I tend to operate within two modes:

The Task at Hand is Easy (10 minutes less)

or

The Task at Hand is Complicated (multiple hours, days, etc.)

Unfortunately I tend to skew toward every task being easy, even things I’ve never done before, because I mentally omit the setup and planning involved to execute the task.

For example, in my head cutting down a board is basically turn on the saw, push the board through the saw, turn off the saw. Less than 2 minutes. In reality, there’s also the time it takes to measure and double check it, make sure the saw is set correctly, and so on.

Planning out a project that was a combination of easy and complicated tasks was difficult. I estimated it would probably take me about a month to finish.

However, in my mind a month was 30 days of working on it all day every day, which is of course completely unrealistic. There’s downtime needed for things like waiting for paint and glue to dry as well as important things like REST!

While it’s not quite done yet, it’s getting very close.

Here’s what I’m building:

A small illuminated cross-stitch using fiber optic cable and LED lights measuring about 38” x 21”. It will be able to both hang on the wall or sit on a flat surface.

LOVE and the line above it will be static light and the heart will be animated light.

How the light will work:

On the back side of the project board will be two wood rails holding LED strips: one above the line with the heart, one below LOVE.

I designed 3D printed tubes to connect the fiber optic cable to the light and also secure the LED strip to the wood.

Some construction progress photos:

And a short video briefly explaining the lighting involved and my next steps:

Next week I’m headed to Blink in Cincinnati, OH and then Gleam in Madison, WI so next month’s newsletter will include a brief recap of that along with, hopefully, a finalized LOVE cross-stitch!

As always, thanks so much for being here! Your support keeps me going and it’s incredibly appreciated.

Until the next newsletter, be well!
Giesla

If you’re able and would like to help support my work financially, click the button below to make a donation! Any support I receive goes directly toward purchasing the tools I need as well as living expenses.

If you feel more comfortable giving to me directly, my Venmo is @giesla and CashApp is $giesla.

Thanks so much for your consideration!