Fall 2013 Technical Arts Projects

*Shouts over a canyon* HEEELLOOOOOO INTERNEEEEEET!!

This post is not within my usual theme of sewing, but it's still something I'm really really proud of.

My school (LWHS) has the most wonderful technical arts program and this past semester I took Circuitry and Electronics: Digital and Analog in the Electronics Shop and Joinery and Turning in the Wood Shop. (Next up: Private Skills for a Public Purpose in the Metal Fabrications Shop.)

In wood, I started with this box made of black walnut and poplar, and let me tell you, I got WAAAYYY in over my head. I've never made something on my own in the wood shop before and something with this many cuts was way too ambitious.

I cut out each individual triangle on the table saw (had to start over once 'cause I got all the angles wrong) and glued them together. Then I mitered wood to make the inner box so the lid would stay in place.

This project took me forever and I ran into a lot of problems, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. It's currently holding all my inspiration photos and souvenirs from places I've been.

In my electronics class I made these speakers:

I designed it so that, unlike our current amplifier, the speakers would project the sound up and out and wouldn't be blocked when sitting next to something.

Clapper:

Y'alls will love this one.

This is a clapper my teacher helped me code (Arduino, circuit board, microphone). When you clap twice, it will turn it whatever is plugged into the power tail on or off.

Guess what I plugged into it? The power strip connected to all my sewing machines. That's right, all I have to do is clap twice when I walk into the dining room to turn them on. It's terribly exciting!

(See the other wood project I made for my brother here, just scroll to the bottom.)

Have fun, Makers!

Taft WK

And A Very Crafty Holidays to You!

Happy Holidays, internet!

Hands down, my favorite part of the season is gifts. Not receiving them, but seeing my friends faces when I surprise them with something really special. Not so favorite part is the wrapping of said gifts. Still working on honing that skill. (My strategy this year has been throwing something in a bag and shoving tissue paper around it. Effective, and the added bonus of a minimal use of tape.)

Here's a quick run down of the gifts I made this year:

Stuffed Owl for A:

I got free (designer!) fabric samples from an organization called FabMo at Bizarre Bazaar a couple weeks ago. I made this scrappy little owl for my friend who is OBSESSED with owls, to say the least.

(Photo was taken pre-stuffing, so try to imagine it all puffy and cute, m'kay?)

A Cat for A Cat:

Made this for my friend whose nickname is Cat (see what I did there?). She carried it around for the entire day after I gave it to her. (Sorry about the quality, she took it after I gave it to her.) It's made from the leftovers of the quilt I made for my grandparents (note: SOFTEST FABRIC IN THE UNIVERSE) and is ridiculously fuzzy. Unfortunately, the fabric lets off little fuzz balls that like to stick to your clothes...

Marker Jar for my brother:

I know this is very off topic for this blog, but it's one of my favorite gifts this year. I turned this jar on a lathe in the wood shop at my school and then glued a divider in the middle, so Sheldon can sort out his markers (he can be very particular like that).

Mug and Cozy for Mom:

This one has a really sweet back story behind it. My mom has always said how one day she wants to have a complete set of Heath Ceramics mugs for us to drink tea out of. We went to their SF tile factory once (to meet Natalie Chanin, remember?) and we were completely in awe of how beautiful their dishes were. When I went back a few weeks ago, I found this mug in the exact color of the curtains in our kitchen. It's for the start of our collection, so one day we can have a full set of these exquisite mugs.

The little sweater is made from some really soft purple knit my mom gave me a while ago and hand stitched with white button craft thread.

Have a Wonderful Winter, everyone!

-Taft WK