Projects

For once I'm actually moving on a couple of my ideas. On Sunday, Christian and I made molds for a lightbulb-shaped candle, which we plan to attach a real lightbulb base to so they can be screwed into a lamp. (Obviously not one you plan to use ever again, since wax will inevitably get into the socket and ruin it. Also obviously not a plugged in one, since that'd be a potential fire hazard.) And I made a prototype matchbook notepad, using a vintage matchbook cover from Knott's Berry Farm.

No, matchbook notepads aren't very original: you can get professionally made "matchpads" pretty easily -- especially if you're having a wedding, it seems -- but none are made with vintage matchbook covers. Christian and I also toyed with the idea of designing vintage-looking covers of our own, but the printing costs are prohibitive. Maybe after we've sold some of the vintage ones... In the meantime I'm scouting around eBay for cheap vintage matchbook lots. (If you've got any, send'em my way.)

The lightbulb candle has proved a difficult project. It took four tries to get the mold right, and when we sanded it down to fit together we found there were a couple points where the plaster of Paris wasn't high enough. So I took the mold home and added another half-inch of plaster, which will hopefully give us enough coverage that we can sand the halves down to a smooth, even level. Or I buy another can of plaster mix and we start again.

It's satisfying to see a project actually move forward. A nice change from the days when friends and I would sit around at the coffeeshop and come up with great ideas that we'd never end up doing -- like the mobile espresso bar (to be mounted in the back of Christian's postal jeep) or the custom architectural magazine spreads for vain and/or proud homeowners.

Posted by Andrew Huff at July 29, 2003 02:30 PM