A break from the regularly-scheduled programming on art, woodworking, lighting, and the like, to be replaced with a brief rant on our current politics and a call to action for increased civic engagement.
Edison Bulbs & LEDs
Technology & Steampunk4 CommentsLED bulbs have taken over, available for around a dollar per bulb at the big box stores, all the way up to a few tens of dollars at Restoration Hardware. And, as you’d expect, there are wide differences in the characteristics of those bulbs. But how did we get to point where choosing a light bulb became more complicated than just wattage & size? This article outlines what attributes really matter in choosing an LED bulb so that you can understand the jargon and marketing hype, decide whether that $1 bulb is good enough for you, and see where even a top of the line bulb falls short of our incandescent expectations.
How did we get to this point where it
Computer-Generated Circular Art
Technology & Steampunk1 CommentMy failed journey in recreating Bruce Shapiro’s amazing Sisyphus “kinetic art” table took me deep into geometric patterns - and introduced me to the art and science of mazes, which I then tweaked to apply to circular mazes. Want a maze that will stump your kids for hours in that cross-country road trip, or with enough intricacy to expand to a wall-sized print? Then this is your article.
Artists That Inspire
Personal Journey4 CommentsI see so many amazing artists and craftspeople at the shows I’ve done, at past gift shows I’ve attended in New York, and in wandering the furniture stores in San Francisco. Even a “highlights” reel would take too long, but these three businesses - Modern Cellar (by Tim Krablin & Melliza Taipe), The Art of Motion Control (by Bruce Shapiro), and Phuze Design (by Orfeo Quagliata) would be at the top of just about any list I would create.
It's a Tradition!
Personal Journey5 CommentsHalfway through my first year of business, I reflect both on the recent business growth (and challenges), and the more distant past that got me to this point. I gained my patience, perhaps even joy for, retail from many years helping (and learning from) my mother in her business in Rochester, New York, and looking back on that brings up a few embarrassing - but thankfully low resolution - photos.
Keeping the Lights On
Technology & Steampunk, Sustainability, Products & Shows, Workshop & Safety4 CommentsMuch of what I sell requires “wall power” both to validate for the customer that it works, and to attract folks to the booth in the first place. Yet selling at booths, on the street or in a festival, I am rarely provided with power, and generators are almost never allowed. This article describes the battery / inverter / solar solution I’ve put together to close this gap.