Pandemic Diaries: Let’s Make Masks

In addition to completely refurbishing my drawing classes, teaching said classes, applying for grants, attending a 15-week online house dance class, working out, maintaining relationships, making art, emotionally supporting my cats, housework, oh yeah and yard work again, washing the car that completes me, holy shit I love that car, is this even a list anymore, sorry my car distracted me, developing a clothing line, applying for trademarks and copyrights, making ridiculous t-shirts, etc. etc… I thought I would do some blogging. I gotta get that damn book published too. It’s on my list. Hey you know what else I should do? Make Olson masks.

I started this post long before the idea of making masks hit me and now almost all of the above has been replaced by that singular focus. I’ve read a lot of material related to the making of, kinds of, safe use of, and best materials for homemade/DIY masks. I’ve been making them for free and even though I knew that I would eventually be overtaken by them, I did not expect it to hit me so soon. I delivered over 60 masks to people who asked for them.

I wanted to make them and give them away to people who need them and I didn’t want to profit from fear. The cost is minimal to me but the amount of time I spend on them because of my combined skill sets (design, digital imaging and manipulation, sewing, vinyl cutting) is very lengthy. So… now that there are good sources out there about how to make legitimate no-sew masks from a t-shirt you really don’t need me to make a mask for you anymore.

Here are the resources I approve:

… with a couple of caveats: put a paper towel filter inside, (blue shop towels if you have them) and do your best to get the shirt to lay tight to your face there at the top where there would usually be a form-fitting nose wire. Use the thickest cotton shirts that you have and avoid touching it, messing with it, or adjusting it. Ya see… if your mouth and nose holes are acting like a vacuum and sucking microscopic viruses towards your insides, your mask is doing the job of catching those suckers. If you then touch your mask you may have just picked up some virus on your hands… and then you’re going to proceed to touch children’s eyeballs, the tines of all of the forks in your silverware drawer, church door handles, and each kibble of your neighbor’s cat’s food, so take the handling of your masks seriously, you filthy animal. Think of these as underwear for your face: wear them for one day and then wash them.

I should add that I am not a medical professional and I cannot make medical claims about the masks so take it with a grain of salt.

Here’s a link to the information I provided with each mask: NPR Mask Q+A

Here’s a link to NYT article about how not to wear a mask: Use logic. Don’t do this.

That being said, my business model now involves short run editions for $35 to $40 a piece and custom masks starting at $75. I will always encourage the free DIY mask option first. It’s easily at your disposal now, so if you come to me you are coming for fashion at this point and there’s nothing wrong with that. The availability of tutorials for easy and free no-sew masks also frees me up from feeling guilty about making these and charging. Please come to me for design but go elsewhere to stock up more cheaply. Contact me for a few awesome professional fashion designers selling affordable work! I may feature them here soon.

Stay safe. I love you all.

~S

PS – This post has been sitting in my drafts mostly written for about a month. Time to push it out so I can start new ones.

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