iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

wow! 200 views and 60 downloads of Dilettance Forever!!! thats so much more than i thought the silly little visual essay was going to get. to celebrate i made a big stupid stubby pen (just kidding, this is for a halloween costume)

011

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

the idea for Dilettance Forever actually came about before the #mixedmediavnjam, and i was stuck thinking about how to follow through on it before the jam gave me the perfect inspiration. here are a mock title screen and background from back then

030

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

What do we do when all the work we put in is for nothing? Well, we still have the work. And we still have each other. DILLETANCE FOREVER, my submission for the #mixedmediavnjam, is done! It's a quick read, but I put my whole gay heart into it, and I hope you like it crowpo.itch.io/dilettance-f...

3188

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

cool new craft thing: making paper feathers with watercolours! these were done for LARP but it might be fun to do a series of this with real birds! the two in the pic are an owl and a phoenix 🐦‍🔥 🦉

021

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

and that was the work that went into every single one of these pieces! im really proud of myself for all the effort i put into this. and im excited to make even more stuff next year when i start a new character at a different LARP.

130

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

with some of the more simple pieces, i was able to go straight to finishing them off with riveting. which is essentially just using a hammer and bowl-shaped anvil to secure pieces to each other. mostly used for securing leather loops and buckle straps, but i also used this to secure layers together

120

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

all of the above steps needed to be done before i could start actually assembling all the separate pieces. parts of the armour that had a lot of curve needed strong stitching to hold their shapes. this was probably the most intense part of any of the pieces, especially for the corset (3rd pic)

120

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

because of likely exposure to sun and rain, the top/front of the leather couldn't be sealed with the gum. i used Fiebling's Resolene, a medium glossy acrylic finish, to protect the top of each piece. you can see the difference in gloss after the first pic, and how it makes the colour pop!

120

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

with the dye and carving done, i needed to start the steps to seal the leather and waterproof it. step 1 of that was to burnish the edges and backs of each piece with tokonole burnishing gum, leaving a smooth glossy finish on what was originally pretty rough surfaces. it was a major arm workout lol

120

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

probably my favourite part of making this armour set was taking a risk by engraving some of the pieces. i wanted the original beige colour of the leather to pop out of the dark brown, so i acted as if the leather was a block of linoleum and carved away the layer of dye! i ended up loving the results

120

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

after cutting the pieces and sanding the edges, the next step was to dye! the dye needs a lot of time to dry, so this step (for the pieces pictured) took about 2 days. i played around with a lot of different shades of brown, and eventually i settled on using Angelus Dark Brown

130

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

every part of the set began as patrern pieces cut out of big cuts of ~3mm thick leather. for the chestplate, pauldrons, corset, and bracers, i used paper patterns purchased on etsy, but for the "easier" (:P) pieces i designed my own patterns

130

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

the set has 9 pieces, and was made over the course of about 11 monts. here are the different pieces in separate images, and i'll go over the basics of the steps to cut, dye, engrave, seal, and rivet a piece

140

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

said i was gonna do this months ago and then promptly forgot LOL anyways, here's a rundown of how i made the leather armour for my LARP character, Adelaide!

184

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

cute lil quilt block i made today. thank you that is all 🫡

0181

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

ive been working on a thigh garter book holster (because im a nerd) and its close enough to completion that i feel okay posting it!! i cut, dyed, and treated the leather myself 💪

041

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

i keep doing risky craft things like "freehand engraving leather that took me hours to cut and dye" but i never make mistakes ever and im never punished for my hubris so whatever

011

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

laser cut this picture frame to hold a very special pic of my gf and i. the gear on the right is a nod to the book that she got her name from. i love making stuff and i love being gay!

141

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

another quilted bow is done! that makes three that i've made so far

061

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

quilted shiny furret bow is done! hit some potholes while working on it but it come together 👍

281

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

bag progress! just need to add buttons to the front, attach a strap, and topstitch the opening

021

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

i have a functioning sewing machine again so im making a bag! here's some pretty embroidery i did on it 😤

3102

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

hosted a fun architecture model making competition for students at work today! im definitely doing this again, the kids had a blast

010

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

realized i didn't show the "card" part of it 😅 you can pull out the flowers!

000

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Mother's Day card made with a Cricut! honestly i've been sleeping on the official cricut content, some of it is really cool

111

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

The Watchers - acrylic on canvas (34"x17") long time no see!! i havent been posting much but i'm still making shit! this is a gift i made for some friends who just got a new place ☺️

072

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

3d printed a new case for my work id card! im desperate for a multi-colour printer lmfao

031

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

new painting is finished! im calling it "Keep You Eyes Focused on the House in the Distance"

2147

bird tools @crowmake.bsky.social · 07/11/2024

for halloween at work, my coworkers and i made giant cardboard bobbleheads of ourselves! the interior is attached to a construction helmet that allows it to sit comfortably and still wiggle around

042