Sometimes you just need to visualize it to get a better idea. Especially when it comes to mixing and matching color. Before you start your next scarf or sweater project, check out the Random Stripe Generator. It’s a great online tool created by a fellow crafter to help you see it, before you make it. And if you don’t like the patterns that are produced, just hit refresh, and you’ll get more options! Link.
Jake writes “When the temperature controller on my $50 garage-sale hot tub failed I balked at springing for another electro-mechanical thermostat so I built this one using junk box parts with the help of that classic: The Engineer’s Mini Notebook – Op-Amp Projects from Radio Shack.” Link.
A beginner’s PIC project, the Maker writes “I am unemployed at the moment, but I’m very busy. I tend to work late nights and wander over to bed when I run completely out of steam. The problem is that this happens at a different time every day. I end up being too lazy and stupid to re-set the alarm clock, so I don’t bother. I oversleep. Recently I realized that I need a special alarm clock that instead of going off at a particular time goes off after a set duration. Like an egg timer, but grand!. So, I made one, and I realized that it would be a great beginner’s project. It includes a very basic C program and a simple PIC schematic.” Thanks Zantor! Link.
Here’s a Flickr photo set on making a belt buckle from a hard drive. Ingredients: Hard Drive platter (Jaz disk), paper clip, hacksaw, screw(s), and small sheet of basswood (for guide). Out of the recent “technology” on a belt projects, I think I like this one the most – it’s subtle but still recognizable. [via] Link.
Carl made a DIY Oriental Lantern from a “piece of junk shoe-rack” from a megastore, he writes – “I decided to turn them into an oriental lantern. It was really pretty easy and essentially free (minus the cost of screws, tracing paper, and glue, all of which I already had). Also I have a bunch of slightly warped dowel-type sticks left over.” Link.
Dale writes “This is an enclosure which holds and powers an Airport Express and a set of attached speakers to wirelessly stream music from iTunes. It also incorporates a Palm T|X which acts as an LCD wirelessly remote for iTunes using the Salling Clicker remote control software. The setup provides a nice set of compact wireless speakers for any spot with AC power that’s in Wi-Fi range of your home network.” Link.
For those of you who have Pocket PC, specifically the iPAQ – here’s a good how to on mounting your iPAQ in the car with washing line pegs in the ventilation outlet. I’ve seen versions of these sell for $30+ and this looks like it will work better. Link.
