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More from *merimask

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January 4, 2009
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Jan 4, 2009, 2:38:00 PM
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:iconmerimask:
Another in my series of "Asian Fire" masks. Can you tell; when I get a motif in my head I worry at it like a terrier with a rag in its mouth.

I added those "catfish" whiskers to this dragon because I thought it would complete the look. I usually don't bother with whiskers on the smaller dragon masks but this one needed to be a bit more special.

A lot of people wonder how I make these. Really, it's as simple as can be; just leather, water and heat. I do all the carving first, then soak the mask under some warm water. Many "carboli" method masks (masks shaped using hot water) are commonly made in Venice, but they are NOT carved and they are made of much thinner leather, and so it's a simple process of dipping the mask in boiling water, draping it over a mold, and letting it set. For my masks, I use the warm water (which doesn't soften or damage the carving), then I shape by hand & put the masks in the oven to bake. Boiling water would make the leather swell before it hardens; my method never swells the leather.

Then it's just a matter of shaping & re-shaping the mask before it hardens. It slumps so I have to keep tweaking it as it sets, or it goes all crooked.

It's something I came up with on my own. Trial and error; I ruined a lot of masks figuring this out!

Visit my online Etsy shop! [link]
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:iconvampirebee1418:
~vampirebee1418 May 2, 2013
You are amazing!
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:iconj-s-d:
Mood: Love ~J-S-D Mar 1, 2010
^_^ I :heart: dragons and :heart: the color purple.. in short..I super :heart: this.. everything is so.. adorable.. fantastic.. I wish I have that kind of talent also :|^_^
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:iconmerimask:
*merimask Mar 1, 2010  Professional Artisan Crafter
Thanks so much...glad you like it!
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:icontoastyfresh:
~toastyFresh Jul 13, 2009
wow thats really beautiful
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:iconmerimask:
*merimask Jul 13, 2009  Professional Artisan Crafter
Thank you. :-)
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:iconbellaradiation:
~BellaRadiation Mar 5, 2009
do you sell your masks and if you do what would you be asking for for this specific mask i adore dragons and this mask stole my heart so please just lemme know hopefully we can work something out ^_^
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:iconmerimask:
*merimask Mar 6, 2009  Professional Artisan Crafter
Hi! Yes I do sell my masks...if you follow the link in my sig it will take you directly to my online store.

The purple Asian Flame dragon is priced comparably with my other Asian flame dragons that you see in my Etsy shop site. If you are interested, make yourself an Etsy account (it takes seconds) and contact me there, and I'll happily make one for you. ^_^
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:iconbellaradiation:
Mood: Zest ~BellaRadiation Mar 6, 2009
do you think i could pay you via money order? that seems easier to me, if not then i will try your site thingy, and also if you have a myspace you could hit me up on there and we can chat there too ^_^

heres my email for my myspace tigerseye7sh@aol.com
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:iconmerimask:
*merimask Mar 6, 2009  Professional Artisan Crafter
Sure, a money order is fine (& also one of the forms of payment I accept at my Etsy shop). Etsy is just a good venue to place your order because it's more secure for you...you'll have a transaction record & a way to contact me, all in the same place. :-)
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:iconbellaradiation:
~BellaRadiation Mar 9, 2009
money orders are simple enough for me whats your myspace so can get an address from you so i can mail you da monies and for that mask how much do you want for it??? (the purples and black dragon mack with da curly whiskers)
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