Post #671038 by Hale Tiki on Thu, Mar 14, 2013 11:15 AM

So. A few updates.

I've got like, 10 different projects running and once and have been super busy. Recently, I did the first in a series of fictional Polynesian weapons for the Creatures of the South Pacific art swap. I call it the Maori Maul.

Here's a closeup of the handle:

Here's a bad photo of the whole thing, before the wrap at the joint.

Head:

Then, I decided to have a little fun, and so I asked Tiki Tony for permission to use his artwork to engrave my ukulele. I don't have a photo of the finished product yet, but it looks amazing. I'll post that on the next update. For now, here's the design:

I mentioned before that I was waiting to get Mai Tai glasses in. Well, I got them in, finally, en masse:

They're Libbey, 12oz, heat treated. I got them because I'm producing custom Mai Tai glasses for a few venues that you all would enjoy. More on that when the event announcement is made. But for now, here's a photo of the first ones engraving:

The first run I did for a good friend, who is better know as Dr. Bamboo, Mr. Craig Mrusek.
http://drbamboo.blogspot.com/ Go read it if you haven't.

It's a mask he designed on one side, with the Dr. Bamboo logo on the other. Unfortunately, if you've had a Mai Tai at Frankie's, you know that once condensation hits an engraved glass, it's game over. It's very hard to see the logo. But when they're first poured, or empty, they look great. Here's a Mai Tai Craig made for me with Flora de Cana and Smith & Cross, two of my favorites.

The next design is one I'm doing for another friend, whose work is better known as Atomic Cheescake Studios. It's for her home bar, in Baltimore, MD. The glasses aren't done yet, but here's the design:

The lines signify the top and bottom of the glass. Go take a look at her work, and send her an email that she needs to come to Hukilau this year. Trying to get her to join the fray. Just be warned that there is an autoplay of music, so make sure your speakers aren't all the way up.
http://www.atomiccheesecakestudios.com/

Completely unrelated to making anything, I scored this at an antique store, which made me very happy.

It also brings me to 10 Papua New Guinea pieces! A good start, but nothing like the big boy Swanky has in his home bar.

Sooooooooooo, back to work on the lamps! I got myself a big sheet of Fijiian tapa cloth:

And I began to cut it for panels for the lights. Fortunately, the cloth is divided off rather nicely, and so I'm able to use certain parts for certain panels for all the lights I have going on at the moment.

That's about it. I've been working feverishly on a secret project, that I won't be able to divulge until after Hukilau, and I'm gathering things together to start construction on my home bar.

Just a heads up, there will be a full post on The Marketplace about it when the time comes, but I will be offering custom Mai Tai glasses in small or large quantities for everyone's enjoyment. There will be pre-made designs to choose from, as well as the option to use your home bar's logo, a tapa pattern, recipes, the possibilities will be endless! But most importantly, they will be affordable. Custom glasses for the price of a Trader Vic's Mai Tai glass, or even less! I've already got some pre-orders from TC members, but more on that when I've finished the orders for the under wraps project I'm working on at the moment.

MAHALO NUI LOA!