Dogear - My Cricut Woes

My Dogear project is software that I use to create one-of-a-kind generative art bookmarks. You can read about the whole project at Dogear Bookmarks

The project centered around the Cricut where I used it as a pen plotter, and a precise drag knife to cut my algorithmic designs. I wrote software to generate 130 unique bookmarks.

The hardware seems well made, and conceptually it’s a fantastic tool that was central to my ability to carry out the project. However, the software that comes with it is terrible, and treats you like a revenue stream. I’d like to tell you about all the ways I found that the Cricut Design Studio is bad.

Dogear - The Algorithmic Bookmark Project

My Dogear project is software that I use to create one-of-a-kind generative art bookmarks. Every edition of a book gets its own unique design, like a fingerprint. The bookmark belongs to the book as much as the book belongs to you.

Front and back of two bookmarks as an example:

I absolutely love how this project has turned out, but along the way I learned to dislike the Cricut Design Studio software greatly - and you can read about my Cricut Woes in a companion post to this one.

Ear defender headphone build

I work in a very noisy open plan office, which makes it hard to focus. To solve the problem, and still let me listen to some music, I made these noise blocking headphones. They’re built from heavy-duty Peltor ear defenders, usually worn in industrial settings to block harmful noise levels from damaging your hearing.

I’d like to show you how I made them, so that you can do the same. Here’s a picture of what they look like:

Coffeebot Heroine

Coffeebot Heroine

This body is a hotel and a shrine. You can have it when I die.

Hoxton separatists with Romanian AK-47s and grenades, probably bought wholesale somewhere south of the river in a little place you’ve never heard of. My trousers were uncomfortably soaked in petrol as I was pinned down by small arms fire, hiding behind a black cab.

I’d explain, but I’m jonesing for my next double macchiato. My muscles are hurting and I’m sweating rivers. I’ve been here an hour, and the retro coffee house on the corner won’t bring me even a long black on account of the tossers in camouflage cardigans. I’ve called them a dozen times to ask, but they won’t relent. Last I called, I suggested they tape the lid on tight and use a belt to slingshot it to me. They suggested I keep my head down.