The Plan

So here we go...

• Make two inflatable Moai -Easter Island style heads- using nylon fabric and the two fan basses I already have sitting in storage.
  
• Create a pattern in small scale from paper trying to anticipate what will happen when we fill it with air and make it look like it suffered from a peanut allergy. -sorry G$-
  
• Get the pattern into a computer to scale up to about 8ft tall
  
• Find usable fabric and start cutting
  
• Sew...sew like the wind!
  
• Cross fingers and hope it doesn't look totally lame.

Actually I should mention that step one is actually procrastinate for as long as possible until panic sets in. Panic is a great motivator and is often overlooked in most DIY books. Deadlines are essential for this... well partially essential. The 'line' part isn't as important as the 'dead' is.

Parts cost:

Cheesy Halloween lawn decoration
$35.00 - can be found much cheaper now.

Fabric - I ended up using a coated rip stop nylon. Usually these are made with silicon coated nylon but I didn't manage to find that in time.
$4.00 per yard 18yds total


8yds for base color -for each Moai


1yd for contrast -for each Moai

Thread - on sale four for a buck!
Assorted D rings and straps scavenged from other projects

The paper for the patterns was recycled from work.

The Inflatable Moai

How do these things get started?

Years ago I purchased two inflatable lawn ornaments with the intention of modding them to my whim. Needless to say nothing happened for some time. When I bought them they were on seasonal clearance but the concept was so new that they were far more expensive than they are now. Ah well, what are you going to do?

So earlier this year we were contacted by the fine folks at the Mission Tiki Drive-in. They wanted something to dress up the stage for their massive Tiki Invasion event.

As with most things I attempt, packing and moving are a big issue. I like to make large things that can fit into small spaces. I wanted to fill a big space but needed to keep the packing down to a minimum. I still had to get our Fez-o-rama vending booth out there with all of our product. I couldn't focus much cargo space -or time for that matter- on the stage decorations.

Inflatable was the way to go!