Hi guys. I was watching Eugene Burger's gourmet close-up, and I've noticed that he has a really cool close up pad. Does anyone know where I can get one like this (or similar), because all the store I know just have the regular one color close up pads. Thanks.

1. leave house.
2. go into a staples or office max
3. visit mouse pad aisle.


s

Actually some great close up pads can be found in the kitchen dept at Burlington coat Factory, Table placemats, with a little extra gold fringe from Joanne Fabrics, glued to a pair of mousepads.

Ah, isn't there a "Martha Stewart Bizarre creations" forum here somewhere?







:)

Eugene used to use an oriental rug that was made for doll houses. To my knowlege they are no longer being made. However, as the Sponge said a similar one is available as a mouse pad. A google search for 'oriental rug mouse pad' will get you lots of hits. They are better than the doll house rugs as they have a nonslip pad on the bottom. Standard retail price seems to be $25 although you may be able to find one cheaper. They really are nice.

Brother Baba,
Ask, and ye shall recieve:http://www.trystancraft.com/martha/

I have one of the oriental rug mouse pads, but they are too small to use as a close-up pad. However, I was able to get a small oriental rug at the Morocco Pavilion at Walt Disney World last year. It's the perfect size for a close-up pad and I only paid about $13 for it. The only drawback is that it doesn't have the foam backing that the mouse pad does, however you can roll it up like a real rug which is nice. I haven't had any problems using it, and can even use it with the 3-shell game without it bunching up.

How about this one?

It is sponge rubber, polyester face, machine washable. 17 1/2 x 27 inches.

Bill

Bill, me likes...egregor LOL...

ah, this has got to be the worst thread Ive ever read--the answer is simple: USE HUMAN SKIN for your pad...




:) I kid. I Kid.

Everyone knows human shin is only good for book covers and drum skins.
It doesn't even make a decent chip when fried in oil.

I pciked upa dirty work station from a fellow magi on the Café - it is actually a very nice bit of kit for closeup work.

I concur. but if you add salt to the frying process, it makes nice chips...duh.

A little garlic will improve the taste and protect you if it happens to be vampire skin.

Bill

But that would ruin the pad (unless the hide is dyed black and you are creating a black art pocket... guess the ocket opening might look like a crucifix or a garlic clove )

The miniature persian carpet was purchased a couple of decades ago from a doll-house store in Milwaukee. The store is no longer there. I bought two, gave one to Eugene and kept the other. It's a hand-woven piece, and it doesn't have a non-slip backing like a mousepad or a standard close-up pad. I haven't seen anything like it in recent visits to hobby-supply stores. I suppose in a niche market like doll-houses, it may be that only one company was making these carpets twenty years ago and it has since gone out of business.

Crate and Barrel has some nice placemats that can double as close-up pads, sans the rubber backing. (Which I don't much like, anyway.) Nothing as nifty as what David is speaking about, but still better than the average mat, in my opinion.

Might these be suitable ?

http://www.dollhouseminiatures.com/Domestics/orientalnew.htm
and
http://www.dollhouseminiatures.com/Domestics/oriental1.htm
thru
http://www.dollhouseminiatures.com/Domestics/oriental5.htm

(that's 1 thru 5 )

The large size is 7 3/4 x 10 inches; it's also forty bucks.

Are you talking about the type of mini rug that is found on the altar photo on Baba's site?

http://vo-du-magick.phrets.com

If so, I've seen ones almost *exactly* like that at (I'm pretty certain) both Wal-Mart and Home Depot within the last year. Bigger than mouse pads; about 16"- 18" long if I'm not mistaken. Probably the same type Bedford was mentioning. If I come across any more, I will post immediately.

Seth

Many thanks for all the great replies and ideas. Special thanks to Mr. Parr for giving the history of the item I saw. This site is awesome - I ask where I can find a similar close-up pad to the one I see on a tape, and the person who bought the one on tape replies!

The Dirty Work Station is of VERY good quality, it's a tilted pas though... so you'll have to get used to it if you want to use it... But it's a great item.