2010 One World One Heart Giveaway ~ A HAB Story

A day late...but after a couple of gliches, this post is to announce my latest project and my 2010 One World One Heart (OWOH) Giveaway.

I would like to present "Susan's Flight". It is a short story I wrote based on true recorded accounts on one of the first ever hot air balloon flights. The story revolves around a flight on September 19, 1783 with the first living beings in a hot air balloon. The characters in the story are all real but the stories are made up. Every week I will post one of four chapters of the story along with more details and pictures of the project.

Here is Chapter I ...

Susan's Flight - Chapter I

Susan fled the barn so fast that she almost forgot her shawl behind the haystacks from which she was hiding. A noise startled her to her senses and she made her escape before she even got a chance to look under the large tarp. She realized later that it was probably just her father’s horse looking for a midnight snack. She didn’t mean any harm. She was just trying to get a glimpse of the famous Montgolfier balloon. Her father was an eager American investor who had his sights set on the discovery of the first manned flight. Just think of it! A vessel that would lift a human being up to the skies among the birds and the clouds.

One year ago, Mr. Dyer moved his wife and daughter, Susan, to France to grow his investment business. Mr. Dyer followed his good friend and colleague, Mr. Hellmann, who wanted to invest in a new type of spread for meats and cheeses. Their plan was to bring it back to the America’s and grow it into a huge empire. In the meantime, Mr. Dyer got word of two bothers, Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier who successfully defied gravity by floating a globe shaped balloon into the air. Mr. Dyer, never one to miss an investment opportunity, sent a letter to the brothers offering his services and to help coordinate a public demonstration to be held near their home in Versailles. The brothers agreed and now the Aerostat Reveillon was being held in the Dyer barn until the unveiling two days from now.

Susan was always curious as a child, getting herself into trouble poking around corners and trying to listen in on private adult conversations. Even now, as a young adult, her curiosity hasn’t waned. She simply can’t wait so long as another day to see at least a piece of the new vessel. She vowed to try again the next day. In the meantime, she will have to keep her mind preoccupied with other matters. For instance, what will she wear to the pre-celebration ball tomorrow night!? She hurried her pace to get home before the servants woke. She must get at least a little sleep as the day ahead promised to be full of preparation for the weeks’ celebrations.

The OWOH giveaway is a handbound hardcover original copy of the short story, "Susan's Flight". You can enter to win my giveaway by leaving a comment on this post only. Any comment qualifies as an entry, but this year I would like you to share your favorite romance novel. Is it Pride and Prejudiced, The Notebook, etc.?....If you don't have a favorite romance novel then share what your favorite book is.

Check back next week for Chapter II and for more information on the paper mache Hot Air Balloon and the paper figure made just for this story.

Thanks for reading!

2010 One World One Heart Event

The 2010 One World One Heart Event hosted by A Whimsical Bohemian is finally here!

I have been waiting for this event to announce my semi-retirement which may last a year or more. With a growing family and other obligations it has been very hard to keep up with special order requests and creating new art. After this 2010 OWOH event, I will only create new pieces for sale through the Paper Mache Artisans Web show challenges which is four times a year and through future OWOH events.

With that being said, I am creating a very special piece of art for you. Part of this project will be a giveaway during this One World One Heart Event. So....here are the details.....On January 25th 2010, I will post my giveaway to this blog. Further details will be given in that post about winning the giveaway. This year's event ends February 15th and the winner will be announced on that day.

So please come back on January 25th to see what you can win!

"UP" Hot Air Balloon and House - Go On An Adventure

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"Go On An Adventure" is my submission for the 5th Paper Mache Artisans Webshow. The theme was "Family Movies". The Hot Air Balloon was inspired by the movie "Up" by Disney-Pixar. It is one of my favorite animated films. - A young Carl Fredrickson meets a young adventure spirited girl named Ellie. They both dream of going to a Lost Land in South America. 70 years later, Ellie has died. Carl remembers the promise he made to her. Then, when he inadvertently hits a construction worker, he is forced to go to a retirement home. But before they can take him, he and his house fly away. However he has a stowaway aboard. An 8 year old boy named Russell, whose trying to get an assisting the elderly badge. Together, they embark in an adventure, where they encounter talking dogs, an evil villain and a rare bird named Kevin. Written by Garfield2710

The balloon is a paper mache base covered with dozens and dozens of 1" plastic balloons. The little house is made of cardboard, paper mache and paper clay with colorful acrylic paints and a gel medium coat. The entire piece measures about 9"w x 18"h and hangs from clear heavy duty line.

Also included is a removable banner that reads "Go On An Adventure" and a wearable one-of-a-kind handmade bottle cap pin; like the one Ellie gave to Carl when they were children.

In doing research for the design and colors of the house I came across two websites; the modelmaker.net and Paper-Replika.com have real nice models that can be downloaded for free.

Hot Air Balloon Decals

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How great would these Hot Air Balloon Decals look as a backdrop behind one of my papermache HAB's?!!
I found them on Etsy.com being sold by swampworx. They have alot of other great photos of more Decals that can be placed around your home or studio office at http://events.adelphi.edu/news/2008/20080523a.php

Tile Inspired Hot Air Balloon

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As I posted a while ago, I wanted to recreate a vintage HAB that I've seen on some ceramic tiles. So here is a long awaited finished project...my "Tile Inpired HAB".

It is made using papermache, embroidery floss, handmade paper (for sash) and cardstock for the fan circles. I didn't make the netting from scratch but to the first person to guess what I used, I'll offer you 15% off the price if you want to purchase it! Send your guess to me at mannminc@hotmail.com

Dormouse Jack in the Box

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"Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!"

You know the song, perhaps?'
`I've heard something like it,' said Alice.

`It goes on, you know,' the Hatter continued, `in this way:--

"Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea-tray in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle--"'

Here the Dormouse shook itself, and began singing in its sleep `Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle--' and went on so long that they had to pinch it to make it stop.




A paperclay dormouse sleeps in his papermache/chipboard teapot at the tea party in Wonderland with Alice. Box measures a real teapot size at 6 1/2"h x 9 3/4"w. Mouse measures 4" tall.

"...the Dormouse fell asleep instantly, and neither of the others took the least notice of her (Alice) going, though she looked back once or twice, half hoping that they would call after her: the last time she saw them, they were trying to put the Dormouse into the teapot."

Join my "Dormouse Jack in the Box" at The Fanciful Twist's Mad Tea Party by viewing all of today's postings on the blogs from the Mad Tea Partiers!

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A Tea Party! A Mad Tea Party!

A Fanciful Twist has invited fellow bloggers to her Mad Tea Party on June 27. Check back here on Saturday to meet my Mad Tea Party attendee.