Spring = Traditional Archery

Finally warm enough to break out the recurve bows!

Kasey shooting the new arrows.

Backyard practice

Joel Shooting

Backyard practice

Kasey Shooting

Bow risers

Couple pictures of the arrow rest / shelf of our bows and the risers (handles). Kasey has installed an elevated arrow rest which allows her to more easily keep her arrow in place before firing. My bow is shooting straight off the shelf. I installed a hair rest and leather plate to protect the wood.

Making our own archery accessories

Just started getting into making my own arrows. It's done by installing an arrow nock, point and feathers (fletching) to a hardwood 5/16th" dowel rod. The rod needs to be shaved on both ends to allow the nock and point to be cement glued to the wood. The feathers are then installed by glueing them on in a helical pattern which will give them a nice spin in flight. The tips are 125 grains which means they are heavy and hit like a hammer. Good for hunting. Also made a hip quiver out of PVC pipe, nylon and a carabiner. Going to wrap the quiver in leather soon so it will look much better.

Mighty Muggs!

Custom Mighty Muggs is a new project i'm starting. Mighty Muggs is a toy brand created by Hasbro. people collect them, trade them etc. Mighty Muggs also come in Blanks. This allows you to create your own custom muggs.

I purchased everything needed to make my own Muggs.

1. Acrylic Paint and Paint pens
2. Krylon matte white primer and finishing spray
3. Paint Brushes
4. Felt
5. Mock-up papers
6. Latex gloves
7. Sculpey Oven Bake Clay
8. Pencils (colored and reg)
9. Velcro Squares
10. Black Mighty Mugg and mini mugg

Wash, prime, Sculpt

I decided to make my first Custom Muggs after Calvin and Hobbes.

First thing I did was wash my muggs and scrub them with fine steel wool to get rid of the finish they had on them already which wasn't suitable for painting over, then I primed them. Afterwards I sculpted the hair, whiskers and ears of Calvin and Hobbes and baked them in the oven at 275* for 15 min. I then glued them on the muggs and filled in the cracks with paint.

Started sketching/painting

Got some work done.

More detail/base coating.

Added a little more detail and did the major colors.

Finished!!!

I used acrylic paint pens to apply the stripes and detail, then sprayed them with Krylon matte finishing spray. Couldn't be happier.

Cyanide and Happiness

Made a cyanide and happiness character from sculpey clay, paint, black fuzzy sticks and super glue. I used a pen to pre-poke holes for the fuzzies before baking.