Breaking ground on the shed, local trips so we don't go insane, building a new printer and voting!

 

Things that happened this week:

One of my bracelets was acquired as part of the permanent collection at the Cooper Hewitt.  I did an interview to go along with the work.  I also have posted two brooches for sale on my site if anyone wants or can't live without an Arthur Hash brooch! 

I dug out and leveled an area for our new shed near our newly built party platform.  Unfortunately, we are in a little bit of a holding pattern. There is a serious shortage of wood! I am kind of blown away. We had to make a special order to be delivered to the house via a flatbed. We also can't even get screws to finish the decking. The deck is only %70 screwed down! I am a little worried about warpage in the cold. 

The state is requiring everyone to get tested for COVID so signed up and did a drive through test.  It took about twenty minutes and was very organized.  Kudos to all the people who are working the lines (seriously awesome, thank you). I think they touched my brain with the q-tip! Hah!

I bought and assembled a new FDM printer an Ender 3 v2 (so far so good.) It took about an hour to put together and after a few minor adjustments it seems to be printing like a dream.  I have a few complaints/concerns but they are VERY minor for a $260!):

• You have to transfer files from your computer via a micro SD card. In and out, in and out, in and out.  I am pretty sure over time that something is going to break. I maybe I haven't found it yet but I wish there was a direct link to the machine via USB or bluetooth or something. 
• It is VERY quiet, almost too quiet.  As in I sometimes I forget it is running then them reach across the desk bumping into it ruining a long print. 
• It has a heated build platform which helps with bed adhesion. I have not had a problem with the part not sticking to the build platform...yet (I guess that is a thing from what I have read online). 
• I have not yet really tested the machine. It used the Ultimaker slicing software which seem super robust and easy to use. I have no idea what the supports look like so I am going to do a large complex print tonight and see how it does. I am going to start with a large flat part to see if the part pulls off the bed. 

Oh yeah and we voted!

I hope everyone is doing well out there! 

New covid mask

I am working on a new covid mask.  I have managed to grab a quick simple 3D scan of my face to boolean out the mesh for an almost perfect fit. I am will affix cloth to the inside of the mask once I get it just right. So far it fist like a glove but I need to reposition the lugs for straps.  So far so good. I think I might do a me mask after this one (as in process the mask for someone to wear my face on their face. 

 

More adventures!

THINGS HAVE BEEN SO BUSY!!!
I am grateful everyday for everything I have. I often catch myself everyday complaining about something stupid. I always think about how it could be worse and honestly it instantly shuts me up. I am lucky that Liz and I have our health and that we both have jobs. That being said, I have been trying to frame everything in that light. Sometimes it is hard to recalibrate when some crazy thing overwhelms you and you just want to crawl into a ball (I am thinking about the debates, I am thinking about not doing more to support BLM or activating locally, or just doing more in general). I have come to the conclusion that perhaps my projects could be providing me a distraction from these things and have very much become "craft therapy" Is that bad? I feel very privileged for even having a chance to fail. 

So here has been what I have been up to:

• Fingerprint wedding bands (one finger print on one ring and one finger print on the other) White gold and Yellow gold
• ACLU fundraising earrings (you can buy them through my instagram shop or my website)
• We went camping!!! It was AWESOME. Fall is for sure here and while it was only for two days we had a blast
• I have been working on new 3D printed Covid masks