Buying an Iron

I own an iron. Debbie's grandmother gave us an iron when we got married. It's an old iron. It spits, the iron part (research says it's called a sole plate) is stained, scratched and sticky, it's heavy and it's time for it to go.

I looked at irons (very confusing)

1. They look pretty much the same.
2. Nobody in the store stops by to help.
3. Some are very cheap.
4. Some are crazy expensive.

I asked for advice (very conflicting):

1. Get one you can afford.
2. Get the cheapest one you can.
3. You don't need a professional iron for what you do.

I looked online (not timely)

1. Expensive = best
2. Reviewers say "I loved it", "I hated it.", "It's OK."
3. Best models are no longer manufactured.
4. Current models do not have same specifications as the reviewed models, even with the same model number.
5. Brick & Mortar stores don't carry the reviewed models.
6. Not all reviews have a date of publication.

So I bought one to try. I checked it's reviews online. It was not a popular model! I tried it anyway and I found the online reviewer was pretty spot on.

1. It was heavy.
2. The indicator light only told me it was plugged in.
3. The steam blast didn't work very well.
4. The temperature controller was under the handle and it was very difficult to see what it was set on. (especially with my eyes)

So I returned it (BrandsMart in Sawgrass Mall). Actually it was really easy to bring back, no questions asked and here's your money!

Then I went back to read more reviews and decided to get a Black & Decker F1060. The review said it was a great buy. It's cheap (about $20). It is rated at 1500 Watts and it performed better than the highly recommended $80 iron. The review said it has a small water reserve and needed to be refilled for big jobs. It also said some people reported leaking and breaking after 2 or 3 months (we'll see).

After exploring 3 stores I found it in Walmart. It is currently rated at 1200 Watts. The other stores only had the F1055. Even though the model numbers are different they seem to be exactly the same. I finally found a review saying that they are exactly the same, but are different colors (mine's green). Even the guys in the Black and Decker discount store didn't know that!

I just gave it a test run this morning. It works great. It does need to be refilled frequently. There was plenty of steam. I'm psyched! This year we'll have ironed shirts and pants, my puppet drapes will not be so wrinkled and I hope that the boost in self image and self confidence is going to do great things for us. (I can dream can't I?)

Now the question of what to do with granny's old iron needs to be pondered. Keep it for an emergency spare or take that step in removing clutter and freeing up a small amount of storage space and toss it into next week's trash......What do you think? I'll be happy to ship it to you, but you have to pay for the shipping!

dg

Some simple puppet making Web Sites

From this BLOG - http://ittybittybookworms.blogspot.com/2010/02/p-is-for-puppet.html

 Web Sites

• LOTS of Puppet Ideas and Printables
• Enchanted Learning - Finger and Paper Bag Puppets
• First School - Paper Bag Puppet Animals
• Artists Helping Children - Puppet Art
• Making Friends - Puppet Making
• Family Fun - Playful Puppets
• Martha Stewart - Sock puppets

Blogs 

• Craft Jr. - Giraffe Sock Puppet
• Craft Jr. - Easter Finger Puppets
• Dollar Store Crafts - The Three Little Pigs Finger Puppets
• Oh Amanda - A Puppet-Inspired Birthday Party
• Kid's Crafts Weekly - Puppets
• Pink and Green Mama - Felt Finger Puppets
• Pink and Green Mama - Sponge Bob Square Pants Felt Puppets

How to Make a Puppet from an Old Stuffed Toy 

Toy Theater

I have been busy with things. Here is one of them - a Toy Theater made from office supply materials.

I have a few more photos that you can see in this album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/dgoboff/ToyTheater#slideshow/5441162558240457698

dg

Scuba Marionette - Part 2

Today I went back to help finish the scuba marionette. Since last

time the diver got a coat of

glossy black paint for his wet suit. Our job today was to finish

up the paint,

make the

diver's face, attach the scuba tank and face mask (with air hose) and to complete the controller and then string the marionette. We worked from 4pm to 9pm and it all got done! I think that Daniel is pretty happy with the way his project turned out.

Scuba Marionette - Part 1

My nephew, Daniel, has a puppet assignment from school. He wanted to make a full sized scuba diver puppet! I thought maybe a marionette would be easier both to make and to manipulate (not to mention transporting it to school).

I explained that fewer moving parts = faster to build and easier to manipulate. Daniel identified the most important movements, which were the kicking legs and forward arms. We started with

newspaper for the basic shapes. Then we

started covering them with paper machie. The scuba air tank is a water bottle and the face mask is the bottom of a plastic salad dressing bottle

and

the top of the water bottle. The joints are floral wire inserted under the paper machie.

Daniel did a great job (and Mom and brother Andrew too)

and we got as far as covering the marionette with a coat of primer. Next we'll figure out the stringing and add the paint

(mostly black wet suit) and add the final touches like painting

on his face, attaching the swim mask and making the air hoses.

We had a great afternoon working together! We don't know what his teacher will think, but as far as we are concerned this is A+ work.

To be continued...

Halloween

I was asked to do a Halloween show for the Weston Library this year. With the help of staff and volunteers we put together a Reader's Halloween with stories, jokes and a costume contest.

With a donation of cardboard boxes from Home Depot I created a cardboard set.

After the show I put the set up in my driveway for Halloween.

The set had a built in Shadow Screen.

Shot in my driveway under a flash to show the details. On the right side of the set, the door opens and has two panels that also open. Next to that is a shadow screen. Then a hand puppet stage has a slight thrust and a playboard. The skull under the playboard opens too. The last panel on the left has 2 openings, the top and the rat panel.

The other side of the driveway had the usual group of inflatable and electric monsters.

Additional Kazoo Enhancement

I continued fooling around with the kazoo enhancement. I'd like to offer it as a workshop for kids, but the sharp things gave me pause. Even the hot glue has its dangers. So with a minimum of adult cutting and hot gluing I created this modification.

1. The thin half liter bottle is cut with scissors. I cut off the bottom and cut a V in the side.
2. I taped the V together with clear tape so the sound amplifier bottle points more foward.
3. The Adult cuts a hole into the bottle's CAP. (this did require a box cutter, but for mass production perhaps something could be rigged up on a drill press)
4. Hot glue is applied to the kazoo's resonator cap.
5. The Kid sticks the bottle cap (and attached bottle) to the cooling hot glue. (check that the bottle opening is pointing in the direction you want it to face.