# Let's talk about our personal creative projects here **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2015, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977 "2015-03-02T02:39:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/41 "2015-03-03T03:49:42Z")
In my spare time I’m programming my own version of Civilization. Here’s a post about my road-drawing code: > ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/42 "2015-03-03T04:25:30Z")
> [@cwthree](#): > > Nice work! Are the snowflake motifs knitted with beads, or a sparkly yarn? Clear beads with silver centers. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/43 "2015-03-03T04:49:52Z")
> [@Miss\_Woodhouse](#): > > I’ve been busy working a lot lately so I haven’t been able to get much done. I did finally finish a vinyl lettering project, though. [Geek Family Rules Sign](http://theprojectprincess.blogspot.com/2015/02/family-rules-geek-style.html) It took about five times longer than it should have because of issues that came up, so even though many of the letters look wonky, I’m keeping it. It looks fine. How did you make it? I have a Graphtec plotter that I do some vinyl work with. You should try using paper transfer tape, it works a lot better than the clear stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/44 "2015-03-03T05:30:03Z")
I’m painting sets for Tacoma Opera! It’s so fun. It’s like creating a world and then getting to see it lived in. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/45 "2015-03-03T16:28:42Z")
I’m cross-stitching this for a friend: > **[This item is unavailable - Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/199228313/?ref=shop_home_active_10)** > > Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more. Though she wants it to say “Do You Want To Bleep A Snowman,” like in the parody. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/46 "2015-03-03T16:35:16Z")
Here are my project albums: [https://www.facebook.com/WendyShippsBush/media\_set?set=a.1076657808606.2012254.1591052365&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/WendyShippsBush/media_set?set=a.1076657808606.2012254.1591052365&type=3) [https://www.facebook.com/WendyShippsBush/media\_set?set=a.10204191832067943.1073741846.1591052365&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/WendyShippsBush/media_set?set=a.10204191832067943.1073741846.1591052365&type=3) ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/47 "2015-03-03T16:38:47Z")
I had about four long-running model projects all come to completion at the same time, which was nice; and now I’m clearing the decks and starting another (of course). [This](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Demoness/file_zpsa455c7d6.jpg) pregnant [demoness](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Demoness/file_zps8409b3dd.jpg)started out as a simple pregnant bride toting a shotgun; but when I acquired the cool skulls-and-coals base from a friend, well, things just kinda got out of control. The wings are from a vinyl toy and were a colossal pain to paint; none of my usual paints wanted to dry properly. She has a little ringbearer with her, made from putty and Aurora Monster Customizing Accessories batwings. [This Rocket Girl](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Rocket%20Girl/Rocket%20Girl%202/file_zps98e0f78c.jpg) is a straightforward assemble-and-paint project, with minimal modifications, except I changed the base a bit to make it more interesting– The [Post-Apocalypto](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Post-apocalypto/file_zpsee8d8efc.jpg) is my [entry](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Post-apocalypto/file_zpsa1a2b87c.jpg) in a group build project (“Post-apocalyptic Road Rally”) at the local model club. I thought it would be fun to do the driver up as my favorite “superheroine”, Wendy Watson. The fourth completion is an Elvira figure that’s just too vulgar to show pictures of 😉 …and so, because Nature abhors a vacuum, I’ve started another project. I received a little LED lantern as a motivational item at work; of course the only thing to do with it was to turn it into a [Squid Tank](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/file_zps76197618.jpg). Here’s the [pilot](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/file_zps01d6eb82.jpg) (as yet incomplete), steering squidkind’s first foray into the mysterious World Above! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/48 "2015-03-03T17:08:02Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > … [This](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Demoness/file_zpsa455c7d6.jpg) pregnant [demoness](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Demoness/file_zps8409b3dd.jpg)started out as a simple pregnant bride toting a shotgun; but when I acquired the cool skulls-and-coals base from a friend, well, things just kinda got out of control… > The fourth completion is an Elvira figure that’s just too vulgar to show pictures of ;)… Now, now, now, you can’t tease us like that!! We’re all adults here - even if we don’t act like it much - so just break the link or whatever. Please? The pregnant demoness is so cool! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/49 "2015-03-03T18:54:13Z")
I try to write poetry. Here is a collection of twentysomething of them: [BROOOP](https://www.dropbox.com/s/zjhoaktivjw8sln/BRROOP%20cb.docx?dl=0). And here is a collection of 12 connected works, with influences from my Christian upbringing and westernized versions of Zen stuff (to be clear, it attempts to sort of playfully mix together elements in non-straightforward ways. Not exactly subversive, but not just a retelling of the two traditions either. It’s hard to explain.) : [Twelve Brief Passages of Questionable Authenticity with Enigmatic Commentary](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By-gt5tzV7OgWDRrcktPMUxvR2M/view?usp=sharing) I also write music. Here are three short examples: [Tonight’s Earworm](http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/8b3bb69f7a66d74e5554b94bf7c7a9cbf59237cc) [Tropical Vacation](http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/d35e1471ab74c02c3bae456f5505e480de020590) [A Driving, Cheerful Tune](http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/35710a555dea662dfd605598692f20f5a027ac5d) And two longer, more ambitious examples: [A Babbegity in G](http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/c04fe8da17fcc010845696be5df055d28c00d507) [What Seemed Possible At the Time](http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/d5053d9266ee8f8c53692b267630c457cb581f00) ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/50 "2015-03-03T19:36:08Z")
Missed the edit window, darn it. Anyway, the [Post-Apocalypto](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Post-apocalypto/file_zps0d59c1f4.jpg)started out as [this.](http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Post-apocalypto/eee2d1796b90b7ba52451977db0d00ed_zpsevvm9ams.jpg)😉 ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/51 "2015-03-03T20:04:22Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Oh here I am again nagging for pictures; **EmilyG** , I’d love to see your pianos and harpsichords. All right. [Pianos](http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j175/muzition/pianosss_zpsoujndffd.jpg) [More pianos](http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j175/muzition/crafts/piano2_zps27be967b.jpg) [Harpsichords](http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j175/muzition/harpsichords_zps1ednbt86.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/52 "2015-03-03T21:41:10Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > All right. > > [Pianos](http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j175/muzition/pianosss_zpsoujndffd.jpg) > > [More pianos](http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j175/muzition/crafts/piano2_zps27be967b.jpg) > > [Harpsichords](http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j175/muzition/harpsichords_zps1ednbt86.jpg) Those are hilariously awesome. I wish I could make small things that turned out so tidily. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/53 "2015-03-03T21:58:21Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > [A Driving, Cheerful Tune](http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/35710a555dea662dfd605598692f20f5a027ac5d) Er, the above link is wrong, it goes to a partially completed piece rather than the one I meant to link to. Here is the correct link: [A Cheerful Driving Tune](http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/2da290d8ede8b02a99d0f32e79485025b1b2e25e) ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/54 "2015-03-03T22:54:51Z")
Oh **EmilyG** , those are so cool! I bet you could sell those, if you wanted, but I have no idea how much time goes into them (when people ask me to sell them a scarf or sweater I just laugh because the time plus the yarn would make the price prohibitive). The harpsichords especially are lovely. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/55 "2015-03-03T22:59:23Z")
My husband discovered the various music- studio-apps for the IPad last year. He plugged in his electrical guitar and recorded an improvisation, then added the sounds the apps offered for background. Here’s a “cool jazz” track he made. [Cool Jazz? Using Garageband on iPad with Apogee JAM - YouTube](http://youtu.be/bdTdolNYgEk) He’s currently passionate about a website he’s singlehandedly building and filling with content. He spends every damned free minute on it. It’s a sort of wiki for technical differences for games, comparing different updates for different platforms. [http://www.techingames.net](http://www.techingames.net) Me, my current project is being a nature mom in my kids school class. So far I’ve set the class up with a terrarium with stick insects. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/56 "2015-03-04T00:27:31Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > All right. > > [Pianos](http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j175/muzition/pianosss_zpsoujndffd.jpg) > > [More pianos](http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j175/muzition/crafts/piano2_zps27be967b.jpg) > > [Harpsichords](http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j175/muzition/harpsichords_zps1ednbt86.jpg) Charming! ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/57 "2015-03-04T01:23:47Z")
I’m presently knitting a blanket of [puzzle pieces](https://flic.kr/p/rszw5x) (from handspun, spun on a spindle). And I’ve got one [funky](https://flic.kr/p/ro3pUn)[colorwork](https://flic.kr/p/r6t3PG) sock recently completed. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/58 "2015-03-04T06:26:58Z")
Eureka, those are incredible. How do you keep track of such a complicated and fine pattern in the sock, and the edges of the puzzle pieces? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/59 "2015-03-04T07:50:46Z")
I am writing a screenplay, based on an existing property, that the owner of said property will never read. But I chose to do it for two reasons. One is, I know all of what’s going to happen in the story, because I’m cribbing from the original; and the other is, I just love this property, and have always wanted to see this particular idea get made, so why not start it myself?\* > [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > …but I have NO IDEA what you do with a spec screenplay… Here is the advice I’ve been given, by people who know what they’re doing. You write many more drafts until it’s perfect. The first draft is the hardest, because you’re starting from nothing. The idea is to just splurge it out really quickly, without fear of stupid ideas that go nowhere or poor spelling or structure - just get it down on paper and complete it. Second draft, you should have a good idea of what doesn’t work and needs changing. Characters that appear once and don’t do much - delete them or merge them with another; add bridging scenes; excise unnecessary scenes; basically remove the chaff and tidy it up, structurally. Third draft, do some spelling and grammar checks. Tighten up some of the dialogue and descriptions to be more evocative or pithy or whatever. Now it’s ready for showing to other people. Find either someone you trust will give honest feedback, so not a family member or close friend, someone one step removed; or send it out for professional “coverage”, which costs a small fee, but you get detailed objective feedback, from experienced script readers. You don’t have to take all their advice, but they will see things, or suggest things, that will give you direction for the next draft. Most screenplays have ten or even twenty drafts before they’re “complete” though sometimes a new draft is just a subtle tweak. By that time you should have an idea if what you have is anything, and can submit it to any number of online places for feedback or, though this is unlikely, actually being bought and made. That almost never happens for first screenplays from unknowns, but it’s good experience to know what to expect for the next one you write. \*_Lots of reasons, but I’m doing it anyway_ ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/60 "2015-03-04T13:52:29Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Oh **EmilyG** , those are so cool! I bet you could sell those, if you wanted, but I have no idea how much time goes into them (when people ask me to sell them a scarf or sweater I just laugh because the time plus the yarn would make the price prohibitive). The harpsichords especially are lovely. Thanks. I do sell my pianos sometimes, at craft fairs and such. I haven’t sold any harpsichords yet, but it’s because I haven’t made very many of them. I was thinking of setting up an Etsy account to sell my crafts. > [@Rocketeer](#): > > Charming! Thanks 🙂 And thanks, \*\*Sattua \*\*. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977.md?page=4)