Trinket Box Collection

Since the purchase of my first metal trinket box while on vacation in Michigan, I've been watching eBay auctions looking for similar pieces. So far, I've purchased 4 additional boxes to add to my collection.

From what I can tell, the boxes were made sometime in the 40's or 50's. One of the boxes is stamped with "JB" on the bottom which I've found to stand for Jennings Brothers -- a company that made cast metal boxes from 1891 to 1950.

Racing Wheel Stand - Continued

With warmer temperatures (up into the high 40's), I was able to get out in my garage workshop and cut some plywood. I kept to the overall design with minor modifications to the top (it was off-balance). I also added a carpeted removable base for the foot pedals with the thought that I may eventually hinge it and add pins to adjust the pedal height for shorter drivers.

Above all, this project proved that I can use Google Sketchup to mock up my wood projects. The biggest advantage was the ability to print the model and measure components. While it's not 100% accurate, it's close enough to work from.

Next step: paint.

New Project: Racing Wheel Stand

I purchased a force-feedback steering wheel so I can better experience racing games on my PS3 -- specifically Grand Turismo.

Unfortunately, I've been unable to find a suitable mounting solution. I tried to rig a stool with a couple of clamps and also tried mounting it to a lap-desk. Neither method worked well.

SO...using Google Sketchup, I designed a stand:

So far I've managed to get all of my cuts done, but the cold weather has forced me out of my garage workspace. I'll post more pictures when my tools thaw!

Log cabin ... with the logs cut perpendicular

Two-Thousand and Ten

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

...I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.

--Neil Gaiman

RC Aircraft + Fireworks

Amazing video of an RC airplane with a camera mounted onboard flying through exploding fireworks.

Acorn Puzzle Box

I love small trinket boxes and Japanese puzzle boxes. Here's a neat idea: an acorn puzzle box: