Making A Chandelier Out Of Cardboard.

Sometimes I wish I didn't rent an apartment and actually owned something, if only to be able to hang up a beautiful chandelier! I am obsessed with them. I think they make any place look fantastic! One day I hope to have one in every room in my house! Until then, I have decided to make some low-cost, easy-to-hang- up chandeliers to use now instead of waiting for the future... This first one I tried, I saw on a blog on etsy.com (You can see their version here: http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/how-tuesday-cardboard-chandelier/)

I have a few tips and tricks to make it easier, so here are my instructions:

1. Print the chandelier templates (below). Use an xacto knife and scissors when possible and a cutting mat to cut them out. I used thick cardboard, from a large box one of my neighbors was throwing out (a plus of apartment renting). It is much harder to cut than thin cardboard but it looks better when you are done because the chandelier stays straight and doesn't bulge or bend like with flimsy cardboard.

2. One much easier thing that etsy didn't mention was it is much easier to make both sides of the chandelier template on paper, and then tape together, then tape them in place and use a pencil to trace around one whole side at once. They tell you to cut out one template, then just flip the template over for the mirror image, but the paper is super easy to cut with scissors and makes life way easier down the road - remember this chandelier has to line up EXACTLY so the slots go in. This helps. Then just replace the bottom portion for the second side. Then all 4 of your candle areas will be exactly the same.

3. Cut out the entire two pieces. I used a metal ruler to do all the straight lines - way easier.

4. Paint both sides and edges of the cardboard silhouettes with the foam brush. Let dry and paint one more coat. I also used spray paint afterwards because the sides of the thick pieces of cardboard are hard to get the brush into and I didn't want any brown to show. You might try using board that is already black if you don't mind buying it. Thicker would be better, maybe foamcore if the foam center is black too.

Diagram From Etsy

5. Slide the two pieces together where the slits are cut, aligning the pieces perpendicularly. Put in the candelabra base socket set (I got mine on amazon for cheap and free prime shipping). Make two holes with a hole punch at the top (easier than etsy's dowel and hammer - I don't have a dowel anyway). Cut a piece of floral wire with wire cutters or scissors and put through holes at top  (I only did one top set of holes and it was enough and less ugly with too much wire) and also wrap it several times around the socket wire to hold it in place. Voila! Enjoy a chandelier for under $10!

TEMPLATES- click on these to make them larger - they should take up almost an entire 8.5" x 11" paper. Print 2 copies of each. Remember the base is the only part that detaches from the template and switches to the opposite slot cut between tracing the two pieces. (All these templates are from the etsy site but I put them here because many people had a hard time downloading them from there but I give full credit to etsy on this page: http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/how-tuesday-cardboard-chandelier/)

Cyanotypes at MOCA

I tried the Sunday Studio art class at MOCA Los Angeles last weekend. They have a tour of the exhibit and then a hands-on art project that compliments the exhibit for MOCA members. For the current show at the Geffen, LAND ART, we had an interesting tour followed by making cyanotypes. I hadn't made one since I was young so this was a fun project.

It has a few simple steps:
1. I chose some objects - tree needles, and crystals.
2. I made a drawing with dark black grease pencil (or sharpie marker) onto clear acetate.
3. I laid a glass panel down, then my sun print paper, then the needles and drawing, then the 2nd glass panel, and then the crystals on top (they won't blow away so heavy objects can go on top).

You can get sunprint paper here (http://www.amazon.com/TEDCO-Sun-Art-Paper-8x10/dp/B003JJBLC0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341858564&sr=8-1&keywords=cyanotype+paper)

4. Then I laid the whole thing in the sun for about 5-10 minutes. The longer you leave it, the darker you get.
5. Then I washed off the paper in a water bath and held to dry. I originally hung it up but I didn't want the paper to wrinkle so decided to carry it around with me when I went back into the museum.

I am going to have to get some paper myself and make more of these at home!

Here are some photos of my art piece...

Photography from Downtown Los Angeles

Tonight I went walking around downtown Los Angeles by where I live. It is Super Bowl sunday so I knew it would be a great opportunity to take along my camera since the streets would be deserted. I have been trying to work on a photography book, theme to be unveiled at the end of this year - my end goal date. Check out some of my shots from today....

Inspiration and Process for My New Branding for JenniferOgren.com

I have been contemplating changing my branding and I was recently inspired while I spent two weeks in Paris, France. I was in the Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt, the antique market. Among the gorgeous furniture pieces, vintage cameo jewelry, art deco silver dishes, and toys from yesteryear, I came across some amazing original letterpress letters in a little shop called Tombees Du Camion (http://tombeesducamion.com/), meaning "Goods Fallen Off the Back of a Truck". I spent about an hour picking out my favorites for each letter of my very long name. I just starting photographing them and will be updating my website and business cards soon. Here are some photos of my antique-market-escapade:

New look for www.JenniferOgren.com is coming soon!

Black Swan Costume for Halloween by Red Ostrich on Etsy

Halloween Costume. Black Swan - DIY

I thought I would share my Halloween costume this year and also how I made it in case anyone needs tips for next year! I wanted to continue my feather obsession and decided to be Black Swan, the goth ballerina from the Natalie Portman film. I was also inspired by the MOCA show of the real costumes earlier this year ( http://www.moca.org/audio/blog/?cat=79 ). I used items that I already had except for one $15 short tutu that I used to make my petticoat stick further out. I started with the following items:

1. a corset I had in the back of my closet (I turned mine inside out so it would be more black). 

2. two feather pads or lots of black feathers 

3. feather boas - one or two black ones - they can be old or falling apart - mine were and it adds to the distressed character.

4. black petticoat or black tutu or both.  

5. safety pins

6. needle and thread

7. tiara

8. some type of black necklace or brooches or jewels 

9. jewels for the corset

10. tights and ballet shoes or black heels and satin ribbons to use instead

11. black and white eye makeup (both eyeliners and shadow work best)

12. birdcage french veil netting or tulle and two bobby pins

I used the needle and thread to sew jewels on one side and the feather pads on the other side of the corset chest area. Then I took the feather boas and safety pinned them onto one side of the petticoat. I pinned them from the underside so the pins didn't show. I then made up my eyes like the character, after getting ideas by watching several youtube tutorials. I found that patting black and white eyeshadows over white and black penciled lines, helped the makeup stay all night. I used the MAC angled eyeshadow brush to achieve sharp lines. 

Then I used two overlapping bobby pins to adhere the french veil birdcage netting over my face, right above the center of my forehead. Then I placed on my goth tiara. I used an old tiara I had that was silver with a few fake diamonds but then I took an everyday necklace that was black and used wire to wind it around the tiara so it would have height and the black goth-y look. If you don't already have one, you can probably find something cheap at either H & M or Forever 21. You can also pin brooches on your tiara or use them instead of sewing on jewels on the front of the corset.

I got some great reactions at the parties I attended, all for a costume that cost me under $15. I ended up wearing it three different nights that week! :o)

My recycled packaging for my etsy shop!

When I package items in my etsy shop RedOstrich.Etsy.Com, I  also use all recycled packaging so I can help minimize my mark on the environment. I ship items with ample padding and care to be sure that they do not arrived ruffled but I use recycled boxes, labels and packaging supplies. I get most of my my aunt's optometry office. The boxes for glasses and contacts are the perfect size!

This is my packing station where I have my labels and reusable boxes. 

Sometimes they topple but it just adds to the fun~

This is my desk where I have pictures to inspire my creations. The original painting in the purple frame is an artist in Siena, Italy - named Daniela Pedretti. She was selling her wonderful original works and I bought one when while visiting there with my Dad.

For my tags, I print on sample papers that I had for past graphic design 
projects, so I am not cutting down extra trees. 

The ribbons I use to fasten my tags are all scraps and also pieces that I found in my Mom's crafts that she never got to use.

The label stickers I use to cover old logos on boxes are from my husband's job at the pharmacy - they are the ones that may ruffle an edge or the ones at the end of the roll that don't fit into the pharmacy labeling machines.

After packaging, I put the packages in one of my reusable enviro bags and I walk (to save gas and pollution) to the Downtown Los Angeles post office. Here are some of the things I see on my 20 minute walk from the Arts District to the post office. 

the back of MOCA museum and the subway...

my shadow...

downtown's version of st. mark's square in venice, italy.

broken glass that sparkles like diamonds in the early morning sun... I have taken pieces home to use for a later art piece.

birds in a row....

Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles.

My post office - a cool art deco building....

Then I walk back to my studio and go drink more coffee! Thank you for visiting my blog! :o)