I get beautiful work that has a lot of thought, skill and exactitude built into it.