Jewelry and Accessories for Green Thumbs
It's a good two weeks into 2013, and we're finally getting a chance to start new projects after we've wrapped up the last few bits from 2012. Well, except taxes. We're still working on taxes.
Today I cleaned up my desk to to give myself a clean slate for new projects. We're about to bring out some new items for Spring 2013, and all we have left to do is finalize the color choices we'll be using, and finish up the photography.
Here's to a great new year!
We're really excited about the next two weekends! Why? Because we have two weekends in a row of getting to attend and exhibit at Maker Faires! Maker Faire is the celebration of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness, and there are almost always robots and lasers for attendees to play with.
This weekend we'll be at World Maker Faire in New York, as part of the Bust Craftacular. We'll be with Metta Metalworks representing businesses working with 3D printing with Shapeways.
The following weekend, on October 6, we'll be at Atlanta Mini Maker Faire. We'll be bringing our MakerBot and giving 3D printing demonstrations and possibly have a planting DIY activity.
A lot of our other friends and people we like to work with will be at these events, too. If you're going to World Maker Faire in New York, make sure to see LittleBits, Shapeways, and Belle Helmets. At Atlanta Mini Maker Faire, the Georgia Tech Invention Studio and GVU will also be there demonstrating their abilities of what they can do and student projects.
In our studio, we have a MakerBot Thingomatic that is used to prototype new products. The objects that we create on it are not production quality, but they help us get an idea what a final product will look and feel like. We created a time-lapse video of the bot in motion to give you a better idea of what it does and how 3D printing works. The movie doesn't have any sound, and I wish that I could share with you the cute little electronic chirping noises the machine makes.
One of the neat things about 3D printing is that I was able to print an iPhone mount from Thingiverse to capture this process. We didn't end up using the iPhone footage because of video compression issues, but if you don't have access to a camera, using your phone is still a great way to create a timelapse video.
In the video our bot is making a small desktop planter that we would like to print in ceramics. We printed this prototype to see if this size planter would comfortably hold a larger air plant. While the machine we use to prototype with is far from perfect, it's a great low cost and quick way to get a feel for new objects.
If you have a MakerBot or access to a 3D printer, you can check out our Thingiverse page and download some of our files to print for yourself.
A few months ago I was asked to take part in an upcoming video series for 3D printing startup Shapeways to showcase the broad base of talents found amongst their users. Above is the first video of the series to get you excited about the possibilities available with this emerging manufacturing technology. At 0:35, there's a cameo of our planters, and soon you'll see me talking more about my work in another video. The videos were shot by the talented Stephen Malik, and it was great to spend a day hanging out with the people at Shapeway. You can learn more about their video profiles on the Shapeways blog.
Summer for the northern hemisphere is ending. Well, not really, but all of the back to school sales that have started popping up are trying to make you think so. School might be starting soon, but summer and warm weather are still going to be here for a while.
We have some new items in the store to help you enjoy the rest of the summer in style and with some cool plants by your side.
We have new planters that can attach to your tote bag or purse that work great with air plants and succulents, as well as some new smaller bike planters. If you're still in school, maybe you can incorporate some greenery while carrying your books around campus? It would look pretty cool on a backpack, too.
This necklace, our genie bottle vase, can be worn with small little flowers you've found, or can be worn without them by itself. Maybe you could roll a secret little note up inside it if you're giving it to someone as a gift.
We're also working on some new ideas that aren't more planters, but are still related to gardening that y'all will still find interesting. Above is a little teaser of one of the new things you can expect. Follow us on twitter as @wearplants and on instagram as wearableplanter for fun updates as we make new things and develop new ideas.
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is one of my favorite places to spend time in the city. Last week we had a free afternoon and took advantage of some cooler than usual weather to go check it out and get some inspiration. Since it's Wednesday, and you're most likely trapped at a desk dreaming of the weekend, I figured it might be a good time to bring a little adventure to you.
We saw this cute little cucumber in the Edible Garden, where they grow foods that are suited to the climate and season. They have recipes on the website, too, of what you can make with the plants that you find there.
The Edible Garden also boasts a large wall of vertically grown herbs. You'll have to visit to find out more about how they grow plants on that wall, but the technology is pretty neat and actually really simple.
We were pretty fascinated by the water lilies, and won't admit to how much time we spent there taking pictures and watching the frogs. This little guy was hanging out making some noises and sitting very still. We thought he was fake until we saw the skin under his mouth jiggle.
The indoor greenhouses and orchid rooms were on last stop on our afternoon trip. I love the way they hang and layer plants in there, and this was also the first time I'd noticed their cool way of displaying tillandsia from the rafters.
Hope you enjoyed this little desktop trip, and try to check out the Atlanta Botanical Garden next time you get a free moment.