Not Quite Oscar Nominated

The boys and I were playing with the idea of a stop motion video. It didn't go quite as well as I'd hoped, but it's a first attempt. And there's a raging elephant.

Day 30 (Creative Sprint): Crossing the Finish Line

Day 30: Make a trophy or award for yourself for completing Creative Sprint.

Though neither Norman nor I are much for actual running, we definitely enjoyed this Creative Sprint. Thanks, Another Limited Rebellion!

Day 29 (Creative Sprint): Hide-n-Seek

Day 29 (Creative Sprint): Make something someone else has to find. Provide a map or clues to lead seekers to the location where it is hidden.

My 8-year-old and I teamed up with our Bitty Bots for this one. We hid the Bots in the kitchen high above everything and then wrote coded clues using a cypher disk. The older boys had to translate the code and find them. Inside one was the message, "Tag! You're it!" Perhaps Robot Hide-n-Seek will catch on around here.

Day 28 (Creative Sprint): Camouflage

Day 28: Camouflage something.

Day 24 (Creative Sprint): Collaboration

Day 24: Collaborate with someone else who is participating in Creative Sprint.

I put a call out for collaborators on Instagram and Twitter. On Twitter, @KristinaDeshee volunteered. She has been working with hearts and offered to make a robot heart for me. After seeing her tweets and final product, I decided to make it into a "fairy tale." Enjoy!

I also got a suggestion from Instagram.  RingCat had to stop her Creative Sprint early, but asked if I could do some origami for my mascot Norman. I made a slightly oversized pirate hat (I've never been fantastic with proportions).

Day 23 (Creative Sprint): Role Reversal

Day 23: Do someone else's job for some part of the day and create something in their workspace or based on the experience.

As a homeschooler and stay-at-home mom, it's hard to go do someone else's job (you try finding someone who wants to switch), so I decided to trade places with my boys and play on their favorite table.

Happy Earth Day!

Did you know that, each year, 17 million robots go without arms and legs and that some never get a chance to see through transplanted eyes?  In fact, every day, 4 out of 5 robot parts are cast into landfills to simply rust away.

However, there is hope.  Together, we can break the never-ending cycle of waste and dismemberment. 
 

At the Robot Rescue Coalition, our mission is to rescue, reassemble, and release robots into the world again.  We believe that, while all robots are not created equal, they ARE endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Personality, and the Pursuit of Appendages.

Please join us in this crusade to end robot cruelty.  Save a life.  Buy a robot.

ABOUT THE ROBOT RESCUE COALITION

From recycled and found objects, those things you may remember from kitchens and garages of years past, comes the artwork of Rebecca Jackson.  Her delight lies within taking things apart and reassembling the pieces in unexpected ways.  From this aesthetic process emerges quirky robots and steampunk art.

When she goes on rescue missions, she doesn’t see flashlights, canisters, or teapots.  She sees bodies, heads, and missing legs.  Her workshop surfaces are littered with these body parts, and after trial-and-error limb and head transfusions, a robot takes shape.  As she drills and bolts them together, their personalities develop, and the components tell a story that gives each one its own sense of individuality and background.

Each finished piece of art reminds her that being a little different is not necessarily a bad thing (and that her obsession with metal objects is, at least, partially justified).

 ***Use Coupon Code EARTHDAY25 at my Etsy shop for 25% off your order.  April 22 &23 only!***

Day 15 (Creative Sprint): You Can Take It With You!

Day 15: Carry something with you all day, preferably something you made, and document it in a variety of locations.

I documented Norman's day. Turns out his day isn't a whole lot more exciting than mine. I was hoping for a swashbuckling adventure.

Day 14 (Creative Sprint): Get by With a Little Help

Day 14: Learn something new. Ask a friend to help you do something using a technique or skill they are good at.

My 12-year-old son taught me how to find the volume of my Bitty Bot Norman. It's 16.2495 mm cubed. Exciting, huh? We're livin' the dream here, folks.

Day 13 (Creative Sprint): Hat!

Day 13: Make a hat or something to wear on your head. Get a photograph of you wearing it in public.

With a shoelace, I gave Norman his own "seat" on my hat. Doesn't seem fair he should always have to stay home, right?

Day 2 (Creative Sprint): Create a Bridge

Day 2: Create a bridge. Connect two things in an interesting way. It could be small enough for only an amoeba or big enough for an elephant to cross it.

Yeeeeeee-haw!

Dart isn't your typical rocking horse. For one thing, he's only about 5" tall (which makes him difficult to ride for humans like us). But that's not really what makes this pony special--it's his personality. Sure, he's fast like his name suggests, and he's ridiculously adorable, but more than that, he's looking for a best friend. This horse will be as loyal as the day is long. He'll keep your secrets, he'll store your tiny treasures, and he'll love you til the end of time.

 

Spend the days gently rocking him or stroking his cut leather mane. Either way, this is one horse you simply can't live without.

(Reassembled using a vintage Dart nail box, tea strainer head, drawer handles rockers, and leather roller skate straps for mane and tail. 5 1/4" long, 2 1/4" wide, and 5" tall) 

See Ya, 2014!

Norman watching 2014 slip away into 2015.

Happy New Year, everyone--may it be filled with robots and miscellaneous metal bits!

I Love a Good Snowman

Norman enjoying the snow while my boys slave away at their schoolwork. It's good to be a robot.

It's Thanksgiving!

Norman has teamed up with my oldest's latest creation for his blog www.alegoaday365.blogspot.com.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ready or Not

I'm not sure I'm ready for tonight's Royals game.  If you've been living under a rock (or have lots of normal people in your house instead of baseball-obsessed boys), the evil Giants--and crazy eyed Hunter Pence--are up 3-2, so the Royals have to win tonight.

Without meaning to, I've become emotionally involved; and somewhere along the way, I must've drunk the Kool-Aid. Tonight I dressed Norman up as my son's favorite player Eric Hosmer.

I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I'm invested so much in the Royals actually winning the World Series . . . or living in fear of the aftermath here if the Royals don't win. My boys will be crushed, and my husband will be somewhere beyond that.

It's stressful, man.

So, Royals, can you please pull out a decisive, non-nail-biting win tonight? I'd greatly appreciate it.

Sincerely yours,
Norman and Me

This Week's Sign of the Apocalypse - All About That Bass

Yesterday, while flipping channels on the car radio, I heard "All About That Bass" by Meghan Trainor on three different radio stations at the same time.

Need I say more?

I Do Love Baseball?

Baseball has historically been one of my least favorite sports. I mean, seriously, not a lot happens, and it goes on and on and on . . . and then on some more.

But the Kansas City Royals are in the post season for the first time in 29 years, and I have a house filled to the brim with testosterone and baseball-obsessers.  So that means, fun-filled evenings watching the incredibly long playoff games. Family bonding at its finest.

Here's where the ray of light and angel chorus come in: the "good" tv is in the basement. What else is in the basement? My workshop.

I can "watch" the games, trying to insert appropriately worded--and timed--comments into the general fray, as I work on robots.

I do my best to synchronize my drilling needs with the commercial breaks for minimal distraction. I figure if I can maintain a low profile, I can continue to labor under the disillusionment that my all-male family doesn't mind my multitasking.

So far, so good.

And by that, of course, I mean the Royals. They're headed to the American League Division Championship this weekend.



I think we might just have to watch it on the good tv.

Summer Vacation with Norman

 

Norman driving thru Norman, OK.

Happy Fourth of July!

My boys thought I'd like this firework. We'll see . . . 

Happy Fourth of July, to you robots and humans alike!!!