# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/61 "2015-03-04T14:20:29Z")
> [@Eureka](#): > > I’m presently knitting a blanket of [puzzle pieces](https://flic.kr/p/rszw5x) (from handspun, spun on a spindle). That is officially the most terrifying knitting project I’ve ever seen. I’m nowhere near brave enough to try something so complicated. (Although I would like to try spinning and weaving one day.) > [@GuanoLad](#): > > 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. I need to sew this in letters of gold and put it up on every wall of my house. My inner perfectionist needs to go the hell on. I don’t have a picture of the neon yellow coasters (yet), but I do have some of the t-shirt rugs I made. This is my [bedroom rug](http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/ryl/50315/57812/57812_900.jpg) and this is my [kitchen rug](http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/ryl/50315/57530/57530_900.jpg), which is the first t-shirt project I tried. The kitchen rug is developing holes in the lightest band, so I’m mentally gearing up to make another. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/62 "2015-03-04T14:40:39Z")
My second novel was published recently – I started [a thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750571) about it if anyone is interested in finding out more. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/63 "2015-03-04T16:23:50Z")
My projects last for a few seconds to no more than a day. They just crumble into sand. [Catalog](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bubbapup/sets/72157621820220995/) [Pic](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bubbapup/5117840039/in/set-72157625247432780) [With Family](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bubbapup/286889253/in/set-72157602783505243) ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/64 "2015-03-04T17:12:52Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > 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. Thanks. I’ve worked quite a bit with vinyl and haven’t had many issues before. Even my first project came out great so this one was frustrating to say the least. I cut with a Silhouette Cameo plotter. It’s made for the paper crafting market so it’s pretty easy to use and has a 12" cut width. It does detail and letters quite well usually. I usually use a different clear contact paper than the one I used with this project. My usual one works beautifully and I prefer it to paper transfer tape. This project was a perfect storm of issues, sadly. I’ve enjoyed this thread. So many pretty things and books to look up too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/65 "2015-03-04T17:54:17Z")
I’ve been kicking around the idea of a book in my head for 2+ years. I’ve written about three paragraphs. The book will be called _Civil War II_, and the basic premise is that a series of failed economic and social policies has basically turned parts of the present-day (or near-future) U.S. into a Third World country. For reasons I have yet to figure out, the effect is most strongly felt in the South. When the Governor of South Carolina comes up with a series of initiatives to try to turn things around in his state, he’s shut down by the feds until, eventually, the South Carolina government announces its secession from the Union (again). The book would explore some interesting themes, including the disconnect between political idealists (both Left and Right) and the people they purport to represent; the cultural, religious, and (sometimes) economic divide between the Right and the Left in this country (as far as the voters on the ground are concerned); and what it’s like living under an unpopular, failed president whose apologists believe he can do no wrong despite the evidence that is literally right in front of their noses. There are several things stopping me. [ul] [li]I don’t enough about how modern warfare is prosecuted to make a coherent narrative.[/li][li]I’m still not sure how many (if any) American servicemen and women would carry out orders to carry out strikes against other Americans.[/li][li]I have no idea what happens after the first four or so chapters.[/li][/ul] Still, the day may come when I come up with solutions to these problems and I wind up writing the next Great American Novel™. ---
**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, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/66 "2015-03-04T19:05:46Z")
Bubbadog, those are some awesome sand castles. And it is very zen to make something people enjoy seeing built, and that disappears completely after a few hours. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/67 "2015-03-04T20:24:24Z")
I do Steampunk kinetic sculpture. Large, generally. [Here’s a computer desk](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=858386010858487&set=a.517409841622774.115674.100000612873638&type=1&theater) I did which got ‘Best of Show’ at MileHiCon last year. Yeah, I’m braggin’. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/68 "2015-03-04T20:59:03Z")
> [@Miss\_Woodhouse](#): > > Thanks. I’ve worked quite a bit with vinyl and haven’t had many issues before. Even my first project came out great so this one was frustrating to say the least. I cut with a Silhouette Cameo plotter. It’s made for the paper crafting market so it’s pretty easy to use and has a 12" cut width. It does detail and letters quite well usually. I usually use a different clear contact paper than the one I used with this project. My usual one works beautifully and I prefer it to paper transfer tape. This project was a perfect storm of issues, sadly. > I’ve enjoyed this thread. So many pretty things and books to look up too. 🙂 Oh ok, your blog post said it didn’t cut right and since plotters cut precisely I thought “did she cut that by hand?!” Maybe you just need a new blade or something. It still looks good and it’s a cool idea. ---
**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 4, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/69 "2015-03-04T23:05:26Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > 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. I went to a writers’ conference where they referred to this as the “vomit theory” of writing. Since I suffer from crazy-insane motion sickness, that appealed to me! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/70 "2015-03-04T23:06:33Z")
> [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > I do Steampunk kinetic sculpture. Large, generally. [Here’s a computer desk](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=858386010858487&set=a.517409841622774.115674.100000612873638&type=1&theater) I did which got ‘Best of Show’ at MileHiCon last year. > > Yeah, I’m braggin’. You’ve not set it to be visible. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/71 "2015-03-04T23:45:50Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > 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. I love this a lot. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/72 "2015-03-05T15:50:51Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > You’ve not set it to be visible. Rats. Try it now. Maybe I fixed it. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/73 "2015-03-05T16:28:18Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > 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). These are awesome! Are you using wire frames and Sculpy for any of them? I did that a long time ago and had a lot of fun doing it, and need to do it again. ---
**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 5, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/74 "2015-03-05T17:49:07Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > These are awesome! Are you using wire frames and Sculpy for any of them? I did that a long time ago and had a lot of fun doing it, and need to do it again. I’m afraid I’m not much of a sculptor; most of my work is simply modifying pre-existing (solid-cast resin) figure kits. That usually involves cutting the figure apart, pinning the bits in the relationship I want them, and filling the gaps with epoxy putty. Sometimes the modifications get pretty involved; a Nosferatu I’m working on got taller and skinnier, and had his shoulders slumped, his head reshaped, and his arms reposed. (Well, he just didn’t look right before! 😉 ) A few times I’ve made arms or hands from scratch, using a wire frame and covering it with epoxy putty, and most of my female figures get voluptuous-ized with putty :rolleyes: 🙂 but, although that does require some knowledge of anatomy, I’m nowhere near a good enough sculptor to make an entire figure from scratch. If you can do that, my hat’s off to you! ---
**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 5, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/75 "2015-03-05T17:54:38Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I love this a lot. Thanks! It was a fun project; I especially enjoyed making the armored-car style nose. The lawn chair took a couple tries to get the webbing right. It’s wrapping tissue, soaked with Elmer’s Glue. I’m debating whether to show it to my buddies in the club right now, or wait until the contest (September) to unveil it 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/76 "2015-03-05T18:33:53Z")
> [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > Rats. > > Try it now. Maybe I fixed it. I saw it. I like it too. ---
**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 5, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/77 "2015-03-05T20:06:56Z")
Oh wow, **NoCoolUserName**! I’m glad you fixed that link because that thing is very nifty. For those who don’t want to scroll back, it’s [here](http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_14255859376969&key=ce270d38103a630c3181db372a25a052&libId=i6wkzoc8010004p6000DLfbexc0ju&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fshowthread.php%3Fp%3D18182996%23post18182996&v=1&out=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D858386010858487%26set%3Da.517409841622774.115674.100000612873638%26type%3D1%26theater&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fusercp.php&title=Let%27s%20talk%20about%20our%20personal%20creative%20projects%20here%20-%20Straight%20Dope%20Message%20Board&txt=Here%27s%20a%20computer%20desk). I don’t totally “get” steampunk (I am old) but I sure do enjoy looking at it. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/78 "2015-03-05T20:28:50Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > A few times I’ve made arms or hands from scratch, using a wire frame and covering it with epoxy putty, and most of my female figures get voluptuous-ized with putty :rolleyes: 🙂 but, although that does require some knowledge of anatomy, I’m nowhere near a good enough sculptor to make an entire figure from scratch. If you can do that, my hat’s off to you! [This is the one I did](http://rericsmith.com/models/demon_strators.jpg) when I went to animation school a few years ago. All I really did was take a bunch of sculpy logs and join them together with epoxy on a wire frame, then smoothed them down. This was after drawing front and side views and going through color schemes, so the process involved a lot of preliminary work. Once the setup was done, the rest wasn’t hard. But all good artists know you have to exaggerate certain features of your masterpiece to attract attention, so don’t kick yourself for the bust enhancement. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/79 "2015-03-06T18:19:59Z")
Here’s a CD worth of mostly acoustic original Americana music I recorded at home about a decade ago, mostly me, with contributions by friends on the internet plus two local friends: [What Was I Thinking](http://learjeff.net/cd1) Free to play or download. > [@Deeg](#): > > Believe it or not, you can safely do a Google image search for “butt crimp”. 🙂 I think that’s what I get when my scarf isn’t warm enough. > [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > My first graphic novel is up for pre-order on Amazon. [Amazon.com: Junior Braves of the Apocalypse Vol. 1: A Brave is Brave (1): 9781620101445: Greg Smith, Michael Tanner, Zach Lehner: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Junior-Braves-Apocalypse-Brave/dp/1620101440/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425279300&sr=1-1&keywords=junior+braves+of+the+apocalypse) Cool – I can’t imagine having the graphic skills that would take, let alone the imagination. > [@Chefguy](#): > > [Side A](https://www.flickr.com/photos/43200610@N07/16695245615/) > [Side B](https://www.flickr.com/photos/43200610@N07/16072938074/) Can you make a lap-sized one, with a cushion on the bottom? Better yet, two of them? That looks great! > [@Frylock](#): > > 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) Very interesting. I’d love to hear what they’d sound like performed. As a keyboard player since the 70’s, the sound of programmed music kinda gives me the hives. Despite that, I found your pieces interesting, with unusual harmony. (I realize the guitar pieces wouldn’t be performable on guitar, at least not as a solo.) That’s a nifty website in any case. > [@Maastricht](#): > > 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. [http://youtu.be/bdTdolNYgEk](http://youtu.be/bdTdolNYgEk)! Cool. BTW, I think that’s called “smooth jazz”; the term “cool jazz” implies something different to me, more Miles Davis. Incredible that we can do that on an ipad these days! > [@BubbaDog](#): > > They just crumble into sand. > [Catalog](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bubbapup/sets/72157621820220995/) > [Pic](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bubbapup/5117840039/in/set-72157625247432780) > [With Family](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bubbapup/286889253/in/set-72157602783505243) Way cool. I’ve made thousands of sand castles, having grown up on a beach where I still visit every summer. But I’m not in your league! > [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > I do Steampunk kinetic sculpture. Large, generally. [Here’s a computer desk](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=858386010858487&set=a.517409841622774.115674.100000612873638&type=1&theater) I did which got ‘Best of Show’ at MileHiCon last year. Hey, make me one to put a keyboard (musical instrument) in! > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > [This is the one I did](http://rericsmith.com/models/demon_strators.jpg) when I went to animation school a few years ago. Whoa! You’re twisted. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977/80 "2015-03-06T20:13:26Z")
> [@DooWahDiddy](#): > > I just released an album of original songs for solo piano (no vocals, no strings, just pretty piano music), which you can listen to [here](http://www.cdbaby.com/brandonsturiale). Or, if you’re more of an iTunes kind of person, you can click [here](http://bitly.com/1vrVYwj) instead. I was sure I’d clicked the quote button on your post but evidently I missed it! Excellent work; quite a contrast to my amateurish stuff. I love the sound of the piano you’re playing, too. Did you record this at home, or in a studio, and what were you playing? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-our-personal-creative-projects-here/713977.md?page=5)