Happy Valentine's Day: DIY Metal Valentine's Card

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! This is a little different from the cute-cutesy stuff I normally post, but when I heard I heard about this project, I was totally enchanted and had to find out more. My bf is a machinist and works at an epic machine shop in San Francisco. They make all manner of things out of metal, from gates to signs to architectural flourishes you never even considered, using a waterjet machine.

It's pretty incredible to the layperson (me!) to see the stuff that goes on in there. His colleague Nick Foster found a way to use his shop skills to make a beautiful valentine for his lady, and I was so into it that I wanted to share his process and the final result! Here's how this very special valentine was made, in Nick's words:

all photos by Nick Foster

"The idea for this all-metal Valentine's Day card originally started out as a joke when browsing a selection of spring loaded door hinges. After realizing that small hinges with gentle springs were available, this self-closing Valentine's Day card was designed.

This 4" tall card was cut, along with lettering, on a waterjet machine.  The stainless steel hinge was then welded to the leaves. A short message is pounded into the back of the card using common letter punches and a hammer.

Finally, a heart shape, also cut on the waterjet machine, was fastened to the back of the card via size 0-80 screws. The heart shape is intended to function as a picture frame, holding a picture securely to the back leaf of the card!

 In order to make the card more pleasing to the eye, the front cover is decorated using a technique referred to as 'machine turning' or 'jeweling.' This is an old-fashioned technique which involves spinning an abrasive circular brush against the stainless steel cover in a repeating grid pattern such that light is captured and reflected in an interesting pattern."

Incredibly cool, yes? Enjoy your day, treat yo'self no matter your romantic situation, and get ready to buy a ton of 75% off chocolate tomorrow. XO!

Disco Dollies

I can't really stop looking at this picture of these two felt foxes that I found whilst obsessing on Google Images last week! They embody all that is good in the world. I also can't wait to make some of my own, which I plan to do once I order another round of Fancy Felt from my most amazing friend Sue of Giant Dwarf. 

Which colors should I pick?!

Renegade!

 All of a sudden, it's almost time for my Renegade adventure. Next weekend I'm selling in SF, then I'll drive down to LA for their fair the weekend after that. Eek! I'm having a pretty good time making tons of new stuff; I hope folks like it. Around this time before a show, things start to get pretty messy and it looks even more like a rainbow barfed in this tiny house.

This is what the dining table looks like today. I'm pretty happy about it.

Hairs

I'm having a hair crisis. Every once in a while I commit to growing it out. This lasts about three days; then I get the scissors and start whacking. I guess this is why I have a wig (which I think people totally thought was real when I wore it in New York. I think.) However, my hair is long enough to sport a few bobby pins. I made these ones and want to wear them all at once. All colors ftw!

Made it!

I've been making so much stuff lately, and somehow, stubbornly refusing to photograph it. Yesterday I mustered the strength; but by the time I got outside, it was raining. Well, I did it anyway, dammit! These are my favorite new thing I've made; I decided to put a little puff of wool roving in the bottles and I think it completes the look. Go me!

Dolly

I made this dolly on Saturday for my friend Katy. It's from the free Black Apple pattern featured on Martha Stewart. The hair is suede, which was kind of hard to sew through, but other than that, this was super easy and extremely satisfying!

Apple a Day

 I'm in the market for some really dorky but comfortable athletic shoes for my new lifestyle where I actually move occasionally, but I keep getting distracted! Do you think I could exercise in these handmade moccassins from Darlingtonia?

BE THERE.

I love doing this show; aside from the education, it's one of the best things about CCA. Can't wait 'til Saturday!