8.17.2003
Pictures of my most recent Playa project, solar light globes
All supplies purchased from OSH
Malibu Solar Candle Light, $12.99
White Poly Globe 8", $9.99
Werner Paint Can Hook Model AC21, $3.99
36" (3 feet) single jack chain with links big enough for the eye bolts, $.59/foot
3, 5/32 x 1-5/8" small eye bolts, $.39/ea
6, nylon flat washers size 8, $.35/pk of 6
silk or plastic flowers and/or foliage
All supplies purchased from OSH
Malibu Solar Candle Light, $12.99
White Poly Globe 8", $9.99
Werner Paint Can Hook Model AC21, $3.99
36" (3 feet) single jack chain with links big enough for the eye bolts, $.59/foot
3, 5/32 x 1-5/8" small eye bolts, $.39/ea
6, nylon flat washers size 8, $.35/pk of 6
silk or plastic flowers and/or foliage
8.15.2003
card: prince of wands
coffee: starbucks frappuccino spiked with peets, iced
music: underworld - dubnobasswithmyheadman
Ah the blessings of cloth tape! Last night decorated my polyethylene hoop and made a protective sleeve for my parasol. The hoop is black with green, very "Nightmare Before Christmas."
Making a collapsible polyethylene hoop
Some of my friends showed up at a party with these adult-sized hula hoops. I've seen them at concerts and raves also. It gives you something to do on the dance floor if you can't dance. I pretend it's exercise also.
Materials
1" polyethylene conduit
4 threaded PVC connectors that fit inside the conduit
Shock cord (elastic cord they sell to make bungees)
Cloth tape
Sandpaper
Conduit cutter
Scissors
1. Cut four 39" pieces of conduit
2. Lightly sand one end of the connector until you can force it halfway into the end of a piece of conduit. You want it to be a very snug fit, but loose enough you can force it apart when you want to take the hoop apart. Repeat for all four pieces of conduit.
3. String the hoop together with shock cord and assemble three of the hoop connectors. Tie off the shock cord in a no-slip knot and assemble the last connector.
4. Decorate the hoop with cloth tape. (optional)
5. Hoop away!
For variations you can use
- Larger conduit for a heavier/more comfortable hoop
- Longer pieces of conduit for a larger hoop that moves more slowly
- 2 or 3 connectors, depending on how small you want it to be folded
Making a parasol tube
My friend JG gave me a paper parasol last year as a BM present. It survived last year, but it was a challenge to put it someplace in the van where it would not be crushed or ripped. This year I decided to provide some better protection.
Materials
11" of clear vinyl floor mat, 25 1/4" wide
cloth tape
1. Roll the vinyl around the parasol. Leave room to slip it out later.
2. Secure the top and bottom ends with tape
3. Secure the seam with tape
4. Decorate the tube with additional tape
The price of movies on VHS has really dropped. I used to rent, but after returning a stack of movies late one day, I realized that the combined rental and late fees were about the same as the cost of a used movie. Since then, when I find movies 3 for $20 or less, I buy them, even if I am only going to watch them once. Now, if I can only figure out how to trade them in after I watch them.
Evita
I can't tell if I would have disliked the musical as much as the movie. Is it possible that the large sets and movie production values make it worse? I thought Madonna could dance. I guess she's best at playing Madonna. She has prescience, but she's not able to project a sense of character, so I don't consider her an actress as much as a personality. The movie did inspire me to read up on the life of Eva Peron. I found that many of the lyrics were consistent with reported life events. I am not a huge ALW fan, but I did like the way his musical themes were used in different places of the plot with different words and ironic emphasis.
A Beautiful Mind
Life of Professor Nash of Princeton. Nice blend of biography and movie-magic spy thriller. What is the movie saying about original thought? That only non-conformists are capable of it? That love can conquer even mental illness?
coffee: starbucks frappuccino spiked with peets, iced
music: underworld - dubnobasswithmyheadman
Ah the blessings of cloth tape! Last night decorated my polyethylene hoop and made a protective sleeve for my parasol. The hoop is black with green, very "Nightmare Before Christmas."
Making a collapsible polyethylene hoop
Some of my friends showed up at a party with these adult-sized hula hoops. I've seen them at concerts and raves also. It gives you something to do on the dance floor if you can't dance. I pretend it's exercise also.
Materials
1" polyethylene conduit
4 threaded PVC connectors that fit inside the conduit
Shock cord (elastic cord they sell to make bungees)
Cloth tape
Sandpaper
Conduit cutter
Scissors
1. Cut four 39" pieces of conduit
2. Lightly sand one end of the connector until you can force it halfway into the end of a piece of conduit. You want it to be a very snug fit, but loose enough you can force it apart when you want to take the hoop apart. Repeat for all four pieces of conduit.
3. String the hoop together with shock cord and assemble three of the hoop connectors. Tie off the shock cord in a no-slip knot and assemble the last connector.
4. Decorate the hoop with cloth tape. (optional)
5. Hoop away!
For variations you can use
- Larger conduit for a heavier/more comfortable hoop
- Longer pieces of conduit for a larger hoop that moves more slowly
- 2 or 3 connectors, depending on how small you want it to be folded
Making a parasol tube
My friend JG gave me a paper parasol last year as a BM present. It survived last year, but it was a challenge to put it someplace in the van where it would not be crushed or ripped. This year I decided to provide some better protection.
Materials
11" of clear vinyl floor mat, 25 1/4" wide
cloth tape
1. Roll the vinyl around the parasol. Leave room to slip it out later.
2. Secure the top and bottom ends with tape
3. Secure the seam with tape
4. Decorate the tube with additional tape
The price of movies on VHS has really dropped. I used to rent, but after returning a stack of movies late one day, I realized that the combined rental and late fees were about the same as the cost of a used movie. Since then, when I find movies 3 for $20 or less, I buy them, even if I am only going to watch them once. Now, if I can only figure out how to trade them in after I watch them.
Evita
I can't tell if I would have disliked the musical as much as the movie. Is it possible that the large sets and movie production values make it worse? I thought Madonna could dance. I guess she's best at playing Madonna. She has prescience, but she's not able to project a sense of character, so I don't consider her an actress as much as a personality. The movie did inspire me to read up on the life of Eva Peron. I found that many of the lyrics were consistent with reported life events. I am not a huge ALW fan, but I did like the way his musical themes were used in different places of the plot with different words and ironic emphasis.
A Beautiful Mind
Life of Professor Nash of Princeton. Nice blend of biography and movie-magic spy thriller. What is the movie saying about original thought? That only non-conformists are capable of it? That love can conquer even mental illness?
8.13.2003
KG came over Monday 8/11 to set up file transfer between my machines, so now I can post some shade structure photos. Yesterday I added skirting panels and this morning I painted the cover.
The side panels are a 10 foot length of 54" fabric split down the middle. I sewed 1" bias tape to the finished edge with two rows of stitches. The bias tape is held to the edge of the cover with safety pins, so they can be removed if the weather is too harsh. Once I get to the playa, I may cut some vertical slits to make the edge more "tattered" but I'll see how it looks in once I get there.
The cover was painted with three colors of spray paint, yellow, fluorescent yellow and deep green. I used bamboo and morning glory leaves for the stencil effect. I started with the lighter colors first and worked up the layers making it darker towards the bottom edge and lighter towards the center. Two cans of paint were not quite enough, but the can of fluorescent yellow was gummy and wouldn't work properly.
I tried working with the scrim fabric I bought for the end panels, but wasn’t satisfied with the result. I think I’ll just take the fabric and see what feels right once I set up the structure on the playa.
Last project will be to add grommets along the lower edge so I can lace the cover down to u-shaped pieces of rebar pounded into the ground between the PVC uprights.
The side panels are a 10 foot length of 54" fabric split down the middle. I sewed 1" bias tape to the finished edge with two rows of stitches. The bias tape is held to the edge of the cover with safety pins, so they can be removed if the weather is too harsh. Once I get to the playa, I may cut some vertical slits to make the edge more "tattered" but I'll see how it looks in once I get there.
The cover was painted with three colors of spray paint, yellow, fluorescent yellow and deep green. I used bamboo and morning glory leaves for the stencil effect. I started with the lighter colors first and worked up the layers making it darker towards the bottom edge and lighter towards the center. Two cans of paint were not quite enough, but the can of fluorescent yellow was gummy and wouldn't work properly.
I tried working with the scrim fabric I bought for the end panels, but wasn’t satisfied with the result. I think I’ll just take the fabric and see what feels right once I set up the structure on the playa.
Last project will be to add grommets along the lower edge so I can lace the cover down to u-shaped pieces of rebar pounded into the ground between the PVC uprights.
8.10.2003
Yesterday was invited to join Bear and Bobcat at the Sanrio store at SF Center for a special event. We talked about shade structures while surrounded by people younger, shorter and wearing a lot more pink. Much relieved because Bear and Bobcat agreed to bring 20 gal of my water in their RV, thus removing 160 lbs of weight I have to haul over the Sierras in the Bliss Brick.
Bear and Bobcat are fans of Bad Batz Maru, a surly penguin who represents the goth demographic in the Sanrio pantheon. The opportunity for a $3 photo op with the icon could not be avoided. I don't think I've ever seen Bear so "perky." I think he actually sparkled, which is amusing if you know him. We pooled our money and came up with $6 which meant we could get two photos, one for them, and one for me. Mine's up on my bulletin board now. Bobcat on the left, wearing her babydoll white t-shirt and black jean skirt with cross lacing at the seams. Combat boots, par usual. She's kissing Batz Maru in the cheek. Bear stands to the right, hand on hip, other hand thrown over Batz's shoulder in a college-chum sort of pose. He's wearing a blue t-shirt, camo pants and a huge grin. I'm sitting at Batz's feet, wearing my BLJ (black leather jacket) head tilted and arms uplifted with a sort of "why not?" expression.
I don't know how to relate to anthropomorphic cartoon characters. I feel vaguely embarrassed when I have to interact with them. I imagine how it might be in the costume, hot, claustrophobic, hard to see. Kids poking at your knees where you can't see them. I felt funny interacting with the figure as an just animated stuffed animal, and out of some desire to connect with the person inside, tried to shake his/her hand and say "thanks." As I fell asleep last night, I was vaguely creeped out by a sense memory of Batz Maru's flipper-- furry, rigid and supported by some piece of rigid plastic.
Didn’t drive over to JG’s place last night. Feeling low, wanted some time to myself. Perhaps talk with KB and V is still affecting me. It's hard enough to work through problems in a relationship if you agree you're _in_ a relationship. Harder still when that foundation isn't clear. Woke feeling better. Biked to Safeway for groceries, made blueberry muffins for Eva D’s brunch, put a coat of polyurethane on the plywood top for the plastic shelves I’m installing in the Bliss Brick. I have a good idea for decorating the cover of the shade structure. The theme will be datura flowers and leaves and eyes, perhaps winged eyes. Looks like I may break my slump through engaging projects.
There goes the muffin timer.
Bear and Bobcat are fans of Bad Batz Maru, a surly penguin who represents the goth demographic in the Sanrio pantheon. The opportunity for a $3 photo op with the icon could not be avoided. I don't think I've ever seen Bear so "perky." I think he actually sparkled, which is amusing if you know him. We pooled our money and came up with $6 which meant we could get two photos, one for them, and one for me. Mine's up on my bulletin board now. Bobcat on the left, wearing her babydoll white t-shirt and black jean skirt with cross lacing at the seams. Combat boots, par usual. She's kissing Batz Maru in the cheek. Bear stands to the right, hand on hip, other hand thrown over Batz's shoulder in a college-chum sort of pose. He's wearing a blue t-shirt, camo pants and a huge grin. I'm sitting at Batz's feet, wearing my BLJ (black leather jacket) head tilted and arms uplifted with a sort of "why not?" expression.
I don't know how to relate to anthropomorphic cartoon characters. I feel vaguely embarrassed when I have to interact with them. I imagine how it might be in the costume, hot, claustrophobic, hard to see. Kids poking at your knees where you can't see them. I felt funny interacting with the figure as an just animated stuffed animal, and out of some desire to connect with the person inside, tried to shake his/her hand and say "thanks." As I fell asleep last night, I was vaguely creeped out by a sense memory of Batz Maru's flipper-- furry, rigid and supported by some piece of rigid plastic.
Didn’t drive over to JG’s place last night. Feeling low, wanted some time to myself. Perhaps talk with KB and V is still affecting me. It's hard enough to work through problems in a relationship if you agree you're _in_ a relationship. Harder still when that foundation isn't clear. Woke feeling better. Biked to Safeway for groceries, made blueberry muffins for Eva D’s brunch, put a coat of polyurethane on the plywood top for the plastic shelves I’m installing in the Bliss Brick. I have a good idea for decorating the cover of the shade structure. The theme will be datura flowers and leaves and eyes, perhaps winged eyes. Looks like I may break my slump through engaging projects.
There goes the muffin timer.
card: Knight of Disks
muffin: blueberry
music: Twisted Disco
muffin: blueberry
music: Twisted Disco
8.08.2003
card: Queen of Swords
book: All Tomorrow's Parties - William Gibson
music: Ultra Chilled 01
book: All Tomorrow's Parties - William Gibson
music: Ultra Chilled 01
Heading to Burning Man in a couple weeks. Got an idea for a shade structure from Max Icon and decided to try it for myself.
Yesterday went to OSH, Home Depot and REI to pick up the materials I needed
7 - 1" PVC pipe (schedule 40) 10' long , 2.39 ea - OSH
3 - 1 1/4" PVC Elbow, 1.49 ea - OSH
6 - #4 Rebar 2', .69 ea - OSH
1 - 3# Blacksmith Sledge, 10.99 ea - OSH
1 - Canvas Dropcloth 12' x 15', 27.97 - HD
1 - Used bicycle inner tube, free - REI
Last night, paced off distances, set rebar and assembled frame. Using dimensions of 10' x 9'. Rebar at corners and 5' (middle). Yard's a little smaller than I need, I'd like to make the structure wider, and the top arch lower so it's easier to reach/work on. Cut out valve and split inner tube into quarters (once across, once along length). Needed only three to tie the ribs to the top bar so I've got one left over. Max's design called for straight connectors, but the PVC elbows I'm using and the slight outward tilt of the rebar give the structure a graceful arabian arch effect. I'm quite pleased with the way it looks.
Today I'm working on the cover. Max suggested shade cloth or plastic tarps, but I like natural canvas. I think it looks nice, smells better in the sun, and is easily decorated with paint. Using the 12' length along the ridge pole, I had about 12" overhang on each side. The 15' length provides good coverage, there's about 2 1/2' exposed at the bottom of the cover. I pinned the cover to the frame with safty pins to test fit. Set up sewing machine outside with extension cord and sewed up first pocket, leaving 17" gap in center for crosspiece. Took down frame at one end to fit on cover and pinned other side to test again. Removed cover from frame and sewed second pocket. The tricky bit is to leave enough room to slide in the 10' ridge pole, and still have the cover fit tightly on the poles.
With this design, I don't think I am going to have to secure the center rib to the cover, but I plan to put in grommets along the bottom edge so I can secure the cover to the ground with additional rebar and rope if the winds are very heavy. If I have time, I may put in some ties along the underside to secure the cover to the center rib. I don't want to sew a pocket there becase I think it would make setup fussier. I also don't like working with the fabric in the center of the cover, since it's difficult to maneuver that much material into the sewing machine.
Yesterday went to OSH, Home Depot and REI to pick up the materials I needed
7 - 1" PVC pipe (schedule 40) 10' long , 2.39 ea - OSH
3 - 1 1/4" PVC Elbow, 1.49 ea - OSH
6 - #4 Rebar 2', .69 ea - OSH
1 - 3# Blacksmith Sledge, 10.99 ea - OSH
1 - Canvas Dropcloth 12' x 15', 27.97 - HD
1 - Used bicycle inner tube, free - REI
Last night, paced off distances, set rebar and assembled frame. Using dimensions of 10' x 9'. Rebar at corners and 5' (middle). Yard's a little smaller than I need, I'd like to make the structure wider, and the top arch lower so it's easier to reach/work on. Cut out valve and split inner tube into quarters (once across, once along length). Needed only three to tie the ribs to the top bar so I've got one left over. Max's design called for straight connectors, but the PVC elbows I'm using and the slight outward tilt of the rebar give the structure a graceful arabian arch effect. I'm quite pleased with the way it looks.
Today I'm working on the cover. Max suggested shade cloth or plastic tarps, but I like natural canvas. I think it looks nice, smells better in the sun, and is easily decorated with paint. Using the 12' length along the ridge pole, I had about 12" overhang on each side. The 15' length provides good coverage, there's about 2 1/2' exposed at the bottom of the cover. I pinned the cover to the frame with safty pins to test fit. Set up sewing machine outside with extension cord and sewed up first pocket, leaving 17" gap in center for crosspiece. Took down frame at one end to fit on cover and pinned other side to test again. Removed cover from frame and sewed second pocket. The tricky bit is to leave enough room to slide in the 10' ridge pole, and still have the cover fit tightly on the poles.
With this design, I don't think I am going to have to secure the center rib to the cover, but I plan to put in grommets along the bottom edge so I can secure the cover to the ground with additional rebar and rope if the winds are very heavy. If I have time, I may put in some ties along the underside to secure the cover to the center rib. I don't want to sew a pocket there becase I think it would make setup fussier. I also don't like working with the fabric in the center of the cover, since it's difficult to maneuver that much material into the sewing machine.
