Busy hands | Disquiet mind

I attended a workshop at HOPE called 'Artistic PCB Design for Terrified Beginners'. I enjoyed it immensely. There is a lot of information at the wiki page, and the instructional part is on youtube.

You are informed about the different layers that make up a printed circuit board, and how to leave gaps to get certain effects, like exposed copper, and holes in the copper to let light through.

The basic circuit, a four-pin SAO, two LEDs and two resistors intended to be an add-on board, template was provided.

It's a steep learning curve, having to learn to use KiCad, Inkscape, and Krita. Krita is a my new favourite graphics program. It won me over by being able to create vector layers on top of your raster layers.

I wasn't prepared and had to hurriedly find some artwork to play with to make my first board. So I found some artwork of someone I don't think would mind becoming a circuit board. Here's my first attempt using too much halftone.

Now I just have to wait for the surface mount components to arrive to complete the boards.

( Images )

Board back-lit to demonstrate transparency
Photo by chebe

The gloves were an adventure. I eventually found a promising pair of gloves roughly the right style, and in a pale enough shade that they might take a colour. These also didn't mention any waterproofing coatings, so I gave them a try.

( Details )

Dyed gloves
Photo by chebe

I knew I wouldn't be able to find overalls, especially in the time, so I drafted a quick overalls bib-like pattern, that would be separate to the trousers, to be made in some lilac 100% cotton fabric.

I started with a waist measurement, and the idea of something roughly A4 in size, but with diagonal lines. It's not easy to make out but maybe you can see how I built up the pattern on squared pattern paper.

( Details )

Finished lilac cotton bib, flat
Photo by chebe

Get yourself one of the Adafruit NeoPixel Goggle kits, and make it up following their excellent instructions.

Adafruit NeoPixel Goggle kit made up
Photo by chebe

( Enhancements )