Assemblage; Glue Gun Fun

as·sem·blage 

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈsem-blij, for 3 also ˌa-ˌsäm-ˈbläzh\

Function: noun

Date: 1690

1 : a collection of persons or things : gathering

2 : the act of assembling : the state of being assembled

3 a : an artistic composition made from scraps, junk, and odds and ends (as of paper, cloth, wood, stone, or metal) b : the art of making assemblages

Glue guns are a great way to begin as a sculpturist. You can put together just about any combination of objects of any texture provided they are clean and dry. Make a trophey, a rock igloo, a tank or fly thingy. If you go to Flikr.com search result for assemblage there are some great pictures and ideas for your own creations; lots of robots there. Also, the International Museum of collage, Assemblage and Construction website is a great springboard for research and ideas around the topic of glue gun fun. Projects like these are a perfect reason to start your own collection of little  shiny objects for the day you decide to create your glue gun assemblage.

SET UP:

When using a glue gun have plenty of glue sticks on hand. Plug it in and wait or it to heat up. It is always wise to put down a thick cover over your work area to protect it while you create, and to additionally place the glue gun on a flat, level non-flamable surface while it is not in use.

CAUTION:

Glue guns are hot! They will burn you. The glue is Hot! It will burn you and keep burning if it gets on your skin, cause it's hot and sticky. Follow all safety instructions included with the gun.

TIPS:

Less is more when it comes to glue safety.

Pieces should be clean and dry.

Have all your pieces ready and know each pieces placement before you put the glue on.

Put your pieces together immediately while the glue is very hot for the best results.

Fabrics work well as long as the glue penetrates.

On slick solid surfaces the glue will hold well, but also pull apart if you need to try again.

When gluing thin edges, make a puddle of glue and run the edge through the glue then stick it to the desired surface, to avoid squirting glue near your finger tips.

Now do some research and get to work making your Assemblage!

Uncommon Knots

The "Loop knot" or "Overhand loop" is the most common knot for a loop both at the end or in the middle of a line. You can go anywhere on the web to find the classic "boy scout" knots. Here are two uncommon and easily untied loop knots.

The first loop is to be tied in the end of a line only. There are many variations on a loop in the end of a line.  The one I'm offering has the advantage of being secure and easy to untie. It has no name that I know of. The Ashley Book of Knots simply gives it number 1044.

The second loop is to be tied in the middle or slack part of the rope between the two ends, also known as the  bite or bight of a line. It is known as the "Harness Loop." It can be tied in any size rope as small as a fishing line for dropper flies, in a climbing rope as stirrups, or in a large tow line for pulling heavy items uphill or through rough terrain.

Have fun!

Draw a circle passing through three points; Geometry of Technical Drawing

This is one of those magic tricks done with a compass and straight edge that has always tickled my senses and amazed the people I've shared it with.
And actually; it's geometry, not magic.

That is: To find the Center of a Circle Passing through Three Points Not in a Straight Line and to Draw the Circle.

That's a mouthful. So read and reread it until you understand it. Then try it. Use the picture below to help you lay it out. The three points cannot be on a straight line. Once you get comfortable it will only take a minute to do!

You'll need: Paper, pencil, straight edge, and a drafting compass. And, If these instructions turn your head inside out this link will sort you out.

Let A, B and C be the three points. Draw the lines AB and BC. Now Draw the lines EO and DO; these lines are perpendicular to AB and BC.
Draw line DO by setting your compass to a length just over half the distance of line BC. Now strike arcs from either end of the line (at points B and C) so that they intersect on either side of the line (at points D and O). Use your straight edge to draw the line thru the two arcs points on intersection. Line DO will be perpendicular to line BC. Do the same for the line AB, and create EO.

The intersection O (of lines DO and EO) is the center of the circle. OA, OB and OC are the radius required to draw the circle using a compass. A circle drawn this way will pass through ANY three points not on a line!

Mazes; How to make mazes, Downloadable mazes

Creating mazes and solving them is great fun for one or more. Design your own mazes and challenge others to solve them.

The easiest way for a beginner maze maker is to first draw (in pencil) the perimeter of the maze, then fill the space with multiple tangent chambers. Now make an opening at the start of the maze by erasing the pencil line, and continue to erase a path through the chambers until you have reached the desired end point. Drawing a short line on each side of each doorway as in the picture can make it easier to see the doorways. For a more difficult maze draw more chambers and change direction a few times before finishing. Now go back and erase false paths. Practice will make this method of maze making quick, and produce a good maze.

The next method is using graph paper. Draw your perimeter as before, make a point of entry by erasing one square of the border line, and now draw your path to the finish of the maze by drawing a hallway from the start point to the finish, leaving openings as you go for false paths. Again, make changes in direction, however, be careful not to cross your own path. Now go back and fill in the remainder of space with the false hallways.

The Maze generator at this link will create a new maze simply by tapping on it. The same site has a great set of Maze links and sample mazes.

Here are a  few downloadable and printable PDFs of mazes. These mazes are over and under style. Have fun, now get lost!

Hard Maze
Intermediate maze
Easy Maze

Tic Tac Toe Magic Trick/ Prediction

Magic tricks are always fun. Here is a great self working trick you can do almost anywhere.

How it will look:
You offer to play a game of tic tac toe, where, you will predict the exact placement of each X and O. Your participant will have complete freedom of choice in their moves, and yet, in the end when you reveal your prediction it is exactly the same as the game you just played!

How its done:
Draw up your prediction as shown at the top of this article in private and fold it or seal it in an envelope. Upon suggesting the game offer it up and set it aside where all can see it. As you prepare your player and audience tell them that like any game of tic tac toe to win you must get three in a row. So the player must play to win and prevent you from winning. Then draw the first X in the center square.

The player then marks an O in any square. And here is the secret! There are only really two possibilities. The player will either mark a corner



 or an inner square.

 If they mark their first O in a corner, you must mark your next X to the next open clockwise square.

If the player marks an O in an inner square,  all of your Xs will be placed in the first open square in the counter-clockwise direction.

The player will always have freedom of choice, and the finished game will always match your prediction. Some extra effect can be gained by turning your prediction so that it is oriented the same as the game you just played as you present it to your audience.
Try it out a few times to convince yourself. And then try it out on an audience!