Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Mascot DNA

We have been riffling through patterns labeled: 
  • Rex/1998 nose - CF   
  • Rex/2003 & 2007 side head  - cut 2 
  • Rex/2003 front leg - really short
  • Rex 1998, 2003, 2007, 2011 eyelid 
This is mascot DNA. 

We have been creating and re-creating and re-imagining Rex, the mascot for the Children's Museum of Indianapolis since the early 1990's. We can trace the evolution of Rex through the patterns. 

What has changed on Rex over the years?  

The size of the head has changed, the size and curve of the tail, the color of the tongue, the placement of the nostrils, Many of the changes have been for the comfort of the performer. Some have just happened.

The 3 toed foot looks the same from year to year, but the inner mechanism of the shoe have changed considerably. 

As in all things - it's not just what you see on the outside. The inner engineering and workings of a mascot are just as important as the outside appearance.

Pattern pieces migrate, and don't always get back to where they belong. So we may have a Dinosaur sleeve from 1998 that looks wrong for a mascot is 2011, yet none of the sleeves after 1998 can be found.

Through all of the changes and manipulations in patterns & engineering, the essence of Rex remains the same. Rex is a big, rainbow bellied & tailed, loving, welcoming Dinosaur with a lovely Dino smile.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

H.K. Nugget - Pretzel Man

 H.K.Nugget had a day touring in D.C. He had a full day.

Gotta love the nugget.
He's handsome, athletic & tasty!

National Pretzel day is April 26th.

Celebrate by munching on some H.K. Anderson Pretzel Nuggets w/ peanutbutter or chocolate filling!


Yum! Yum! Yum!






Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Bud Beer on Ice - Grand Rapids Griffins

Bud Beer can in process @AvantGarb
Beer races on ice - GENIUS!!!!

We made the beer cans for the Grand Rapids Griffins. The success of something like a wearable beer can is in the details. A beer can has a slight indentation on the top and bottom of the can. Without that indentation, its a soup can.

....and then there is the poptop. That really makes the beer cans lovable.I love the poptops on these cans.

....oh yeah, and get a look at Griff, that handsome, silver-winged mascot w/ a big beak. He makes my heart pitter patter - swoon!

Here's the link to the video:
Bud on ice - Grand Rapids Griffins

Monday, March 28, 2011

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Defying Gravity in Mascotdom



Many parents have told me that their children beg to go to the museum so that they can wave a flag on the Rex parade.....and be led out of the museum.

The daily Rex Parade is the gentle way to lead children and adults through the Children's Museum and out the door at closing time.

We are the ones who make the big, rainbow bellied Dinosaur.
  
Rex is a mascot engineering miracle.

The law of gravity is a law that usually wins. Rex's tail defies gravity. It takes a lot of engineering to defy gravity.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

NCAA Mascot Rankings & Mascots are Big Business

Oh yeah! NCAA March Madness mascot rankings - Check out # 13 the Patriot - Geo Mason U. One of AvantGarb's http://ow.ly/4fd6y

Mascotology - Mascots are big business http://t.co/ueZm9HA 

It's been a great news day for mascots!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Boys on top - snaps on mascots

                             

In costume shops there is a rule with snaps -
Boys on top  -
It's easy to remember.