Jewelry Box Conversion Steps One and Two

Hey there folks, sorry I feel like I've been away too long, but I have been building consistently while I wait for my very special purchase to show up (still! geez.) that I want to add to three or four diorama pieces to really make them come to life, yes I know, you can't wait, but I should have them up some time this week. While I've been patiently waiting for the postman to come I began this Dollar Store conversion,
 PHOTO 1) Dollar Store Jewelry box found in the craft aisle $1.25 I intially thought to do a diorama that actually folds back into a box and believe me I will but there were two "sets" I wanted to do first for fun

PHOTO 2) The plexi sheet was an off cut that I got from the shop I build frames in (see blog "The mad craft shoppe" in the links section) it's going to be for a cool underwater base, which may have nothing to do with the Any How Town stories (or does it ?). Those great "pipe"things I use all the time and they are from a game that is available at some more exclusive dollar stores, they have become indispensible for making sets and buildings look real, the devil is truly in the details because they are a pain to use woodglue on and if you build with them you may have to use a different product, like an all purpose glue, I'll post of a photo of that stuff next week, if anyone is interested in these tutorials.

PHOTO 3) Here's the other half of the Jewelry box which I want to eventually have look like the inside of a giant Big Ben Type clock, I just need to track down some gears or things that could pass as gears and of course the base coated underwater base.

All for now, back to work, we'd love to hear from you
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Building A Street Scene, Popsicle Stick Process II

Here are the two views of our street scene after a bit of dry brushing, all of these colours are available in a paint set at any dollar store, again no need to break the bank we ain't building dollhouses here, we're building Any How Town. I have yet to decide if I'm going to build any functional doors for the piece, but currently I'm feeling pretty lazy about that, I'd like to just stage a little scene and shoot that. Also I hope to start doing some new revised character drawings and posting them here for you to see, there have been some changes to characters in AHT since I started this blog and I think it would be great to get up the new looks for some of the folks, so be patient with that. I'm also awaiting a very special package in the mail and when that arrives I'll stage some dioramas of the other buildings that I've been putting together over the past couple of weeks.
have a happy Monday,
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Building A Street Scene, Popsicle Stick Process

I've been working on a bunch of commissions and a new album design (see links "the mad craft shoppe) so I haven't been writing at all and I really miss getting Oliver and Eaglet into trouble. In my off time and while paint is drying I've been working on more buildings and thought I'd document the constructions so you can see how easy it is. The top two photos show the beginnings of the build, all of the items displayed were purchased at dollar stores, except the luon boards which I got from the carpentry shop that I build my painting frames at. The doors, bricks, rocks on the ground and window frames are all popsicle sticks, The balcony rails are barbecue skewers (found in the kitchen aisle of ALL Dollar Stores) and the stairwell is built from little wooden cubes that you can find at some dollar stores (or Deserres for about $1.50 for a bag) and the treads of the stairs are from a "Mini Jenga) game that some dollar stores carry. The next two photos are just a black basecoat I applied to the majority of the piece, I also have the rest of the railings and ladder for the building on the left which are just waiting for base coat and will then be glued on.
 I hope you enjoy seeing just how easy it is to build this stuff while you watch television, or hang with your kids or your very patient girlfriend. I just might get a cable access show and do it on television for all the folks in the GTA to watch.
ASH
madcraftshoppe@live.cm

Boot Trucks! Ways around Any How Town

I seem to be in a cycle when I do the builds for Any How Town, animals, buildings, vehicles usually 4 or 5 of each at a time, here are three of the most recent builds, these are "Boot Trucks" so named for their original purpose which was running illegal liquor around Any How Town and the Millay State during the Last Good War when alcohol was temporarily banned. A Boot Truck is a small truck with an engine capable of a good speed but with a hard body used to travel offroad, over hills or through forests, like an SUV. Eventually Boot Trucks have become a bit of a status symbol in the Millay State with builders trying to outdo each other with the best looking truck. The bottom two are conversions made from (probably stolen) Orrow Water Delivery trucks, the three wheeler is considered cooler, even though they are harder to pilot over rough terrain, the first picture is of a modded Boot Truck that is more like what you would say running back and forth over the plains and farmland, stripped down for speed, but still sturdy enough to withstand rough terrain.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Lunch Time on Skull Island, part two

So I guess I got a little carried away with Skull Island and used the whole bag and two Dollarama bracelets worth of smaller skulls to build these four diorama  pieces, and I ain't stopping here. I've also been exploring the world of ebay (so late to the party I know) and did bid on a couple of things for the AHT builds, man they really try to get you with the shipping, crazy. I think that we're going to have to go even crazier with these pieces and keep piling the skulls up really high, let's call it "Going full Conan", the comic magazines not the new film of course, and maybe add some crazy chimpanzees roaming about.

I'll been hanging a show of paintings at the Wilson 96 today, it's on College Str. in Toronto, right across from the Royal Cinema, check out the flying chair paintings over at the other blog (see links "mad craft shoppe") they are bee-u-tiful.

lots to do, lots to do.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

OVERRUN BY GOBBLERS!

Though they won't be appearing in an AHT story for quite awhile (Book Four I think if my notes are correct) I just couldn't wait any longer to post photos of Gobblers and their home in an ruined village. If you sense a heavy influence from the "Tremors" movie series, you'd be correct. That Turkey bodied one just makes me laugh out loud. Send us some thoughts, show the photos to your kids, I'd love to hear what they think!
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Lunch Time on Skull Island, part one

Glued down three of the big bag o'skulls that I just bought (see post below) and had a great and funny idea for a small diorama, not story related but I think it will be pretty funny when I'm finished. Here's the base coated image without figures, paint or background. So glad it's Hallowe'en (according to Dollarama) so I can load up on skulls.
 A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

"Death of a Franchise ?"

I didn't see "Tron Legacy" I had absolutely zero interest in checking it out, except for the soundtrack by Daft Punk (but then again I was also excited that Mastodon did the music for "Jonah Hex" so...) I really don't have the connection to the film that other people do. I wasn't even very good at the video game, but I did like this Kevin Flynn action figure when I saw it, these did retail at about $13.00 each when the film came out, and oh how the mighty have fallen to my price point. Did I mention they light up ? See that Kenobi bathrobe thing that's grey ? That thing lights up, and on the other dude those orange chest dots light up.

I was really happy to find that guy (the other dude) I've been writing notes about a group of Bounty Hunters who end up coming to Any How Town and I needed an infamous one, I needed my own Boba Fett for the AHT mythology so when I saw this guy with  his ant like helmet I knew I would have something cool to work with, once I start gluing bits all over him.

I've been doing some other really cool building for the world of AHT, I hope to have some great action shots to post here tomorrow.

best,

ASH

madcraftshoppe@live.com

You Wanna See a Real American Hero ?

Check out the look on this guy's face! He's just so eager to go out and wrestle someone for America that I just had to buy him. Unfortunately, if you compare him to wee Anakin over there (who plays the part of Oliver Stinson in the Any How Town dioraramas) I think he's just too big to fit into the world comfortably, I thought maybe I would paint him up to be "The Gomez" (see character profiles) but I don't know if he'll fit in the jail set that I built. But I do like his giant head and winning facial expression.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Hallowe'en In August

According to Dollarama, Hallowe'en is just around the corner and I picked up this great bag of skulls, each is about the size of a plum, I will probably build some kind of spooky old temple "set" with them, covered with moss and snakes. It may not even be for an Any How Town story. I started building a Haunted House diorama maybe I'll add some of these to it and build some kind of giant Hallowe'en themed set to distribute the candy with when the kids come to the house.

I have a few paintings that I need to finish (see the madcraftshoppe) so the next draft of Book One has stalled, hopefully I can devote the entire month of September to Book One and Two and work uninterrupted, it really throws me off trying to both paint and write.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Shotgun Wedding Band Album Cover

I haven't been able to do much writing for AHT in the past week, I've been busy designing the cover for Shotgun Wedding Band's new album, but it does fall into the parameters of an AHT post as I was able to build a diorama for the cover instead of doing a straight painting or photograph. I'm really happy with the way this turned out, hope you enjoy it too.
Here's the bands Myspace page, check'em out http://www.myspace.com/jamesplouffe

back to the pen and paper,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Three Headed Kitten and Friend

You may remember the three headed dragon from a few posts ago, well now he has a pet, this three headed kitten. I also love this build that used the heads from the Three headed dragon attached to some geese, this is possibly my favourite build yet and given my love of multiples I'm sure I'll make 9 or 10 more, it will make for an amazing action diorama and I've already written the chicken lizards into a story in AHT, it's not until Book 6 or so, but it will be a doozy.
 Haven't been able to write as much as I would like to this week, working on an album cover (see link "the mad craft shoppe for progress) and TShirt Designs etc. and they've been eating up most of my time.
 Off to Captain America tonight with my best girl to see my all time favourite superhero, the Red Skull.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com



First Meeting of the Any How Town Modelling Club Cont'd

1) Snow and Sea Mobile

2) Sea and Sky racer

3) Unnamed Vehicle, but those red engines tell me that it sure goes fast!

and here are NRH's three vehicles that he built at the Modeller's club meeting and don't they look fine. I'd like to thank my fellow Engineer's for adding their modelling skills to the ever growing roster of Any How Town vehicles, some of them just might show up in a story somewhere down the road.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

First Meeting of the Any How Town Modelling Club

 Heli Ski - operates both in the air and on snow

Mach 1 Lawn Mower - needs no explanation

Swamp Crawler with Turret- Swamp combat vehicle.

The first meeting of the "Any How Town Modelling Club" took place the past week at an undisclosed location on the Lake of Bays. We gathered around a table, popsicle sticks, wood bits and glue bottles and paints in hand. Here's what my fellow engineers BHH and NRH came up with. Stay Tuned for Part Two!

back in town and working on long hand draft of Book Three (!)
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

 If you would like to contribute to the funding of the Any How Town project, please head to the Press Club (850 Dundas West, Toronto) and buy a painting (see blog, "The Mad Craft Shoppe" in links section) to see what's there for the month of August.

Spielbergian Petting Zoo

It's been a few days since I've written anything for AHT and I really hated being away from it, that's what tells me that I'm on the right track doing this project now at this time. I was finishing a couple of commissions and all I could think was that I'd be able to get back to writing soon. It's a good feeling, dinking around in Book Three of the series right now, rebooting the beginning of the book, had two good intros but actually figured out through the nuts and bolts that I have to COMBINE the two, so that's today and tomorrow's work.
 This may be the final work at the Press Club (850 Dundas West) to see my work there, check what's on the walls at the link "the mad craft shoppe".
 Enjoyed the last Harry Potter movie but was disappointed at the things they left out, the ghosts weren't involved, the crazy desks running after Death Eaters and of course The Boars.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Victory Dance is still premature, but a jig will do for now

If I work diligently today and don't check twitter every few minutes I may be able to get to the end of the first draft of Book Two of Any How Town, I'm at about 200 long hand pages and the story is rapidly approaching it's conclusion. I've got about 126 pages of book one finished and about 15 of Book Three, yes there are notes cards scattered about everywhere but this method of writing 3/4 of the first story arc simultaneously was the only way I could really chart everything properly.
 I was sitting outside this morning thinking how glad I am that I did take the time (two years) before actually writing the books, it has changed so much, it began as a graphic novel about shell shocked teens (see:Brinker Ellis, Giveny Brigg, Wash, Denny etc.) and became a story about discovery. Having Oliver and Eaglet as the central characters really opened everything up from me. That's not to say that in time there won't be a story told from say, Brinker's (the original main character of the series) point of view, AHT is a place full of stories but to introduce the town, it's citizens and the surrounding lands it was great to do it from a kid's perspective.
 So wish me luck, let's get this thing on paper
 A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Things That I Gurantee, Will Keep the Pages Turning! #5

Returning stolen goods! That's right, if it doesn't belong them Olly and Eaglet will find it's rightful owner.

 As a side note I'm sure most of you have seen this but if not, please check out "Zombie Zombie" a stop motion homage to John Carpenter's "The Thing" using G.I.Joes, it's incredibly well done and does make me a little bit curious about doing my own stop motion work, wonderful stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT7AH4JyuNs

That's all for today

 cheers,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Things That I Gurantee, Will Keep the Pages Turning! #4

New Friends! Wherever these two go they always seem to end up making friends, (mind you they make a heck of a lot of enemies to) they can't help it, they have a natural charisma about them. What agents call the "it" factor.
This photo will be soon available as a TShirt for sale at this site.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com
and please remember to head to the Press Club to see work from "the Royal Families", the Press Club is located at 850 Dundas West, Toronto. My work will be there for the month of July, you can see what's there by clicking the link "the mad craft shoppe". I"m trying to fund this project with my own paintings please have a look, I'm sure you'll see many you like.

Things That I Gurantee, Will Keep the Pages Turning! #3

NON STOP FOILING! Oliver and Eaglet are full time Foilers to the nth degree ? Got an evil plan, they will foil it for you!

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

and please remember to head to the Press Club to see work from "the Royal Families", the Press Club is located at 850 Dundas West, Toronto. My work will be there for the month of July, you can see what's there by clicking the link "the mad craft shoppe". I"m trying to fund this project with my own paintings please have a look, I'm sure you'll see many you like.

Things That I Gurantee, Will Keep the Pages Turning! #2

 Non Stop Beasty Attacks! These kids do an insane amount of cardio! Inspiring to the youth!

Slimy (and non slimy) beasties! Like the Sinbad movies!

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

and please remember to head to the Press Club to see work from "the Royal Families", the Press Club is located at 850 Dundas West, Toronto. My work will be there for the month of July, you can see what's there by clicking the link "the mad craft shoppe". I"m trying to fund this project with my own paintings please have a look, I'm sure you'll see many you like.

Things That I Gurantee, Will Keep the Pages Turning! #1

Empty crates with words written on the upside down!

What were the contents ? Why was there raw meat inside?

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

and please remember to head to the Press Club to see work from "the Royal Families", the Press Club is located at 850 Dundas West, Toronto. My work will be there for the month of July, you can see what's there by clicking the link "the mad craft shoppe". I"m trying to fund this project with my own paintings please have a look, I'm sure you'll see many you like.

 

Mandatory and Therapeutic Exposure to Rats

Here's our intrepid crew led by Wash Stinson heading through the "goofy" gassed filled sewers, and what do we find in sewers? Tons and giant rats. Wash, Eaglet, Oliver and Denny brave the tunnels in the Second Book of the Any How Town series, not sure of what they'll find or if their shoes will ever be clean again!

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Three Dimensional Version of Writer's Block.

believe it or not, this actually helped get me out of tight spot in Book Two.
A.Shay Hahn

Name That Mangy Squirrel! Neil Gaiman Totem Animal Theft

Here's Violet a beautiful pup that I  was dog sitting the other day, Violet was well behaved for being left alone with a weirdo she'd only met once before in her young life, her only display of dissatifaction with her circumstances was tearing a very young Hydrangea to pieces. Violet reminds me of Cabal who Neil Gaiman often posts about on his blog (I'm sorry I forget the name of the other dog he recently adopted).
 Also on fb I had a "Name that Mangy Squirrel" contest and the winning name is Nick Nolte! I'm partail just to calling him Nolte but its a fine choice, congrats to the winner.
 Today has been pretty good wrote a lot of pages and am currently working my way up to the next chase/action scene and in the AHT books there are many chases and many action scenes, each different from the last.
 hope your day is going well
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Not Wanted on the Voyage, Fuzzy Cuddly Animal Edition

Here's another constant companion that is with me as I write Any How Town. I don't know if you'are aware of this but in the West End of Toronto there's a famous white squirrel who has both a cafe named after him and a "Way" (which is like a lane, but shorter I guess). In the East End, I have this guy,  I am starting a contest, whoever names him, gets to KEEP HIM! Note: You must catch him yourself.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Conference of Dragons

A few years ago my mother wrote a great photo book for my nephews about the adventures of two dragons, Rusty and Two Two as they went on an adventure through her back garden and ended up at my old Castle Greyskull to talk to a king. This summer at our family cottage everyone is bringing their dragons and we're going to do another photo book together, which I think is going to be a great activity. The dragons go down to the water, take a trip in a motorboat or a canoe, explore a forest and get in all kinds of mischief. But as the date approaches I found myself getting a bit nervous, I dug through my piles of plastic animals and realized much to my shock that I had no dragons, I had tigers and antelopes, sharks and all kinds of beasties that I'd created myself, but no dragons. Well like the proverbs say, "Ask the Dollar Store and you shall receive" so I'm not going up empty dragon handed, I now have this guy to add to the story, now all he needs is a name.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com