Plushie is a pretty incredible useful looking piece of software for craftsters. Users sketch a 3D model for a plush toy (plushie/softie) and the software generates all the patterns for sewing together a plush toy. Print out the patterns and cut fabric, and begin sewing.
Via Making Time
Ahhhh yeah. Instructables user englighted shared her process for making the light suits worn by Daft Punk in the Alive 2007 shows. From her intro...
As a lighted costume designer, I get a lot of questions from people who want to know how to make their own EL wire costumes (many of them seeking to mimic the immensely popular Daft Punk red robot suits, which I illuminated for their Alive 2007 tour). I don't have time to help everyone individually, so I thought I'd consolidate my advice into one instructable. Hopefully this will help you understand the steps involved in this labor-intensive process, and get you started with your own lighted clothing projects.
Rather than describe how to make a single specific design, I am trying to make these instructions fairly general so you can create your own EL wire layout for almost any type of clothing, although many of my example photos refer to lighted coats. Also, since EL wire is very fragile in situations where it is flexed repeatedly, a lot of these tips will focus on methods for improving durability and getting the longest possible life out of the garment
Looks pretty damned time consuming, but I'll bet I'll see one of these walking around in October.
Am going to try real hard to make it to the Renegade Craft Fair with my son this weekend.
I had a little down time this evening, so I decided to make a pair of musettes (cycling feed bags). The left one is made from an pair of cotton cargo pants. It's a little heavy, so I won't be using that one on the bike. Should make a decent bag for walking around on foot. The one on the right is made from some very light denim. I can see carrying that on the bike. Both straps are made from webbed belts.
I actually was playing with making an origami business card holder for those moo cards you see in the middle photo. While playing with some paper folding, ended up making an origami notebook instead, and slid the moo cards into the side pocket.
The notebook is a design I took from one of my origami books (Origami: The Art of Paper Folding
I've actually been toting this along with me for my daily todo lists--as an adjunct tickler to the many 3x5 index cards that sit in my Action folder.
Oriland is the biggest, newest, and most imaginative paper world ever. See the origami tutorials in the learning center.
I was sitting at the StarBucks on 7th Avenue at 4:10pm on Thursday when the lights went out. It was wierd to be in a blackout in New York. A few of us kept working on our laptops on battery power before we walked out and realized the power outage was not just local to the coffee shop. Walking down 7th Ave. was wierd with all the people hanging around on the streets. But, when I found out that the blackout was widely affecting the North East, I started trying to locate R and L. With wife and son (R and L) found, and emergency supplies purchased, we began to make the most of the evening staying in the house as we heard the streams of people and cars making their way up Flatbush Avenue outside.
Entertaining L was the biggest challenge of the night, but we found a lot to keep him busy. Above, he's playing by booklight with his Bob the Builder cookies. He talks about them rather than eating them.
R was also smart enough to buy some craft supplies for us to play with. We made little pipe cleaner insects and played with all the pom poms. The glitter glue was a big hit. The glitter has found its way onto L's face everyday since we got it, making him look like he's ready to got out to a disco.
But the best idea of the night was R's shadow puppets and animal sillhouettes. Against candles and her booklight, they had fun casting the shadows of make believe animals. We later watched the shadows of L's plastic animals walk across the room as I moved the book light behind them. It was really sort of magical. All in all, the blackout was actually one of the most fun evenings we've spent in the house. Who needs electricity?
Tools for serious woodworkers and gardners. Carries strong circular rare earth magnets.
Smartpapers and the Smithsonian are holding a kite design contest for the 37th Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival. The winners' kite will hang in the Smithsonian. Unfortunately, they don't require that the kite be able to fly. What's the point in that? I got an invitation and am thinking of coming up with a design for a simple Indian Figher.