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Whew, it’s been a whole month since I made my last post! I have for the longest time been striving to avoid this dreaded pitfall of blog death by ignorance. This has probably been one of the most difficult semesters for me in college. In this last term you’re not just chugging along and holding your breath anymore, you’re gasping for air without knowing which way you’re headed next, but also trying to do all of the things you were supposed to do before you leave from this place. Too busy!
Here is the latest Textiles project that I completed with a team two weeks ago. It’s a canvas bag laden with a circuit composed of 2 inputs and 3 outputs (LEDs). Here’s our professional demonstration:
I could try to explain the way the circuit is setup and how electron flow makes the lights blink in patterns, but I honestly don’t have a very good idea of how it works. With time constraints, the best our team put our efforts together was to divide the work into pieces we were familiar with. My teammates did the lasercutting, soldering, programming, and wire design, and I just sewed it all together.
If you’re interested in reading more about how we did it, check out our documentation here. 
The best class I’m taking this term (for credit at my own school) is called New Textiles. What is that about? Basically, the integration of crafts and electricity! Although I’ll admit that I know nil about circuits as I skimmed through Physics II and dropped out of Basic Programming, this is actually an integration of electronic usefulness that has motivated me enough to learn about batteries and wires and switches and whatnot.
After being introduced to conductive fabrics and threads (isn’t that so cool!?), our first assignment was to make a circuit with a switch and an LED that lights up. I must say, many of the projects that came out of this are very impressive and inspirational.
Mine ended up being the simplest of all, but it was still a challenge to assemble. 
Check out my ultra-cool working circuit!
Being that it is 9 months after Valentine’s day, they say many people’s birthdays are around this time of year. It’s really a bummer to get your birthday bundled together with Christmas, but even worse to get slammed with finals when you wish you could be celebrating. Anyhow, I just found out that it was my good friend’s birthday yesterday, so I had to put something together quickly which integrates building things with a passion for muffins.
Sewing – hot glue – cardboard – lots of adjustments
Miniscule watch pieces from ebay:
Some of the pieces were too tiny to even fit through the needle!
Due to the tiny, rigid, and very poky nature of the metal parts, I would recommend this to be used as anything BUT a squeezable plush. Maybe a pin cushion at best?
I know how to make it better next time, and although it took a lengthy 5 hours to assemble I think it’s cute enough to try to sell on etsy. =)
This part of my Costume Crafts class has been one of the most exciting. With a material called Varaform, a unique patented plastic, you can make any shape you want by heating it up in warm water to make it completely pliable. When it cools, it’s hard again! It also sticks to itself. =) The unfortunate part is, it’s about $60/yd so you better have the budget to back your project.
The first thing we did was take plaster casts of our faces using first amalgam and then plaster strips to harden the mold to keep its shape. We then poured plaster into the casts and voila – we have sculptures of our faces to use for mask making forevermore!
For my own mask, I had a really hard time deciding on just one design to go with… I settled on a “steampunk” theme, because I know that’s a pretty popular look nowadays. The most difficult part of that decision was finding parts! The gears they sell on ebay are generally from watches and are especially tiny.
So I was left to dismantle the only unwanted gadgety item in my room – my old rice cooker. The lid broke two years ago, the pot got lost, and it’s not really good for anything. XD 90% of the decorations on this mask are rice cooker parts! Screws, springs, metal parts, strangely shaped things.
(the rest are snaps or grommets, leather scraps and velvet)
I just finished this in my Costume Crafts class. ^___^ very awesome way to make a cool hat!
Need:
- felt
- head manikin/ head mold, wrapped in saran/plastic – this is important
- elmer’s glue
-pins, T-type work best
- paint or other decorations
- stitching is optional
- tubing or wiring may be integrated for fancier designs like a hat with a brim.
Time: I spent 6 hours over 3 days.
