The Invention of the Mosquito Guillotine

In the early 1700's France was struggling to populate Louisiana. The French forcibly emigrated prostitutes and "debauchees" from Paris to make up for the lack of people willing to live here. It was and still is a swamp and while many of us (present day) find it lovely here we share with our founding debauchees some of the same irritants that would prevent happy homesteading and general mirth. Chief among irritants of the swamp is, of course, the Mosquito.

Throughout history we have tried unsuccessfully to rid ourselves of this vexation. Repellants, nets, swatting, even screened in porches! But alas, our nights have been tormented again and again and nothing has alleviated our suffering until the implementation of capital punishement for this wretched creature, paying back the fever-spreading pest in measure commensurate with its heinous annoyances.

Seen here is the tiny float "The Invention of the Mosquito Guillotine". It harkens back to those early days when Louisiana was still finding her identity, from Plaqemmines Parish to the French Quarter to Bayou Goula. The whores and bums and prisoners sent from France were all too pleased to witness the public slaying of these pests. Viva la severed mosquito head!

The Making of King and Queen Floats

I still have to add some lights and finishing touches, but - here they are, the King and Queen floats. What do you think?I still have to add some lights and finishing touches, but - here they are, the King and Queen floats.

What do you think?

The King, Close Up

Thanks go out to Cree McCree for donating King Antoine's crown and throne.

Queen Is in the Details

Girl cannot help but look glam. I mean, just look at her. She is FABULOUS, but she's also a WARRIOR.

I, as her "maker" and an aspiring dollmaker, am happy for her, but also excited to step away from the usual wacky plantation belles and gayboys I create, and to get Vivienne decked out in mirrors, silver shoes and a gigantic headpiece.

Most of her and King Antoine's costumes were made with the old-school Mardi Gras costume (women's, adult size). I got at the Bargain City USA, where I also got the King and Queen dolls.

Hail to the King Antoine and the Queen Vivienne!

The Royalty

I present to you our Queen Vivienne Isherwood and King Antoine Glapion!

They were on a fast track to oblivion, spending their days naked and buried under a pile of delicious junk at the Bargain City USA in the Bywater. Then, $1 (for each) later, they had come to stay with Tatyana and Jeremy, gradually acquiring their finery and floats.

They can't wait to preside over the parade, and Vivienne insists on THE BALL, naturally.

Hail to the King and Queen!

Band of Giants

As most of you know, I am jonesing to have a live band amidst 'tit Rex the night of the parade, so do what you can to find one! Assuming we do, the next step (so that they are not incongruous with the tininess of the rest of the parade), is to think of, and procure, giant costumes for the band members. I have, aided by others, come up with:

Jolly Green Giant
Paul Bunyan
Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man
The 50-ft. Woman
Godzilla
King Kong

This is the 3rd result on a google image search for all of the above:





any others?

Itty Bitty Throw Committee Pics

Some pictures from the session




janine marvels at tiny spear and power couple



busy people










cluster of tiny beads may hurt if hurled too forcefully

Humor vs. Morbidity

As I shambled into the kitchen this morning i decided to leave the light off, the better to see the morning rain in the neighboring garden downstairs. next was decided on jam and toast, unusual breakfast fare for me, and my fingers wrapped around the tiny jar of blueberry jam on the refrigerator door shelf.

Having scraped the last of the jam from the jar over the buttered toast, and also having prepared some coffee as accompaniment, I tore into the toast and, after a moment of confusion, realized i had mistakenly spread thai chili paste on the bread instead of blueberry jam.

this next is the part i submit as a tiny victory: on any other day i might easily have succumbed to a fatalistic interpretation of the mishap as a gloomy portent of the day to come, but somehow, under the influences of soft light and gentle rain, the incongruity of my expectations and the reality was so absurd i could not but smile. so, on this day at least, it was Sedaris 1: Poe 0.

Giants!!!

I came across this image in the depths of my computer today. I recall stowing this one away when Tit Rex was still just a glimmer in our collective eye (I think it was meant to tie together last years MGD "Sea Krewe" with Tit Rex on a literal level.) Aside from a nod to Michelle's float, this epic battle of giants doesn't have much to do with our current undertaking, but I still think it's cool.

T. began assembling "Sustenance" today - a two tier affair

A look at the haul from the tiny bead throw-down:

PB fever... catch it! (Amazing detritus)

Amazing detritus of all sorts (lightweight and therefore floatable)
is to be had at Pontchartrain Beach -- where Elysian Fields meets the lake.
Lightweight pieces of wood and plastic shards of all varieties, for ex.

If anyone needs to create a semblence (sp?) of grass for their float surface
There's scads of astroturf (easily cuttable with knife) on the ruins of the old tennis courts.

There's also a barbecue pit floating about 30 yards offshore if anyone needs that...

Righteous,

Pasha "Brett" Peddler, authour of Slosh M.

Miniature Madness

here are a few pics from the collection of miniatures at the UCM Museum, in Abita Springs.
it makes for excellent research. besides, it's the best three dollars you'll ever spend.

if you don't feel like driving to the north shore, more pictures may be found here.

Introducing your Queen and King

Without further ado...
the 'tit Rex 2009 Queen... Vivienne Isherwood!

Vivienne has a pedigree unlike any Mardi Gras queen ever,
where Soviet childhood migrates to New Orleans thrift store over an ocean of everything between... don't let the shiny bits fool you, this reine will rain her reign on you, with all the blessings that entails...

T. Rex for Tit' Rex

By way of indirect inspiration, here's a slice of awesomeness from one of my all time favorite bands: T. Rex

SEA MONSTERS???

the title of my tiny victories float will be:

you'll never take me... ALIVE

documenting, in tiny form, the chronicles of japanese scientist Tsunemi Kubodera's attempt to be the first person ever to capture a live giant squid, only to kill her in in the process. below... artistic depictions of sea monster awesomeness, for float building inspirational purposes.