I recently saw a picture of some spaghettis stuck in pieces of wieners, and the results were these cute little lumps with floppy tails sticking out.  "So much potential," I thought.  Here are the results of my first geometric crafts using spaghetti and wieners.  This is definitely something I can bring to a nerdy event.

I tried to make a hyperboloid too, but didn't have enough materials left.  Some thoughts for the future though...

I'm pleased to announce that GeoBurst has provided materials to the local girl guide chapter, for the girls to make tensegrities.  They will be on sale Saturday, November 19, at their Fall Tea and craft faire.

The craft fair/bake sale are free to get in to, and the tea costs $5 for tea/coffee, sandwiches and goodies, served by girl guides, brownies, and sparks.  Advance tickets are on sale between 11:30 and 12:30, or before each tea seating  at 2:00, 2:40, and 3:20.  It's at St. Mary’s Church Hall, 1701 Elgin Road (off Oak Bay Ave.).

I would have been happy to teach them myself had it not been for one of their leaders (and a friend of mine) Jennifer Woodcock.  From her email:

The girls LOVED them and are all keen to buy their own ornaments.

Instead of selling them ready-made ones, however, I will have another chance to provide them with more materials and more fun!  Thank you Jenni and Girl Guides :)

Don't wait, and seize this opportunity to contact me for materials and/or workshops to build your own tensegrity ornaments.

I have been practicing a brazilian martial art, called capoeira, fairly regularly for about 1 year.  I have been with two groups, Axé Capoeira and Grupo Cativeiro Capoeira, both in Victoria BC, and previously I trained a few months with Ache Brasil, in Vancouver.  Each group has its merits, and I have the first belt from Axé and now also from Cativeiro.

Our group, associated with Cativeiro, is very grass roots and intimate, with classes in Victoria and Duncan, BC.  Our graduation ceremony (called Batizado and Troca de Corda), was held in Duncan this past weekend.  My ceremonial fight was with invited Professor Formiga (which means Ant).  The take down he uses on me is called a tesoro (spelling?), and yes, the landing was a bit rough.  It is a common tradition that you are taken down by a professor or higher when you receive a belt.  At the end I was asked to name a capoeira god mother, and as you can see I was quite surprised by this.  I pointed at the nearest and fairest lady in the crowd (thanks!).

Capoeira is a combination of martial arts, dance, and brazilian folk music.  There is an uplifting energy that is felt when one plays capoeira, especially when you can put a few moves together.  I recommend it to anyone who is serious about doing regular exercise and rising to challenges.

Prof Formiga says "I sharpen my feet," at the start of the fight, and I avoid his take downs a few times before he gets me. (The video of the fight is no longer available.)

Contact me to arrange workshops in the area.

I make materials for these, and I look forward to your requests for kits!

Enjoy Geometry.

This beautiful and solid sculpture feels nice and fairly heavy in the hand. Keep it where guests can touch and inspect it.

There are 91 sticks of each colour: Blue, Green, Deep Red, and Deep Brown (Black in dim light).

This video shows how I made it:

I am selling this by dutch auction, starting at $80 and reducing by $5 each week.

This sculpture is similar to one by George Hart, called 72 pencils. http://www.georgehart.com/sculpture/pencils.html

I make geometric crafts, sculptures, materials, and I teach workshops. More information at http://geoburst.ca