LYONSHEL TESTIMONIALS

Here are some of the most awesome Emails that arrive, written by the coolest cats in the world. They are presented unedited (with original grammer) Only the addresses are omitted out of consideration for the pride.

….All I have are dreams at the moment. I am going to start going back to LARPS so I can be free again to express my leonine side without the humans looking at me as if I am mad. Belive me I get huge kudos for my "role playing" Heh , if they only knew the truth. I remember one time in the the tall grass of the fall. I was down in it as the "bad guys" approached.it has just turned dark, just past twilight.  I had the mask on and came out at them with a leap. The guys yelled, the girls screamed and backed up about 20 feet all wide eyed. I SCARED THE HELL outta them. they thought a real anmal had come out at them. they had to stop and go out of game because of the laughing afterwards. I had won the encounter and they dropped their treasure. 

I need those moments again. even if they are set in fantasy.

 The Brooklyn Bull mask along with the generous extra has arrived. I am stunned
and thankful for the extra red mask you included in my order. These, like the
rabbit mask I ordered earlier, will go down as grand artifacts in my lifetime.

Thank you so much again,
Christopher
 

Hi, you have spoken to me on the phone before back in march,  you sent
me two masks, for a damn good price,,
Well, after six months I finally had a place to wear one,,   painted it
up like a white tiger,  along with the rest of my face,,  went to the
Texas Rennassiance  Fair,  and my gods the attention I received,  I am
now addicted to your wonderful product, and will probably order a new
cat blank in the future,  keep up the good work and when I finally get
some pics back, I will send them to you to put on the web site
Thanks again
Brian

The magic of the deeper psyche coming out,  I didn't
want to take it off,
It was truly a way of being in touch with my spirit,  my self being
pagan, and my totem animal being a white tiger
Again,  thank you
Roar, and meow,,, heh heh,,
Brian, 

 Hi,

I purchased a Lyonshel tiger mask not to long ago and used it this Halloween.  You have a customer for life.  Not only was it comfortable but durable.  I'm sending some pictures for you to use on your site if you like.
I'm dressed in armor at the armory I apprentice at.  Check it out if you like.
www.wolfgaardarmory.com
Keep up the great work,
Chris

Had another blast this year!  THE RETURN OF CHEETAH LADY!  Feel free to use these pics on your site.   Had a purrrrrrfect time!
I could really use a few of your business cards out here in California! I must have wrote down your website address 50 times Halloween nite. Everyone was very impressed with your work and interested in checking it out.
Thanks again! >^..^<
Carrie 

Hello! Me again! I'm sorry that I didn't get a chance to bring over the
photos from last year's party with the monkey
appliances, but guess what?!? WE WON!!! First Place Group!

I'm looking to do
something great again this year and I need your stuff!!! Thanks. 

Wow thank you! I'll be sure to reccomend you to all my furre friends. ^^

First off let me say your appliances are awesome!!!
In your "partyers" link you have a pic marked as "Makeupcat", is she wearing a Lion mask?  If so I woul like to check availability and place an order on that mask.  My other question is, can it be here before Halloween?  I just came across your site today and am wishing I had started this search sooner.  Your masks are so beautiful and I could not imagine doing anything else for this Halloween then donning the face of the Queen of the Jungle.  Thankyou for your time.  Please write back with good news.
Amanda

 rick,
you went out of your way to please i cant tell you how thankful i was*hugs* you ARE the COOLEST cat
Mwah
Lots of love
Shaye

Dear Sir,

                            Julio

Dear Rick,

I recieved my mask yesterday and I have to say that the pictures on the website do not do it justice.  I bought the mask for husband, in fact this is actually his email address.  He is in love with it.
He had a question though.  He would like you to recommend what he should use to try and blend the mask with his skin.  He was thinking of face putty to use on the edges of the mask but he is unsure as to what that would do to the mask.  He has tried to use putty before and has had it fall off his skin.  Maybe he just used cheap putty, I don't know.
Please let me know.  He will probably correspond with you from now on as this is his email.  His name is Chris.
Again thank you,
Donna

Hi
I bought the Dalmation last year..big hit, first prize!!!

this year I want to go to party as CAT IN THE HAT..I have the costume but need a cat mask the smiles and is mainly white..
Can you help me?
Steve
I will call you bck soon..
Thanks

Those are absolutely awesome. I AM NOT WORTHY *worships*.

--Youl/Alissa

Hey Rick,

I think that it is probly because I am such the lion when in the mask.  I realy become this other being (one that I am far mor comfortable with than I really am)  I become pretty fearless when it comes to putting the moves on a  fem.I am so much more free in my lion form. I guess having a woman pawing all over you helps as well  ; )

 Rick,

As I recall, you're up in the New York area and so have probably been
especially inundated with news coverage about today's anniversary.  As I
was thinking today about my friends in that corner of the world, your
name sprang to mind.  Not becuase we're particularly close, I realize,
but largely because - in all of the requests and crazy ideas I've thrown
your way and the sometimes impatient poking - I realized that I don't
think I've ever thanked you for entertaining my often hair-brained ideas
and for the yeoman's work that you do in letting people quite literally
live in someone else's skin for a time.  I've seen your postings on the
various LARP groups - always detailed and meticulous, and I've seen the
quality of your work firsthand, and I know that while a lot of it is
"just fun," whatever that means :-), I also know just what you mean when
you tell the stories about the people who discover another side of
themselves or are able to experience something that they normally wouldn't.

*chuckles* I realize that it shouldn't take a day like today for me to
be able to say thanks, but as the thought struck me today, I figured I
shouldn't wait another day to take some action on it.

Hope the day - and the coming Halloween season - treats you well,

E.A
P.S.: And don't worry about me getting too sentimental on you.  I'll get
back to being my usual, impatient, harebrained self before you know it :-)

Dear Rick,

    Sir, it is with honor that I send the deepest of gratitude for this impeccable
mask and ears. The quality for exceeds what I had initially expected. Much
more interesting and enjoyable in person, the mask will forever stand as a
centerpiece in my life.
    Indeed, this is something I see becoming an heirloom. It's functionality and
eerily realistic features thrill me to no end.
    Truly, you are an expert at your craft. I wish you nothing but all the luck in
the world in all your works.

Sincerely,
Christopher

 

Hello Rick,  The mask worked great all weekend.  I was in-game the whole time and wore it all except for a few hours one night.  It breathed well and the fang glue worked wonderfully, because when I was all sweaty it still stuck and then when my face dried it was perfect again.  I was worried because the areas that got rubbed the most lost their paint; the underside of the nose and muzzle by the lips.  I really want to also ask how I clean it and care for it, because it got a bit dirty from all the activity.  Just want to make sure I take care of it.  Everyone loved it, thought it made my character look much more sneaky and possibly evil.  Had a little trouble eating, but I'll probably get used to it.  I'll send the pics when they're developed, probably tomorrow night.  Thanks again.  People loved it so much several are thinking of getting their masks from you.  Don't worry, I didn't tell them it was a custom job.
Lyndsay

The contest: POST YOUR COOLEST EXPERIENCE IN A LYONSHEL MASK

Hmmmm,

Well my best experience in a Lyonshel mask had to have been last summer
during a weekend event before AnthroCon.  There was a local event of
Dragonboat races at Ramsey Lake being held here, my partner Bleis and I
decided to go and check out the races in costume.  So he put his pre-pained
big tiger prosthetic on with a baldcap and ears on a headband under the bald
cap while I put my blank snake prosthetic on with a bald cap.  We both
painted our full heads and I even painted my arms.

We piled into his car and drove around town for a bit.  It was fun when we
hit red lights since other drivers would be staring at us, stretching out to
see in their rear-view mirrors what was going on or pulling up closer along
side of us.  Pedestrians would smile or start chuckling at the sight of a
tiger driving a car and a reptile next to it.  It's interesting to see the
various reactions of people when they see something out of the norm.  Some
people laugh and smile and a very few don't like it and try to ignore it or
make their disliking known by making ugly faces at you.

Anyways, we arrived at the lakefront to find that the events there ended at
noon (it was a Sunday) and it was only like 1 PM, so we just missed
everything.  But not to worry, we decided to go for a walk on the boardwalk
around the lake.  While walking we came across many children playing in the
small beaches along the walkway.  They screamed with delight and shouted
"Look at the tiger!" when they saw Bleis, but they never got what I was
unfortunately, they always yelled "Look at the alien!" or "Look at the
frog!" which was funny.  Many kids came up to us and asked if hey could
touch the face and we let them and then they ran away to go back to the
beach and play.

After that walk, we went to Home Depot to get a few things we needed like
Duct Tape and wanted to ask them if they could order us UltraCal 30 since no
one sells that here :P
The workers there were a bit surprised to see these two characters walk into
the store and we even met the manager who was amused by the whole thing and
didn't mind it at all.  We got our duct tape and left there to go to another
store to pick up a birthday card for a friend, but this time the manager was
crabby and asked us to leave.  Oh well, no sales for him that day ;P

We drove around a bit more and then went back home.

    I'm very excited to see these masks. I play a live action roleplaying game,
and originally I was a cheetah sarr, but now I'm a white tiger. I met
someone this past weekend who had one of your masks, and it was awesome! I
hope to get one very soon!
                                    Thanks
                                        Sarah Chamberlain
                                        Claremont, NH

 **Rick's Note*** If anyone runs into Sarah, tell her it's bad Karma Not to pay for her masks***

Hey Rick!

      This weekend went great!!  I have attached 3 photos of the Samurai Battle Kat.  I was very pleased with the end product.  Everyone who watched the demo wanted to know where I got the prosthetic so you should be getting some folks coming your way.  I think you should come to the next convention they do... I think your masks would really go over well!  Maybe you could advertise in the upcoming issue of Face painting International Magazine,( because it will be the convention issue) and have a picture of my Battle Kat and type "As seen at the convention....Lyon Shel Cat Masks...or something to that effect.  The lady that owns the magazine is Marcela.  Their website is http://sillyfarm.com/  I think this would be a great opportunity. The photo's I am sending were taken of my digital camera.  (The photos tend to look a bit soft, and I put them in JPG format, so I am not to sure of the quality).  I do have other pictures  on my other regular camera.  I will be scanning those and can send those to you as well. 

   Well now that the face painting convention is over, I am now preparing for the Makeup Artist Magazine Avante Guard Competition (I was one of the eight people picked to compete this year).  Woo Hoo!  I have never been to California. 

Have a great Memorial Day! 

-Melanie

*****RICK”S NOTE***** Melanie took 3rd Place in the next competition! YEAH!!!!

I''m making up "business cards" with your web address on them
to hand out at schools and fairs, so you never know...you might
get a whole bunch of hits!

Hello,
    Thank you for your email, I was unaware of your connection with Nero
before now, so it is good to hear from you.  I perused your site and
your masks are excellent.  I have started recommending that our players
check your website for information about them, as it does seem much
simpler and more elegant than makeup alone.
    I was unable to find your link to the LARP FAQ, but am very interested
in reading it.  If you are interested in working to further promote your
work with Nero, I would be happy to help you and to provide any
information you might need.  If you would be interested I will see if we
can send you pictures should I see anyone in one of your masks. 
   
    Thank you very much for taking the time to email,  I hope we can work
together in the future.

               Nero Int'l Rep

 

Well I've made the lion appliance I purchased last almost 2 years (purchased June of 2000) but now it's time for a new one.  I found the on line form to print but didn't see the address to mail it to. 

Wow! Its great to see someone so kind and poliet to there customers, no wonder why you have so many fans! I admire your work, kindness, talent, and creativity.
I was curiouse, seeing that I am rather low on the creative side, (dont get me wrong, being in 4 art classes kinda drains you after a while ^_^) if you could give me any suggestions with my realms character.
I'm going to be soon purchasing the SnowTiger mask, for my new character Vashera (means ferice blizzard..thought it fit well ::shrug::) I have a basic idea for the costume, consisting of suede 'skirt', boots, and a haulter top of the same. Only problem is my skin isnt striped! I dont know how to get around this, or do the make up for it. Paiting my whole arms, chest, and legs would get rather messy...and a 'dance sleeve' or white body suit is around 90$. Do you have any suggestions for creating the illiusion of striped skin? I sometimes use acrylic paint (I know horribe for the skin..but..eh) for painting tribal designs on my self, and was wondering if painting stripes outlineed with white paint would give that illusion..if you have any suggestions at all please lend them here! I'm limited on cash...otherwise I would get the body suit! (kinda like the costumes in Cats!)
Look forward to your reply,
~Chelsea

Hiya,
Having already owned one Lyonshel Tiger mask, I can really appreciate the
quality of them.
That mask was a wedding gift two years ago, when I attended AC 2000, and as
you can imagine has had a lot of use since. It is, however showing it's age
and I would love to get a replacement, either another tiger mask, or a blank
mask so I can paint my own stripes.

The problem is, i live in the UK, and from what I can see on your website,
there is no information for shipping overseas. Do you supply overseas
customers? I am willing to pay the extra shipping, although the payment
method may have to be by international money order, or I'll just get the
money changed and send it to you as cash (I have done this a few times when
buying from E-Bay without any problems).

Failing that, I will have to wait until i am Stateside again in the summer
and order it from my wife's address.

Thanks you,
Chik'ki

I just received my order today. It is awesome!! It wasn't what I was expecting, it was ten times better! But one thing was missing, I didn't receive any instructions with the mask. Please email me back. Once again, this thing is amazing!!

Drew
 

Hi Rick,

It's fabulous, better than I had imagined! The colors are just right.

 

Hi Rick!
I got the masks! Boy, there are so fantastic! You know, I used other
latex masks before, but those are nothing compared with yours. The main
difference is that your masks are really soft. They almost feel like
real skin and if I didn't knew that I put a mask on I wouldn't even
realize that I wear one. To be honest, I thought that your slogan 'moves
with every expression' was nothing more than that - but it's not! It's
so much fun with your masks! Thanks a lot! So far I haven't tried to
color one (just glued it on *s*) and I think I won't do before I get my
costume. And perhaps I'll wait with that until I've seen how you colored
the Jemima masks - I think that'll be a lot of help to me.
Hm, I've got one question. On the 'great cat' there are some black...
ahm... stripes?... is that from the backing process of the mask or is it
maybe paint from the newspaper you used to protect the masks on their
way to me? Bah, but that's not really important - *s* I'm just curious.

Sven

Hi there Mr. Rick *purrrrs and hugs*

tibble

Thank you! I received the Ocelot mask that I ordered and it was beautiful. My daughter (who plays NERO and for whom it was a present) was extremely pleased. Your service was exceptional, and I couldn't have been happier all around.

Have a wonderful holiday,
Sincerely,
Joan

Heya Lyonshel! 

Rick,
Thanks!  My friend and I dressed as "Queen of the Jungle" and "Runner-Up."  He was a gorilla in drag (with naturally dark African-American arms), and I was the Monkey in drag.  We took a cocktail-cruise to the otherside of the island for the annual Mardis Gras of the Pacific event---an international Halloween event on Maui.  We actually won the costume contest on our cruise (and didn't enter any others).  Our first place prize was a sunset dinner cruise.  Fantastic!  We had a blast and I'll send you a photo; but I need your address again.  Thanks a lot! 

Thanks so much!  It's puuuuurrrrrfect!   =^..^=

It arrived.  Thank you for the quick delivery.  It's beautiful

Rick!

What can I say? The Snowleopard is here, and she looks great. I'm
going to give her a trial run after I do the dishes. I hope that you
got the original snow leopard mask back from me. Please let me know.

I AM SO STOKED!

Thank you so very, very much!

A

Got the items on Friday!  They are fantastic Rick.  I can't wait to get
the rest of the ones I emailed you about after Halloween.  :)  I'll
definately be the cat's meow this Halloween.  My friends will be amazed
when they see me as the White Tiger at Friday's party and then a Cheetah
on Saturday!  :)

Thanks so much for the great transaction! :)  I left you two positive
feedbacks on Ebay. 
Derek

 

Wow!
  I love the Americat mask. You really did a great job
on it. I want to order one but it wasn't on the order
form. How do I get my order in for one? Also does it
come with wiskers and fangs? I will also need all the
paints needed to paint my face and neck. I will need
the adhesive and remover. I live in Tennessee for
shipping. Can you please send me a reply on what my
totatl will be. I really am glad to have found your
site.

Hi..
Just got my cat.. Fabulous! I have a latex bald cap I want to paint to match the mask..Are acrylic paints ok to use? Thanks for your help and thanks for my alter ego.
Rich
  

hey Rick:

I am checking out your pics under your briefcase.  The
first album is beautiful!  I love the cat royality and
the pirate fox pics!  If you ever need others to do
more pics, I would like to do some cause I love what
you have done with them.  Keep up the good work, and I
will be looking for more soon!

Anthony

Rick,
The ebay mask came today. Its even better in person than it was online. I left positive feedback. This thing is amazing. Thanks a million and keep up the good work @Lyonshel.

-Mike
 

Calliecat to Rickcat..it's here.. to coooooooool... this is soo soo cool.. Going to have such a time with this.  Will have to make me a catnip ball to hang from my dress now just to tease folks with.  smirks.

 This is going to be the coolest of all Halloweens ever.  And you are going to get some of the coolest pics of the nuttiest bunch of goofs from the SCA you can think of.  Hope you are ready.

 Callliecat

Well, hoping to get the SCA folks interested when I show up in that beautiful mask and decked out in my new garb as well.  So hope to do you proud.  ribbit ribbit 

Callie

 Hi there,
I was lucky enough to have stumbled across a few of your party animal
appliances on Ebay, and, well, that was all it took...
I found the link and have been cruising around your website for the
last hour or more having a great time just checking out you and your
great friends/partners in crime.
It made me want to write to you and tell you a few things..

1. I am totally jealous as hell of you for living one of my dreams.
   *wink*

2. I am equally as impressed with your work, you have a wonderful
talent, and the quality of your workmanship and your attention
to detail show in all that you've created.

3. You have a wonderful sense of humor, that seems to run just a bit
to the twisted side (or is that just slightly warped), anyway,
I like it!

It sounds like you and your friends have been doing this for years
now (and friends are the greatest (and most easily procured) kind of
guinea pigs for new projects and ideas that you can find, (and you
usually don't even have to pay them!)

I used to have a small costume rental shop.   The town I live in was way
too small to keep something like that going all year so I gave it up after
awhile.  Your pictures of you and your friends brought back many fond
memories of my friends  and the outrageous fun we used to have.

I always wanted to learn how to do the special effects stuff with the foam
appliances and stuff... I always knew I would be killer at it... but oh
well what can ya say.. who knows.. maybe I still will..  

Hey, need any extremely creative, highly imaginative, talented, hard
working help?   Just thought I'd ask...  :)

Anyway... just wanted to say that I think you do truly great, fun stuff!

Have a great season this year!

Julie

Oh no.. thank YOU!

 -Mike

A few months ago I purchased a White Wolf appliance from you. Great peice, I love it. Would like to purchase another as a spare and also a Snake, and if you have it, a Shadow Creature.

Thanks,

This picture is of Kalaji, a character I play in a live-action role-playing game called NERO. Many of the people who play Sarr, as the cat-race is called, have started using your masks thanks to my showing up with one! Thanks for the great accessory for our characters. Keep up the good work. I know some of my friends will be picking up masks in the near future.

Mike aka Kalaji

Hey there, just wanted to say that I really love your work.  One of my
friends, Netolu, was wearing your cheetah during a convention we met up at.

How long does it generally take you to make and airbrush a mask?  Was just
curious because I've been really trying to save up some money so I can
purchase either your cheetah or jaguar masks from you.

How long have you been making these?

Well, I ought to head out...
*scritches a shoulder a little bit and waves a paw*

Take care of yourself, Lyoncat

Dear LyonCat,

Don't know if I dropped you a line or not. I got the snow leopard
mask. It's really cool! It's so amazing the way it transforms my
face. What a great talent you have. :)

The irony of it all is that it appears to be a "white leopard"
instead of a true "snow leopard."

*Ricks' Note This story has a happy ending- venture on, gentler reader***

>hi A
   > I looked through a book or two myself and picked up the paints.
>Let me know if this pleases M'lady 
>I can ship immediately.
>Its OK if you dont like it,  I can just send you the blank.

 Rick,

Now we're talkin'!

 *THIS IS FROM A LARP MESSAGE BOARD . I cut out some technical stuff so you could get to the Grand Finale!  *Sighs* so thankful to you, A

Hey, a big thanks and kittypurr to all those who wrote with advice re repainting a Lyonshel appliance. Keep reading, there's a surprise at the end of the post!.....

MEOW and ttys!

“And many thanks to all of you for all of these kind words. Anytime I am feeling like a Cat in a Dogs’s world,  all I have to do is read a few of  these to remind myself that there exists a  worldwide Pride of Lyonshel. So many are so kind, you lift me up and validate me. A bow of thanks to all of you.”

 Rick