My Bouncy Neighbor Totoro for Geek Babies

I get a little thrill when I see crafty projects that repurpose/upcycle a useful something into a geekier version of a useful something. Case in point: Cation Design’s Totoro variation on an existing “Snugabunny” bouncer. I mean, really, if a manufacturer can make up something called a Snugabunny, it equally stands to reason it could be morphed into a Totoro.

For those unfamiliar, “My Neighbor Totoro” is a highly popular anime movie written and directed by the world-renowned Hayao Miyazaki, who also made “Spirited Away,” “Princess Mononoke,” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.”

Cation’s post walks readers through her creative process, including crafting a fleece-lined Totoro-shaped slip cover and dangling Soot Sprites.

What geeky repurpose/upcycle projects have you created? Link us up in the comments!

Totoro-themed Bouncer by Cation Designs
More Totoro crafts on GeekCrafts
More baby crafts on GeekCrafts

Category: Anime, Craft, Geek, Movies | 1 Comment

October 23

Mom’s Basement – Handmade Geeky Fun

Today’s post is brought to you by Holly of Custom Comix!

Calling all Geekery Crafters and lovers of all things handmade and geeky! My name is Holly Donahue and about 4 years ago I started Mom’s Basement, an Etsy.com team aimed towards bringing geekery crafters together to share advice, participate in projects and just talk and learn from each other. Like minded people who come together? Awesome.

Mom’s Basement was extremely active with over 1300 members and the community was filled with helpful people reaching out, making new friends and participating to keep the geekery on Etsy a community and not a competition. A geek crafters utopia! Unfortunately, with changes in Etsy’s interface, Etsy teams weren’t as accessible and almost forgotten. So, in an attempt to bring back the spirit of this community, I decided to create a facebook group for any and all geekery crafters that would like to join in and be among people that share your interests and struggles. Have an Etsy/Store Envy shop? Interested in selling your wares but don’t know where to start? Love to shop handmade? All are welcome!

This facebook group is brand spanking new, but I know we can catch fire and be booming in no time. I hope to see some new faces and look forward to making new friends! If you are interested in joining, you can find us by following this link – https://www.facebook.com/groups/825432380835397/

Category: Craft, Geek | Comments Off

October 19

KISS Garden Gnomes

Time for me to post one of my own crafts tonight: some garden gnomes I refinished into Gene Simmons and Peter Criss of KISS.

Both of these guys were used and pretty worn when I got my geeky little hands on them. I used some Super Sculpey to smooth out some areas of Peter’s blousey sleeves, and then more to build up his boot tops, gauntlets and the front of his little shirt. For him, I used the Super Sculpey to smooth out where Gene’s vest and shirt ended, because he was going to have a pretty significant belt. All of this made him very front heavy. I wanted to use the tool handle he still had in his hand to make him a bass guitar to hold, but because of his front weight, he would have just tipped over with a bass attached to his little gnome body. After that, I primed them both very thoroughly. They were each painted with Testor’s model car paints, and have sequin and bead embellishments.

Category: Craft, Geek, Music | 2 Comments

October 19

Scott Pilgrim craft: Ramona Flowers hammer

At the cons I have attended, I see a ton of creative cosplay (people dressed up in costumes representing characters from books, movies, TV, manga, etc.). I can pretty safely guarantee I’ll see a variety of fandoms represented – almost always Star Trek, Star Wars, and Doctor Who. I always enjoy seeing other characters, however, and recognizing their references. Makes me feel a little self-righteous in my geekhood.

That’s why I was tickled to recently find this tutorial on a Ramona Flowers cosplay, from the graphic novel series, video game and movie, Scott Pilgrim. We have enjoyed watching the movie several times at our house, and my daughter has read the books. Mia did a great job breaking down the steps to creating the iconic hammer in her tutorial, right down to the bell on the end of the handle – great attention to detail! She also gives tips on how she was able to travel by plane with the hammer!

Be sure to check out other examples of Mia’s cosplay wizardry – such as Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones, Fiona from Adventure Time, and Female Engineer from Team Fortress 2.

Category: Comics, Craft, Geek, Movies | Comments Off

October 17

Pattern: Madman with a Box

“Amy Pond, there’s something you better understand about me, ’cause it’s important and one day your life may depend on it… I am definitely a madman with a box!”

Over at Cheeky Monkey Designs this madman with a box can keep you extra warm. Reversible with worsted weight yarn, this cowl would be a great addition to your wardrobe as you drift towards a cold star…

Winter is fast approaching (be proud I didn’t say it). So why not get ready?

Category: Craft, Geek, Sci-Fi, TV | Comments Off

October 12

A Super Sewing Project

I must admit that among my many crafting hobbies and interests, sewing is probably the one at which I am least adept. I often see sewing projects on blogs and Pinterest and marvel at how the seamstresses are able to whip things together and customize projects to challenging fabrics or body shapes.

I recently cyber-met sewing whiz Annie Case Hanks via the Female Geek Bloggers G+ Community, and did a little squee when I saw this Marvel-based shirt she sewed for her son. I was impressed that she took an indie-designer pattern and geeked it out with some Marvel-licensed fabric, modifying it a bit to suit her husband’s/son’s tastes. While I often stray from paper crafting instructions and examples, veering off from sewing directions terrifies me, so kudos to Annie for her sewing prowess!

I love her idea to add just a strip of the comic book art fabric – sometimes those licensed or fandom-inspired fabrics are pretty busy, so a full project made from the fabric might be a bit much, but a two-inch strip at the collar or hem might be just the right touch of geek flair.

BTW, Annie’s blog name is also geeky – “The Enantiomer Project” refers to a chemistry term for a stereoisomer which has a mirror image. She likes to think of those enantiomers when it comes to her sewing projects, and considers her blog her “lab notebook” of sewing projects, with all of the materials, procedures, and products. By day she is a science professor, and by night, a “sewing mad scientist.” Girl crush.

Have you ever strayed from directions to geekify a project? How did that go for you?

Maxwell’s Super Hero Shirt on the Enantiomer Project
More sewing projects on GeekCrafts
More Marvel crafts on GeekCrafts

Category: Comics, Craft, Geek | Comments Off

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