Sugar Skulls for the masses

New Sugar Skulls for all you folks that have been asking for them . . .These are all LIGHTS!!! I have phased out the candle holders and replaced them with candelabras.

Fall into Festifall

My Truck Leroy was accepted to be a vendor at the 2009 Festifall, Chapel Hill, NC. Yippie!!! I will be attending (Jessica). I love Festifall! I am excited to show our new work to Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham locals that may not have been down to Raleigh in a while. Definitely drop by this event . . .there are lots of awesome vendors, music, food, and community voting booths for People's Choice Award!!!

Discover the West End in Downtown Chapel Hill!
October 4, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Celebrate Chapel Hill's Local Arts & Artisans! The Town of Chapel Hill presents the 37th Annual Festifall, an outdoor festival celebrating Chapel Hill's rich culture of art.

Spend a Sunday afternoon with the family in in the Southern part of Heaven buying quality art and enjoying live entertainment.

Browse through more than 100 exhibitors, dine in some of downtown's nationally acclaimed restaurants or dance to popular bands at one of our many sound stages.

Don’t miss the People’s Choice Awards for Artists, details to be announced.

This is your chance to buy one-of-a-kind pieces, or teach your children about the importance of the arts with hands-on activities. Join us on West Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill on Sunday, October 4, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Don't Forget!!! Designers Downtown Market is Next weekend!!!

My Truck Leroy will be at the Designers Downtown Market (Ornamentia parking lot, Raleigh) next weekend with all of our new work! Stop by Helios pick up a Cup a Joe and stroll down to the Ornamentia Parking lot for a mid-morning shopping spree of local handmade art and craft items. What an awesome Saturday morning.

There are lots of great vendors that will be in attendance, check the Designers Downtown Market web-page by clicking on the title of this post "Don't Forget!!! Designers Downtown Market is Next weekend" for more info.

New Work!

Everyone has been requesting flat stars. So. . . we have some news ones for hanging on the wall, a fence, a tree, whateva you like. Check 'em out!

Custom Work- You want sum?

If you ever look at one our items that are sold or see an item that you like, but would like for it to be just a bit different. . .contact us and we will make a really awesome custom piece for you! Checkout our most recent custom work. . .

New Stars

I have been working away to make some new stars. I changed it up a little with this batch and made them flat on the back for hanging on walls. Check them out in the My Truck Leroy Store: http://www.mytruckleroy.org/

It has been a hot summer in North Carolina. Check out the thermostat the metal shop this weekend!

Our Videos on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyTruckLeroy?view=videos

If you have trouble with this link:
1. Go to youtube
2. Search for My Truck Leory
3. All of our videos are listed

How to Make a My Truck Leroy Metal Star

I thought it may be fun and interesting to some, to see how I make my metal stars. Here is a step-by-step explanation of how I do it. Hopefully you will find it interesting and/or helpful. Here is what the finished product looks like:How to Make a My Truck Leroy Metal Star:
Items you will need-
Plasma Cutter Torch & Air Compressor
Piece of Sheet Metal
MIG welder
Grinder
Metal Grinding Disk
Metal Sanding Disk
Washers
Clamps
Vice
Optional-
Mesh
Enamel
Stained glass
Stained glass cutter
Glue

1. Cut a Star shape from a piece of sheet metal with a plasma torch.

2. Draw designs on the star with a marker.
3. Cut the designs out using a plasma torch


4. Grind the excess metal off with a metal grinder.

5. Change out the grinder disk with a sanding disk and sand the metal to give the star a shinny finish.
6. Weld a washer to the top of the star (used to hang the star).


7. Cut out a shape for the candleholder from sheet metal with a plasma torch. This will make the bottom of the candleholder.
8. Draw designs on the newly cut out candleholder bottom.
9. Cut the designs out with a plasma torch.
10. Take the bottom of the candleholder and weld to a piece of metal approximately 1 to 1 ½ inches. Slowly work your way around the bottom piece by bending the metal, weld, bend metal, weld, and so on until it the newly attached side is shaped to the bottom piece.

11. Cut the excess metal off with a plasma torch.
12. Using the excess metal just cut off; weld the back on to the candleholder.
13. Cut the excess metal off with a plasma torch.
14. Put the finished candleholder in a vice. Using a grinder remove any excess metal from the bottoms, sides, and top of the candleholder.
15. Determine where you would like the candleholder to be placed on the star, clamp and weld the two pieces together.
16. Now you have the basic metal star candle holder
17. For extra details weld dots on the back.
18. Add stained glass.
19. Weld on mesh.
20. Embellish with washers
21. Paint with Enamel

There you have it! Hang it indoors or outdoors on a wall or just hanging from a tress. Use it to light a romantic dinner, a party sitting area, or just to add a little brightness to the environment. You could even put a small potted plants in it-like herbs! Whatever you do, just be creative!

Brought to you by Jess VanNess of My Truck Leroy. Copyright My Truck Leroy 2009.

Let us know what you think of this How-To post. Contact: info@mytuckleory.org

Metal is cookin' in the oven.

I have been sweating away and I have 5 new items that will be posted to the My Truck Leroy blog, website, and etsy shop. Make sure to check back soon. Coming up-"How to Make a Metal Star (dis is how we do it)" post with photos and a description of how I make metal stars.

PS. Metal is your friend.