#i was thinking about making another acrylic pin design but I might just stick with these two for now

[candyheartedchy]

Finally got the strawberry soda design done for the acrylic pin!! >:D

[ultimategreatestblog-blog]

Birthday Cupcakes

While planning a wedding cake, it is important to keep a few basic things in mind to ensure your wedding cake is the talk of the day. And when it comes to frosting, make sure that they go perfectly with two things: your cupcakes flavour and your wedding theme. The two coat silicon polyester nonstick surface ensures that one can get fluffy cupcakes that do not stick on the surface. Combine fancy frosted designs with creative stacking patterns, and you can make a fabulous cupcake cake suitable for even the most special of occasions. You might want to put up pictures and stickers of cute paper dollies or Nancy Fancy on the floors and walls. We once had a birthday party where I put tons of decorations in various bowls and let the kids come up with their own combinations of colored frostings and decorations. Thinking of keeping the kids busy while waiting for the other guests to arrive? Add a few of those to a green frosting and the kids just love it. This is also a chance for the kids to gain new friends and learn how to interact in a fun way. I wish I could decorate with icing, I tried once and failed miserably, but I am definitely going to share this hub with my friends. To get the best birthday cupcakes follow the link.

That’s going to be the basic part; simple decorations. I will list the basic cupcake recipe ingredients, then I will list my changes to show you what I have added and subtracted. Maraschino cherries with a little of the stem still on will be very attractive alternative. It’s very important to sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, or else the frosting will be grainy. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat the Sugar and Butter Together. Simple, but perfect buttercream (or "frosting" as it is elsewhere known) to use for all cupcake decorating ideas. You can go through books on how to make cupcakes for weddings in order to get ideas that you can implement. Cupcakes can also be used for the celebration and they are available in many shapes and colors. A way to do this thing is to prepare in several many shapes. Now, its time to use your imagination to decorate your cakes any way you choose. In my recipe, I use cinnamon as the dominant spice, brighten up the aroma with grated orange zest, and add some yogurt to give my cupcakes an interesting texture. Raisins add an extra touch to the flavor.

Those little wonders have been re-created in hundreds of different flavor combinations and served in shops all across the United States. I use these methods to ice when I'm baking for the scouts and need hundreds (well maybe hundreds is a slight exaggeration, but it feels like hundreds) fast! Thanks for this. I love baking cupcakes. For advance order, there is a minimum of 1 dozen cupcakes. My fondant is made, not bought, so there are no worries about it ever tasting artificial. So instead there was a palm bush made of the salvaged palm fronds. Thanks for the response about promoting art by using the Pin it site. Chill the maple-butter frosting for one hour before using. You can find acrylic roll top bread boxes with as few as one shelf, or horizontal or vertical acrylic bread boxes with several shelves. Pipe slowly around the outside of the top of the cupcake, spiralling inwards - letting the buttercream pile up in the centre. Sit the bowls inside your vase with the 7 bowls on top. I can't believe that pizza ia a cake!

You did a wonderful job on it and if I hadn't read your explanation, I would have think it was a real pizza! Over the years, I have become a major cupcake maker, my kid’s love my cupcakes. Where can I see names of cupcake bakeries? I just wanted to practice my piping and try it out, see how hard it was. Gently flare the tops of the petals outward like you would see on a real rose. My roommate is a real movie buff so I made her a cake to look like a bowl of popcorn with a movie reel and clapboard on it. For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Make sure the bowl is wide enough to carry the size of the tier above. The standard size for a muffin pan is 6 or 12 cups each measuring 2 1/2 inches in diameter.

Cupcake Gift Boxes

Many people worldwide today love cakes. There are various forms and types of cakes that you would find being produced in some part worldwide today. These differentiations usually are meant to suit the requirements a diverse market segment whose requirement for cakes has become on an exponential boost in the recent year or so. One of the most common forms of cakes may be the cup cake. A Cup cake? Probably you might want to ask.

Gluten Free may be the new kid on the market so far as a food restrictive diet for medical reasons. In reality, a gluten free diet benefits because it's a nutritious diet style that might improve everyone's overall being. It promotes wholesome and healthy substances that you'd find on any healthy grocery list. With some education on gluten free diets it is possible to buy gluten free.

What's in the name? Well, for cupcakes, a lot! Cupcakes go as far back for the 19th Century where they were often called "number cakes." These bite-sized cakes were included according for the quantity of cups essential for the required ingredients. Another theory to the origin from the cupcake name could be the vessel when the cakes were baked. Ramekins, tin or small clay cups were said to have contained the essential ingredients for cupcakes upon their initiation. Oddly enough, bakers today still choose to bake these fun treats within the same containers.

A big trend in weddings right this moment can be a long table with several cakes as an alternative to one large central cake. You can use this idea because inspiration to your cupcake display also. Set out an extended table, make several pedestals or display bases on it, then load each one with your sweets. This is an excellent display option if you intend to own several flavors, because then you can certainly put a different flavor on each base. As for the bases themselves, there are a variety of possibilities. For a rustic wedding, use polished wood slabs. If you like the vintage style, choose classic white porcelain pedestals with cutwork borders. Vary the pedestal height for visual interest. Another neat idea is to use clear Plexiglass boxes and stuff all of them with flowers before topping with cupcakes. Round flowers for example hydrangeas or carnations work especially well because of this display idea, which combines the romance of flowers with all the clean lines of recent design.

You can use anything it is possible to dream up to top your cupcakes and make them unique and attractive. The baking or bulk food stores carry many ideas. They have little shaped candies that could add color, whimsy and a bit of crunch in your cupcake toppings. You can add chopped nuts, break up chocolate candy bars or slivered candied peel to incorporate more flavor for your cupcakes. You can mold your own personal figures or designs from modeling chocolate to make fanciful cupcakes, or you are able to use marzipan in various shaped designs. Try using cookie cutters for shaping your cupcake cut-outs.

[i-kill-boys]

Five Hip Facts About Hair Colouring

What is 3D and 6D microblading eyebrow embroidery? Having a great eyebrow is what both males and females desire. Yes, it does boost one's appearances and makes the face quite and lovely. Even one incorrect hair plucked can change the characteristics of the face. For the same, microblading eyebrow embroidery has actually been set a trend among individuals all across the world. To reconstruct the eyebrows, fill the spaces or perhaps cover the over-plucked locations, people opt for Eyebrow Embroidery. It makes your thin eyebrow line thicker likewise. Also drawing the eyebrows frequently becomes a laborious job and lot lots of procedures hurt too. That is why 3D and 6D eyebrow embroidery entered into being. They make your brows look stunning without drawing them. But are these both strategies same or various in one or another way. Well, let us take a look at in what terms they differ. There are 2 methods utilized particularly 3D embroidery and 6D embroidery with microblading method. In 3D eyebrow embroidery, stroking method is used with the help of a maker. Individuals having thin eyebrows go for this method as the outcome of the procedure is bold, thicker and more powerful eyebrows. The 6d eyebrow is a relatively brand-new procedure which is finished with the aid of blades instead of the device in the 3D method. The outcome of the procedure is more of natural eyebrows which looks comparable to what a person's actual eyebrow hairs are. Those having thick eyebrows and wishing to go for lighter and fine looking brows can select 6D eyebrow embroidery. History behind both brow embroidery methods It is stated that the 3D Eyebrow strokes were first used a number of years ago in Asia. As the time and years passed, the 3D needles became thinner which resulted into naturally specified eyebrow hairs. There are lots of methods in this as well and all of them has particular various application relying on the strokes, density, and positioning. While 3D embroidery has remained in use because years, the 6D method is brand-new one having thinnest needles to produce thin, fine and crisp hair brows. Procedure Application of both the techniques takes some time. It is stated that it requires around 3 hours of time to use both the strategies and there is very little of time distinction in them. The procedure includes adding the color pigments onto skin and filling up the empty spaces. The plume system is generally used providing natural appearance as color pigments used are the color of the eyebrow making them look more natural. Both the procedures are utilized by millions of individuals throughout the world and is extremely efficient, in terms of expense too. After taking totally free consultation and picking which one to choose, following actions are considered satisfying the procedure. The eyebrow beauty consultant will take the drawing of your eyebrow. Then they would be using a cream which will numb the area. The pins and needles will be felt after 15-20 minutes of application. The procedure will then start and last for 3 hours. After the treatment is effectively completed aftercare cream is used. A touch-up session is required in the treatment which is done after a month. Both the treatments have the exact same method just the outcome varies. The effect of them will easily last for a year. However again it depends on how you look after it. Is there any major differences between the 3D and 6D Microblading Eyebrow Embroidery? Well both the techniques are nearly the exact same however the result is different. The 6D microblading and embroidery method is a little bit more complex than the 3D one. This is because the hair strokes and embroidery are carried out in the instructions of natural hairs and as per the development pattern. It is more natural looking than 3D and number of strokes are likewise more as compared to 3D eyebrow embroidery.

Both of them are not long-term however can be called as semi-permanent, unlike eyebrow tattoos. The 6D technique is also the most comfortable and safe procedure involving minimal pain while eyebrow embroidery is concerned. Eyes are the most important part of a human face and they do speak a lot. They state a lot about your personality therefore improving it and making it look more appealing is what people want Thus it is extremely essential that you have your brows shaped effectively. As stated above there is not any significant difference between the two, only the result and application is various. Both of them have a lasting impact (as much as 2 years) and are not very pricey. Singapore and Korea are the top locations when Eyebrow Embroidery (3D and 6D) are referred as latest methods and gadgets are offered over there. From thin to the thick eyebrow or vice versa, natural and finer want to covering the spaces from over plucking, all of this is possible with 3D and 6D eyebrow embroidery. It's OKAY to confess if you're more than a little curious about eyelash extensions, particularly now that this charm pattern has actually extended beyond your favorite celebrities to the mamas at your kids' soccer video games. " Women love extensions due to the fact that they can make lashes appear fuller and younger looking, while entirely getting rid of the need for mascara," Clementina Richardson, a celebrity lash artist and creator of Envious Lashes in New York City, told TODAY Design. However while the concept of a simplified makeup regular noises excellent, there's still the question of whether extensions healthy and safe or if they're worth the time and cash. It's clear that not everyone sees eye to eye. Heather Muir, appeal director of Genuine Simple and Health publications, has actually been wearing extensions regularly for the last eight years. "I'm connected! I can awaken and begin my day eye makeup-free, yet still look done. Plus, they offer me a self-confidence boost," she said. But some physician caution that security often comes down to discovering an experience service technician. " No doubt, this person needs to be well trained, as I'm seeing a growing number of patients with injuries caused by extensions, some of which can threaten a female's vision," said Dr. Rebecca Taylor, M.D., medical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "Anyone who experiences an infection, any swelling, an allergy or an obvious loss of natural eyelashes must see an ophthalmologist instantly." Here's a guide to the advantages and disadvantages eyelash extensions pros and cons along with a couple of ideas on how to prepare and maintain them. What are the different kinds of eyelash extensions? Made of mink, sable, faux mink, silk, cashmere or artificial acrylic, extensions are available in a variety of material and curl alternatives. " It is essential the curl on your extension follows the curl of your natural lashes, which is why I think about the application procedure an art, never ever a one-size-fits-all procedure," said Richardson. "With a lot of different face shapes, it is essential for your lash stylist to find out the very best try to find you and your way of life." The length of time do eyelash extensions take to use? " The preliminary procedure lasts about 2 hours, while touch-ups, suggested every two to three weeks, can use up to an hour," stated Richardson. A single lash extension, varying in size from 6 to 18 millimeters, is fastidiously connected-- one by one-- to the base of the natural eyelash. Just how much do eyelash extensions cost? No matter what your extensions are made of, your checking account is going to take a hit. Pricing varies depending on where you live and your specialist's level of experience, however anticipate spending anywhere from $150 to $350 for a full set of lash extensions (80 to 150 lash extensions per eye), and then another $75 to $100 for touch-ups every two to three weeks. " You might wish to think about a partial set, which will cut the expense and time in half, while still including thickness to your existing lashes," stated Jennifer Garcia, a senior lash stylist at Maud's of Beverly Hills in California. "And although natural hair is more expensive, if you dislike animal fur, it's finest to stick to a manufactured material." Are eyelash extensions unpleasant? You may feel anxious with tweezers running so close to your eyes, but you shouldn't feel any pain. "Your eyes are closed throughout the process," Richardson discussed. For how long do eyelash extensions last?

Unfortunate to say, but you'll lose the extension when you lose your natural lash, which has to do with every 6 to 8 weeks. "Women shed about 20 lashes per week," stated Garcia. Are eyelash extensions safe? " Lash extensions are much easier to screw up than to solve," stated Richardson. A quick view of YouTube videos (" Lash Extension Scary Stories!") verifies there can be some severe consequences if you fall into the hands of an inexperienced specialist. Somebody doing not have in training can use excessive adhesive, leading to clumped lashes, or they can glue a single lash extension to several natural lashes, resulting in even more clumping and even breakage. " Lashes grow at different rates-- if you glue 2 together when only one is ready to shed, it can take out the other too soon," keeps in mind Richardson. Which is why it is very important to research your specialist. Learn how long he or she has actually been applying extensions, checked out online evaluations, look at his/her prior to and after Instagram photos and verify he/she's state certified and working at a trusted facility. Extension adhesives which contain formaldehyde can trigger an allergic reaction, so it is very important your service technician utilizes a medical grade, formaldehyde-free, non-irritating glue. "If you see any burning or tearing during the application, ask your lash stylist to stop immediately," stated Taylor. The gel spots used to hold down your lower lashes, which might consist of ingredients consisting of collagen, aloe and hyaluronic acid, can also trigger irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin (some stylists choose to utilize medical-grade tape to cover the bottom lashes, however even the tape's adhesive has been know to trigger allergic reactions). Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and medical dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told TODAY Design that he's "not a fan" of the charm treatment.

" While they look appealing, they can be related to allergies and irritation of the skin and can cause damage, sometimes completely, to your natural eyelashes," he stated. Beyond glue issues, there's likewise traction alopecia to think about. "It's when the natural lash is lost-- either temporarily or permanently-- due to the tension and grip the extension has placed on the natural lash," stated Taylor. "You have to remember eyelashes serve an important function; they sweep debris away from your eyes, preserving your vision. Losing them momentarily is harmful enough, however if they never grow back, you're setting yourself up for a life time of eye problems." Can I use mascara with eyelash extensions? Lash extensions enable you to ditch your mascara, eye liner, and lash curler, saving you time in the morning. "Mascara can clump on extensions, however if you feel the need to stroke on a few coats prior to a big night out, make certain to use a mascara that's water-based, consists of conditioning ingredients like vitamin B5, and is created for simple removal," recommended Garcia. She suggests Xtreme Lashes Length & Volume Mascara. How to look after eyelash extensions: If you observe your brand-new lashes are flaking off, there's a likelihood something has hindered the adhesive bond. Prevent getting your lashes wet for the very first 24-- two days, as water can deteriorate the glue prior to it has the chance to set. Stay away from oil-based eye items, cream-based eyeliners and waterproof mascaras, which can be challenging to remove even under typical circumstances. Never ever utilize a cotton pad or swab, which can snag the extension, pulling it out. If you're a stomach or side sleeper, consider a silk or satin pillowcase in addition to a nightly application of a lash topcoat. "I see a big distinction in lash retention rates when customers use a sealer to assist prevent dirt, oil and makeup," stated Richardson. How to clean eyelash extensions: Utilize an oil-free lash cleanser formulated specifically for eyelash extensions, as some items contain ingredients that can weaken the bond and trigger extensions to shed too soon.

Muir advises this makeup eliminator due to the fact that it's oil complimentary and should not destroy the adhesive bond of the extension. "In the morning and night, I gently brush my extensions with a spoolie to keep them tidy and detangled," said Muir. Colored and lower lash line extensions: Colored lashes are in style this season, kept in mind Richardson, who likes to pick colors that complement a client's natural eye color. "For example, purple will make green eyes appear more intense and brown eyes bigger, while green paired with hazel eyes develops a beautiful wash of color," she stated. Using colored lashes will include about 30 extra minutes to the process, as they require more idea in terms of placement. " Eyes are not naturally in proportion, one might have more lash density or the lashes might grow in various patterns," stated Richardson. "Colored extensions draw more attention to the eyes and it's quite obvious when one eye holds more color than the other, so the goal is to keep the upper and lower lashes looking even." Another huge pattern? Including extensions to the lower lash line. " Most women use eyelash extensions-- black or colored-- on their upper lashes just, however bottom extensions are now getting in popularity as they make your eyes appear larger by creating balance with your upper lashes." If you haven't ever dyed your hair (in a hair salon or in the house), coloring it for the first time can be pretty intimidating. To the rescue: Hair color specialists Kari Hill, hair color ambassador for L'Oréal Paris, and Tracey Cunningham, Redken's imaginative consultant for color (and Lily Aldridge's colorist), who shared their expert pointers for what you definitely require to know prior to coloring your hair. 1. Book a 15-minute assessment before scheduling your actual consultation. It's essential to be on the exact same page with your colorist in terms of what you want, and depending on several elements, actual hair color consultations might take as little as an hour to complete, or they might need two various visits. If you schedule a visit without a consultation initially, you'll likely not reserve it for the appropriate quantity of time you'll require to accomplish the appearance that you desire. That's why Hill states it's a good idea to meet with the colorist beforehand, so you both can select the look, shade, and strategy that will best suit you.

2. Decide how frequently you want to be coloring your hair before embracing your visit. If you don't want to be doing your roots every three weeks, speak up. Hill states having an open discussion with your colorist will let him or her understand how light or dark to take your strands, and just how much color to put in your hair the first time. If your colorist knows how typically you wish to come in for touch-ups, they can rapidly limit the color that you'll actually be able to keep. 3. Usage Instagram to investigate various colorists you might want to go to. A lot of colorists have Instagram pages and will publish before-and-after photos that you need to consider when choosing which colorist to go to. Hill suggests doing a little research to see what else they've done, which can offer you color motivation if you're not exactly sure what you want. 4. Another great resource to use when trying to find a colorist is an app called StyleSeat. Cunningham suggests using this app when looking for hairdressers in your location to see images of their newest work. You can likewise read client evaluations and book a consultation if you like what you see. 5. Generate images of what you want. Hill says it's hands-down necessary to generate images of the appearances you want. That way, you and your colorist both share your vision. If it's your very first time and you're not familiar with coloring terms, bring images so that he or she will have the ability to tell you what is required for that look and how much of a dedication it will truly be. 6. If you want to alter your color however aren't really sure what it is you want, reveal your colorist photos of appearances you do not want. If you sit down in the chair to speak with your colorist and state something like, "I don't understand, what do you think?" you could end up disliking your hair color, given that you left the result completely as much as him or her. That's why Hill states it's just as essential to understand what you do not like as what you simulate, and then your stylist can then weigh in on what they believe will suit you and your skin tone. 7. Use a hair mask all over your hairs the day before you go in to get your color done. This will hydrate your hair and prep it for the grueling color process. Hill suggests using it to your hair and leaving it in for longer than the mask advises to make sure your hair is actually moisturized. 8. Do not utilize a box color if it's your very first time coloring your hair. Cunningham states even if package of a semi-permanent color states it washes out in a few weeks, the synthetic pigment color can remain in your hair for years (literally) and is extremely hard to "raise" in the future if you wish to go lighter or add highlights. Many colorists can tell when you've utilized box color in the past since those areas of your hair tend to turn pink or orange tones when they go to lift the color. This leaves you with uneven hair color and an appearance you weren't anticipating. 9. If you have actually never colored your hair before, Cunningham suggests getting something simple like a semi-permanent gloss or subtle highlights to enhance your natural color. A gloss will add shine to your hair and a bit of pigment that will eventually disappear. Emphasizes that are really subtle aren't high maintenance and will grow out nicely. 10. Coloring your hair can make it more large and simpler to style. At any time you color your hair, it changes your texture. So if you get a gloss or a single procedure color, Hill says you might have a simpler time styling it considering that the color will open the hair follicle, which will plump it a bit and in turn, make it much easier to build volume.

11. After you color your hair, you need to change your hair shampoo and conditioner if you wish to maintain it. If you've never colored your hair prior to, you probably do not currently own color-safe hair items. Make sure your shampoo and conditioner are made for color-treated hair. Hill recommends the L'Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Color Vibrancy Collection. And throw out any clarifying shampoos you 'd typically utilize, which will strip away your brand-new color. 12. To protect your hair color, sun security is a must. Hats, headscarfs, and UV-protection sprays-- Hill recommends you use whatever you need to do to keep your hair color under wraps, do it. Otherwise, your hair color can turn brassy or dull a lot quicker than if it were to fade naturally. 13. You'll also require to safeguard your color from ocean or pool water by soaking your hair in regular faucet water prior to hopping in. Seawater will dry your hair, and chlorine can wreak havoc on blondes or make brunette colors brassy-- and sometimes turn your blonde a greenish tinge. But, if you get your hair damp prior to hopping in (or use conditioner all over it) as Hill recommends, any holes in the cuticle will be filled in, keeping any salt and chlorine from soaking into your hair shaft. 14. You'll need to book a visit for a conditioning treatment after you get back from a warm vacation. A lot of people wish to get their hair done prior to they go on a beach getaway, but Hill states to keep in mind that you'll most likely need a touch-up when you return. 15. It's tough to estimate how much a coloring appointment will cost. Pricing differs a lot depending upon various elements, such as who you're seeing, what you're having actually done, and where your stylist is located. That research study legwork is up to you!

[purlgrrrl-blog1]

@octothorpeisareason tagged me in a questions thing related to knitting/crocheting! It’s a super long post (But there’s links to patterns I like in there if that’s any incentive to scroll through!) so it’s going under a read more. :)

General

1.     How did you first learn your craft? My mom taught me. I was a terrible student.

2.     How old were you when you first learned to craft? Twelve. Like I said, such a jerk to my mom.

3.     What was the first project you completed? A scarf that had so many dropped stitches that it came apart eventually! lol

4.     What would you like to make next? I have googly eyes for The Lilli Pill shawl by Ambah O’Brien. Once I’m done with my commissions, I can purchase the yarn for it. ;) Pattern is here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lilli-pilli

5.     Do you use stitch markers? All the time. I like to put my work down and stretch frequently so having stitch markers helps me remember where I am.

6.     Do you watch or listen to anything while you craft? I love to watch crime procedurals! Currently watching Rizzoli & Isles. :)

7.     What aspect of your craft is the most challenging to you? Trying to stay engaged during longer projects. I want to make my blanket soon but I’m worried I’ll make half of it and then stop caring. haha.

8.     Which of your past projects are you the most proud of? My very first shawl. I was going through a horrific breakup and making it really really got me through it. Pattern is here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baja-sunrise-shawl

9.     How long have you been crafting? I learned 13 years ago, but I only got serious about my knitting in college. So let’s say 7 years.

10. Where do you usually buy your yarn? My local yarn shops. Or if I find indie dyers that I love on etsy, I will order. But I like being able to touch the yarn before I buy.

11. Are you a yarn snob? YES. I AM SO TERRIBLE. I do, however, have a few clients with wool sensitivities so I use acrylics/acrylic blends for them.

12. What was the last yarn you purchased? Hedgehog Fibers “Fool’s Gold” in DK weight. I didn’t purchase it for any reason. I just thought it was gorgeous and decided to find a use for it later. haha.

13. What is the last crafting related purchase you made? I just ordered a book on knitting socks two at a time! https://www.amazon.com/2-at-Time-Socks-Revealed-Knitting/dp/1580176917/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492118611&sr=8-1&keywords=2+at+a+time+socks

14. How often do you keep a project you’ve made? I try not to if I can help it! Most everything I make is for sale.

15. What is your workspace like? Currently, it’s my dining room table. My desk in the office I share with my fiance is cluttered and terrible. I need to organize it something fierce. My whole half of the room is a MESS.

16.  Where do you do most of your crafting? Again, dining room table with my laptop playing some silly crime show.

17. How would you describe your crafting style? I kind of fly by the seat of my pants. If I make a mistake, I try to turn it into a design choice (if it’s not a structural problem). My grandma always says that you shouldn’t make anything perfect because “it will make God angry.” Not sure if I believe in God, but that’s a whole nother thing. I appreciate the notion though.

18. What aspect of your craft would you most like to improve? Lace work and chart reading!!!

19. What tool or accessory would you like to acquire next? I want some really pretty stitch markers. Like maybe with lil gems or extra pretty beads or something.

20. How big is your yarn stash? Ridiculously huge. I need to take inventory.

21. How often do you knit/crochet? Every day.

22. Do you always have a project in mind when you buy yarn? Almost never. oops. But when I do, I feel very triumphant!

23. Do you find any crafting tools to be overrated? I don’t think so. But I do think brand comparison shopping is really important for needles. Some cheaper ones are just as good as the expensive ones. You just have to figure out what’s important to you when it comes to your materials.

24. When you want to learn a new stitch, how do you go about it? Find a pattern that uses the new stitch then youtube the stitch.

25. Do you have a devoted yarn bag? I have probably 4 or 5 now. But the one I’m currently using for my commissions is my fave.

26. Does anyone else in your family crochet/knit? My mom and my sister.

27. How do you store your yarn stash? One huge wicker basket, one laundry basket, and one garbage bag of yarn I bought before I knew what fibers I liked working with (mostly acrylics in there).

WIPs:

28. What are your current WIPs? Two big fluffy cowls for a client. One Clementine Cowl by Spincycle Fibers for funsies: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/clementine-11

29. Do you have any projects currently in time out? They’ve been in time out so long that I don’t actually know what they are. When I come across ones like that, I tend to rip them and start over with something new.

30. Which WIP have you been working on the longest? The Clementine Cowl. Mostly because I’ve been working on client stuff.

31. Where do you store your WIPs? In my favorite yarn bag.

32. What was the last project you had to frog? Why? It was a hat that I froggged because I got bored of it.

33. What is the most frustrating experience you’ve had with a project? It wasn’t even my project, but helping my mom start her “Find Your Fade” shawl was a nightmare. I’ve passed her in skill level and so she now thinks I know everything and can fix any mistake she makes. Also going to the yarn store with her has become a huge pet peeve. I can’t go look at anything because she just keeps going “FEEFO LOOK AT THIS!” and if I’m not close to her, she will yell my childhood nickname across the store until I come over to her.

Have you ever…?

34. Sold your work? One of my jobs!

35. Finished a full sized blanket? Never.

36. Had an interesting interaction with a stranger for crafting in public? Not really.

37. Had a household member complain about the size of your yarn stash? My dad! But he tries really hard to understands and buy my stuff for his girlfriend.

38. Been to a crocheting/knitting club or circle? I used to host one!

39. Written a pattern to share with others? In the works.

40. Purchased yarn only to decide you hated it? I think “hate” might be a strong word. But definitely bought something I loved in store and then became lukewarm about later.

41. Bought craft supplies in bulk? nope.

42. Participated in a crochet/knit along? Not yet!

43. Completed a year-long project? (Mood blanket, temperature blanket, etc) I don’t know if anything can hold my attention for a whole year. That’s crazy!

This or that?

44. Knitting, crocheting, or both? Knitting.

45. Patterns or improvise? Patterns until I feel comfortable enough with a concept to improvise.

46. Stick to one project or keep multiple going at once? Multiple. Mostly due to different lighting situations. My two client cowls are really dark so I work those during the day and then my lighter projects at night.

47. Wind new yarn or leave it as is? Leave as is right now. My ball winder broke! And hand winding is not my favorite.

48. Buy supplies online or in person? In person.

49. Make gauge swatches or hope for the best? Hope for the best unless fit is really important (re: sweaters)

Favorites:

50. Hook/needle size? I’ve been working a lot of things on 9s and 13s lately. I don’t really have a preference but I tend to do larger gauge fluffier projects in fall/winter and then small gauge light lacy projects in spring/summer.

51. Yarn you’ve worked with? That’s a tough question!! Really into everything Malabrigo right now. I love the squish and also the price point. It blocks nicely. Drapes well. I do love indie dyer Republic of Wool very much though! And Hedgehog Fibers. But like I said, price is important to me right now and I can’t price my stuff high enough to justify $26 per skein. So those are for personal projects only.

52. Stitch? Good ol’ knit stitch will always be my fave. I like playing with cabling and color before I fux with crazy stitches.

53. Yarn weight to work with? Have lots of love for DK currently.

54. Craft-related gift you’ve received? Gift cards!!

55. Type of project to crochet/knit? Shawls probably.

56. Crafting accessory? I have an enamel pin of a wool moth that says “Fuck off” from Spincycle Yarns. It’s on my small project bag. Find it here: https://spincycleyarns.com/collections/bling-miscellany/products/f-ck-off-wool-moth

57. Online supply store? Etsy! Support independent makers!!!

58. In-Person supply store? Portland has so many amazing yarn shops. Twisted, Close Knit, & Knitting Bee are my go-tos. The first two by my mom’s house and then Knitting Bee is the best one closest to my house. I interviewed to work at Starlight Knitting Society but they picked someone else and broke my heart so I’m temporarily avoiding them even though they have a lot of good stuff.

59. Yarn brand? See above.

60. Place for patterns? Ravelry

61. Hook/needle brand? HiyaHiya

Social media:

62. Do you have any social media accounts just for your craft? https://www.facebook.com/purlgrrrl/ , This tumblr, and working on Insta after FB gets fully launched.

63. Do you post WIPs on social media or just the finished products? I do lots of WIPs on my personal insta. I love seeing other people’s WIPs. They inspire me most.

64. If someone asked you to recommend other crafting blogs, which would you recommend? ahhhhh this could be a whole nother post by itself!! Not tagging those people here, but will do another post after this with my faves.

Post a photo of…?

65. Your yarn stash - It’s all covered up right now. Not super fun.

66. One of your WIPs

The Clementine Cowl and Marceline the puppy. :)

67. A finished project

(This piece is for sale)

68. Your craft space - I’m too lazy. don’t judge me.

69. Your collection of hooks/needles - Still too lazy.

70. Your first project (or earliest you have a photo of) - I don’t have any early photos on this computer!

71. Yourself!

Me, the puppers, and the fiance!

[markjsaterfiel66]

Hackbot in the Morning

I love coming in to work early; normally I get in around 6:45 a.m. Very few people are here at that time, and the ones that are? They get it. It’s about as close to freedom a working adult can expect.

On a particularly quiet morning very recently, I found myself thinking, “I’ve never made a bot with a Pi… isn’t that one of the things that everybody’s gotta do sooner or later? I wonder what it takes to actually get something up and running.”

So I decided that, with minimal effort and materials expended, I would give it a shot while there was nobody here to tell me otherwise – nothing fancy, just a platform that’ll drive around, to which I can ultimately attach more junk (it started with some junk reclaimed from other projects). Check the end of this post for a consolidated list of items used.

I started off with a Raspberry Pi 3 I mounted to an acrylic plate to try to give it some weight to hold it down when there’s a slew of cables stuck in it. I hit my pile of junk in my basement for more parts… and I came across this old project:

That there (above) is the remains of my “Little Dude” project I did a video for a while back, using servo wheels glued together as pulleys… good times, good times… Anyway, that’s a pair of gear motors (ratio unknown, whatever - let’s rock!) wired up to a TB6612 dual-channel motor driver good to 1.2A per channel. Sweet! This bot was just about building itself!

I figured could mount the motors and driver directly onto the acrylic with hot glue, although if anything got too hot, it would fall off. I decided to just really gum up the motors so any heat couldn’t melt all of the hot glue and stick to the edges of the driver board. This bot wouldn’t be drawing that much current. If I remember right the stall current on the motors is around 330mA, and we’ll be nowhere near that driving this little beastie around the office.

When it came to power, for initial testing I’d have to have all the cables and junk plugged in anyway, but Hackbot needed localized life support if he’s eventually going to romp free… not to mention headless operation. I could have started it with all the junk plugged in, then yank the keyboard, mouse and monitor out and set it on the floor, but that was definitely a short-term solution. I let that part go while I got the rudidments in place. In the meantime, I had to make a little regulator circuit with a 7805 – that should be good to an amp and a half, so it should cover me for the Pi and the motors. But a two-cell lipo is about 8.4V fully charged, and at a guess I’ll maybe draw 500mA average (totally ballparking here), giving me (8.4V - 5V)*0.5A = 1.7W to dissipate on that TO220. It would probably get hot unless I heatsink it.

Programming this in Python was easy enough, as it’s just GPIO manipulation. I wasn’t going to try and PWM the motor driver, as I had the gear motors and I knew they were slow. If they were faster, I might have had to worry about feeding them PWM to control the speed.

I then created a wiring diagram of sorts:

The hookup was simple enough. Each channel on the TB6621 is driven by three pins: [A/B]IN1 and [A/B]IN2, which determine the direction, and PWM[A/B], which allows you to adjust the speed of the channel through a PWM signal applied here. There’s also a standby signal (STBY) that will enable/disable both channels. That’s seven lines total, and they all get a GPIO line.

Running motor power through the RasPi wasn’t really the smartest thing I could do, but 1) the motors were originally rated for 6V and the lipo’s going to be more, and 2) I bet it wouldn’t be a problem at this stage, (though I wondered if I’d get motor noise back to the RasPi). Checking the TB6621 datasheet showed lots of noise-suppressing diodes on the motor outputs. Clearly, destiny wanted me to do this.

There were still a couple of things I needed to make this viable: wheels and a caster. Oh sure, I could have used those hot-glued servo wheels that were originally on the motors (check the first pic above) for some extra jank-factor. But I felt like I was already up against enough sketchy design, so I just bought them. Pro tip: that caster is a little tight at first. You can loosen it up by clamping that ball between the plastic with a pliers and giving it a little squeeze (not too much, as you can’t un-squeeze it).

After some hot glue magic plus a minimum of wiring, the bottom of Hackbot looked like this:

The top looks like this:

Now I had the physical platform close, but I still had to make a little regulator board. I figured it really didn’t need to be anything special, just an L7805 regulator, plus an electrolytic cap of 100uF or so on the output oughta do it. I gave it a two-pin male header to plug into the two-cell lipo, and snatched a micro USB plug from some unsuspecting cable to connect to the 5V out.

Then I mounted it on one of the stand-offs holding the RasPi down.

Another view:

The PCB that the regulator is mounted on is from an old product line of shaped PCB’s that we used to have, that one being a pentagon. It was lying around, so I used it. The idea here was that the battery will sit on top of the RasPi in some fashion (I can work out the specifics later) while plugged into that two-pin male header you see there.

From there, I turned to code. There’s definitely more junk to add, but that’s for another day. The car’s got wheels, right? Let’s go driving!

#Hackbot.py #Just a little test code to run around the floor a bit import RPi.GPIO as GPIO import time #a couple of delay constants leg = 2 turn = 0.5 #set up control pins for motor driver STBY = 31 AIN1 = 33 AIN2 = 35 PWMA = 37 BIN1 = 32 BIN2 = 36 PWMB = 38 GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD) #use board pin numbers #set the GPIO's to outputs GPIO.setup(STBY, GPIO.OUT) GPIO.setup(BIN1, GPIO.OUT) GPIO.setup(AIN1, GPIO.OUT) GPIO.setup(AIN2, GPIO.OUT) GPIO.setup(BIN2, GPIO.OUT) GPIO.setup(PWMA, GPIO.OUT) GPIO.setup(PWMB, GPIO.OUT) #set initial condiions, STBY #is low, so no motors running GPIO.output(STBY, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(AIN1, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(AIN2, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(PWMA, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(BIN1, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(BIN2, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(PWMB, GPIO.HIGH) #movement is governed by the 4 #following functions. These will #go into their own library, ultimately. def go_forward(run_time): GPIO.output(AIN1, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(AIN2, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(BIN1, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(BIN2, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(STBY, GPIO.HIGH) #start time.sleep(run_time) GPIO.output(STBY, GPIO.LOW) #stop def turn_left(run_time): GPIO.output(AIN1, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(AIN2, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(BIN1, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(BIN2, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(STBY, GPIO.HIGH) #start time.sleep(run_time) GPIO.output(STBY, GPIO.LOW) #stop def turn_right(run_time): GPIO.output(AIN1, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(AIN2, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(BIN1, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(BIN2, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(STBY, GPIO.HIGH) #start time.sleep(run_time) GPIO.output(STBY, GPIO.LOW) #stop def reverse(run_time): GPIO.output(AIN1, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(AIN2, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(BIN1, GPIO.HIGH) GPIO.output(BIN2, GPIO.LOW) GPIO.output(STBY, GPIO.HIGH) #start time.sleep(run_time) GPIO.output(STBY, GPIO.LOW) #stop #Then we make a simple driving patern and loop try: while True: #go forward go_forward(leg) #turn right? turn_right(turn) #go forward go_forward(leg) #turn right? turn_right(turn) #go forward go_forward(leg) #turn left turn_left(turn) #go forward go_forward(leg) #turn left turn_left(turn) #reverse reverse(leg) except KeyboardInterrupt: GPIO.cleanup()

To run this, I powered the Pi from my two-cell lipo with all the cables plugged in, just long enough to open a terminal window and run that code. Then, I quick-like yanked all the cords out, put it on the floor and let-r-rip!

Look at that thing lay it down! Am I right?? Those motors are really slow, and we don’t sell that particular one anymore. I want to say they’re geared 300:1…? Or maybe 300RPM? The concept is hereby proven, and I can change those motors out if I really want to.

Things I could have done better

1) Like I knew it would, the regulator gets hot. Not so hot that I can’t touch it, but I don’t want to for very long. The current draw is around 315mA sitting idle, and around 500mA-ish when we’re driving around, so it’s dissipating over 1.5W when driving. That’s a bit much for a TO-220 package by itself, so I should put a hunk of metal on it.

2) Running motor current through the Pi, while convenient for today, is kinda dumb for the long term. I can get away with it for now because the motor current is relatively low, but the current path between the USB plug and 5V on the header is in no way designed to do this. I should really run the motor voltage directly from the regulator.

3) Headless operation: plugging cables in and out to do this is no good. Pinocchio wanted to be a real boy; so does Hackbot.

4) Hot glue. You know what? The hot glue is working for me. Saved me a ton of time.

Those are the things that gotta happen before anything else gets added. What to add?

What comes next

There’s a bunch of GPIO left available on the Pi header, including SPI, I2C and UART interfaces, so there’s a lot of room for adding junk. I can’t add anything particularly analog, but I don’t think I need to. But anything with a digital interface is fair game – distance/proximity sensors, GPS, environmental sensors… it just depends on what your ultimate goal is, or what sensors you want play with. This would make an interesting mobile test platform for new gear.

For myself, I’m less about getting tiny bots to do my will, and more about, “That thing is sweet! I wish I was two inches tall so I could get in and drive!” So it’ll probably get a camera at some point, probably an OSD to keep me updated with various info. Then LEDs, Troll hair, googly eyes…

Recap: Materials Used

To extricate the list from my story-telling style:

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Break Away Headers - Straight

In stock PRT-00116

A row of headers - break to fit. 40 pins that can be cut to any size. Used with custom PCBs or general custom headers.

$1.50

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Raspberry Pi 3

27 available DEV-13825

Everyone knows and loves Raspberry Pi, but what if you didn't need additional peripherals to make it wireless. The Raspberry …

$39.95

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SparkFun Motor Driver - Dual TB6612FNG (1A)

Out of stock ROB-14451

The TB6612FNG Motor Driver can control up to two DC motors at a constant current of 1.2A (3.2A peak). Two input signals (IN1 …

$4.95

1

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Voltage Regulator - 5V

In stock COM-00107

This is the basic L7805 voltage regulator, a three-terminal positive regulator with a 5V fixed output voltage. This fixed reg…

$0.95

3

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Lithium Ion Battery - 1000mAh 7.4v

In stock PRT-11855

This high discharge LiPo is a great way to power any R/C, robotic, or portable project. This is an excellent choice for anyth…

$9.95

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Ball Caster Metal - 3/8"

In stock ROB-08909

This ball caster kit from Pololu includes a black ABS housing, a 3/8" diameter metal ball, two spacers (1/16" and 1/8" thick)…

$2.95

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Electrolytic Decoupling Capacitors - 100uF/25V

In stock COM-00096

Electrolytic decoupling capacitors 100uF/25V. These capacitors are great transient/surge suppressors. Attach one between the …

$0.35

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Micro Gearmotor - 130 RPM (6-12V)

Only 10 left! ROB-12281

These micro gearmotors are incredibly tough and feature full metal gears. They have a gear ratio of 210:1 and operate up to 1…

$12.95

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Wheel 32x7mm

In stock ROB-08901

This custom-designed plastic wheel from Pololu has a silicone tire measuring 1.26" (32 mm) in diameter and is designed to fit…

$6.95

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