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A few people have asked me what I'll be making this year for Halloween, for Make: Online. In the past, I've been known to build honking pumpkins and creepy robots, but this year, I fell a bit short. OK, I fell a lot short! The sad truth is, I didn't make anything. But all is not lost!
I had some grand plans for completing my levitating baby head, and displaying it for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters, but I didn't get around to finishing it. I started on it about a month ago, but even with the early start, there just aren't enough hours in the day.
One day last week, my daughter heard me say how disappointed I was that I wouldn't have my project finished in time. Well, that just wasn't acceptable to her -- there had to be a creepy project for Make: Online!
Enter, Robot Zombie Cat! My daughter disappeared into her room, for what seemed like an hour, and emerged with this Frankensteininan creation. She exclaimed "I made something for MAKE!" She also declared: "It's green --not just green, but green!" I knew exactly what she meant, spotting the leftover yarn from a previous project and an old water bottle from her soccer game. Creative reuse and recycling. That's my girl!
I may not have anything to post about this Halloween, but my daughter does! And that's how Robot Zombie Cat saved Marc's Halloween. I'll display it proudly for all the trick-or-treaters that come a-knockin.
Did your kids make anything for Halloween this year? Was it green, or green? Tell us about it in the comments. Thanks! And Happy Halloween!
Oh yeah, while we're on the subject of Halloween, don't forget to enter our contest! Do it, or Robot Zombie Cat is going to come after you!
Make: Halloween Contest 2009
Microchip Technology Inc. and MAKE have teamed up to present to you the Make: Halloween Contest 2009! Show us your embedded microcontroller Halloween projects and you could be chosen as a winner.
my wife expressed skepticism that the baby head is really levitating, and that your photo is a composite.
Is it?
if not, how does the baby head stay there?
and I think the answer is "with magnets," but really I'm looking for how it's meant to stay in one place
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Nope, no Photoshopping in the pic! It is, in fact, held in place via magnets -- a cobo of rare earth, electro, and standard. (besides, MAKE would not be very happy if it was Photoshopped)
I wish I could say I did the entire circuit, but it's hacked from one of those suspended globes that I found at a garage sale. Any doubts as to the levitating will be squashed if you come to the next Maker Faire.....I'll be there with my "finished" levitating baby head! Hope to see you there! I might even bring Robot Zombie Cat! :)
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And there isn't anything above the baby head either.
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awesome, I look forward to seeing it!
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OK, now I HAVE to finish it no matter what! :)
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Your daughter rocks, Marc, and so do you. I suspect the levitating baby head is sending messages to the Robot Zombie Cat...
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That would explain some of the voices I hear in my head?
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