What have I been up to?

     I have been having a roller coaster of different focuses and balance lately. Its been hard really to figure out what kind of blog to write. And of course what to write in the blog. 

My project adventures have been progressing like normal. I have been having fun brainstorming and starting to come up with different potential ideas. From making multiple different versions of "the hug from a far," 

Drawing ideas which could lead to a possible chess set. 

When I was on vacation an idea came back to me which I honestly forgot about to a point. My brother has enjoyed making pens on a lath machine. Of course which I currently don't have, but maybe one day. It bring to questions "what's possible with the tools I have?"

I attempted to make a pen from wood but the biggest struggle which I had was "drilling the center hole straight." But in the process of thinking it brought up a questions. "Why does a pen have to be round?" yes, that is the normal thing and had been made that way for many years. 

With a person who has grip issues due to health problems. It got me to thinking about the hand and how important it is, but also how it works in general. Can I explain the exact function, absolutely not because I am not a hand doctor. I know with my personal problem I tend to grip my pen way to hard which of course cause muscle fatigue. But the problem can be different for everyone. 

With my crazy idea for making a pen again but "not round," there were many possible ways for excision. The first problem is however, I have absolutely no idea what exactly this idea is, the absolute numbers needed for size wise. I am a person to "lets explore by trying." With the prototype function start with random shaping and then test it out. Change a little and the test. I took the idea from my head and felt like "lets see what happens." As multiple different pens started to develop and of course adapted things from size to placement. However the feel in the hand. Because science wise for this idea of course "depends on the user." The other difficult part is with redesigning the simple pen to serve a different purpose is "the learning cure." There are many different pens on the market. With each pen and writing style comes different needs. Also with the learning curve comes "willingness to keep trying." It is really easy these days for people to feel like "its to hard" and then go back to "whats comfortable." Even though "the comfortable" is not exact and of course has its own share of challenges which you were trying to fix. 

The perfect pen idea was still a work in progress. But then I am also a believe in keeping things "realistic." I took the idea for making a cooking pan handle and adapted it for a pen shelve. Something that could be used for the already made pen. The pan handle was interesting to make. But it opened the door. I of course used an angle grinder to help shape it down. Most if my pens were initially sculpted with an angle grinder. I was impressed with myself for even trying. 

My mother of course was my test subject. As things kept adapting I of course changed things and "put math to it." The adventure of how to adjust and function for "the need." I made multiple different pen sleeves. In the process of drilling the center hole. One thing happened. But first it was the first step. Exactly where the sleeve needed to be placed on the pen it self. The answer of course "is person dependent." I was more focused on placing the sleeve towards the bottom of the pen. So it would be sculpted to support the knuckle. I drilled a few "which went to high." I had my test subject and she directed for her "needing it higher." Even in the square block form I had a potential answer. Yes, to fulling find an answer the learning curve was "the last hurdle." 

With finding a potential solution and using adapting factors got me thinking. It was fun to help develop a solution with "my tools." How I was able to be creative, use the scientific method, different mechanical factors, design, trial and error. I do believe with all the different things that I have created so fare and will create in the future. Is staying on course, keeping motivation of "possible potential," opening for need and feed back. Its all part of the adventure.