I'm so forgetful...

Holy cow, I just found this post sitting here, unposted. I started it last week, but obviously never finished it. Last week was really a busy one (with Report Card Pick Up Day smack in the middle of it) so I guess I should cut myself some slack.

Stud had a big art project due last week. About a month and a half ago, the "honors" kids made plaster casts of their faces. They then had to take that mask and make something with it. They were given carte blanche, so it was a really great opportunity to show their creativity.

Stud decided that he was going to bring one of his drawings to life. His original idea was to make a 3D model of this guy:

However, as he started planning his project, he suddenly decided that, since the mask was actual size, why not make a life-sized model?

In order to keep the f-bombs to a minimum, I'll save you from the entire saga of this project, and simply share with you the finished product. (Try to ignore the complete and utter mess that is my garage!)


Buster needed to check out the stranger in the garage.




(His hair has really grown since St. Baldrick's, hasn't it?)

My dad had a BIG hand in helping Stud with this project, so thank you, Daddy! He had to design a way to make it in two pieces, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to get it to school! It is currently on display in the library at Stud's school. I wish I had taken some close-up shots, and some shots of the work in progress. It is actually pretty cool. They created a 'skeleton' from PVC pipes, then formed the body out of chicken wire. Black fabric pieces were then sewn onto the chicken wire. The sash was made out of black and yellow fabric, and the PVC legs are actually covered in drainage pipes. My dad came up with the idea to mount some kind of brackets to plywood that the pipes fit into, as well as making a second plywood/bracket base that goes in the middle of the body to hold the top and bottom together. (That base is very cleverly covered by the sash.) All told, this little project cost me around $150!!!

However, because the mask wasn't the main focus of this creation, he actually lost a few points on his grade. I think he was a little thrown by that, especially because he worked so hard on this "statue." But, it is what it is. I think it's kinda good that he got knocked down a few pegs, given that he was making some not-so-nice remarks about a few of his classmates' projects. A few kids simply painted their masks, and nothing else. But, in the windup, their projects were closer to what the teacher asked for than what Stud created. I know that his teacher really liked it, though (hence, the display in the library) but she's also very fair, and gave him the grade he deserved based on what he was assigned to do.

I have no idea what the hell we're going to do with this thing when he brings it home. I told him I would stand it in the corner, kinda like those dog butlers some people have, and hang my purse off of him. :) (Wait, are there any other Modern Family fans out there? Remember the episode where Gloria tries to get rid of Jay's dog butler? Too funny!!) Then, we decided that if we can get the other half of the damn garage cleaned out, he can stand out there as the Garage Guard. I just can't bear to throw it out after all the money it cost me!

I know I mentioned a while back that this semester, Stud's class was going to do some pottery work. He finally brought the finished project home last week, and it blew me away. I LOVE IT! I took a bunch of pictures for you the day he brought it home, but I'm going to give it it's own post later. After all, I'm going to have some free time now that I'M ON VACATION!!! WOO HOO!

I'm off to do a whole lot of nothing while I wait to pick up Stud from school. He's taking his ACT this morning. I'm sure he's not as nervous as I am about it.