Random Word Fun

Getting rid of a little scrap of paper . . . I sure have a lot of these in my life!
I think I got this from a student when I was student teaching (1989).

C D E D B D Dux
M R Not Dux
O S A R Dux
Y I B - M R Dux!
(Sam Howell)

Say the individual letters as words.

Translated:
See the itty bitty ducks.
Them are not ducks.
Oh yes they are ducks.
Why, I be! Them are ducks!

Applique

I'm not a huge fan of applique, but I've mostly done needle-turn (hand-stitching) so far. I'm ready to try machine applique, but have a few too many projects that are more pressing. I love this blog entry and want to return to it when I'm ready to tackle a heart project that's been brewing. Kudos to April Rosenthal for her fantastic blog!

Vestments

I'm not sure I'll ever tackle this, but I want to keep "track" of the info, since it took me a while to find it. My daughter-in-law is a Lutheran pastor. My sister, who has amazing skills, is going to make her a stole for the Lenten season. I located excellent instructions here and shared them with Ann. I've not sewed as much as I'd like lately, and still need to work on being more careful . .  .

Learning Journey - How to "Talk" to My CNC Router

The journey is not yet successful, but I want to make note of some sites I may want to return to as I continue on . . . After we (mostly Louie) got the CNC Router put together, I was eager to test it out!

First try was using Inkscape. I like the software and felt confident as I entered the size of wood, the text I wanted, etc. But then came getting the "GCode" to talk to the "Gerbil." . . . Not so intuitive and not at all successful!
Hackaday has some advice. But the "GCodeTools" for Inkscape link (available from many sources) takes you to a Russian GCodeTools forum . . . with unclear instructions. Lots of frustration ensued. No success with the GCodeTools. I was in so many menus and trying so many settings!

Then Louie suggested I try Easel. Super easy to create a free account (via Inventables) and has the necessary GCode to "talk" to the Router. Super easy to identify the project parameters and hit the "carve" button. . . only there is no 100% free version anymore. It gives you four free carves via the Pro version and then you pay for the software. Louie kept insisting I had done something wrong and told me to go back and carve using the free software. The video we watched showed how easy it was! But that video was made in 2014, as was the video actually from the founder of Easel (which shows that you just click on the "Start Cutting" button.) Oh, how things change! I really like Easel and how easy it is! Part of me is tempted to go ahead and try it anyway. But we were at an impasse and so we were on to software option #3.

When Louie showed me a video on some CAD/CAM software, the guy sounded like a teacher in a Charlie Brown video ("WahWahWah . . . "). Plus he was showing a fairly complex piece of 3D modeling. I said "I just want to make signs by carving on pieces of wood!" I had hit the wall. I was frustrated and just DONE with it all. But it has been a week and I'm ready to try again. I've had two of my engineer sons say that Fusion 360 is definitely the best option for me. They insist that I can use it successfully and start with the project I want, keep it simple, and learn more when I'm ready for more. Sigh. I'll post again later.

Here are some other sites I've left open for ages:
A Random Tree - I like how this guy explains his projects.
Another CNC Tree - I really like his stuff and his writing style . . .
Inkscape and G-Code - These Norwegians were offering hope when I was emotionally attached to using Inkscape. Louie said Inkscape is great for designing projects, but not ideal for communicating with the CNC Machine.
Totally different strategy! - I stumbled across this and I LOVE it! Nothing to do with learning how to use my CNC Machine, but I can get words onto wood with my laser printer and some Polycrylic (watch method #3 at 2:54).  (His site is Fix This Build That.)
Fusion 360 CAM Tutorial for CNC Beginners - This is where I'm at right now. Learning how to use Fusion 360 for what I want to do. So far, so good.

Sweet Memories and Too Much Stuff

As I was getting out the Christmas decorations this year, I decided to thin the herd a bit. I have some lovely things, some things that are dear to me, and other things that I've just accumulated. This bell makes a pretty sound, but the Santa and reindeer design isn't really my "cup of tea." There was a note inside the box, though, and that made me smile. "To the best Head Speech Coach ever! Carrie Smisek"

Carrie is an adult, an ordained Lutheran pastor, nowadays. But once upon a time, she was one of my "speechies," going to tournaments for New Prague High School and bringing a joyful spirit and a delightful sense of humor with her. I am so thankful to have had Carrie Smisek in my life!

Even so, this bell is moving on to a new home. I just have too much stuff in my life. Slowly, but surely, I'm getting rid of some of the excess.

Bridal Shower Candy Vow Game

 We had fun with this game at my niece's bridal shower. I've posted the "rules" and the results. I ended up keeping the bride with the "youngsters" instead of making her own poster for her groom. It was fun!


Rules:

Candy Bar Vow Game

Creativity is the object of this game! Work with your team to come up with the best possible wedding vows for the couple. You don’t have to use all the candies, but have fun trying. You may add text with the Sharpie, but need to make all of the vows fit on the “page.” Brainstorming paper and pen provided . . . the bride’s reaction to the vows as they’re read will determine the “winner.”

(The bride will create her own letter of love to her groom.)

Supplies:

·        Bowls with candies (1 bowl per team; same options in each bowl)

·        Tagboard or butcher paper per team

·        Sharpie per team

·        Paper, pens, tape

The "youngsters'" version:
Be[Twix]t you and me, I think you are a [Mr. Goodbar] guy. You're better than [100 Grand]. You make me [Laffy Taffy] and have given me lots of [Snickers]. I vow to not go [Pop Rocks] on you when you are being an [Airhead], both [Now and Later]. With this [Ring Pop] I vow to always be your [Sugar Babies] even if I don't make [Whoppers] of money. We're closer than the [3 Musketeers], so we'll never need to have our own [Junior Mints]. I'll never [Charleston Chew] you out when your [Lemonhead] is up in the [Milky Way]. When we're being [Nerds] and playing video games, I will help you connect the [Dots] to solve the puzzles. I vow to love you even when your joints [Krackle] and [Crunch]. I love how you are so [Smarties], and love me even though I am sometimes a [Butterfinger] and I vow to love you until the [Cow Tails] come home.

The "oldsters'" version:

In this [Heath], [Twix] friends and family, with this [Ring Pop]d on your [Butterfinger], as a symbol of our love [Now and Later], you are my [KitKat] and I am your [Mr. Goodbar]. We aren't [Lemonheads] or [Airheads], but there will be no [Sugar Babies] or [Junior Mints] . . . [Dots] We may be [Nerds] but we sure are [Smarties]. I will tell you no [Whoppers], nor [Cow Tails], no [Krackles] or [Snickers]. If I had [100 Grand], I would take you to the [Milky Way] on [Pop Rocks]. We will [Laffy Taffy] to [Charleston Chew] and [Hershey] PA. Hey [Tootsie roll], we can [Rolo] like [Reeses][3 Musketeers] and [Crunch] the night away. Love you!

Crime Watch

In the interest of decluttering, I want to make a note here about a cool online tool that was in a local newsletter (over a year ago!) . . . the website http://communitycrimemap.com is pretty cool. I entered Jordan, MN for the address. Then I clicked on some of the icons on the left for different types of crimes. I also changed the date range to cover the past year. Super interesting! I could definitely see using this if I wanted to buy a home. It reminds me of the crime report maps for different neighborhoods in Minneapolis. When my oldest son bought a home in Northeast Minneapolis, I was concerned. Then he showed me the statistics for crime in his new neighborhood vs. in North Minneapolis. I was shocked at the difference! It made me feel better for my son's safety, but sad for the people who live in North Mpls.