Zippable is a novel approach to make most any stuffable, huggable 3D fabric-based shape you can think of. As the name suggests, a zipper is used as the closure system. But what’s really cool about Zippables is the super long spiraling zippers. The spiraling motion as the zipper is closed, magically transforms a twisty, curvy 2D flat pattern into a functional 3D shape! Because these shapes are fabric and the zippers can be easily reopened, you can make anything from a storage bag to a huggable stuffed pillow. If you’ve fancied owning a kitty shaped duffle bag or a starfish backpack, then Zippable is the answer!
Mondays might not be your favorite day of the week, but the good news is that we’re all in this together ladies and gentlemen. As purveyors of prime Grade A web content, the SolidSmack crew has done some of the heavy-lifting to make sure you get your Mondays started on the right track. Welcome to The Monday List. Every Monday, we link you up with some of the most insightful, informative, and socially-relevant stories to keep tabbed, bookmarked, reading listed, pocketed, or what have you to get your week started on the right foot. Be sure to check in each week for a new crop of freshly sprouted words curated straight…
Don your favorite bathrobe, cream that coffee and get comfortable with this week’s SolidSmack Weekend Reader. The Weekend Reader features a handful of the most interesting articles featured on the ‘Smack over the past week ranging from tips and tricks to inspirational designs, processes, and more. So lay back, relax and take a load off while reading the top stories on SolidSmack this past week. Oh and uh…don’t forget to shed some much-needed sunlight on your face, too. This Insane Espresso Machine is Made From a Motorcycle Piston and Cylinder If the smell of coffee can’t wake you up in the morning, there is one more thing you can try:…
From Hollywood movies to a plethora of apps, the appeal of STEM skills in the mainstream has never been greater. And when it comes to mainstream, few toys could ever top the semi-controversial Barbie doll—first introduced in 1959. While some argue that the blonde, plastic doll conveyed an unrealistic body image to girls, the latest model from toymaker Mattel eschews a pink convertible in favor of a laptop and a robotics lab. https://youtu.be/PC-lGlExl34 Introduced this week through a collaboration with Tynker, a coding platform for kids, the Barbie® Robotics Engineer Doll presents a fundamental shift in how toymakers are speaking to 21st-century kids. Instead of the typical high heels, purses,…
It happened fast, but drones these days are a dime a dozen. With the air filled with hovering robots, you need something to make your drone stand out from the standard store-bought crowd. DRAGON (short for “Dual-rotor embedded multi-link Robot with the Ability of multi-deGree-of-freedom aerial transformation”) might be the coolest drone concept you’ve ever seen. Created by a team at the JSK Lab at the University of Tokyo, this necessarily-abbreviated robot is actually meant to be an indoor drone. You see, since most indoor drones are either small or enclosed in protective cages to keep them from bumping into objects, they can’t interact with the environment to the same…
Like a warm embrace first thing in the morning, few things are better to wake up to than a hot cup of joe. And when you’re stepping into a cold warehouse or shop before the sun rises, that hot cup of joe isn’t just a small luxury; it’s an absolute necessity. Which is all the more reasons why we love this lithium-ion cordless coffee maker from Makita. Yes—that Makita. Using the same batteries that power Makita’s expanding 18V Lithium-Ion Series of power tools, the DCM500Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless/Corded Coffee Maker is capable of delivering fresh hot coffee no matter where the job takes you—be it at your desk or…