Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Beep Bop Boop Beeple

I love computer parts ... and electronics parts.  I have no idea why, I just always have: little gears, screws, hardware, circuit boards.  I remember the first time I saw a one gig external hard drive around 1993.  I asked, solemnly, if I could touch it.

So it was a particularly sweet treat to find this neatly arranged grouping of electronics parts sitting on my desk last week.  "What is all this stuff," I asked Andrew, not touching anything for fear it wasn't for me. He replied, "I was taking apart the hard drives that failed and I thought you'd like those parts.  Aren't they cool?"

All together now ... awwwwww!  What a sweetheart!

The silver rings are particularly awesome.  They are super-light and super-shiny.  They have square corners.  I think they'll make great earrings.

A couple days later, this bit showed up next to my keyboard.  He'd taken apart a way-old cellphone that had been stashed in the closet.  I totally think it looks like and owl!

The coolest part is how flexible the keypad back is.  So much fun to play with.

Then, just a couple days ago, I found this tiny, squeal-able bit on my desk.  "What is this?!  What is this!?" I yelled.  It's the tiny test card that came with his little digital camera.  I *so* want it to look like an elephant ... that little bit looks like a trunk to me.  But it doesn't really look anything like an elephant.

  Then, I flipped it over.  Oh, joy!  Look at the skull made by the circuits!  So perfect!  It almost takes away the disappointment about the un-elephantness.

I also "rescued" two network cards from the trash (no picture) because they have great circuit patterns.  All of these will be added to my growing collection of computer and electronics parts.  I feel some electronics embroidery brewing in my head.

If you look closely in this picture, you'll see I use a heat sink (my FAVORITE kind of computer bit) as a note holder.  (picture from this 2006 post)
16 Comments leave a comment


stephanie s said ...
7/24/2008 1:03 AM
but that owl plate is STILL upside down... that might have been the first comment i ever made on your site - and you can't believe how i worried it would offend you... so glad you are hard to offend.




stephanie s said ...
7/24/2008 1:08 AM
well, i just did a little research and i had commented before the owl plate, but you still called me ruby-crowned kinglette... obviously we were still in the formal stages of the friendship...


Rebecca said ...
7/24/2008 1:11 AM
Oh, how cool, can't wait to see what you make with them!


Angie said ...
7/24/2008 9:16 AM
Oh My God!! I have a box of circuit boards at home that my husband has been collecting for me. I've always wanted to do something artistic with them and have mentioned it to others who gave me a weird look, so I'm glad to see someone else is inspired by them too.


Jody said ...
7/24/2008 12:28 PM
My hubby is really into circuit boards and electronic parts. He is always taking things apart! One day I came home to find our very exspensive flat panel TV in pieces on the kitchen counter. Don't worry! He says - I just wanted to see how it worked. He did manage to put it back together - but I think it took a year off my life!!
It was like walking into the middle of a surgery in progress! All those pieces better get back in! hehe


Minns said ...
7/24/2008 2:29 PM
My husband looooves finding out how things work...Which I appreciate, although I can relate to Jody!! :) He's so normal, but has this fantastic geeky streak. (It's like that bumper sticker, "a PBS mind in an MTV world"!)

Have any robot projects in the works by chance? :)


Alexis said ...
7/24/2008 4:53 PM
Those are truly cool!


Miss Squinty said ...
7/24/2008 7:47 PM
Haha when I was little (and not so little) I used to take things apart, especially used to love the old things because of all the big capacitors etc, they looked like mini cities. loved it, ( I also would get some successfully back together.. sometimes) :p hehe


Dawn Elizabeth said ...
7/24/2008 8:19 PM
I have seen so much cool stuff made from computer parts! I'm sure you'll wow us!


julie said ...
7/24/2008 10:33 PM
I'm afraid to take things apart because I know they'll stay that way!
I'll just live vicariously thru you on this one.
Thanks for sharing!
Julie


kat said ...
7/24/2008 11:01 PM
freak.

heehee.


Jennifer said ...
7/25/2008 12:24 AM
The gray piece in the upper right of that first photo looks like a dog's face! I also had a whole box of these circuit boards laying around and didn't know what to do with them...they finally got left behind during a move:( My friend used to make clocks out of them.


Kristin said ...
7/25/2008 4:05 PM
I discovered your blog looking for stuffed turtle patterns (http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2006/2/turtle-in-bloom.aspx) which I fell in love with. I ordered the book so I can make my own version from the pattern!

And I've fallen in love with your blog which I've been reading for the past hour (instead of working!) You make me want to take off from work and sit at home and craft for hours on end! I'm slowly getting back into crafts and wish I had so much more free time. And I just discovered your felt octopus and want to make one!!


nyjlm said ...
7/25/2008 11:05 PM
how fun- I have the guts and case of my deceased ipod sitting on my dresser. I want to make a necklace out of part of the innards.


gkgirl said ...
7/26/2008 12:32 PM
what is it that makes these peices
so appealing???
i am the exact same way...
and i don't know why...or what it is about them.
i do know that i have to fight my eight year old son
for any pieces my husband is discarding...
heeheehee

 
Cardea said ...
8/1/2008 11:40 AM
Your love of electronics parts is adorable and it makes me feel a little less odd for collecting every metal washer I find on the ground when I'm out walking. It just seems that something crafty ought to be done with perfect circles of metal!


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