Life and more PCB

So I haven’t written anything in awhile and figured I’d try to start again because I need some place to get my thoughts out. It’s been pretty rough on my mind lately, severe depression coupled with a few other things and it’s unfortunately taken it’s toll on me. I stopped making my PCB stuff for awhile, stopped talking to the few people I do, didn’t really game at all and when I did I’d be quiet, and just became severely reclusive doing nothing all day. There were a few nights it got so bad I’d start crying out of nowhere or I’d just lay there in a catatonic like state letting whatever was on my TV just play on and on. I could name one of many things that is at fault for my mind getting into such a dark space, but honestly what would it accomplish. The most unfortunate part about this is I was ready to completely give up, forsake my friends and family, just completely disappear. I didn’t want to do anything anymore at all and still don’t sort of, but I have to try at the very least. So the other day I got off my ass, took apart a broken TV, removed the pieces off the PCB, and made up a few more pieces. It felt kind of good to actually start working on it again and I hope to keep myself in the swing of things, that’s the main thing I need to do. Keep myself occupied, let my mind not wander, and just keep moving forward as best as I can.

On a side note I did dye my hair purple, but it came out a bit weird. Since I didn’t have enough dye and the bleaching didn’t completely lighten all my hair it’s streaked. I have spots of like purple, dark purple, blonde, and cherry blonde. It’s actually pretty rad and I’m happy I finally went a different color, but now at least I know to get two bottles of the dye.

Well for now I’ll post the few pieces I made the other day along with a few I made awhile back, but completely spaced on posting.

Well hopefully I’ll have more to show off along with a few new designs over the next few days. I’ll try to make sure to post them as soon as I get a few of them done!

We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in;
machinery that gives abundance has left us in want.
Our knowledge has made us cynical,
our cleverness hard and unkind.
We think too much and feel too little.
More than machinery we need humanity,
more than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness
– From Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator

Keep Moving Forward,
Mavet

PCB Hearts!

So it’s been a bit since I’ve posted and there isn’t too much going on in my life other than my work. I’ve actually gotten two customers so far and they 5 I’ve recently created are going to be shown to them so they can choose which ones they like. I’m so excited and happy that something I enjoy doing is being remotely successful! Welp enough blabbering for now I’ll just show off the few pictures I have of the ones I’ve made.

The very last one is my personal necklace that came from one of the first circuit boards I’ve stripped. The three together are necklaces I’ve given to my family/friends and they absolutely love them! Now the first 5 are my most recent ones going to be shown to the two customers so they can decide which ones they like best. I made sure to upload the front and backs of a majority of them other than the backing of my own since it’s pretty bland. On that note I’ll end it with a quote I’ve found that I enjoy.

Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one

– Friedrich Nietzsche

Keep Smiling,

Mavet

A Storm In Life

As usual this will be another post containing whatever thoughts are on my mind, songs I’m addicted, thing’s I’m working on, and quotes I like if I’ve found any. Oh I also think I’ve figured out the format I want to type out things. It’d go song, thoughts/life, projects, pictures, quote, and then closing. It’d obviously depend if I have any of these things to type up at the moment of creating a post, but that will hopefully be the continuous layout I have.

I’ve recently gotten myself re-addicted to The Glitch Mob and man I forgot how much I these guys. They’re potentially my favorite Glitch styled artist out there currently. I put on Last.fm to The Glitch Mob and probably have had it going for the last 3 or so hours. You’d think we me about to see a show I’d binge on those guys instead, but nope my love has been rekindled for this group. If you’re into Electronica at all I suggest taking a peek at these guys especially this song (you can click it!). It’s one of my favorites and showcases their ability to add lyrics to a song without it going over the top on the vocals, which I feel is the sole focus on some Electronica artists lately.

So over the last few days a storm of thoughts over the last few days and it’s definitely taking a toll on me. Normally when I have an influx of thoughts they’re nothing to serious, but this is beyond the normal one. This time it’s nearly impossible to keep myself distracted from what is going on inside my head to the point it’s sapping my enjoyment of things. Gaming is no fun and provides a distraction, walks and biking don’t do anything, and basically everything else has been bland and boring. Oddly enough I knew it was coming on too, because typically when I get like this my depression starts acting up and gaming is the first thing to go. After that everything else starts seeming pointless, boring, or just not worthwhile to do. Unfortunately there isn’t much I can do to change this currently other than wait it out, but I am hoping it won’t last too long.

Another thing on my mind lately is what am I doing with myself and where will I be in the next few years. They’re along the same vein of thought process so figured I group them together. Unfortunately I’m not anywhere near what I’ve expected of myself at this age, in fact I’m severely off, because I though I’d be through college by now. I never went through with it though since I was unsure what I wanted to do and didn’t have the cash for it. Now I finally know what I want to do, but I’m absolutely terrified of the idea of going back to school. It’s been so long since I’ve been in the setting of higher education, let alone attempted to further myself through those things. Sadly I keep making excuses for myself for not trying to go back and what’s worse is I know that I’m making up excuses. I’m trying to get over this weird fear of mine, but I don’t know if I can push past it. I’ve lost a lot of drive over the last year and I’m just starting to get a handle on myself again.

Just a bit of random rambling on things now. My hair is almost as long as it used to be awhile ago, which makes me absurdly happy. Personally I love my long hair and others typically like it, but I’ve also gotten comments that they like it short even saying that it’s “cute” on me. Now I got a show I’m going to tomorrow, so hopefully that will be awesome. Sadly I know nobody going to this show with me so I’m all by myself, which is something I’m still not used to for concert. Final thing is I got a few things I’m waiting for currently. New Game of Thrones, Red Versus Blue, and Penny Dreadful are the shows I’m waiting for and games are Halo 5, Witcher 3, and Silent Hills. Halo 5 and Silent Hills are the two deciding factors on the PS4/Xbox One consoles for me since they’re both two great series that I’ve always had fun playing. Hopefully I’ll be able to get both systems at one point, but for now I’ll decide on one after a few exclusives are released.

Enough personal venting and such though, at least for now, because I have some good news. I officially finished my first PCB pin! The keyhole design turned out pretty well, albeit a bit lopsided, but I am so excited to have it completed. I’ve learned something about cutting out these designs though in the process, so hopefully the next one will be better. The ink, marker, or whatever I use to mark when I cut easily wipes off the board so I have to be exact and quick about it. I was almost screwed over though in making the circular part of the keyhole because with cutting it I can only do straight lines. I figured a way to rig up my Dremel by using my grip to hold it in place and realized I had a grinding attachment for it. After that it was simply just grinding down the redrawn outline I had and BAM! I have my first pin. It was oddly a relaxing process of making it and took a bit longer than I wanted due to weather. Now this first half was typed up a few days earlier, but never got around to posting it. I recently finished my 2nd PCB cut-out and it’s a heart. It turned out absolutely amazing! I just need to touch up a few things here and there, try to remove a bit more of the excess solder, and then get a hole in it for a jump ring. This one I want to make into a necklace due to the way the back and front look. I must say I am decently proud of myself on how it turned out, specially considering it’s my second attempt at this.

Now just a few pictures. The 1st set cover the back then front of the keyhole, the 2nd set shows off the front and back of the heart, and the final picture is me showing off my hair. Oh how I can’t wait for it to be longer.

Welp time to end this post though, but before popping off I want to at least end with a quote that I’ve been in love with for awhile.

The loneliest people can be the kindest. The saddest people sometimes smile the brightest. The most damaged people are filled with wisdom. All because they do not wish the pain they’ve endured on another soul.

Having A Great One,
Mavet

PCB Project

So I figured I’d upload a few images of the little bit of work I’ve managed to get done on my project today. I was so excited to finally start on it too! In fact as I’m typing this I realized I completely forgot to eat anything so far which I probably should do instead of type this up. Woke up to see a great selection of cutting and sanding pieces for the Dremel tool I am using, so as soon as I opened those up I got straight to setting everything up.

The first two here are just me in my crazy setup outside, it’s crappy and wish the spacing was better but it suits my needs at the very least. Hopefully I can find or make a better layout for myself over the next few days that way I don’t have to stop when the sun starts to go down. These are also probably the closest I’ll get to posting full blown photos of myself. Also not the sweat pants, got to keep it comfy even when work haha.

Now this is what I’ve managed to get done so far today. It’s the first one I’ve ever done and I’m really excited how it’s turn out so far. Tracing the outline of the image I wanted was thankfully easily, but I have learned I should probably let the marker sit on the PCB a bit prior to cutting it since it kept rubbing off. Unfortunately I don’t have any of the necklace make material currently so it’ll end up being a pin, which for it’s size I think will suit it better. I decided though out of the two designs I would start with, the other is a heart, that the keyhole would be my best bet. Well that’s all for now and wish me luck! Also if you have any ideas on other designs I should try out just leave a comment.

Keep Smiling,
Mavet