iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 09/10/2026

My "bedazzLED" denim jacket tutorial is up on @makemagazine 's site without a paywall now! It's a practical wearable project that's looks cute even when it's not illuminated. makezine.com/projects/bedazzled-jea…

There colorful Illuminated flowers on the back of a denim jacket

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/08/2026

New soft polyhedron. This rhombicuboctahedeon was an attempt to see if I could make a soft-sided polyhedron that didn't totally deform to a sphere when stuffed, so each face is lined with thick fusible interfacing and the exterior fabric is heavy canvas. It's […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 20/07/2026

The light show over the lake each night was beautiful, and even more fun when the fire cannons (not pictured) fired.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 20/07/2026

I loved the giant, functional LED rubix cube installation, though I'm not tall enough to see the top side.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 20/07/2026

The illuminated hat game was strong in the evenings, and it was a terrific place to wear the gorgeous hand-crocheted LED beanie that @alpenglow made. It was a great place for *all* illuminated wearables.

me wearing an illuminated knit beanie standing next to a man wearing a functional 8x8x8 RGB LED cube mounted on a hard hat.

me, wearing the same illuminated beanie, standing next to a man with LED string lights covering the outside of a hard hat, and a other man with a short top hat covered in LEDs displaying a fire animation

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 20/07/2026

The kids in the infinity mirror workshop were wonderfully creative, and if anyone wants to do this project themselves, instructions are at www.geekmomprojects.com/infinite-fa…

A fairy light infinity mirror creature like the one in the previous post, except that this one has been decorated to resemble a spider with a white spiderweb.

A fairy light infinity mirror creature like the one in the previous post, except that this one has been decorated to resemble a penguin

A fairy light infinity mirror creature like the one in the previous post, except that this one has been decorated to resemble a ladybug holding an orange flower

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 20/07/2026

Still struggling to find the words to describe what a wonderful adventure #emfcamp was. I'll upload a few pictures in this thread. A friend took this wonderful photo of me while I was teaching a kids' workshop to make an "infinity mirror fairy creature."

A craft work butterfly with pink and gree pipe cleaner wings and antennae with googly eyes in its black foam head and a circular infinity mirror as its belly. A reflection of me, wearing an orange hat with my hands on my hips is visible in the center of the mirror.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/07/2026

On the train from London to Ledbury, desperately trying to finish the firmware for the Ouija badges I'm bringing to #enfcamp. Bonus points if I can get documentation done before I arrive.

A laptop resting on a pull down tray on a train seat. The laptop is running Arduino IDE, and connected via an Arduino Nano based UPDI programmer to a small PCB that looks like an Ouija board with LEDs under the letters and numbers.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 10/07/2026

Just finished these prototype LED hats. I'll be leading a workshop to make them at #emf2026.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/05/2026

Designed three interlocking squares that come together in an octahedron. LEDs will be involved at some point.

A brown table with three 3d printed hollow squares, about 6 cm long on each edge and 6mm thick, lying on top. the corners of each square contain notches either on the inside or outside of the corner. Behind the squares is a 3D octahedron which is formed by assembling the three squares to form the octahedron's edges.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/04/2026

I made this hyperboloid years ago when LED strings were only available with 10 cm spacing. The old LED string broke, so I restrung it with higher density pixels, and am playing with 3D patterns on the #pixelblaze controller.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/03/2026

I am an orchid show taking a tour. The speaker, a lovely older lady, explained that growers are very generous in sharing cuttings freely and that their generosity "puts the 'whore' in 'horticulture!'" 😂

A large display of many different colors and types of orchids.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 03/02/2026

Since people seem to like the penguins, I have to post this photo, which somebody else on my ship took. I think it belongs in National Geographic. We saw two orcas chasing a poor penguin which darted underneath our ship multiple times to try to escape. Zoom […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

An orca reaching the water in Hot pursuit of a penguin which is also left out of the water in front of it. The penguin's face shows true desperation in its attempt to escape.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 03/02/2026

I recently returned from an incredible trip to Antarctica and I need everyone to look at my penguin photos.

Two penguins on a rocky beach looking at each other while one opens its mouth widely and looks like it's shouting at the other

A parent penguin on its rocky nest with two small fuzzy chicks under its belly

A penguin on a rocky Beach looking askew to the side

A penguin on a Rocky Beach leaning to the side with one leg raised slightly behind it and looking at the camera in a very amusing pose

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/12/2025

Video of the illumination so far with a dumb LED controller. The plan is to program it to display messages.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/12/2025

Ended up needing a new sewing machine, but now that it's arrived, I've been able to finish sewing the Ouija messenger bag. The project has entered the hot-glue phase. Only a few LEDs left to go.

An exterior of a beige messenger bag with a Ouija board on the front flat. The board itself is made from etched faux leather with cutouts for 3D printed letters that are illuminated from behind.

The front of the LED Ouija board messenger bag with the letters and numbers illuminated from behind in rainbow colors

The view inside the front flap of the messenger bag with a panel zipped open to reveal the back side of the illuminated letters which are surrounded by EVA foam with cutouts at the letter positions. Each letter cutout is filled with hot glues and has two LEDs from an LED string attached to eliminate the letter from behind.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/11/2025

@tobiw @gvlx there appears to be an extra solder pad on the bottom PCB in this image vs the top PCB

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/11/2025

@tobiw Hard to know for sure from the picture, but two connection points are possibly bridged in the bottom PCB

Two green PCBs with lots of solder points

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/11/2025

A terrible Hitchcock remake appears to be taking place on the UCLA campus this morning.

A large number of abandoned Bird scooters on the UCLA campus

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/10/2025

I got my SAO boards in for #SuperCon, and, since I didn't leave enough time for revisions, a bodge wire is required. I'm just relieved it's fixable. Since SuperCon starts on Halloween this year, the "SAOuija" is nicely thematic. Still working on the code. I'd […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/10/2025

In Santa Monica for the #nokings March. My sign was last minute but the hat and shirt have gotten a lot of use.

Four women at a no kings protest holding signs and wearing anti-fascist and no kings shirts and hats

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/09/2025

Made a 🌈 on the new #RaspberryPi 500+, and l'm not sure I'll ever get past playing with the keyboard to use it for another purpose!

A mechanical keyboard which houses the new Raspberry Pi 500+ computer displaying a rainbow pattern across its keys.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/09/2025

Just set up a small wearables exhibit for this weekend's #BayAreaMakerFaire. I'll be giving workshops today and a talk tomorrow as well, so it's going to be a (fun) busy weekend!

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/09/2025

At the Orange County Maker Faire this weekend, I got to see @californiasteam and his gorgeous LED jewelry creations, and was super excited to get one of his brand new "Duonacci" pendants. It's powered by a super capacitor which charges fully in just minutes and lasts for many hours.

Me posing next to Sander from California's theme. Displaying a gorgeous spiral LED pendant that I am wearing

Sander from California steam standing behind a very glowy display of LED jewelry and wearables at the Orange County Maker Faire

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/08/2025

Getting ready to bring some Bendy SAO boards to @crashspaceLA tonight for a presentation with @alpenglow where well show off some fun PCB projects. Attached the SAOs to the SuperCon 2024 badge and it's giving strong Medusa vibes!

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 07/08/2025

Maker Tom Keddie remixed the Bendy SAO board for a Pride event, and love how it turned out! hackaday.io/project/203708-bendysao…

A tabletop display of a multi-segmented car wash balloon man sculpture constructed of PCBs in different colors arranged at jaunty angles to each other with some the backlit LEDs running up the front center of the sculpture illuminated in an alternating blue and red pattern.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/08/2025

Riley (left) channeling his spirit animal on the UCLA campus

A medium sized black and tan 2-year-old dog sits on a pedestal next to a giant bear statue that is life size or slightly larger. The dog is looking at the camera and his tongue is hanging out

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/08/2025

Experimenting with making an illuminated daisy chain by 3D printing snap-on circular covers for a pebble light string and cutting shiny vinyl flowers that fit around the glowy centers.

A black bucket cap rests on a table. Several silver flowers with illuminated red centers run around the middle of the hat. In front of the hat is a string of pebble lights in which the LEDs have been covered by translucent circular diffusers. Some of the diffusers form the center for vinyl flowers that have been placed around them. On the table in front of the LED string are two of the 3D printed diffusers, along with two flowers cut from vinyl with holes in their centers for placing the diffusers through.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/07/2025

I'm belatedly getting around to showing off this **GORGEOUS** crochet hat the uber talented @alpenglow made for me. She integrated a pebble light string and #pixelblaze controller. It's all powered by a flat top 18650 with a clever charge/discharge circuit […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/06/2025

I'm teaching at a nonprofit STEM education camp this week, and yesterday we had an activity where the kids had to solve science puzzles to figure out who had kidnapped our class mascot, a masking-tape goldfish. All staff members were suspects. One child made […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A notebook with a crayon picture of a fish drawn on it and titled "Detective who took the fish"

A child's notebook of observations that reads:

Detective Isla
fish on the loss (loose)

Who took the orange fish in the morning sign I'm lonely (the kidnapper left a sign next to the remaining mascot saying "I'm lonely")

Ms. Sherry in the office

Mr. Alex he was playing Frisbee outside

Mss Debra: I don't trust her

But it could be Ms. Amy

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/06/2025

The prize for winning a top spot at the Hackaday SuperCon SAO challenge with my Bendy SAO design was getting 100 copies of it produced and assembled. These bendy boys just arrived this week. They're getting flashed and paired with 3D printed stands, so now I […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Two green poseable PCB assemblies, shaped like inflatable car wash men are illuminated through translucent patches on the front of the PCBs. One assembly is laying on a table, connected to a programmer while the other assembly stands vertically with its base held by a round silver 3D printed stand. Begind the assemblies is a plastic bin filled with dozens more identical assemblies.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/05/2025

Walking in the UCLA campus today, I grabbed what I thought was a copy of the "Daily Bruin" student newspaper. Turns out it's a (quite good!) lookalike satire. Worth zooming in on the images to read the headlines.

A folded student newspaper named "The Westwood Enabler" with a main headline reading "UCPD ARRESTS STUDENT FOR THINKING ABOUT PALESTINE"

A satire version of the Daily Bruin titled "The Westwood Enabler"

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/05/2025

Just finished sewing a new sling bag with a 32x18 LED matrix inside the pocket flap. The pocket flap snaps off so the matrix can be used in other designs. The #Pixelblaze controller and battery fit nicely inside the front pocket

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/05/2025

Was hiking when my dog emerged from the bushes with this large bone. I texted my (doctor) husband to see what it was and he texted it back "fibia," then immediately went offline before answering my second question, "not human, right?" Still waiting for that […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A hand holding a large bleached tibia bone

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 10/05/2025

Is my weekly #teslatakedown protest. This Saturday I'm in Santa Monica. Smallish but quite high impact protest with good energy and a very high visibility location at the 3rd Street promenade. Also, this couple is awesome.

A grey haired man and woman standing on a street corner holding up protest signs reading "Boycott Tesla" and "Elon Kills Babies"

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/05/2025

Another small but mighty protest outside the Milken conference in Beverly Hills where Musk is speaking #teslatakedown

A small group of protesters holding anti-Musk signs across the street from the Beverly Hilton which has a sign announcing the Milken Institute conference

A small group of anti Musk protestors on a street corner holding signs

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/04/2025

It rained this morning, so the weekly Santa Barbara #teslatakedown protest is smaller than usual, but mighty in spirit.

A small but mighty group of protesters standing along a sidewalk holding signs outside of a Tesla dealership

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/04/2025

The diffusers on the new LED polyhedron (dihedral hexacontahedron, right) looked so much better than the first build that I had to print new ones for the truncated icosahedron (left). I also synced up the patterns on both builds (with #pixelblaze) and will be […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 19/04/2025

Another Saturday, another #teslatakedown protest. This is a portion of the crowd outside the dealership in Santa Barbara.

A line of protesters holding signs and standing in front of a Tesla dealership

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 17/04/2025

The LED deltoidal hexacontahedron is complete! 60 identical PCB sides covered with 3D printed diffusers. Two #Pixelblaze controllers work in sync to provide a fast frame rate for patterns on the 1200 LEDs.

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/04/2025

New LED polyhedron build is underway. The video shows two halves of a dihedral hexacontahedron which will have 60 identical kite-shaped sides. This is the third PCB-based polyhedron build in a row, and each one is an improvement. These 3D printed tile covers […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/03/2025

It's been a fun morning. I'm helping a Los Angeles STEM education nonprofit prepare a kids' event, and I got to build and play with this vertical wind tube. (Remarkably simple instructions here: gooddayswithkids.com/2015/02/08/bui…)

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/03/2025

[US Politics] Went to a protest at SpaceX today. It felt good to join others in taking action.

Man carrying a protest sign that reads, "Hey Elon, forget Mars go explore Uranus."

A cute black and white dog wearing a sign that says, "Paws off our democracy"

A woman carrying a white sign with a circle and red slash through the word, "broligarchy"

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GeekMomProjects @geekmomprojects.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/02/2025

Truncated Icosahedron project rev. 2 is in progress, and I'm much happier with this version. It's less (but still somewhat) fiddly to assemble and has 3x the LEDs!

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