Props? We got props!

June is coming up, the month in which we have LOTS to get done. Some quick notes on good sources for props, etc...

>foundelements.com: online collage source. Great for old paper and ephemera.

>mantofev.com: another great source for collage elements. But what's with that name?

>pololu.com: excellent laser cutting service. The plastic spinner shapes were cut out of black acrylic from a PDF file I sent by email.

>replicolor.com: good, fast, cheap source for making slides out of graphic files. Their java-based interface for uploading files is amazing.

>99 cent store: Good for small, cheap props. Replaces thrift stores which are getting expensive.

>ebay.com: most of our big props come from here including the time clock, printing press, mini tape recorder, etc.

>archive.org: fantastic source of public domain video footage and more.

>DVD 50 packs. From Treeline. 50 public domain movies for $16 available from Amazon.

>candhsales.biz: That's C & H Surplus to those of us in Pasadena. Their Colorado blvd store is a fantastic place to find cheap mechanical and electronic parts for perpetual motion devices. New hours means they're open only part of the week.

>winkflash.com Great for one-off cards, postcards and prints. Beautiful, high-quality printing.

>modernoptions.com Makers of the Sophisticated Finishes solution used to rust most of the props. Carried at Michael's.

>San Gabriel Mission. For tiny crosses, medals, cards and other wonderful Catholic paraphenalia. Beware the IKEA phenomenon--all those tiny, inexpensive purchases add up quickly.

>Collage Discovery Workshop: Make Your Own Collage Creations Using Vintage Photos, Found Objects and Ephemera
This book with the unwieldy title has lots of good ideas for aging and distressing items using craft store materials. Author Claudine Hellmuth's follow-up book sucks though.

>Schry-Way Cases 626 798 1166 Quality Hardwood Cases since 1953. Beautiful but expensive. For tools, medical instruments, etc.