ASCII heart necklace

Craft & Design
ASCII heart necklace
ascii_heart_necklace.jpg

MAKE editor and master crafter Becky Stern designed and fabricated this rad ASCII Heart necklace using Sterling silver. She originally only made one for herself, but is now offering them for sale through her Etsy shop. It could be a great Valentines day gift for that special geeky someone!

16 thoughts on “ASCII heart necklace

  1. https://me.yahoo.com/a/zKSMpmEx3PV9MN12qjn_Gasa4sg19Q--#634ec says:

    First, let me say that I think this is an awesome necklace and I’m not suggesting that someone should attempt to remake this rather than buy from Becky Stern.

    However, I’ve noticed some posts of commercially available products come with the suggestion of a possible remake of the item, and others do not. Just in recent history:

    http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/12/table_folds_up_into_picture_frame_w.html

    http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/12/flooring_from_reclaimed_leather_bel.html

    http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/01/remake_macbook_hidden_in_an_actual.html

    I often agree, though the motive behind my desire for me to remake something varies. Sometimes the motive for remaking can be price point, sometimes it can be for the learning experience of figuring out the process to make something, and sometimes it is just reinvention of/re-iteration on the idea. So why not suggest this product for a remake? This necklace would probably satisfy the second motive for me. If I made one myself I’d probably send a thank you for the inspiration along with a picture to Becky; she’d probably write back with a high five and that it was awesome that I did. I’ve never corresponded with her, but I’m guessing that she share some similar values with myself and other subscribers to Make. Would the same go for Inghua Ting and his mat at Branch? Maybe… maybe not.

    So I’m curious about how people settle questions of intellectual property in a community that values remaking of other people’s ideas almost as much as the initial inception of the idea. How do we go about it while respecting others’ value and values?

    Of course the pragmatist/stereotyper in me says that someone who is going to pay the (exorbitant) price of the mat on Branch is not going to make one themselves so there is no real injury to Mr. Ting.

    Right now, I have no qualms about remaking anything for my own use. Clearly selling copies is out of bounds. But what about when everyone is the producer. What happens if/when the rep rap dream is true and we are all producers? Does a real thoroughly embedded DIY culture require the next generation understanding of IP?

    As you can see I don’t have very articulated thoughts on this yet. I’m sure I’m confusing words like value and maybe even pulling off a fallacy of equivocation. But, I can’t be the only one who feels the tickle of something that needs resolved. Just some food for thought.

    You editors think about this stuff alot, what say ye?

    1. Becky Stern says:

      Thanks for your kind words and thoughtful comment. I agree with you, please go ahead and remake it, I’ll even put up the template I use to cut out the shapes! It makes a great gift! But yeah, I’d prefer it if you didn’t sell them, but I also probably couldn’t be bothered to hire a lawyer to come after you if you did, I’d just feel kinda hurt. And since it’s all about sharing, that’s what’d be detrimental. There are definite challenges to communal production of ideas and products, for sure, thanks for discussing them with us here.

      1. Becky Stern says:

        Ok, I posted the template, just follow Matt’s link!

        1. Matt Mets says:

          Thanks for sharing the template, Becky! In addition, Becky has created two videos on metal working technique that could be a great way to learn technique:

          http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/08/craft_video_intro_to_metalwork.html

          http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/10/craft_video_metalworking_2.html

  2. blah says:

    Looks more like an ice cream cone.

    1. Becky Stern says:

      Also delicious! =]

      1. Becky Stern says:

        Also, ice cream is <@@@, three scoops for you!

  3. Matthew says:

    This reminds me of those old necklaces where there was a heart broken in half and one person would carry one half and their significant someone would carry the other half. Seems like this could be used to put a new twist on that.

    Cool on its own though.

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