#Diy projects for October and September

[kentnaturaltribrid]

Finished up with a few other things on some stickers, but couldn’t go without having some sort of symbol to put on the side of it either, or at least enough of the side that it would still leave room for a few other things. Thought I could fit something on the lid, till I realized how large some of the side was and the thing I was working with as well. So, went with the side instead and ended up decorating the lid with a smaller sticker. Though, still turned out pretty well. Still have a few more things to add to the collective, but couldn’t go without a few larger scale things having some of them as well, still have two that are waiting for an item, but the rest have found their home. Haven’t got around to much else either for the items, but still going pretty good so far.

Each one has space for about 1 to sometimes 4 decorations at maximum on some of them, but some have space for only about 3 to 1 scale of the size depending upon the length and sizes of the piece. However, still had the space and it’s now ready. Been busy with finding space for things, they’re all finding spots except for waiting on the larger scale of some things for the item that will personality fit the quality. Though, found most things a place.

[new-holocene]

ode to abandoned projects

normally i dedicate my public facing social media accounts solely to sharing my finished artwork, but I figure some reflection on the past few years of my development as an artist would be worthwhile. I was initially trying to find an old gmod map I made (I didn't find it), and in the process I found a number of screenshots of WIPs spanning the past 7 years. for many of these projects, they were abandoned because I got too busy with school/university.

from march 2017. made in unity. I don't remember the specifics of this project. I think I was trying to make a short narrative walking sim.

from december 2017. I wanted to make a short smw romhack. I remember drawing level designs on a spare piece of paper after finishing a secondary school exam early. one day I'll make a romhack, one day...

from may 2018. I had just replayed marble blast ultra after finding it had a PC port. shortly after I found all the textures were just in the game files and could be modified easily. myself and an old friend wanted to make a 'games repainted'-esque mod. I claim full credit for every marble game since that's included a 🤔marble skin.

from march 2020. a mockup of a piece I was calling 'alignment chart' for the first time I had ever applied for a bursary. this used a mixture of generative art pieces i made in processing and graphic design. this piece is interesting to look back on because it marked the development of my art style for the first time, and the psuedo-cuneiform generator ended up being a recurring feature of my art. my application was rejected because i did not read the terms and conditions to realise it wasn't open to university students - and I was still studying computer science at the time.

from may 2020. I was aiming to participate in the low res game jam but never got to finish due to university work taking up my time. I never fleshed out the mechanics of the game, but the goal was to take care of the tree in the center of the map. it doesn't look like much, but I really pushed myself (or rather, tortured myself) by not using a game engine and writing this in C++ with raylib instead.

from april 2020. this was going to be a browser based demake of five nights at freddy's (a game I've never played and have no interest in) titled "five years at yanderedev's". I figured that it felt too close to participating in lolcowing someone and that it was in bad spirits, so I scrapped it.

from september 2020. a mockup of my homepage sharpfourth.net. I kept the logo and general layout for whats on the site currently, but didn't include the scanner warped images.

from october 2020. I wanted to make a walking sim in the quake engine, but once again, university work got in the way. however, this got me familiar with the basics of using trenchbroom (a map editor for quake), which came in very, very handy for later projects.

from october 2021. myself and some close friends had planned to make a zine detailing how to do DIY feminising HRT in Ireland (and maybe the UK). we never got around to writing it (partly because we feared potential legal repercussions for disseminating medical advice lol), but this marked a further development of my art style.

from october 2021. I had hoped to make a first person RPG in godot. once again scrapped because I got too busy with uni. I spent ages trying to implement a wonky movement system that could be exploited, being inspired by bhopping from source or strafe jumping from quake. the dialogue system was the last thing I worked on. I used trenchbroom again - this time with qodot - for making the prototype map. while making this demo, I realised the potential use of godot and trenchbroom in visual art, something i would revisit during my first gallery residency.

from march 2022. this might be the most unassuming piece in this collection, but it marks a significant turning point in my life. I was tasked with making diagrams for a group project in uni, but given that I was facing extreme burnout and apathy towards the course, I instead "doodled" with the elements of the diagram. this spiraled into me writing my zine/short-story EATARTHU, which I then used to apply for a gallery residency. I was fortunate enough to get the residency, and I dropped out of college to pursue art.

as discouraging as it might be to constantly start and abandon projects, it's important to stop and remember that ever single abandoned game or drawing or album or whatever marked a chance for you to learn and develop as an artist. one day you might very well finish a project, and it'll reflect a bit of every single abandoned one of its precursors.

[sahrademir]

statistics | connections spreadsheet | headcanons | pinterest

ABOUT

Full Name: Sahra Almira Demir

Nickname: N/A

Age/DOB: March 17, 1992 (33)

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Gender: Cis Female

Place of Birth: Briar Ridge, SC

Neighborhood: Beach Front (lives with her best friend, @lia-lozano)

Sexual/Romantic Orientations: Bisexual / Biromantic

Religion: Muslim

Occupation: Former Host of a Home Reno Show on HGTV (kind of like Flip or Flop, Fixer Upper, and Good Bones), Current part time (2-3 days/nights a week) bartender 

PERSONALITY

Goals/Desires: To make a place for herself by herself in the design world, to get her own show on a network not connected to her former fiance, learn how to ride a bike 

Fears: Bed bugs, free falling, breaking a bone

Hobbies: Those diamond ‘paintings’ (she was influenced okay?), hand knitting, yoga, walking along the beach, karaoke, learning to cook, teaching herself various DIY skills (soldering, woodwork, etc); really she just loves to learn new things whether that be a skill or information

Likes & Dislikes: the smell of wet paint, singing in the shower, anything smothered in cheese, backwards ballcaps, movie soundtracks, laughing so hard no sound comes out, crispy french fries, that spark of inspiration at the beginning of a new project, bubble baths, manifesting, ocean sounds, extra ice, fuzzy socks, semi-frozen uncrustables with raspberry jelly // mismatched patterns, ikea furniture, clothes with high collars, unread notifications, unpainted nails, daylight savings, her retainer, raw onions, being rushed, dares, having to make any kind of appointment, the smell of ketchup, putting the dishes away, cold pizza, getting sawdust in her hair, broken nails

TLDR;

Sahra is 32 and was born and raised in Briar Ridge. Big middle child energy (probably because she is a middle child). Was a theater kid in high school, very much loves to sing and dance. Moved to New York City after high school graduation to pursue her (at the time) dream of becoming a Broadway star. While she was a struggling wannabe artist she was making Youtube videos/vlogs of her fixing up her small af studio apartment. Slowly, as her Broadway dream became less and less of a reality she quickly fell in love with DIY and design so she juggled going to school for design, a classic waitress job, and auditioning for shows and voice and dance lessons, etc. She met who she thought would be the love of her life (spoiler alert: he wasn't), and got a solo as a chorus line member in a big show around the same time. Things were looking amazing, the guy's family's company (HGTV) was even interested in her getting her own DIY show. She ended up moving to LA and got said show with ex man. They shot to stardom (think like... Flip or Flop or Chip and Jo Gaines kind of thing) with their show and got engaged. Things were so great until they weren't. Long story short, their engagement ended because she wouldn't convert to his religion- at least that was the excuse he gave. She moved back to BR six months ago, completely heartbroken, and moved in with her childhood bestie, Lia Lozano. Her ex has recently been seen with another woman and it’s made her question everything she thought she knew about him and their relationship.

TIMELINE

March 1992 - Born & Raised in Briar Ridge

June 2010 - Graduated High School

August 2010 - Moved to New York City to pursue her Broadway dreams

September 2016 - Met and started dating her future fiancé, Kyle

March 2017 - Was cast in Hamilton's ensemble at the Richard Rodgers Theater (she even had a solo!)

May 2018 - Moved to Los Angeles with Kyle to begin filming their DIY Reno Show for HGTV (think of it as a combo of Flip or Flop and Fixer Upper)

February 2022 - Got engaged on Valentine's Day, with Kyle proposing while cameras for their show were rolling

June 2024 - Her engagement, relationship, and show ended in one fell swoop

July 2024 - Moved back to Briar Ridge to mend her broken heart & moved in with her best friend, Lia

End of October 2024 - Starts working as a part time bartender for both The Rusty Spur and Golden Hour

November 2024 - In a 'I'm totally ready for this' (but not really) moment, she redownloaded social media and unblocked her ex's name from her phone only to find out he was married now and his new wife? Well she was eight months pregnant (yes, the math wasn't mathing)

Mid-January 2025 - Finds out Kyle and his new wife named their daughter the name Sahra had planned to name her daughter (her great grandmother's name) and she threw her phone into the ocean in anger and hasn't replaced it yet

BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Briar Ridge, Sahra is the middle child of Ayda and Zekai Demir- two first generation Turkish immigrants who met in college and fell in love

Was raised in a very loving, but oftentimes strict Muslim household - while she rebelled in her own ways, she never felt like she couldn’t tell her parents something or couldn’t go to them with a problem - the Demir’s were and continue to be a close knit family unit

It’s said (by her tbh) that she was singing and dancing before speaking and walking, and while that’s a bit of an exaggeration Sahra has been musically inclined since she was small

It was a surprise to absolutely no one when the oftentimes dramatic middle child grew into a theater kid

It was also no surprise when, after graduation, Sahra decided to leave Briar Ridge and move to New York City to pursue her longtime dream of becoming a Broadway star

Of course, getting into that scene and becoming the big headlining name she dreamed of wasn’t an easy task, so while doing everything she could- auditions, voice lessons, dance lessons, networking- to achieve her dream, she was also waitressing and fixing up the small studio apartment she lived in with two other people

While fixing up the apartment she recorded herself and posted it to YouTube, creating a channel that was mainly for herself and her family, but ended up garnering quite a following over the years

As much as she loved performing, she found her heart was being pulled in another direction- design

So amidst her lessons and auditions and job, Sahra found herself going to school for Interior Design while learning as much as she could about DIY from other YouTube videos and phone calls with her dad

Things were going well for a girl far away from home in her early 20s, she had a good group of friends, her YouTube channel was thriving, she was finally making a name for herself (albeit a small one) in the world of Broadway, and she’d met a man who captured her heart faster than anyone had before

And it only got better from there- her relationship thrived as did her career, and the vlog she’d created for her apartment makeovers was more popular than ever. She was on track to get everything she’d ever wanted, everything she’d worked so hard for, and she was happy. So happy.

Sahra and her boyfriend moved in together, she got a solo in one of the biggest shows on Broadway and her design degree. New York was home now and she couldn’t imagine it being any better, but then her boyfriend dropped a bomb she hadn’t been expecting but she also wasn’t opposed to: he had an opportunity for both of them in LA and would she be willing to move?

Her gut reaction had been an instant no. How could she leave everything she’d been working so hard for behind? However, as much as she loved performing, she found that design had been where her heart was leading her for the past couple of years and the move to Los Angeles would allow her not only to follow that dream, but would put her back with her best friend

So she made a choice that should have been more difficult than it was- she agreed to move with her boyfriend to LA, closing the Broadway chapter in her life to open a new, home renovations one with the love of her life while getting to spend time in the same city as her favorite person for the first time since they both left their hometown after high school

But as Newton said all those years ago, what goes up must come down, and Sahra had gotten so high the subsequent fall nearly ended her

In the five years she spent in LA, Sahra built a life and a home for herself she thought would be forever. The show she’d curated with her now fiance (and the help of his family) had opened doors to new endeavors she’d never even dreamed of- design and renovations had become her life, one she loved and enjoyed, but it all came crashing down around her when her relationship was thrown into peril

The wedding planning during a break in filming for their show had been going better than Sahra could have ever dreamed, however, she hadn’t noticed just how disconnected to it all her fiance had been, and when it came time for him to present her with their prenup everything changed

It was a standard contract, one Sahra hadn’t been surprised or offended by- his family had a lot of money (they were the majority owners of HGTV after all), but there’d been a clause added that had her stopping in her tracks and digging her heels in

Her relationship with religion hadn’t ever been strong by any means, but she was raised in a Muslim household and she participated in Islam in a way that suited her. It wasn’t nearly as strict as her parents would have liked it to be, but at least she believed

It’d never been an issue in her relationship, their differing religions, as neither of them was especially devout, but while reading over the prenup she found a clause requiring her to convert to his religion so they could have a traditional ceremony

She thought it’d been a mistake, and when she’d approached her fiance about it he confirmed her naive suspicions and told her not to worry about it- that it’d be taken care of and everything would be fine. But it wasn’t.

As time went on she found her fiance pressuring her to just do as his parents asked, she didn’t actually have to believe in the religion, but they were paying for the wedding, they were the reason she had everything in her life that she loved, so couldn’t she just do this one little thing for them?

His gentle prodding turned into forceful declarations, fights had behind closed (and open) doors. And for a while, Sahra had been teetering on the line of simply doing what they’d asked of her so she could continue to live in the fairytale life she’d come to know- besides, what would stop her from converting back to Islam once the ceremony was done? But she couldn't do it. And when she told her fiance, a man she’d been convinced would love and support her no matter what, he’d done the unthinkable by ending their engagement, their relationship, the show, and the life they’d built together 

In the blink of an eye Sahra’s entire world collapsed around her. The rose colored glasses she’d been wearing for so long had seemingly been ripped away and she was faced with a blinding reality she wasn’t quite ready for- even at 31

She found herself moving back to Briar Ridge once it was all said and done, her heart and confidence shattered

Sahra’s now been back in town, living with her best friend, for six months. She’s still not fully ready to face the way her life has changed so drastically, but she’s still got her dreams and her online following. So while she’s navigating all of the changes in her life, she’s doing small projects around Lia’s beach house and trying to find joy again. It’s a slow process, but one she’s certain she’ll succeed in as long as she follows her heart and has her best friend by her side

She’d made some great progress, even finding herself a job as a part time bartender at The Rusty Spur and Golden Hour, when her media blackout involving her ex was broken and she found out some Earth shattering information- not only was he married now, but he also had a two month old daughter with his new wife. The math wasn’t mathing and she realized he’d had an affair, canceling her own self imposed media blackout and unblocking his name from her phone

It was then she found out the way he’d talked about her and their relationship to the media, stating he always knew they weren’t compatible, she wasn’t right for him, they didn’t have the same values. But his new wife did. And Sahra was right back to being as broken as she’d been when their relationship had first ended

Now, Sahra is back to wallowing in self pity and heading down a bit of a self destructive, chaotic path

WANTED CONNECTIONS

The usual suspects – childhood friends, coworkers, people she met/knows from New York and her time in LA, first kiss, first time, exes from high school and before she met her former fiance, hook ups, theater friends, DIY friends, people she knows through her siblings, etc.

The Crying Hookup – Sahra is in a bit of a fragile state emotionally (when is she not tho lbr), and while she’s convinced all she needs to do to get over her ex is to get under a few new people… she finds herself in a bit of an awkward situation when she’s mid hookup and begins to cry before grabbing her clothes and getting the hell out of there (I just think this would be really funny, especially if there’s a second hookup that this happens with and she’s like ‘not again’)

Angry Neighbor(s) – Not only is Sahra not afraid of using power tools but lately her sleep schedule has been a bit… wonky, so she’s found herself doing little projects at odd hours. Lia probably sleeps with ear plugs in at this point but her neighbors? Not so much. She also has a bad habit of singing, no, belting, show tunes at the top of her lungs while working. With a little bit of Taylor Swift mixed in bc heartbreak. Obviously this person/these people aren’t too pleased with the noisy interruptions to their sleep/relaxation time

HGTV/DIY Addicts – People who watched her show/fans! It’s a really sore subject right now but she wouldn’t ever take it out on someone who recognizes her from her show. It did run for several seasons and was pretty popular! She also has her TikTok channel, YouTube channel, and personal & professional Instagram accounts. Would love if someone knows who she is and maybe asks her to help them with a project they want to try!

The Contractor - IDK if you've ever seen the show Flip or Flop with Tarek and Christina El Moussa (I know they're divorced and she has a different last name but I cannot be bothered to find it now) but they buy houses and flip them. They're a design team and they have a contractor who helps them out on all their jobs. This would be the contractor from the show Sahra worked on with her ex. I think it would be a fun connection to explore! Maybe her ex implied they were having an affair to make himself look better? Maybe he paid off the contractor to stay quiet when he was caught? Maybe the contractor left bc they didn't like how Sahra was ousted/treated and they're close friends? I just think it would be a fun dynamic to create/explore and to have a part of the life Sahra's currently mourning here in Briar Ridge! (Will probably be putting a wc out for this character but figured I'd put it here so I don't forget about it lol)

[accapitalmarket]

UK inflation drives UK100 higher, GBP flat ahead of FOMC

UK stocks edged higher on Wednesday as the latest inflation figures rose, and investors eyed the last policy announcement from the US Federal Reserve of 2025.

On foreign exchanges, sterling was essentially flat against the dollar at 1.2710 and a smidge lower versus the euro at 1.2107 after UK inflation notched up a second consecutive monthly rise.

The annualised consumer price index (CPI) rose to 2.6% in November, up from 2.3% in October, in line with expectations, but still the highest level since March this year. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.1%, compared with a fall of 0.2% a year previously.

UK100 H4

Core CPI, which strips out the more volatile elements of energy, food alcohol and tobacco, rose by 3.5% in the 12 months to November, up from 3.3% in October but below forecasts for a rise to 3.6%.

Other data on Wednesday showed that UK house prices rose by 4.8% in 2024, according to a year-end report from mortgage lender Halifax, with the average house price reaching a record level of £298,083. Meanwhile, Office for National Statistics data showed the average UK house price increased by 3.4% in the 12 months to October, ticking upwards from 2.8% in September, with the average house price in October at £292,000.

The Bank of England meets on Thursday to make its latest decision on interest rates and is widely-expected to keep the cost of borrowing on hold. The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has trimmed rates twice this year but remains hesitant about sticky inflation.

Most eyes, however, were on the US rate decision, due to be announced at 7.00pm GMT. Most traders are expecting a 25 basis points cut by the Fed, which is fully discounted by the markets. Apart from the rate decision, market attention will be on the updated rate projections and comments from Fed chair Jerome Powell.

In London, around 2.30pm GMT, the FTSE 100 index was up 0.1% at 8,204, while the FTSE 250 index was ahead 0.4% at 20,623.

British Airways and Iberia owner IAG featured among the FTSE 100 gainers, adding 2.1% after analysts at Jefferies hiked their price target for the airlines group to 350p from 270p in a sector review.

Kingfisher edged up 0.5% as the DIY retailer announced the sale of its Brico Dépôt business in Romania to retailer Altex Romania for €70mln (around £58mln).

GBPUSD H1

But on the downside, National Grid shed 0.9% as the energy distributor released its RIIO-T3 Business Plan detailing investments of up to £35bn over a five-year period from April 2026. On the second line, Games Workshop – which will join the FTSE 100 index next week - added 0.4% as Warhammer games firm rewarded shareholders with an 80p-per-share dividend, bringing year-to-date returns to 265p, a substantial increase from the 195p paid out in the same period in 2023.

But among the FTSE 250 fallers, Transact platform owner IntegraFin dropped 9.7% as caution about rising administrative costs next year offset full-year results which showed a 17pc improvement in funds under direction to £64.1bn, driven by net inflows of £2.5bn.

And on AIM, discount shoe retailer Shoe Zone plunged by 42.2% as it warned on profits and said it had been forced to close some stores due to National Insurance changes announced in October’s UK Budget.

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[thedruidsdenexotics]

Week of 9/9

This week we made progress by paying off the last half of our first DIY bioactive terrarium. I have scheduled to pick it up during the next expo in a couple of weeks.

I'm excited to get this terrarium set up. This is my first bioactive terrarium. I'm glad that I was able to find a local bioactive supplier who has these kits available because I was a bit overwhelmed trying to figure out how to do my own background. It will also be nice to have a resource in case my anxiety gets the better of me and convinces me that something normal is a concern.

Plant Project

Nothing major to report. All the clippings seem to be doing well but I haven't seen any new growth on them.

I did see new growth on the polka dot plant! I'm excited to see where it is in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a couple of cuttings from it by the end of the year.

Upcoming Expos

September 29th -- Salt City Reptile Expo Fall Show

October 5th -- Finger Lakes Reptile Expo Fall Show

What's Next?

Outside of anything truly major happening, such as losing any of the pothos cuttings, I don't expect too much to update the next couple of weeks. I'm trying to remind myself that there are going to be times of waiting and that's okay. I'm still on the right track for the goals I've set and that is all that matters.

[robotsblog]

MangDang's Kickstarter project "MD Robot Kit: Unlock your AI Robot Engineering Dream Job" aims to promote the creativity and technical know-how of robotics enthusiasts. It offers two main robots, each addressing different needs and interests. https://youtu.be/RTWPEQfL-2g The first robot, the Mini Pupper, is available in several versions, including Mini Pupper 1, Mini Pupper 2, and the 2G and 2GA models. This robot is a low-cost, personal quadruped kit that comes with open-source software. The Mini Pupper supports multimodal generative AI platforms such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and AWS's Claude. It is also compatible with ROS1 and ROS2, which expands its capabilities in the areas of SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) and navigation. The integration of OpenCV allows the robot to perform deep learning with cameras. Thanks to the use of Raspberry Pi and Arduino, the Mini Pupper offers high adaptability and expandability, making it ideal for developers who want to realize their own projects. The second robot presented is the Turtle Robot, which will be available soon. This robot is specifically aimed at schools, homeschooling families, and robot enthusiasts. While detailed specifications have not yet been fully released, it is clear that the Turtle Robot also aims to support learning and creativity in the field of robotics. The campaign itself has set a funding goal of 9000€ and has clearly exceeded it with a sum of just under 19000€, which corresponds to over 200% of the original goal. The campaign runs from September 5, 2024 to October 5, 2024 and has attracted 80 supporters so far. A standout feature of the MD Robot Kits is their open-source nature, which allows users to assemble the robots in less than an hour. This makes them particularly accessible to a wide range of audiences, ranging from educational institutions to DIY enthusiasts. The project is designed not only to impart technical knowledge, but also to promote the joy of creating and customizing robots. 1. Mini Pupper: Versions: Mini Pupper 1 (2021), Mini Pupper 2 (2022), Mini Pupper 2G & 2GA. Design: A low-cost, personal quadruped kit with open-source software. Features: Supports multimodal generative AI such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and AWS's Claude. It is compatible with ROS1 and ROS2 for SLAM & navigation and is based on OpenCV for deep learning with cameras. Extensibility: Uses Raspberry Pi and Arduino, which allows for high adaptability. Open-source platform: The Mini Pupper supports the Robot Operating System (ROS) and offers features such as SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) and navigation. It is equipped with lidar and camera sensors that allow it to map its surroundings and move autonomously Technical specifications: The robot has 12 degrees of freedom, made possible by advanced servo motors. These motors provide feedback on acceleration and force, which allows precise control. Hardware and expandability: The Mini Pupper uses the Raspberry Pi 4B or the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 as the central processing unit and is equipped with an ESP32 as a microcontroller. It has an IPS display with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, a microphone, speakers and a touch sensor. Adaptability: Thanks to its open-source nature, the Mini Pupper can be modified deeply. Users can add their own modules and customize the robot for different projects, such as tracking objects in space. Education and community: The Mini Pupper is ideal for schools and homeschooling families. It comes with comprehensive guidance and resources to help you get started with robotics. Users can become part of a global community to share ideas and get support. Price and availability: As part of the Kickstarter campaign, the Mini Pupper will be offered in different versions, with the base model costing around 479 euros. Delivery is scheduled to begin in February, with supporters aware of the financial risk of crowdfunding campaigns.

2. Turtle Robot: Open-source project: The Turtle Robot is based on Arduino and is an open-source project that supports the integration of generative AI. This allows users to customize and expand the robot. Affordability: The Turtle Robot is a low-cost learning platform for multimodal generative AI and comes at an introductory price of 60% off $99. This makes it particularly attractive to educational institutions and DIY enthusiasts. Ease of use: The robot is designed to be set up and put into operation within a week. This makes it easier for beginners to start learning and experimenting quickly. Support and resources: MangDang offers comprehensive support across multiple channels, as well as access to all code and design files via a GitHub repository. Users can print the STL design files and contribute their own ideas. Multimodal Generative AI: The Turtle Robot uses advanced AI technologies that enable continuous voice interactions. The AI can remember previous conversations and give personalized answers based on them. Application examples: There are two Arduino projects that can be used with the Turtle Robot: one for testing individual functions and another that performs all functions via voice control. Availability: The Turtle Robot was available as part of the Kickstarter campaign until October 2024 and will be available in an online store after that. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mdrobotkits/md-robot-kits-open-source-support-your-genai-creativity?ref=txm87x

[cindybanksteam]

How to Get a Jump on Fall Home Projects

Starbucks just released a new pumpkin flavored drink and the Halloween gear is starting to replace the patio furniture outside the supermarket. That must mean fall is near. If you’re anything like us, the first freeze hits us and we remember all those projects we wanted to do and never started—projects that will help protect our house and make it run more efficiently. This year, we’re starting early to get our house ready for the cold, and you can too. 

Consider your window coverings

Conventional wisdom says you should trade out your lightweight draperies for something more substantial for the colder seasons. But sheers are great in fall and winter. Letting some sunlight trickle through can help heat the home while still providing privacy, and they can be added to any window, regardless of the type of treatment you already have. 

Mulch. That. Yard. 

“Should you mulch plants in the fall? The short answer is: yes! Mulching around plants in autumn has all kinds of benefits, from preventing soil erosion to suppressing weeds to protecting plants from moisture loss and shifts in temperature,” said Gardening Knowhow. 

Invest in some covers for your good patio stuff

Every year we say we’re going to do this and every year we fail. Consequently, we had to replace our patio cushions this year far sooner than we would have liked. Don't be like us. You can prolong the life of your patio furniture and grill with a good waterproof cover. “During the warmer months, your outdoor patio furniture likely gets a lot of use,” said Hayneedle. “In colder months, you probably spend less time outside and thus less time utilizing your outdoor furniture. If you live in an area that has a cold or wet climate in the winter, you will need to take steps to make sure that your patio furniture is properly protected from the elements.” 

Get your heater checked 

We get it. No one wants to turn their heater on when it’s 100 degrees outside. But what you really don’t want is to be faced with a broken heater when it’s 0 degrees outside. See if you can make an appointment now to get your system checked in October, and if your chosen company doesn’t schedule appointments that far in advance, at least make an appointment with yourself to make another call at the end of September.

Clean out your gutters

Clogged gutters can pose a danger to your home. Get them cleaned out now to make sure rain and snow can flow freely and aren’t being impeded by leaves and debris. 

Do a chimney check 

Schedule this well in advance to make sure you can safely use your fireplace when the first chilly night hits.

Get a tree inspection

Heavy rain, wind, and snow can put pressure on tree limbs. You don’t want them snapping and ending up crashing through your roof or breaking a window. This is the perfect time to have them checked out.

Examine your utilities 

Check current bills against the same time last year. Has your electric bill gone up dramatically year over year? You could have an air leak that needs to be addressed (more on that below). Is your water bill significantly higher than 12 months ago? You may have a dripping showerhead, a running toilet, or a problem with your hot water heater. Time to call a plumber!  

Check for leaks around windows and doors

About those air leaks: Little leaks can cost you big time, and the sooner you deal with them, the sooner you can start saving money. “An average home loses up to 30% of its heating and cooling energy through air leaks,” said Houselogic. “The most significant air leaks tend to occur around windows and doors.”

You can easily check for leaks with incense. “With windows and doors closed, hold a lit stick of incense near window and door frames where drafts might sneak in. Watch for smoke movement,” they said. Then it’s just a matter of adding caulking and weather stripping—both easy and inexpensive DIY fixes.

[stampwithtami]

With Love & Gratitude Paper Pumpkin Kit Alternates

SEPTEMBER KIT ALTERNATE PROJECTS It’s time for our APPT – “A Paper Pumpkin Thing” blog hop and it is full of inspiration. This month we’re sharing alternate ideas featuring the September 2023 “With Love & Gratitude” Paper Pumpkin kit. Take the blog hop below for more inspiration. 🎁🎨 Have you ever opened a Paper Pumpkin kit to find a surprise that could transform into an ultimate DIY gift?🔮🎉 That’s what happened when I opened my September Paper Pumpkin Crafting Kit. I fashioned a stunning gift set featuring a delicate edge on the gift bag, masterfully crafted with the Around the Bend edgelit die. This charming creation was further enhanced with a coordinating card that was simply irresistible. Below are the detailed instructions for you to create these. Remember, refills are available while they last, so stock up!What comes up in October? 🎃🍁 It's an adorable "Home of the Holidays" kit that you wouldn't want to miss! So, don't forget to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin and let your creative spirit soar! INSTRUCTIONS INSTRUCTIONS GIFT SET PHOTOS Want to save these ideas for later? Pin them to your favorite Pinterest board. Have you tried these designs? I love to see your creations! Be sure to share them on #shareyourcrafts post every Saturday on my Facebook Page. Here's the projects I made with this month's Paper Pumpkin kit. Both the projects per the kit instructions along with my alternate gift set.  I added die cuts from the kit to both the gift bag and card.  I love how the Around the Bend edgelit looks on the top of the bag.    I used a bag for the background pattern for the card to coordinate.  I added some Pastel Rhinestones to the top.  2 gift bags created with the kit. These are the projects that the kit created.   BLOG HOP SUPPLIES I USED Read the full article

[demifiendrsa]

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fall Update. Fall Update will launch on September 30, 2020.

Fall update includes the following:

Growing Pumpkins – Deck out your home and island for all your awesome autumnal occasions by first purchasing pumpkin starts in-game from Leif year-round or from Nook’s Cranny during October. Once your pumpkins are grown, they can be harvested and put to use in pumpkin-based DIY projects.

Prepare for Halloween – Pumpkins are just the beginning of the Halloween-themed festivities coming to your island. With the big day just around the corner, you can start stocking up on candy early. Find your style for Halloween night by purchasing costumes, like a mage’s dress, at the Able Sisters shop during the month of October. You can even procure body paint and colored eye contacts by exchanging Nook Miles. You'll also be able to learn Halloween DIY projects from your fellow residents. On Halloween night, your neighbors will be getting in the holiday spirit with costumes of their own.

Halloween Night Celebrations – When Halloween night arrives on Oct. 31, after 5 p.m., neighbors will gather in the plaza, which will be adorned with an array of Halloween decorations. You’ll also receive a visit from a mysterious guest, Jack, the “czar of Halloween.” By giving Jack lollipops and candy, you’ll earn spooky in-game rewards. Be sure to save some candy for your neighbors, too, or you might get pranked! Luckily, you can learn a couple of new Reactions to properly express your feelings of fear.

Revisiting Dreams – The ability to take a nap and visit other islands within dreams was introduced this summer. Now, you'll be able to easily revisit dreams from a list, making it even easier to visit some of your favorite islands.***

NookLink App Update – The NookLink Service in the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app is also receiving an update in early October. With the update, you’ll be able to use your smart device to perform Reactions in the game.**** How about trying it out for this occasion to let your island visitors know exactly how you feel about their mischievous tricks and treats?

[livsunit2]

Trend Report

pt2

This is the Burberry collection as you can see there are once again less bold colours and flowy garments with elements of lace which is also a reoccurring trend this year.

This is the Emporio Armani collection, as you can see there are many garments in the colour baby blue, once again all these looks are flowy and light which I belive is what these designers are trying to achieve by using these light colours.

Darling Denim

HÉLOÏSE SALESSY. (2022). The ultimate fashion trends to know for Spring-Summer 2023. [Online]. www.vogue.fr. Last Updated: 14 October 2022. Available at: https://www.vogue.fr/fashion/galerie/spring-summer-2023-fashion-trends [Accessed 5 January 2023].

These looks are Blumarine, Y/Project, and Marine Serre this trend is timeless as denim has been a fashion statement for years but this has a twist with an element of own personalisation and DIY element.

This is the collection by Blumarine, this collection is very unique and it is refreshing to see denim which is seen daily in an inventive almost messy way.

This collection by Y/PROJECT shows denim in a flowing elegant way but still with hints of messiness and DIY, I love this collection as it is something that I haven't seen before and I believe the trend of DIYing your own projects will be popular this year.

This collection is by Marine Serre, This collection has lots of patchwork denim which we have been seeing recently across social media from people DIYing it or throughout stores. I love this collection as it really showcases what colours and patterns you can make out of denim including details such as metal studs that have been slowly making their way into the trends again.

Boudoir Chic

Dolce and Gabbana NICOLE PHELPS. (2022). Dolce & Gabbana SPRING 2023 READY-TO-WEAR. [Online]. www.vogue.com. Last Updated: 24 September 2022. Available at: https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2023-ready-to-wear/dolce-gabbana [Accessed 5 January 2023].

Versace Vogue Runway. (2022). Versace Spring 2023 Ready-to-Wear. [Online]. www.vogue.com. Available at: https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2023-ready-to-wear/versace/slideshow/collection#48 [Accessed 5 January 2023].

Victoria Beckham Vogue Runway. (2022). Victoria Beckham Spring 2023 Ready-to-Wear. [Online]. www.vogue.com. Available at: https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2023-ready-to-wear/victoria-beckham/slideshow/collection#34 [Accessed 5 January 2023].

This is the new sexy look of ss 2023 with lots of lace details and a sexy slip dress. This boudoir look has been dominating evening wear and has been seen on multiple celebrities already. I believe this look is extremely empowering for women and should be accepted.

This is Victoria Beckham's runway for spring/summer 2023 and as you can see there are many garments with lace creating a sexy elegant look that has already been seen throughout 2022.

This is the Versace runway for spring/summer 2023, this collection includes many sheer pieces and lots of leather looks. This collection has many elements of nakedness. Quoted from Donatella Versace "A woman who is confident, smart and a little bit of a diva."

This collection by Dolce and Gabbana includes lots of tights and stockings essential to create a sexy look, Lots of garments also include lace and sheer flowing gowns, this is the perfect boudoir collection and I believe the sexiness of this will start coming back into mainstream fashion as many celebrities have been rocking this evening look.

Harvard Reference - Youtube Videos

FF Chanel. (2022). Burberry | Spring Summer 2023 | Full Show. [Online]. www.youtube.com. Last Updated: 26 September 2022. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx_9gJ8a71w [Accessed 5 January 2023].

Armani. (2022). The Emporio Armani Spring Summer 2023 Womenswear Fashion Show. [Online]. www.youtube.com. Last Updated: 23 September 2022. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFfCfF8D6Xs [Accessed 5 January 2023].

FF Chanel. (2022). Blumarine | Spring Summer 2023 | Full Show. [Online]. www.youtube.com. Last Updated: 22 September 2022. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgWNPwNqzus [Accessed 5 January 2023].

Y/PROJECT. (2022). Y/PROJECT SS 2023. [Online]. www.youtube.com. Last Updated: 24 June 2022. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFhMtLUoCbc [Accessed 5 January 2023].

FF Chanel. (2022). Marine Serre | Spring Summer 2023 | Full Show. [Online]. www.youtube.com. Last Updated: 25 June 2022. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLtfMdWH7AY [Accessed 5 January 2023].

Victoria Beckham. (2022). Victoria Beckham Spring Summer 2023 Spring Summer 2023. [Online]. www.youtube.com. Last Updated: 2 October 2022. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUYpjrMqPXs [Accessed 5 January 2023].

Versace. (2022). Versace Spring-Summer 2023 Women’s | Fashion Show | Versace. [Online]. www.youtube.com. Last Updated: 23 September 2022. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoKDrFyQDy0 [Accessed 5 January 2023].

FF Chanel. (2022). Dolce & Gabbana | Spring Summer 2023 | Full Show. [Online]. www.youtube.com. Last Updated: 24 September 2022. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpvgfc1mmvo [Accessed 5 January 2023].

[notwhelmedyet]

2022 Craft Project Roundup

it’s almost the end of 2022 and I had the thought - why not compile all my projects for the year in one post? It’d be fun (for me). So here we go!!

January - March: Ficbinding of my Taking Care Trilogy

A project I had been dreaming of even while I was writing these fics - I finally made fancy hand-bound copies of my longest fic series ever.

March: Straw Marquetry Panels

Big shoutout to Pipsqueak on the Renegade server who let me know that this shit exists, because it is the perfect intersection of things I like: natural materials, shiny things, geometric shapes, straw!. I discovered that straw marquetry is incredibly fiddly and time consuming and my initial thought of full ceilings or large murals was way overly ambitious. But I still love it, despite all it’s fiddliness

April - June: Various failed experiments with straw dyeing

There is a way to dye straw. It must exist. People sell dyed straw. But despite at least 10 attempts with fiber reactive and RIT dyes with various prep methods, I did not once succeed in getting dye to take to the outer shiny side of the straw. (I intended to make pink straw for the wedding guestbook later in this list)

May: Pieced cubical bulletin board covers

I decided to spice up my cubical a bit with some nice fabric covers over my bulletin boards, after a friend told me it was super easy to remove them & cover them with fabric via tacks. The green fabric I got turned out to be too short 🤦 so I got a jelly roll of rainbow batiks and pieced these funky covers together.

May - June : Pair of dyed historical-inspired tunics

Another project I’ve had in my head for years - using a medieval reenactment tunic tutorial to make my own shirts out of linen. Linen turns out to be fabulous to dye, unlike straw, which is evil. It does wrinkle the moment you look at it, but you just have to be chill with that.

June: First longstitch bookbinding

Inspired by the amazing works of queercore-curriculum I had decided to use a criss-cross longstitch for the wedding guestbook I planned to make for my friend A. This was my initial testbook, which I did on graph paper thinking I could use it as a journal. The graph paper turns out to be very thin and bad for journal writing but the book itself I am quite proud of :)

July: DIY alcohol stove (& knots!)

So in July I went to a natural building/strawbale construction workshop and I was going to need to cook for myself on the first day of camping - hence a brief research binge on alcohol stoves & how to DIY them. This is the simplest possible alcohol stove made out of a cat food can & while youtube will tell you to optimize by making it much more complicated it works fine for boiling water/making fancy curry mashed potatoes.

Also around this time I learned how to do several knots for having up my camping hammock, which isn’t exactly a craft but it’s not knot a craft ;)

July: Part of a house

oh fuck it, the house goes on the list. As part of the aforementioned workshop I (along with about 40 other people) assembled the strawbale walls for a family home. It was by far the most amazing experience I had in 2022. Like adult summer camp with more powertools & while learning skills I hope to someday turn upon a home of my own.

September: Pajama pant spectacular

In September I made two new pajama pants (one of rockin’ flannel and one of a nice purple shot cotton) and also repaired several old pairs (new elastic, added pockets, patched some holes etc). Yes I do patch pockets on pajamas, they’re not fashionable but they’re much more convenient for phone access while cooking.

October: Wedding Guestbook

A guestbook for my friend’s wedding, done in the style of that other longstitch book, but with more fancy things :3

November: Small notebook

Made a small notebook with the offcuts from the wedding guestbook for a friend gift exchange. I was very proud of this one; simple and sweet and finished in a single weekend (it helped that the pages were already deckled to size).

December: Paperboard desk organizer

I keep my downstairs stuff (pens, wallet, keys, etc) in a little basket downstairs so I don’t have to wander the house looking for them and I decided to finally make organizers for it so it wouldn’t be a melange of mess. Used scraps from my bookbinding supplies & they turned out pretty good considering I have 0 box making experience.

December: Tablet weaving/work lanyard

Another craft I’ve wanted to try for years: tablet weaving! I finally thought of an excuse one day at work while contemplating how much I hated my lanyard - it flipped around constantly and the keys made unending clanking noises when I walked. I might make a post on tablet weaving bc I am in love. I need to think of more excuses. It’s so good, so satisfying. It’s like the opposite of straw marquetry in terms of how much I enjoy it in the moment :p

[kyoupann]

I posted 6,683 times in 2022

That's 1,062 more posts than 2021!

65 posts created (1%)

6,618 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@thislittlemushroom

@fluent-in-lesbianism

@happyheidi

@timeturner-jay

@bringingtherain

I tagged 1,466 of my posts in 2022

#💐 - 50 posts

#ref - 50 posts

#ts3cc - 26 posts

#personal - 25 posts

#verdaderamente - 14 posts

#ask - 13 posts

#lmao - 12 posts

#ask game - 12 posts

#☀️🧡 - 11 posts

#so true bestie - 10 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#seeing any kind of diy project that requires power tools and thinking i can do it even though i've never used an electric drill in my life

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Book tracker!

I'm pleased to announce I completed this one spread without focusing on every single little thing. 🤧

80 notes - Posted June 21, 2022

#4

Tiny Four head I embroidered over the weekend while pretending to watch a show that made me think "hmmm this is the reason homophobia still exists today". Anyways, he wonky and he knows it 🐥

132 notes - Posted April 21, 2022

#3

Four has been diagnosed chronically miserable

259 notes - Posted September 29, 2022

#2

307 notes - Posted October 1, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

370 notes - Posted June 27, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[buttercupyarnart]

I posted 17,408 times in 2022

90 posts created (1%)

17,318 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@knithacker

@be-stitched

@skepticalknittingfairy

@dailypokemoncrochet

@embroiderycrafts

I tagged 169 of my posts in 2022

#buttercupyarnart - 82 posts

#yarn - 38 posts

#crafting - 34 posts

#youtube - 34 posts

#diy - 33 posts

#handmade - 31 posts

#asmr - 30 posts

#handknit - 29 posts

#fibreart - 28 posts

#knitting - 28 posts

Longest Tag: 115 characters

#like 'oh hey the fat chick made a sweater let's say nice things to make her feel good even though they're not true'

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Me, spending the birthday money my grandma gave me on obnoxious Halloween yarn to make an obnoxious Halloween pullover? It's a 100% guarantee

36 notes - Posted September 23, 2022

#4

I just finished making a baby blanket for my cousin who's due in February - the yarn came to me when her mom passed away, and I thought it would make a handmade gift even more meaningful.

38 notes - Posted November 20, 2022

#3

I finished Clue 1 of the Twists & Turns MKAL by Stephen West using BzyPeach yarn! This thing is going to be HUGE, this is just the first clue and it's already this big???

66 notes - Posted October 13, 2022

#2

Me: So, how do you think it would look if I use a neon rainbow variegated yarn to make an allover cable knit sweater?

Mom: You would hate it, it would look awful

Me: ...yes, that's the point

97 notes - Posted March 9, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

My brain has decided that I need to make all the shawls to get rid of my random skeins of fingering-weight yarn. Two of those random skeins are eye-searingly bright colors, one in ectoplasm green, the other in grassy greens and sunny yellows. I have decided to use them together in a single, eye-searing shawl that will offend all who look upon it. Coming in approximately five years when I manage to get through all the other fingering-weight projects in my queue.

140 notes - Posted June 28, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[futelco]

Druids of Sisyphus Gardens Log

2021 was marked by an increased interest in Druids and the Futel services. This took the form of experienced Futel users, blossoming friendships from repeat callers (what’s up Detroit!), and possibly a disappointed conspiracy theorist. As usual, many of our records are missing. Here’s what we got.

Feb 13 Detroit called back. Caller gave the phone to their friend to receive some Druidic advice for the New Year, I wasn’t feeling particularly wise or witty so I consulted the rocks. The rocks said “Be kind to others. And yourself!”, so I guess they weren’t feeling particularly creative either.

March Caller wanted to know what the Druid’s phone looks like. It’s a clear plastic phone from the 90s, like from Clarissa Tells It All. Caller said they became an architect because of the dad from that show.

April 7th Caller left a voicemail from St. Johns, curious if anybody would pick up on the Druid line. “This is pretty neat and made my day.”

June 4th Caller asked how I found myself on the end of a Druid Hotline? Gave them info on my life. Told them of a DIY Magic the Gathering card I altered. Caller was wearing a MTG t-shirt, but never played. We agreed Futel is the best art project in Portland.

June 5th Caller from Detroit asked for Druidic advice for their coast to coast bicycle trip they were on. Provided advice. I requested they call from a Futel node when they reached Portland.

June 6th Child caller said hello, asked what I was doing. I provided information. Exchanged names, and they said they had to go. I said to call back anytime.

June 18th Caller asked if I knew of or heard the term “bitch feet”. I hadn’t and couldn’t provide further information, as I had no internet access. They said I use the demultiplexer and hung up.

June 20th Caller asked about the Druid and “what is your job?”. Provided information about my life. Caller asked how to pay me money and couldn’t provide information. Instead directed them to donate to Futel. Thanked and appreciated each other, and wished a good night.

July 21 Caller expressed great joy. They had just spoken to Operator and was excited to use all features of Futel. Caller drove 5 hours from Pittsburgh to to use the Detroit Futel! They found out about it on the internet. Asked for Druidic knowledge to take back to Pittsburgh, extolled the virtues of Beavers as a keystone species. Wished them a fun telephoney time.

July 29 At 8 AM Caller on a Portland Futel wanted to thank me for the inspiration to make it to Portland by bicycle. I said oh no! Was it really smokey? Yes it was. I apologized. Good luck on your trip to Astoria!

August At 3 AM Caller asked if I spoke Gaelic. No. Oh, are you working? Uh, no, I’m a bit broken. Caller was trying to call a random concentration camp, but that wasn’t working either. Directed them to try again. Caller thanked me and wished good night.

August Caller left a voicemail. Caller wasn’t sure why they wanted to talk to the Druid, but they heard a lot about it, and ran really far to call. Sometimes we need someone to talk to who isn’t really ... there. Call back! Sometimes Druids are standing by.

September Operator left voicemail, from a new phone in NOPO. No call-back number yet.

September Two Callers asked questions about Futel. Second Caller asked if I flushed after peeing. Explained that the Druids do not have toilets nor do they pee into potable water.

October Child caller sounded distant. hi... hello! HELLO! I can’t hear you! Talked to parent who said they were walking in their neighborhood.

October Detroit called, we chatted about Fall and the yellow leaves.

October 31 Children callers left a voicemail wanting to know what breast implants are made out of.

November Caller called just as I was headed to the mailbox. Passed the phone to the other Druid, caller promptly hung up.

December Detroit left a voicemail. For the first time, there wasn’t a Druid to answer (for them). Hope to hear from you soon!

[easydiyvideos-blog]

Fall DIY Decor 2019 ~ Dollar General Fall DIY ~ Fall Dollar Store Decor ~ Fall Decorating Ideas

In this video I share 10 easy DIY Fall decor ideas. The best part is I only spent around $15! I hope you will be inspired to decorate your home for the beautiful fall season! :) 18x18 White Pillow Cover Stitch Witchery Rowenta Iron Silhouette Cameo Oracle Black Vinyl Oracle White Vinyl 2018 Fall Wreath Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RynaIMzKkpI Read the full article