Second batch of 3D printed products to be: check

And.... I'm done with the crazy for batch no. 2. Whew. The list of items to design went quickly from twelve to six by eliminating all new rings and improved versions of batch no. 1 for now. They give me too much work since rings need to be designed in different sizes, and wanting to print them in stainless steel makes them a bit on the chunky size due to material design requirements.

And after that the number went down from six to five, to four, to three, to two completed items and two proof of concepts. Ah, deadlines and priority shifts. Luckily I am my own boss in this, so I can just decide I need to spend more time on an item before I want it ordered. No need to waste money. And I'm cheating on my own schedule anyway... I already started working on daily use products instead of just jewelry, while those take up more time because they need to fit into their context of use (apart from just looking pretty, like jewelry).

Next batch will probably be a big one, since I now I already have several items near completion. Now all I need to do is stay on track and DO NOT DIVERGE. One of my more serious challenges, ugh.

Talking about challenges: for creating aesthetically pleasing shapes, I started using a more iterative process. For me, coming up with 'function' is never a problem, but 'form' usually is. I somehow managed to get through my Industrial Design education without gaining much experience in the field of aesthetics, which is a big handicap now as I just don't feel like I'm really having a grasp on the process. J. suggested I use a more iterative process by just making dozens of versions of the same item, all with minor changes, in one file; then pick one or more, and again make several versions. Instead of trying to adapt and perfect one version, which I was doing before. I did, and see:

Man, so much work. But it does progress faster than when I'm just looking at the screen, sighing because I don't know what else to make of it.

Other projects this week: I baked a 'vlaai', a type of local pie from Limburg (in the south of the Netherlands). Because I needed to do some, uh, 'design research'. Yeah, that's what is was. And I liked the taste of that research, sure do.

A leftover egg white was quickly turned into 'kokosmakronen', a sort of coconut macaroons. Jummy.

And whenever I remembered my evening computer curfew, I worked on embroidering this book travel bag. I love me some not having to think in the evenings while keeping my hands busy.

Oh, and I almost forgot to add a photo of my first batch of products! Voila!

With many thanks to J., the resident photographer with his eternal patience with me and his awesome skills with camera's and flashlights ;).

If you want to see the items in more detail, you can take a look at my website!

Numbers

Twelve. 
The list of different items I would like to design for the next batch.

Seven.
The number of days I have to complete said batch. During which I, of course, also have to complete my normal (job) working hours. And sleep, eat, and do everything else mortals do.

Zero.
The amount of designs I have worked out already.

...Houston, we have a problem.

Now, before you accuse me of being a slacker, a procrastinator, a bad planner and a crazy person in general: it's not my fault. Even though usually those accusations wouldn't be that far off, but that's another topic.

No, it is because my first Shapeways order has been delivered, later than planned, and I've been busy non stop before and after that point with setting up the website, facebook page and other social media, photography, filming and many more of those things. Even during my holiday. Yes. That's how devoted I am (*insert pat on the back*).

Luckily, the website has officially been launched today and pretty much everything is done. So now I can stop harassing J. to help me with the website, photo's and filming (which he did with honours, I have to say ;) ), and go back to harassing him about what to do with the 3D modelling software. Poor J. ... I owe him many apple pies.

Back to modelling: I'll be busy with deadlines once again. Don't mind me. I will recover one day (*insert dramatic rolling eyes and "I'm going to faint" hand to forehead*).

In between, some shots of things I did lately, other than above work:

I baked spelt bread for the first time. It tasted good.

Finished a basket for my friend's birthday. It was supposed to be finished one year ago, for... right, her birthday.

With the sewing machine set up already, I sewed a curtain for the 'we have way too many projects going on' storage bookcases in our living room. One down, two to go.

Made a film stamp to brighten up my brother's birthday present (movie tickets).

And I tried my hand at painting a few postcard-sized panels to add some colour to my desk area. Started out with the upper one, enlarged some elements of the first panel in the second panel, and did the same again with the third. I originally planned to use turquoise and blue hues, but since my white and black paint had hardened, I had to add more colours. Ah well, nothing wrong with more colour right?

First shapeways order!

I made it! My first order at Shapeways (the custom 3D printing company) has been done. I sent 3 ring designs and one design for a small ceramic dish. That last one was just because I wanted a reference piece for future ceramic designs, so it was whipped up in about an hour and a half. In sharp contrast to some of the ring designs... Even more, the ring design I showed earlier (okay, a small part of it) has yet to be completed, it still needed so much work that I decided to focus on the easier designs for now. But, I'll have it finished with the next batch.

Or the one after that. Or after that...

This week is going to be extremely busy at my part-time job, and after that I'm free for two whole weeks (yay!). If everything goes well, I'll receive my products the week after that (I'm very curious), and from then on I'll have loads of work to do: making good product photos, doing some promotion, setting up my own website, working on the next designs and such.

But, my two holiday weeks are for the well-needed fun and relaxation. I've promised myself that I'm only allowed to do some simple tasks to prepare for the arrival of 'the goods', if, and only if, I really feel like doing so. Sounds safe, huh?

To help the holiday feeling kick in at my first day off, I've assembled a little holiday kickstarter pack for myself. A collection of goodies and little presents to bring out that summer feeling. It think assembling it must have been at least as much fun as unpacking it will be...

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The good life

This week, I went to see the musical 'Wicked' with the in-laws (thanks guys!), and had a short walk on the beach before it started. Of course, I hád to take off my shoes and jump in the water!

The musical was awesome, I loved the story, the songs, decors, costumes and especially the lead actress: Willemijn Verkaik (she played Elpheba, the wicked witch of the west). Here is my favorite song of the muscial (without Willemijn unfortunately, since it is in English):

Apart from enjoying the good life, all I seem to be doing is work, work and work. This week I have two whole days for working on my designs, and next week I'll have an extra day off from my part-time job, so three more days available for my three rings designs. So... if they're still not done by then, I think I'll just quit as a product designer altogether... Just kidding though. I finished the six different versions of ring no.2, which had been lying around for weeks now, and now it's just working on ring no.1 and no.3, so I've made progress. A little sneak peek of ring no.3:

No, I don't have to alter ALL these points manually, just the ones around the edges and corners. Still waaay too much work for comfort though. Luckily, no.1 is much simpler.

I whipped up a little pizza bread for lunch, because working hard should be accompanied by eating well. Just a little homemade pesto (basil leaves, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, salt, Dutch: basilicum, pijnboompitten, olijfolie, knoflook, zout) with tomato paste, spread on some bread. I mixed a bit of scallion through and sprinkled Gouda on top, in the oven for 5 minutes and you have yourself a fairly decent lunch.

I've also found a new recipe for cookies. After taking a mouthwatering stroll through our local 'organic/healthy stuff' store, I came home with a bag of wholemeal spelt flour. I wanted to try out baking cookies with some more health-friendly ingredients. Well, it worked! They're not overly sweet, but if you enjoy cookies from organic sugar-free brands, you'll definitely enjoy these as well!

Recipe: sugar-free spelt cookies
For about 12 cookies:

100 grams spelt flour
40 grams rice syrup
10 grams honey
50 grams butter
a bit of salt

Extra: a few dates (Dutch: dadels), chopped in small pieces and mixed through, and/or coconut shavings on top.

Mix everything, bake for about 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius, let it cool: enjoy!