So it begins…..
Update! She-Ra costume on ebay starting wed September 12 2007. Bid now!
Love , Love, Love Halloween! This is without a doubt my favorite time of year. My She-Ra costume last year was pretty cool, ,but this year I’m raising the stakes! Bring on the Headless Marie Antoinette! How will I accomplish this you ask? Well, let me tell you now.
Start with the idea. From this drawing you get the idea of what I’m after. Pretty cool!
To begin this project, I am starting with sculpting the fake bust I will need to create the illusion of a decapitated body. I used a raku clay that is very easy to work with and dries fairly fast. I am using the jar as the “neck” because I dont think I have enough clay.
OK, here’s the almost finished clay bust. The boobs took some work because I wanted them very fake and baseball-y. They should look like their being pushed up by a corset.
Now here’s where it starts to get tricky. I need to make a negative impression of my clay model, so that I can create another foam positve. To do this I will cast my clay bust with plaster of paris. Firstly, I coated my clay in vaseline to prevent it from bonding with the plaster. (in retrospect I’m not sure if that even worked but better safe than sorry)
I created a clay barrier that ran just off-center of the bust. Then I poured the plaster over one half of the bust up to the barrier.
After the plaster on the one half was set, I removed the clay barrier and coated the inside edge of the plaster with vaseline. This is to prevent the second application of plaster from adhereing to it.
Now here is where I ran into some trouble. I had anticipated being able to pull my plaster mold off the clay model in two pieces.
However, the mold did not want to budge. The clay seemed to have suctioned to it and i couldn’t force it off. So I ended up having to dig out the clay in chunks from the bottom. Good thing it didn’t really dry. So whatever, ther end result was the same.
I reconnected the two parts of my mold with saran wrap. Then I poured my liquid foam in. This is the same foam I used last year with my She-Ra costume. This is a Urethane Foam from Smooth-on. Oh, I almost forgot. I had to seal the interior of the mold with chemical sealer, and then coat it with a release agent. This prevents the foam from sticking to the mold.
The foam expands and cures in about 30 min. Looking good so far!
NIce! As you can see, I was able to extract an almost identical foam model to my original clay sculpture!
Next I will next paint the foam and start work on the rig that hold it above my head.
later n
October 16th, 2006 at 11:05 pm
Holy crap girl that’s INSANE! How do you even begin to figure out how to do this shit?! You are my new hero. I can’t wait to see this costume in action! I’m definitely make it down to your little shindig on the 27th and Thursday works great for lunch! Email me and we’ll figure out the time/place. p
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:15 am
WHERE ARE THE NEW PHOTOS? PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THE PROGRESS.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:18 am
Whoooo, CAPS LOCK anger! Ok, little impatient one, I shall post some updates. But I wont be posting any final versions because I want the finished product to be a surprise..
October 30th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Hi – found your site via ReadyMade.
Amazing costume. Can’t understand why others aren’t commenting on this.
October 30th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Right on Vanderbeek! You’re in buddy!
October 30th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
I shield my eyes in deference to your stupidly mad costume making skills. Damn!
October 30th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
Well done, love the idea and love the fact that you actually carried it out.
Thanks for the info. I love the pictures and await more. nice job.
October 30th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
lol ur good mebbe u can make me 1 2, lol!!!!1
October 31st, 2006 at 11:32 am
Fantastic costume! Well done…. the pictures that aren’t appearing on your page have an extra slash in the src tag. Great Pictures, just wanted to help others see them as well!
October 31st, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Thank you! If there is any other problems let me know, I’m better at costumes than html!
October 31st, 2006 at 3:19 pm
Hey Nic, just wanted to say that I really like your new hair color. random, I know. but it looks really good. Oh yeah, the boob hat is pretty hot too. good job.
October 31st, 2006 at 3:24 pm
I think you need a boob-hat too. We can start wearing them and be queens of the fashion world!
October 31st, 2006 at 3:55 pm
All Hail The Queen!!!!! You are my Goddess, and I am your willing slave….I worship you…please hurt me!!!!
russell
October 31st, 2006 at 3:59 pm
That’s an interesting proposition. I’m always looking for new slaves.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:09 am
I am not so sure I can pull off a boob-hat. although it is probably really soft and warm. tempting.
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:20 am
That is a wonderful and monstrous thing you have made !
Great job !
November 8th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Really nice!
Once I made a costume with a similar system of pipes, but in plastic, re-making the shower scene of Psycho (Hitchcock). I had a shower above my head and a curtain shower (? do you say like this?) around me, with a knife through my head. I’ll remember yours for the next time
November 8th, 2006 at 5:59 pm
C’est bon! Avez vous des photos ?
October 5th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Love the costume, I was going to be just plain old Marie Antoinette for Halloween but I found a link to your site and decided its just too fun to pass up. I’ve never sculpted before but am going to the store tomorrow to buy the clay and see what I can do! I’ll send you some pictures if I complete the costume! The costume will be for a wedding reception held on Halloween weekend so it should be awesome if it works out!
October 16th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Awesome job! You’ve inspired me to do a headless horseman. Same concept but my head will be done up as a pumpkin.
Thanks,
Dan
Santa Barbara, CA
October 17th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Send me a photo when your done dan!
October 25th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
may i begin by saying WOW!!!!
i came across your fantastic website while looking for ideas on how to make a She-Ra costume (specifically the headpiece)……and then i saw your costume from last year…..good lord!!!
you are seriously dedicated and talented!!! i must say i am in awe….ever thought about working in hollywood?! anyway, i cannot wait to see what you have come up with for Halloween 2007!!!
keep up the good work!!!
-megs, an American girl stranded in Germany!!
November 1st, 2007 at 1:29 am
Hi..I just wanted to say that I saw your costume and thought it was awesome!!!!! I did the same thing with a few variences…I used part of a headless horseman costume for the neck, attatched a hanger to a backpack frame tho instead of making a mold and had a high neck shirt under the dress instead of the boobies. (Family party) Oh..and I also wore the freakin huge fluffy wig marie is so famous for.
You can see the pics on my myspace page if you sign up to be my ‘friend’..(not sure if you have a myspace page or not.) Anyway..thanks so much for the idea and the inspiration. I had sooo many comments at my party and also walking around trick-or-treating with my son. I even heard one little girl scream! haha…
Anyway I hope to hear from you because I want to show you ‘my’ Marie.
Happy Halloween!
~Rinne
January 31st, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Very creative variation of the head in hand costume, Haunted Halls of Horror will have this one in the 2008 haunt! Thanks.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Hey, I was inspired by your cotume, sooo I made a headless horseman, very Tim Burton!!!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1602524&id=507428956&ref=mf
October 26th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Love this idea, my daughter and i made one from this idea for her school dance. thanks for the inspiration!!!