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KEG DECORATION CONTEST - SEP 10, 2004

Why not? I basically decided to enter the Keg Decorating Contest at 8pm on the night before the contest. As part of Oktoberfest in Vail Village this was the first annual keg decorating contest. And never having seen a keg decorated I was a little stumped for ideas.

Apart from being involved in a local event and getting some free publicity for the store (theoretically at least) the winner of the contest could win a season ski pass! The only cost was the $15 deposit (which is redeemable when you return the keg).

   
 

So I randomly decided that a flamingo would be an excellent idea (probably because the only empty keg they had at West Vail Liquor Mart was a half keg which is smaller). I quickly downloaded some motivational imagery from the internet!

I began work in my kitchen at home at around 9pm. I started by creating three papier mache sections:
 
   
 
First was the round back which I molded on top of an upside-down bowl (easy). Second was the tail which I molded onto a squashed up baking tray and then attached to the keg itself, slowly adding more and more paper to create a downward slope (time consuming but not enormously difficult). Last but certainly not least was the neck and head. I didn't have any chicken wire or anything smart like that so I used a coat hanger and strung an old stocking onto it filled with a balloon and some cushion stuffing. Then I sticky taped it to the ceiling for support and started adding paper.
 
 
 
After all the papier mache on the keg was complete (about midnight!) I draped the boas on to see a glimpse of the final effect - lovely!!.
 
 
 

The next morning I woke up way too early and dragged the (still wet - ugh!) keg down to the shop. Of course the neck moved and sagged and I had to sticky tape it to my filing cabinet and apply even more papier mache. Then I started the fan going full blast to dry it again...

Not sure if the customers appreciated being overwhelmed by glue and paint fumes but I did put a little note on the door which said "please excuse the keg decoration but I desperately need a ski pass". Most people laughed at that...

I also started work on the base (reassembling an old brass lamp I had at the store which I'd been meaning to restore but was just taking up space in my storeroom).
 
 
 
After the papier mache was semi-dry, I started painting the flamingo pink. Then I created feathers by using dabs of darker and darker pinks. Plus I painted on the beak and finally added the boa back on.
 

Click here to move on to photos from the big event...