A Little Unraveled Issue 002 — Apparently, the Instructions Are Just Suggestions

A Little Unraveled: Issue 002 — Apparently, the Instructions Are Just Suggestions

Apparently nothing in my life is following the instructions this week.

The polymer clay doesn’t want to come out of the cutter. My brand-new 3D printer apparently works better when I leave the front door open. And Silo seems to have decided the books were more of a suggestion than actual source material.

So that’s where we are. 😂

🩷 Apparently I Make Things Out of Clay Now

I’ve taken up polymer clay.

Because apparently I needed another hobby that requires supplies, tools, equipment, and an entire new section of my workspace.

It started innocently enough. I wanted to make some stitch markers and needle minders. Then I discovered I could 3D print my own polymer clay cutters.

Well.

You can probably imagine what happened next.

Now I’m designing cutters, printing cutters, experimenting with clay, mixing colors… and generally having entirely too much fun with the whole thing.

There’s just one tiny problem.

I can’t get the darn clay to pop cleanly out of the cutters.

Cornstarch helps. Theoretically.

In practice, I’m not entirely sure whether you’re supposed to lightly dust the clay with cornstarch or reenact a small-scale bakery explosion, because somehow I end up with cornstarch on the clay, the table, myself and the floor.

But I’m determined.

Somewhere out there is the perfect combination of clay temperature, cutter design and just the right amount of cornstarch.

I will find it.

And then I’ll probably 3D print something to hold it. 😂

🖨️ Speaking of 3D Printing…

We got a new 3D printer!

It’s a Snapmaker U1, and I was VERY excited about it.

And to be fair, when it’s printing correctly, I’m still very excited about it.

When it’s not?

Well… have you ever seen what happens when a 3D printer decides it’s going to continue happily printing even though the filament is no longer going where it’s supposed to?

Spaghetti.

Lots and lots of plastic spaghetti.

So we’ve been troubleshooting. And troubleshooting some more.

At one point we were dealing with the printer sticking when it moved from side to side. Front to back? Fine. Side to side? Nope.

And then there’s the filament.

Would you like to know one of the things that may help the U1 successfully print certain filament?

Opening the front door.

That’s it.

We bought this fancy enclosed 3D printer and apparently one of the tricks to making it work properly is…

Don’t enclose it.

Of course. 😂

But we’re getting there, and now that I’ve gotten some successful prints, I have been printing the heck out of yarn bowls.

I also somehow ended up on a mission to find the perfect MagSafe phone charger stand to print.

Because this is how my brain works.

I buy a 3D printer for the business.

Business → yarn bowls → useful things → phone stand → suddenly I’m comparing seventeen different MagSafe stand designs when I should probably be doing something involving actual yarn.

Seems reasonable.

📺 What I’m Watching:

Silo

Okay.

Is anyone else watching Season 3 of Silo?

Because I need to talk about this.

I’ve read the books, I’m six episodes into this season, and at this point I’m pretty sure the writers and the books have politely parted ways.

I’m trying very hard not to spoil anything here, so if you haven’t watched yet, you’re safe.

But…

SILO 1.

Book readers know what I’m talking about.

What is happening?!

The whole storyline seems to be heading in a very different direction, and I’m getting some serious AI vibes from what’s going on.

Which is not where I thought we were going.

At all.

I keep watching each episode thinking, Okay, NOW we’re going to get back to what happened in the books.

Nope.

Apparently Hugh Howey’s books have joined my polymer clay instructions and Snapmaker manual in the category of:

Helpful suggestions you are under no obligation to follow. 😂

I’m still completely invested, though.

If you’re watching Silo too — especially if you’ve read the books — hit reply and tell me what you think. Because I need somebody to discuss this with!

And that’s life around here this week.

I’m covered in cornstarch, the 3D printer’s door is open, there are yarn bowls everywhere, and I’m yelling questions about Silo 1 at my television.

Everything seems perfectly normal.

Alright, back to the dye pots. Catch y’all next week! 🩷

Jenna