Who can resist a Snowman named Mr. Tubbs? Roxycraft has posted up some great free patterns for the holidays, such as this cute snowman as well as a crochet holiday ornament. Looks like a fun quick project to jump start the holidays. Link.
“The Bell Model 500 desk phone manufactured for decades by Western Electric is an icon of Twentieth Century product design. The evolution of the Model 500’s receiver begun with the first telephones produced in the late 19th Century and it’s longevity has taken it into the 21st. I have always found it to be ergonomically designed and comfortably to use, It is the embodiment of “form follows function”.” Here’s how to make it a cell phone handset. Thanks Jake! Link.
Create your own Japanese-style paper lampshade. This origami pattern created by Tomoko Fuse shows you how to make a sleek modern designed lampshade for yourself. You can use paper with cool patters for your own special touch.
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Folks trying to keep a Maker’ down! – “Albert Swank Jr., a 55-year-old civil engineer in Anchorage, Alaska, is a man with a mission. He wants to install a nuclear particle accelerator in his home. But when neighbors learned of plans to place the 20-ton device inside the house where Swank operates his engineering firm, their response was swift: Not in my backyard. Local lawmakers rushed to introduce emergency legislation banning the use of cyclotrons in home businesses. State health officials took similar steps, and have suspended Swank’s permit to operate cyclotrons on his property.” [via] Link.
What will the home of the future look like in 2020? The Electrolux design lab jury selected 12 designers who participated in a design workshop in Stockolm, Sweden. “1st prize: The form of Air Wash is inspired by the waterfall, nature’s negative ion generator and regenerator. Its button-less interface is intriguing yet intuitively simple, humanizing the often mechanical experience when handling household appliances.” Check out the rest for some Maker project inspiration – and build the future now! Link.
G4’s Attack of the Show had the folks from the aiBAR on – they will be in our new Makers book we’re about to announce soon – “Nate Strech, Joel Wollborg, and Torrey Baumstark have an unhealthy obsession with drinking that has resulted in the creation of the aiBAR, an automated robotic bartender. It’s not yet available commercially, but we think their idea has definite profit potential.” [via] Link.
Excellent project – “After playing on many different synths and copying several designs. I decided that I had to have a minimoog… Unfortunately the cost of a second hand minimoog is anything between 1000-2000 Euros depending on age and condition. So the only choice I have is to look at doing my own copy with the aim of keeping the circuits and design as original as possible. Having never played one, or seen one until a few months ago I have managed to amass a reasonable collection of circuits and pictures in order to help me in my quest.” [via] Link.
