The Pinata Expert

It's been a crazy few months!!!

2011-10-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

Wow- let me tell you! What an amazing last few months... I've been a busy time for sure. Just a few moments for recap:

Llaves Designs housed a booth at Maker Faire NYC and assisted almost 600 kids, parents and a few adults without kids who just wanted to make a mess. It was such a great day that we actually took home a blue ribbon! We were Maker's Choice!

Years back I was asked to write a how-to-make-pinatas for BUST Magazine and I guess they put me in their anthology of crafters!!! WOOOHOOO! I haven't seen it yet but am excited to visit them at one of their book tours.

Now That's One Way to Have a Birthday

2011-08-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

M&M's Pretzel's had a birthday party and decided to make a 46 foot pinata, now being the largest pinata ever created. I am disappointed they did not find a giant to hit it open but am happy they chose to make it orange.

Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall...

2011-08-02T19:52:00.000-07:00

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...

So I missed out on something this weekend for lack of knowing and lack of time... there was a Massive Mad Hatter Tea Party in Thompkins Square. I have been obsessed with Alice in Wonderland for years so this would have been one sight to see and I can play one good drunk mouse.

What does this have to do with pinatas you ask, well it turns out some mastermind created a Humpty Dumpty pinata!!! Check out the recap over at Bowery Boogie.

And to refresh your memory on what a meanie Humpty was, check out the true story here.

More Pinata Related Marketing

2011-07-26T19:50:00.001-07:00

Is it just me or is the weird "khaki kinda hispter kinda finance" guy that Dairy Queen chose as a new spokesperson really creepy?

Cat's Can Even Enjoy a Good Whack!

2011-05-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

Recently, my lovely former neighbor back in Chicago sent me this clip and well, it just made my day! I also think I might just start making Cat Piñatas and shipping them full of homemade catnip...

Also, I watched this with my assistant and she was just amazed at how fun it looked. Silly is really looking forward to making Cat Piñatas.

Look at all the weird things you can do with a Pinata!

2011-04-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

So Pepto Bismol has this very strange ad campaign about Cinco de Mayo and lots of videos where they do nontraditional things with pinatas.... check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/PeptoBismol

I can't say I fully understand it but I do enjoy the guy with the harness and salsa filled pinata.

Hip with the Hipsters: Portlandia features a pinata!

2011-02-08T18:08:00.000-08:00

Bash up some serious love this year!

2011-01-17T06:05:00.001-08:00

Check out the new Human Heart Pinatas I've made this year for Valentine's Day! Get them while their hot- HOT PINK!!!

Making 2011 the Year of the PINATA!!!

2011-01-04T19:15:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah! It's true! Check out the giant one I made for a local party here in New York- Ke$ha should have ordered from Llaves Designs rather than hitting up the local drug store, why an Easter Bunny?

Regardless, this year is the year it all comes true!

First Anniversary, Give the Gift of Piñata!

2010-11-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

So as the season of winter weddings comes around, so do the anniversaries of previous years. Why not make your first anniversary, traditionally known as the year of paper, even more special with a piñata!

You could get a bottle of dish detergent you can beat if dishes were a point of contention in the first year, or how about a TV if all your new partner in crime seemed to just want to watch the TV. Or if all was rainbows and unicorns- why not a rainbow and a unicorn?? Or a big old heart with your initials??

Check out some options here!

Pinata Greetings!

2010-10-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

I stopped in at my favorite little neighborhood shop this week, Green in BKLYN, and saw these amazing new cards that she has in stock! Bordering on racist, but still pretty cute.

New Wears in Pinata Fashion!

2010-08-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

So I swear that there is an epic History or Pinata postings in the works right now... but in the meantime- this little guy was brought to may attention from some brilliant designer at BustedTees.

Shameless Plug!

2010-08-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

Just want to let everyone know the new excitement... Our new and improved website just launched!!!

Check it out: www.llavesdesigns.com

Go to the contact form and submit your email and I'll add you to the mailing list!

Creating some serious competition, Brooklyn style!

2010-08-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

What better way could you think to spend your Saturday than making piñatas with a bunch of half pints in Brooklyn?

That was my sentiment exactly when a few months back my good friend Rachel Eisley asked if I´d bring my piñata expertise out for two Saturday classes and teach a class at her summer camp at the Ocean Hill Art Sanctuary in Bushwick/Bedstuy.

The theme for this years camp is portraits so we focused our designs around such creating the paper mache heads and decorating. I have to admit, there were some seriously creative designs! Check them out below, or come by their art opening at the end of August.

Amber's Cat was amazing!

Ahmari's Dragon was pretty stellar!

Bahiyyah's little princess was adorable!

Ohmar not only was a huge fan of the glue gun, but he loved Sonic the Hedge Hog too!!

POP! Goes my project :(

2010-07-27T10:41:00.001-07:00

Let’s talk about art and humidity, more specifically the dynamics of putting paper mache on balloons during a heat wave in New York. I have had the pleasure of popping over 10 balloons this month and learned the ins and outs of cleaning up dried flour bits off Mac computer screens and nursing a very nervous cat back to sanity. As well, there is nothing like spending 2 hours on piñata orders to suddenly have to start from scratch at 2 AM.

With this said I figured I’d blog about proper ways to ensure your paper mache skills can stay afloat in the muggiest of times.

Tip 1: Put on the AC!
This will help draw out the humidity in your working space and get you a stellar product. Let your piñatas dry some prior to letting in the natural air as you’ll learn quickly what happens when the air in a balloon is met with unwanted change in temperature.

Tip 2: Cool water is llave!
Or key, you get the drift. When you prepare your paper mache mix make sure you are using cool water. The warm water on that think plastic balloon when your room temp is heightened only leads to unwanted results.

Tip 3: Thin it out baby!
Make your layers thin as you mache, this way you’ll have less drying time and less mess eventually.

Back and ready for summer!!

2010-04-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

Hi there, sorry for the time away but life has a way of getting busy when you are a pinata expert. Here's a small recap of the happenings since February in the world of Pinata's!

First off, the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago had some fun with the art of pinata. Follow this link to see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVn8AvnPpnA

Also, I was on a trip to Puerto Rico recently and had the opportunity to see what they do as far as their pinata's. Not sure if I am a huge fan since they seem pretty commercial.

Working on some Hallmark of my own...

2010-01-26T20:54:00.000-08:00

Check out the mustache and pinata mad love I have happening this week!! Finished VDay pinata pictures to come.

You land in the Hudson, you get fancy pinata's!

2010-01-26T20:48:00.000-08:00

I just came across some serious awesomeness and I am pretty sure my new idol. His name is Tony Dominguez and he recently created life size duck pinata's for an event with the passengers of Flight 1549, the one where Sully landed them safely into the Hudson after there was a goose attack to the plane.

I am still investigating this gentleman, its taking more than a quick Google search. As soon as I have more information I will post, maybe I can even get a little interview going.

For now, check out this nice article from the LA Weekly: http://www.laweekly.com/2010-01-21/columns/flight-1549-homage-to-bad-luck-geese/

Smash a Heart the Valentine's Day!

2010-01-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

I've never been a big fan of Valentine's Day. It always comes with so many pressures... and for me, it comes when I am always single. So yes, I hate Valentine's Day, but where the irony hits is that I am not alone in this hatred.

The new movie Valentine's Day has a seemingly hilarious scene where Jennifer Garner takes out some sadness and angst from the Hallmark holiday on a nice pink pinata.

Here are some of my heart designs if you are looking to let some of that bitter-sweet hatred of VDay out. You can also custom order it, I'll put the initials of your heartbreak on it or cover it with your most hated color- you tell me what gets your heart a ticking and I'll make it happen.

I'll have more up on my Etsy site later this week.

My masakistic halloween

2009-11-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

Whats better than a human pinata? Maybe the little girl who beats me up as my side kick?

Making weddings unique one hit at a time

2009-11-08T12:16:00.000-08:00

As many of you know I have been doing wedding pinata's... well the most recent was a huge success.

Check out the amazing photos here: http://after.davecrossweddings.com/weddings/sicurella-barnes-wedding/

And rumor has it they may be featured on the The Knot. Stay tuned.

An abyss of fabulous creativity

2009-10-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

Guess what... Pinatas are now worthy of being in a real live profitable gallery!!!!

I had the extreme pleasure in the month of October to be working with/for the ever so talented artists behind PERU ANA ANA PERU, street artist and videographer extraordinare.

On October 17th they had a very successful opening for their first solo show, "and then we jumped into the abyss of numbers: memories in absurdity from the bowels of PERU ANA ANA PERU" at the Brooklynite Gallery where they fused their creativity in a multimedia glory... and asked me to help three dimensionalize some of their designs.

Go check out the show in real life until November 14th, but for now... here's some of the fun and greatness that is their art.

New York I love you, but your busting me up.

2009-10-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

Busting me up in all the most amazing ways possible!! Let me sum up the past year of my life as a New Yorker for you. I would like to equate it to ease of energy + swiftness + non-hesitation + opportunity = extreme glee. Much like the process of getting into the glory of a pinata, my life has been a process of swinging and missing for years... that is until I entered the zip codes of 11000whatevers.

Once here, it was a like a small pinktailed girl surprisingly braking open the pinata of a life finally worth living. And suddenly I was scrambling around catching all the goodies that came out.

Here is a little list of those goodies that fell out of my infant year in New York.
1. I accomplished the goal of being published by 30... and it paid!!!! Thank you BUST Magazine, you ladies are wonderful.

2. I had my first successful street sale on the corner of Adelphi and Lafayette in Brooklyn, and let me tell you... this neighborhood never ceases to amaze me.

3. Sarah Palin Pinata got me free drinks on election night and beyond.

4. I met Chloe Sevigny and she liked my sugar skull pinata.

5. I was told by three Hispanic men on different occasions that it was strange I was white and made pinatas.
6. I learned that holiday pinata's are really the best way to go for presents any time of the year.

7. I learned that sometimes the post office workers will make you laugh so hard you want to pee your pants as you are shipping a box that is 36 x 20 x 12 and weighs 4 pounds.
8. I got an office full of corporate co-workers to break open a pinata with a piece of desk trim.

9. I advanced a line of wedding and baby shower pinatas.

10. All I can say is the best is truly yet to come!!!! Stay tuned as I think things are just heating up!!!

Teaching the children... paper mache style!

2009-10-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

Holy hell! September was one crazy month. I not only moved to a new apartment, but I also got a new job and taught my first workshop at my ever so favorite place, 826NYC. It sure was one hell of a month!

So with that said, lets get to the details on the first workshop at 826NYC. I spent my first year in New York being buried under a rock called work and emerged triumphant in the back of the Brooklyn Super Hero Supply Company teaching seven of the coolest Brooklyn kids ever the ins and outs of character development and writing.

Our three day course lent to some hilarious characters and some killer pinata's! There were two pigs (of different colors of course), a bear, a Sugar Monster, a poetic piece about a jelly fish that somehow inspired a Sponge Bob pinata, a Slime Monster and an interesting montage of a flea and a crowd of people.

It was a joy working with the short one's again... I think there will be more moments to come :)

We ended up with a pretty killer mess and a nice little chap book.

TA Chad assisting with final touches on the characters.

Let's talk Slime Monsters... so cool.

The kids sure do have talent! They'll be giving me a run for my money soon.

Giving a little smack to your XBox

2009-09-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

The world of video games has just gotten a ton better! Or, should I say it got alot better a while ago but I am just getting wind of it now.

According to my search on this lovely treat, Wikipedia has informed me that "Viva Pinata is a life simulation game developed by Rare, for the Xbox 360 video game console. Although rumors of the title circulated among fans for some time, Viva Piñata was officially announced on March 15, 2006, and first released in November 2006. With a "general audiences" or "everyone" rating, the game provides bright, colorful visuals, intended to appeal to children and more casual gamers. The game received a positive reaction from game critics, despite its poor sales and pre-release advertising."

It gets better! "The game features a wide variety of piñata types (60 in total), in most cases inspired by real-world animals. Some of the animals are "piñatavores", and must eat other piñatas in order to become residents or reproduce. ]When such piñatas are visiting the garden, they can and will devour garden residents in order to satisfy their own residency requirements. However, once piñatas are residents, they will not eat each other unless instructed to do by the player, although fights can break out between residents who do not share the predator-prey relationship."

Thing is, I am not so sure it's a good idea to have evil pinata eating pinata's out there. Seems even more painful for them than us blindfoldedly hitting them.

But still, it keeps getting better. In promotion for this game it looks like the Mexico Six Flags assisted in a promotation even where they created their very own Worlds Largest Pinata.

But get this, there is a TV show too!! I am still searching for where I can view these episodes, but for the time being:

You can still wear your Prom dress and whack a pinata

2009-09-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

My co-worker recently forwarded me this tid bit. Seeing as I don't own a TV, I miss out on some of these lovely moments. If anyone out there sees things that I am missing in popular culture, forward them on and I'll post them and give you some credits.

Turns out that a few weeks ago, Renee Zellweger daunted a satin blue prom dress throw back to the Letterman show where they had a nice pinata moment. This pinata however was full of guacamole, something I would not suggest as a filler.

This was an obvious PR ploy to start a little buzz about the upcoming movie, My Own Love Song, and her East Hamptons Mexican restaurant, Blue Parrot. The movie plot doesn't sound so appealing, however, my only hope is that with all this buzz around the Spanish culture we'll get some sweet pinata action soon.

Thanks Sari... and everyone should check out her great sites, A Design Affair and Bicycle Diaries.

Welcome, Bbienvenido, Bienvenida!!!

2009-09-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

I am founder and owner of Llaves Designs where I try and get a little crafty now and then. I started about 2 years ago crafting pinata's for my friends and got suckered into make a go of it as a custom pinata designer. It's really just a way to get a good laugh out of folks when I introduce myself.

I'll be using this forum to keep the world up to date on all the lovely happenings of pinata's since like a party, life is not worth having without a pinata!