Crabcat Industries

Build your own Arcade!

Holly Conrad — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:54:17 +0000

New Try This at Home!

And after watching the new video on how to build your own arcade, get started soldering with some of the simple tools and tutorials they have at SparkFun! http://www.sparkfun.com/

Expect more in-depth tutorials are we make more episode, this first season was full of introductions! Now you’re ready…to make more complicated things and hopefully not injure yourself!

Visual Aids: The Infinity Gauntlet

Holly Conrad — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 07:11:33 +0000

Now that you’ve watched episode two of “Try This at Home!” you can make your VERY OWN infinity gauntlet for an imagined sick child!

Below are a few visual guilds for you while you pattern, but remember, experimentation is more fun than following directions, so make your own, use your own style, make your own technique! And when you’re done, post some pictures below in the comments!

Thanks again for watching, everyone! If you have any more questions on how to make this project, tweet at us (our twitters are at the top of this page!)

Try This at Home Premiere!

Holly Conrad — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 07:09:30 +0000

Have you guys watched our first episode yet?! If not, it’s out! And we teach you to put together your very own workshop! Click the link below to check it out!

NEWS FROM THE SANCTUM SANCTORUM!

Holly Conrad — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 02:28:52 +0000

I’ve always wanted to be a wizard.

LJinto snagged this pic of me in my FemDoctor Strange costume at SDCC, and Patryk of BioWare fame did some magic photoshop art around it. I’m so excited about this picture, Doctor Strange has always been my favorite Marvel character, and I hope in the future we get to see a feature film with him in it. MORE MAGIC PLZ MARVEL…..Doctor Strange speaks in all caps, I can too.

BY THE VISHANTI!

Spotlight Saturday! Alex Toy: Maker of Space Magic

Holly Conrad — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:42:49 +0000

We’ve worked with a lot of talented folks, and we admire a lot of them too (from afar, not up close like creepers). But anyway, on Saturday’s we’re going to bring you a new artist, cosplayer, or writer that you should check out, and hopefully even have an interview with them!

This week’s spotlight is Alex Toy, he made the Omni-Blades for us and is an awesome artist!

He’s answered a few questions for me below. In the mean time, here’s a picture we snagged of Matt Smith holding one of the Omni-Blades he made at SDCC!

Hi Alex! So you’re not only a prop builder, but a fine artist as well. Tell us a bit about your work and how you got started being an artist!

I started originally working more in the painting and illustration fields. I actually got into sculpture because my step dad was really interested in learning welding, so I decided to take a class. the only class available was a bronze casting class. Since then I’ve just been doing sculpture and eventually began doing jewelry.

You were, I believe, the first person to make an incredibly intricate and epic omni-blade. Tell us a little bit about how you make one of these or how you approached it in the first place. Are you using magic? Space magic?

Life would be a lot easier with magic, that is for sure. I first came to the omniblade more as me saying “yeah I could make that” the next part was to actually make it. I’ll admit, I was a little over my head with this. I just pulled some screenshots and worked piece by piece to get it right. I never did any work in plastics before so I really had to learn as I go on that respect. The task was rather daunting, but a fun challenge for sure.

What is the most difficult part of the process in making an omni-blade?

The most difficult part is the gluing. Unfortunately that’s also the biggest part. Holding two pieces together all while trying to close a c-clamp would be a whole lot easier with an extra hand or two.

Omni-blades are cool. At least Matt Smith thinks so, since he was holding one of yours! Do you think you could make a a sonic-omni-blade crossover?

Haha. I’ve never thought about it but I would be open to the idea. That would be quite the crossover if you ask me.

Now, you’re well known for making props, would you, or have you ever cosplayed? If you haven’t, what would you cosplay as?

I’ve been spending most of my time just doing jewelry, it wasn’t until recently that I really started thinking about even doing cosplay. The first I call “real” cosplay was for last Halloween and I did the road warrior Mad Max. It was fun as hell and I’m looking to do some more.

Have you made any new and exciting things recently?

Not as much as I would have liked in terms of cosplay. I’ve been spending the last year just making jewelry to finish up school. Now I am hoping to put in more time making costumes for myself.

Thanks so much for your time and for being epic. Now, shamelessly promote yourself and your work so everyone can bombard you with requests for acrylic glowing *everything*!

Thanks for having me. It was pretty great to make the omniblade. I really just have the website. alexandertoy.com

Dangerous Women and Hired Guns

Holly Conrad — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 20:18:06 +0000

This year at Comic Con we had many crazy opportunities, one of them being shamelessly handing Matt Smith of Doctor Who fame an Omni-blade. But other than invading a time lords’ personal space, we were also part of a variety of other events and panels. One such panel that I was on was “The Most Dangerous Women of Comic Con” hosted by the lovely Bonnie Burton and organize by Action Chick, Katrina Hill.

The Most Dangerous Women of Comic Con
Panelists Include (though not in order in the picture): Leah Cevoli (Robot Chicken), Holly Conrad (Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope), Adrianne Curry (Stan Lee’s World of Heroes), Abbie Heppe (Respawn Entertainment), Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Kristen Nedopak (Skyrim: To Lydia with Love), Milynn Sarley (GeekNation’s Lairs), Stephanie Thorpe (ElfQuest: A Fan Imagining), and Patricia Tallman (Night of the Living Dead, Babylon 5), and Action Flick Chick Katrina Hill herself!

Those of us on the panel weren’t just ladies; we were also a talented group of individuals. Actors, models, cosplayers, game industry taste makers, business owners, these folks are serious.

And of course, at one point, the conversation shifted to booth babes. I mean, it also shifted to a naked guy in a Princess Leia outfit who said he wanted to do everyone on the panel. I’m just going to pretend that didn’t even happen and move on.

Why does this train of thought always happen at a panel in which none of the above people are there to represent a company or work at a booth, but are there to encourage women and represent their skills and status in the industry?

I think the main issue with this is that as a convention culture we need to remove the booth babe stereotype from our vocabulary. Booth babe, hired guns, booth beef (if you prefer), all of these phrases invite a negative connotation implying that these people, mostly women, are only there to be oggled at. That not only should be removed from cons and trade shows, but it should be taboo for a company to hire uninformed staff, period. We as a culture need to make sure companies know we don’t want booth babes, we want informed booth staff regardless of looks, and if they happen to be dressed up and attractive, great, but they better be ready to be passionate about their product and their industry regardless. By discouraging the hiring of uninformed staff vs. hiring intelligent, knowledgable staff, regardless of looks, costume, etc, makes the booth babe obsolete. It makes companies realize that crowds are responsive to intelligence and passion, rather than just looks.

And this brings us back full circle, that panel wouldn’t have been getting comments about booth babes if we just recognize all the awesome ladies up there as talented, passionate individuals, rather than women in costume or women promoting brands or women that (GASP) play games, or any of the above.

Passion and intelligence will be the most visible of all traits, regardless of looks or gender.

~This concludes your Monday thoughts from Holly

Comic Con Rituals

Jessica Merizan — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:20:41 +0000

It’s 12:56 AM… California is straddling between Tuesday and Wednesday. The latter of course being Preview Night for San Diego Comic Con. To brag about how little sleep I’ve had seems like kind of a wasted effort knowing the kind of people who would decide to stumble upon my inaugural blog post.

Yes, yes. We’re all really fucking awesome and running on fumes. I literally just turned to Holly (who is fussing with costumes) and said the following, “Oh my god, it’s too late to be moody. We need to be happy. HAPPY!” Now we’re eating fruit snacks and feeling a bit deranged.

But somehow, that will all change tomorrow morning (god I hope we leave on time) when we get in the car and turn on the iPod and play our San Diego Nerd Prom Mix Tape. Well actually it’s an iPhone. Who still uses an iPod? I remember when it was a CD and we had to actually be mindful of things like size. Now that I’m reminiscing, remember ACTUAL mix tapes? Erm, I better quit.This is getting into that uncomfortable stereotypical observational humor that totally falls flat on an open mic night at the cheesy comedy club that also tries to pass itself off as a steakhouse. Just pick ONE specialty. Is it steak or bad stand-up performed by college students and the occasional midlife crisis?!

Right. Every year, we put together a playlist of the songs that meant the most to both of us between July and July. Songs we listened to while we worked. Music that empowered us when the world made us feel like losers and also guilty for all our first world problems. Soundtracks that shaped who we are. And crazy shit that is just too awesome to not be exposed to now and again.

This year’s mix is bigger than ever, so no matter where you are and how much time you have to kill, we’ve compiled enough strange and delightful tunes to get you in the Comic Con spirit. The last song always remains the same and we don’t play it until we leave, Stuart Murdoch’s “On Another Saturday” (I actually titled my Master’s dissertation after this song!). We aren’t doing the big Masquerade this year, but there’s always something special about Saturday at SDCC.

The theme for this year is Revolution (for reasons I’ll explain if you get me drunk at the hotel bar). If I pass someone humming one of these tunes, I’m going to assume you read this. Actually, if you happen to see me, definitely start whistling something from the mix. Just do it. I have so little joy in my life.

Big Show Theme (Ren and Stimpy)
Young Men Dead (Black Angel)
Alpha Beta Gaga (Air)
I Need A Hero (Bonnie Tyler)
Back to the Future Theme (Alan Silvestri)
Wanderlust King (Gogol Bordello)
Staggered / Mass Effect 3 “Purgatory Bar” (Ekstrak)
Kick Ass/We Are Young (Mika)
White and Nerdy (Weird Al)
Sherlock Holmes Theme/Discombobulate (Hans Zimmer)
E.T. (Katy Perry ft Kanye West)
Flagpole Sitta (Harvey Danger)
Cartoon Heroes (Aqua)
Twisted Nerve (Bernard Herrmann)
We Can Make the World Stop (Glitch Mob)
I’m the One That’s Cool (Felicia Day & the Guild)
Danger Zone (Kenny Loggins)
Extra Extra (Beats Antique)
It’s Raining Men (Weather Ladies)
God Bless the Ottoman Empire (A Hawke and a Hacksaw)
S&M (Rihanna)
Das Malefitz/Mass Effect 3 Credits (Faunts)
On Another Saturday (Stuart Murdoch)

It’s 2:04 AM now. Officially Wednesday. San Diego Comic Con, bring it! Also, someone bring me some energy drinks.

-XO

Comic Con 2012!

Holly Conrad — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 01:22:42 +0000

Going to Comic Con? Want to come meet us and/or see us humiliate ourselves at a pane!? Well! Now is your chance!

Our confirmed panels and activities for this year are:

THURSDAY – “The Most Dangerous Women at Comic Con” 5:00pm-6:00pm (7AB)
THURSDAY – “Comic Con Episode 4: A Fan’s Hope Screening” 8:00pm-10:00pm (Ballroom 20)
SATURDAY – “Nerdist Industries” 12:00pm-1:00pm (Indigo Ballroom)
SATURDAY – “Mass Effect: Past, Present, and Future” 5:00pm-6:00pm (25ABC)
SATURDAY – “Just Cos Cosplay Contest” 6:00pm-6:30pm (Warner Brothers Stage)
SATURDAY – “BioWare Meet&Greet at the Purgatory Lounge” 7:00pm-9:00pm (BioWare Base Hilton Gaslamp)

When we aren’t running around like crazy people, we’ll be in the BioWare base at the Hilton Gaslamp playing the newest Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer DLC “Earth”! Come by and see if we’re around!

We’ll also be on the floor at the Dark Horse Booth (#2615), so feel free to stop us, say hi, and attack us with some body spray. It will definitely be needed.