Set your Tivo, here comes my first 7.5 minutes of fame. Well, I’m halfway there. I am a featured artist on the HGTV series Crafters Coast to Coast Episode #261, which is scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, June 21st. I invite you to join me for a day in my studio unlike any other.

Shortly after the first of the year I received an email from a producer for the popular new Home and Garden Television (HGTV) show "Crafters Coast to Coast," The show profiles people all over the country who hand make unique craft items. Each episode profiles three different crafters in three different parts of the country, each demonstrating how to make a unique project. They were coming to Denver and were interested in the possibility of featuring me on the show, demonstrating the creation of one of my items. I was already a fan of the show and I knew this could be a great opportunity.

She wrote that she had found me online at ebsqart.com!

The casting process for the show took place via email and phone. First they asked me to send a reply to a questionnaire along with images of my proposed projects, instructions for each, and a photograph of myself. The producer wrote back and said that the pieces looked great and forwarded me more information about the show format, the shooting schedule and production requirements to make sure I knew what to expect. They then contacted me via phone for an interview. We decided which projects would work best for the show’s format and set a date for filming.

I had proposed four projects: conga drum tables, paper maiche masks, cigar box purses, and digital print purses. I was asked if I could prepare for two segments. A fourth, shorter segment at the end of each show features a second project by one of the artisans. I demonstrate how to make a wearable mask "Fortune Teller" from a safety helmet and recycled office paper for the main segment. For the shorter segment I sew a purse "Urban Life" bolster bag, from digital prints of my art on canvas. The episode features several of my masks and other artwork.

The day before the shoot, the producer and director, Cam Frierson and Renato Moore came by to introduce themselves, check out the location, and make sure I had everything ready to go. The day of the shoot, they came early in the morning with an additional crew and two huge crates of equipment. They wired me for sound and popped up a set of big lights and monitors and took over the upstairs floor of my house. The four of us crammed into my space and started shooting. Both Cam and Renato are very funny people and obviously great at what they do. They coached me through the whole shoot and kept me smiling, despite the fact that there were two cameras close enough to see every freckle.

The shooting all took place in a single day, and this required that the projects be ‘stepped-out’ or ready to be filmed at their various stages of completion. For example the paper maiche masks require a lot of drying time, so I had to create a version of the mask at seven different stages. We spent about seven crazy hours to shoot the footage for the two features. The day just whizzed by. I have no idea what to expect when that is edited down to approximately seven and a half minutes. Fortunately for me, I’m willing to make a fool of myself for the free publicity.

Photos: You can find a directory of photos at or click the images below for a larger image.

This is me with Cam Frierson after the shoot

A few shots of me and the crew I spent the day with. In the back is cameraman Russ, producer Cam, and sound guy Brooke, In the front is myself and director Renato.

A shot of the big lights used in the studio shoot.

These are photos of director and second camera, Renato Moore.

This is me in my "Fortune Teller" mask. This is the piece that I actually demonstrate how to make in the show.

I’m wearing my cat mask "Gray Stray", one of the masks featured on the show.

Another mask, "Horny Little Devil" Although they filmed this mask, it might not make the cut. The network is very conservative, the producer thought they might not like the little devil, but it was one of my first masks and is a favorite of mine.

I’m wearing the "Moon Swoon" mask that was also featured on the show.

The Urban Bolster bag is the one I demonstrate how to sew on the show.

Other examples of my digital art print handbags.

You can find instructions for my HGTV projects on my website

View more of my Masks

MY PAPER MAICHE MASKS ARE REALLY COOL. I BUILD THEM ONTO A PIVOTING PLASTIC HEAD GEAR MADE FOR WELDING AND SAFETY HELMETS. THE HEAD GEAR IS ADJUSTABLE AND ALLOWS YOU TO PIVOT THE MASK UP AND DOWN OVER YOUR FACE. THE PAPER I USE IS RECYCLED WHITE OFFICE PAPER WHICH I FIND IN ABUNDANCE FOR FREE. MATERIALS: PLASTIC HEAD GEAR, WHITE PAPER, WHITE GLUE, ACRYLIC PAINT, BALLOONS, DUCT TAPE, PLASTIC BAGS TOOLS: HAND DRILL, JEWELERS SAW, SCISSORS, PAPER CUTTER

TO CREATE THE MASKS:

• I BLOW UP A BALLOON INSIDE OF THE HEAD GEAR.
• USING DUCT TAPE AND OLD GROCERY BAGS, I BUILD UP A FORM OVER THE BALLOON, UNTIL THE MASK IS A SHAPE I LIKE.
• I CUT THE PAPER INTO RANDOM SIZE STRIPS, IT TAKES A LOT OF PAPER TO BUILD A STRONG FORM.
• IN A BOWL, I MIX WATER AND WHITE GLUE UNTIL IT IS SOUPY. I USE GLUE BECAUSE IT IS A LOT STRONGER AND MORE DURABLE THAN A TRADITIONAL FLOUR PASTE. IT DRIES CLEAR AND IS NON TOXIC.
• I ADD ABOUT 20 STRIPS OF PAPER TO THE GLUE AT A TIME AND APPLY THEM TO THE MASK FORM. I DO SEVERAL LAYERS THIS WAY TO BUILD UP THE FORM. THE MASK IS APPROXIMATELY 1/4" THICK WHEN FINISHED
• THE PIECE IS SET ASIDE TO DRY OVERNIGHT. THE GLUE MIX IS STORED FOR THE NEXT DAY.
• I POP THE BALLOON AND REMOVE THE FORM FROM THE INSIDE.
• I TRIM AN EVEN LINE AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE PIECE WITH SCISSORS.
• USING A HAND DRILL, I MAKE STARTER HOLES FOR THE EYES.
• USING A JEWELERS SAW I CUT OUT THE EYE HOLES.
• I FLIP THE PIECE OVER AND USING THE GLUE SOAKED PAPER FINISH THE BACK, FULLY ENCASING PART OF THE HEADGEAR. I ALSO WRAP PIECES AROUND THE EYE HOLES AND EDGES TO SMOOTH THEM OUT.
• WHEN THE PIECE IS DRY, IT IS READY TO PAINT WITH ACRYLIC.
• THE PIECE IS NOW READY TO WEAR.

View more of my Digital Art Purses (http://www.artchicken.com/8masks.htm)

MY DIGITAL PRINT PURSES AND WALLETS ARE GREAT ACCESSORIES FOR A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN AND VERY EASY TO MAKE IN AN AFTERNOON. THESE ARE SILLY LITTLE CREATIONS, BUT AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE DUCT TAPE FAD. MATERIALS: INKJET PRINTABLE CANVAS SHEETS, FABRIC, RIBBONS, METAL FINDINGS (SNAPS, RINGS AND GROMMETS), SPRAY SEALER TOOLS: INKJET PRINTER, SEWING MACHINE, GROMMET PLIERS

TO CREATE THE PURSES:

• I SELECT A PIECE OF ARTWORK OR TWO THAT I WANT TO PRINT. EACH WALLET USES ONE 8.5" X 11" CANVAS SHEET, EACH PURSE IS MADE OF TWO SHEETS.
• USING A GRAPHICS PROGRAM ON MY COMPUTER, I SIZE THE ART TO THE CANVAS AND PRINT IT OUT.
• I HANG THE SHEETS OF CANVAS ON THE CLOTHESLINE AND SPRAY IT WITH A SEALER (POLYCRYLIC OR KRYLON) I LET THEM HANG HERE TO GET DRY FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.
• I DECIDE WHAT PATTERN I AM GOING TO USE AND CUT THE CANVAS TO FIT, IF NECESSARY.
• USING THE EDGE OF A RULER OR BONE FOLDER, I PRE-FOLD ALL MY SEAMS AND CREASE THEM. THE CANVAS IS VERY STIFF AND WORKS BEST IF IT IS TOPSTITCHED.
• I TAKE BOTH MY FABRIC AND THE CANVAS SHEETS AND STITCH THE TOP OR EDGE SEAMS, AS NEEDED FOR EACH PATTERN.
• I PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND I TOPSTITCH THE EDGES ALL THE WAY AROUND TO COMPLETE THE BAG.
• NEXT I NEED TO ADD A STRAP AND A CLOSURE.
• FOR THE STRAP, I CUT TWO EQUAL LENGTHS OF RIBBON AND EMBROIDER THEM TOGETHER, FOLDING OVER THE ENDS AND LEAVING ENOUGH ROOM TO SLIDE A RING THROUGH TO ATTACH THE STRAP TO THE BAG.
• I USE THE GROMMET PLIERS TO PUNCH HOLES IN THE CANVAS WHERE THE JUMP RINGS FOR THE SNAP WILL GO. USING THE PLIERS AGAIN, I SET THE GROMMETS. I ALSO USE THE GROMMET PLIERS TO ATTACH THE SNAPS TO EITHER SIDE OF THE BAG.
• I USE OVERSIZE ALUMINUM JUMP RINGS TO ATTACH THE STRAP TO THE BAG AND IT IS READY TO GO.