Deseret News Article

A story from our float has been featured by Deseret News!

"I immediately recognized the opportunity to pray for the glitter and other supplies we needed to finish our float, but I was reluctant to pray about it. In my mind I was certain we weren’t getting the supplies. I figured we’d have to crush our dishes to make our float sparkle the way pioneer sisters did to give the early Kirtland Temple its luster."

Read the Full Article Here

A walk around the Float

Sheep!

Here are some photos from Saturday, June 23rd:

Here is our progress as of today, June 23rd

Mary Butterfield's head is finished!

The sheep heads are ready for painting.  Volunteers?

Welding and assembling the sheep's bodies.

We finished up some large balls of yarn.

This sheep is hanging off the side to greet all the children :)

The sheep on the right will be rolling a wheel.

These sheep are having a stick pull.

The Float is Moving on Saturday

The float will be moving after Saturday's 8am-noon shift is finished.
The address for those assigned to help build the float will be 5541
Bagley Park Rd, West Jordan, UT 84081 starting next week.

Needs:
        1. We need a volunteer to go to North Salt Lake area on Friday
anytime after 9am and pick up some float parts.  They will need a
mini-van with the seats removed or a large SUV with the seats down.
We need you to pick-up some Styrofoam parts for us from our provider.
In fact, we may want two people because we have several sheep heads,
some hands, and a large head that need to be picked up and brought to
the Bowen's home.  If you can help, please contact the Bowen's ASAP.
        2. Please see if you can get any artistic painters or constructors to
volunteer - we can have them start on Saturday.  We will have a couple
of cats and a couple of birds that are going to need to be painted
rather well.  And we need some help constructing our sheep.  We have
tried a few things, but so far the sheep  are not sturdy enough.
        3. We need some more light or lime green latex (indoor or outdoor)
paint if anyone has some they want to get rid of.  Please drop it by
the Bowen's home
        4. We need 3 people to assist during the three parades we are
participating in.  The Taylorsville parade is 30 June.  The Riverton
parade is on 3 July in the evening and the Salt Lake parade is 24 July
in the morning.  We need 2 people that will walk the parade at the
side of the float, and the other person will be assigned by the parade
to do something.

Please put these announcements in your bulletin:
        1. Our float will be #16 in the Taylorsville parade on 30 June.
        2. Our float is entry #88 in the Riverton Parade on 3 July - so, if
you are going, don't leave early.
        3. Please come to the Float Preview Party on 16 and 17 July at the
South Town Mall.  The public is welcome from 11am-9pm.  And, if you
like our float, then vote for us!
        4. The Salt Lake parade is the morning of 24 July.

Float at a glance

As of today the float is still in Herriman. I'll post here as soon as I hear that it has moved. Here are some photos from today:

It is so good to see some color! June 19

The quilt is floral sheeting glued to the burlap.

A large sheet of styrofoam was donated that will become huge yarn balls. Thanks!

The float will be moving soon to its new location in West Jordan.  Once moved we'll be working on some projects here and some there.  Coordinate with your ward float rep to know which work location we'll be working at each evening.

Here are some pictures from this week:

As of 6/12 - the screening is finished on the wheel

Parts from a bike were used to mechanize the spinning wheel.

6/16 the first color is added to the float.

Starting to lay out the quilt.

The tree that was built off site arrives.

Some YW on a service scavenger hunt stop-by to help.

The tree is installed.

Our progress as of Tuesday 6/4

Our progress as of Thursday 6/7

Dear Bishops and Float Committee Ward Representatives,

We are trying to clarify some confusion as to how the work assignments and ward assignments are being done.  We are not receiving the supplies that we need so it is difficult to make a time line for everyone.  So this is the time line for the rest of the week:

WE WILL NEED TWO PEOPLE FROM EVERY WARD EVERY NIGHT AND ON SATURDAY MORNING.

I realize that you may not be able to get someone here for Wednesday night June 6th, but the Grandview Ward Bishopric and others have already said that they would be here.  Anyone else is welcome.

Wednesday June 6, 2012:  6-8 p.m.

Thursday June 7, 2012: 6-8 p.m.

Friday June 8, 2012: 6-8 p.m.

Saturday June 9, 2012 8 a.m. - 12 noon

What we are doing is just assigning people when they get here what needs to be done and what we have supplies available for them to do.  We can not glitter the float until me move it inside.  We do have a building we can take it to anytime, but we are trying to get everything done here at our home first, so that there are as few as possible finishing trip to the other building.  It is about a 20 minute trip to the building. When we move this float we will than coordinate the work assignments and the times for those wards.

We had a great group here last night and we got a lot done.  It did not matter whose ward assignment it was we just worked. IT was a lot of fun.  With a group of at least 24 people here each night we can get so much done and when we are done we are done.

We appreciate all that you are doing in helping us get this float done.

We need mechanics who can check out the van under the base.  We need three walkers for the float.  They will be using walkie talkies to help the driver.  We need people who are good mechanically to help us do some animation on the float and we need people who are good with video.  We want to put a camera in the front of the float so that our driver can see what is in front of him.  If your ward has any of this type of talent please let us know.

Thanks again for all of your help and any one is welcome to come see the float!

 New Concept Drawing

This concept drawing was done by Bro West's son from Placid Rose Ward (sorry I don't have his name)

Work Progressing

The welding on the spinning wheel has been finished and the wheel was placed on the float.  The burlap over the quilt was installed and work was started on the screening of the rocking chair.  Other wards are working on their assignments off site and hopefully we will get some updates and pictures from them.

A place has been found to work on the float and the float will be moved this week to our new work location in West Jordan.  I am told that it has electricity and bathrooms and is very nice.

Applying screen to the rocking chair

Positioning the spinning wheel

Welding a yarn basket

Covering the quilt frame with burlap.

Ward Assignments

We need: artists, walkers, a driver, mechanics and seamstresses.  Please contact your Ward Float Rep for more information.

Here are the Ward Assignments.  Note that this is subject to change.

Amber Rose: Base decoration
Aurora Vista: Woman's body
Copper Oaks: Quilt
Crown Rose: Balls of yarn, cats and birds
Desert Sage: Flowers and fill
Grandview: Welding and signs
Mill Canyon: Upper base and rocking chair
Placid Rose: Cabin
Rose Point: Base paint on body and 3 sheep
Rose Summit: Tree and clothesline
Summit Ridge: Spinning wheel, bird decoration and paint
Yellow Sage: Quilt, sheep bodies, clothesline articles

All Wards: General decoration as needed.

Framing Almost Complete 

Our fearless leader, Bro. Bowen, has been busy every night this week welding the framework of our float together.  It is almost done and watching the float take shape for the first time is very exciting!  Here are some pictures of the float base.  Note that the head on the float is an extra one we had and it is being used right now just to give us perspective.

Field Trip to Innovative Design Concepts (IDC)

On Thursday we took a field trip to the IDC warehouse and got some personal instructions in float building.

There were several floats there already under construction.

This huge dog was carved out of foam and then plastered.

They answered all our questions.

He taught us how to apply the burlap around the foundation of the float.

We also learned how to glue the screening. I was assured that this glue would NOT give me cancer :)