I get a lot of questions from folks who are new to the world of LEDs asking what kind of diffusion materials are best for NeoPixels or other addressable
Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in: Decorating your apartment with art can add personality and warmth to your living space, but it can be daunting when
Build a motion-reactive LED Chinese Dragon puppet for Lunar New Year - full tutorial is up!
Bring the magic of the movie Moana to life with this DIY Heart of Te Fiti necklace tutorial. This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating a glowing
Check out my newest tutorial: NeoPixel Novelty Cufflinks with scrolling text. Full tutorial: https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-novelty-cufflinks-with-scrolling-text/overview In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to make your very own Neopixel Novelty Cufflinks using
Our kid’s show in January was a sold-out success! We had so much fun that we’re doing it again. Come on out on February 26 to the Geery
There’s a new chocolate cafe in Sacramento! Cafe Xocolatl serves cacao, coffee and tea, and chocolate from around the world. The owners at Cafe Xocolatl wanted beautiful lighting in their
I just published my latest tutorial over on the Adafruit Learning System: Add Lights to your Costume with nOOds nOOds are pretty cool. They’re little silicone-coated LED strands that are
Mermaid Glimmer’s Jellyfish Grotto 50 iridescent jellyfish hang silently over the heads of viewers. During the daytime the sunlight filters through the rainbow jellies, creating a beautiful play of light
Dive Bar is in the process of updating their decor, and have hired me for a couple different light installations. These portholes are the first project, and I have to say, they turned out...
Check out my latest project: decorate your fish tank or aquarium with color-changing lights. This tutorial shows how to assemble and waterproof your NeoPixel lights so you can bury them under
You asked for them, and they’re here! Purchase your own PaperCraft Crystal Gem kits. Three different styles are available: Infinity Crystals, Khyber Crystals, or Thra Crystals. I’ve stocked my Etsy
As part of this brand-makeover process I’ve been working on lately, I’ve created a brand new YouTube Intro Video. Come walk around my house and my makerspace and take a
I’ve launched my brand new web site! I’m very excited. Please come take a look! Let me know what you think. I think it’s beayooootiful. If you like having pretty
Halloween is my favorite holiday, but this year I am a little ambivalent. With Covid still running rampant (though admittedly not too much in this area) there are no Halloween
Check out my newest tutorial – just in time for Ada Lovelace Day! Make a lovely glowing bottle lamp with a Circuit Playground Express and a strand of warm white fairy
I’ve been meaning to upgrade the lights in my bedroom since the day we moved into this house. I’ve added some fun light-up artwork in there, including my paper mache
I’ve been on a quest for the perfect glowing necklace for years, and I think I’ve finally cracked the code. This necklace uses tech from Adafruit, all soldered up into
Check out my newest project tutorial: make an epoxy resin Minecraft-inspired torch lamp. This lamp has a strand of warm white fairy lights embedded right into the resin, making a lovely
I’ve been playing with epoxy resin a whole bunch lately. I’ve seen a lot of these online and the mermaid in me just HAD to try making one. Then the
I refinished this old stained end table with epoxy resin and mica powder and I’m just delighted with how it turned out. I’m feeling more and more confident about resin
LED Ukulele!! And a fun video shot & created by the increasingly awesome cinematographer Darrell St. Blaine. And of course there’s a tutorial: https://learn.adafruit.com/light-up-reactive-ukulele/ I have wanted Mermaid Glimmer photo-drone footage since.. well,
I made a magical mermaid fairy fantasy castle out of recycled bottles. I am absolutely in love with it. Here’s a link to the build tutorial at Adafruit Learn System: https://learn.adafruit.com/glowing-bottle-castle-and-capacitive-touch-piano
I love vertical gardens. Every time I see them I get all excited, and I’ve wanted to build one for just ages. We had such a lovely rainy spring this
I’ve got crystal fever. I’ve been spending all my spare time making and folding paper craft crystals, as I wait for the world to end. I’ve been making these paper
These things are great! Splice wires together for strong electrical connections without using a soldering iron. They’ve got hot-melt glue in both ends and a melty bit of solder in
“Smart” plugs for your home can be a lot of fun, allowing you to create lighting scenes, activate security features, or control other things in your home remotely. If you’re
I’ve posted a new tutorial: how to sew a cotton mask to help slow the spread of Covid19. This guide is aimed at beginners or non-sewers who are eager to
It’s the first week of Covid19 quarantine and I’m going a little nuts. What’s helping me stay sane is throwing myself into silly ridiculous projects where I can make something
I just finished my latest tutorial over on the Adafruit Learning System: make a Burning Wizard staff. It’s got it all: LED NeoPixel lights, sound effects, and motion reactivity to trigger
My Tree Ent Lives! I have completely made over my guest room. It’s glorious. I’ve been having such a fun time with this project and it’s nearly complete. I’m so
Fairy bottles.I made my first glass fairy bottle almost 10 years ago, before I’d really started on my LED maker journey. It went a little viral on Pinterest and with good reason.. these little
I’ve been redesigning the guest room in my home, and it is becoming the most magical place in the world. I started by painting the ceiling dark blue, with stars
It’s the holiday season and I’m feeling a bit festive. I used my Cricut vinyl cutter and a Circuit Playground BlueFruit to make some pretty luminary lanterns to decorate my
Our oceans are our largest natural resource, filled with beauty and mystery and life. There are more than 15 trillion pieces of trash in the ocean. It’s estimated that there
Just launched a new tutorial: make a glowing Crystal Wizard Staff. Here’s the link: https://learn.adafruit.com/glowing-interactive-crystal-staff It’s interactive! It does things (wonderful things!!) when you tilt it or shake it. Here’s
I got a new bike. 🙂 It’s electric! It’s a Specialized power-assist expensive magical device that turns its riders into Superman on the hills. I adore it. But, now I
This week’s project is an upcycled book case, painted with chalk paint. I’m absolutely delighted with it. I’ve had this little book case for probably 15 years. I got it
This might be the easiest project I’ve ever posted. But the impact is just so stunning that I couldn’t resist. Everyone should have one of these. They’re easy to make
I just published a new tutorial: create amazing cosplay glowing crystal gems! From the guide: Crystal Gems will always save the day! Create a stunning paper craft crystal from laminated
I love her so much. I got inspired to make a paper mache dragon by Dan Reeder, who writes amazingly delightful books about making paper mache dragons. I had way
I spend a lot of my time developing and performing with LEDs. My company, Fire Pixie Entertainment, offers a really popular LED dance show, with light-up hula hoops, poi, doublestaff, and of
I just published a new tutorial over at the Adafruit Learning System: make a PowerPuff Girl themed Valentine candy box with a Circuit Playground Express and copper tape. Use MakeCode
This might be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever made. We moved away from the San Francisco Bay Area to the California foothills this past summer, and I finally have
This is my new favorite necklace! It changes color when you touch it. I get obsessed with a particular type of project and keep on making it again and again
I may have outdone myself this year for Halloween. It took me months of trying, failing, swearing, and trying again. I’m such a noob when it comes to animatronics and
I made a birdhouse. It lives in my soul. Backstory! I’ve recently moved out of the San Francisco Bay Area, two hours away to the Sierra Nevada foothills. There’s no
This year’s big project: we’ve sold our house and are moving away from Fremont, to the foothills. We lived in our wonderful house in Fremont for around 17 years, and have
Seven were forged. Behold! Summon the Horde Rune necklaces, modeled in Fusion360 and 3d printed, then sanded, molded and cast in pewter. I’m so proud of this. I’m not a sculptor. I took
The Horde Fierce female fighters who fear nothing. Fabulously feathered and filled with fire and ferocious fancy. (Photos by Lee Harland) NAME: Othilia (She who Bites) LAND OF ORIGIN: Born in
I made some art. This is a bit of a departure for me. I’m not a painter (well, except for face and body painting), and I have very little experience
I love Angel’s Trumpet flowers. They smell amazing, they look beautiful, and they bloom all year round. The moment you pick one, and put it in your hair, it begins
Just a sneak peek of my favorite behind-the-scenes photo… pro images coming soon! 🙂 🙂#summonthehorde
I absolutely love these neopixel strands from Adafruit.com. They’re rugged, nearly indestructible. They come in 4″ or 2″ spacing. They’re WS2812B neopixels inside and they’re just so easy to get up and
Check out my newest tutorial over at the Adafruit Learning System: a magical capacitive touch wearable unicorn horn! It’s got a 12-neopixel ring inside that makes a pretty color-shifting rainbow glow.
My fabulous husband and mer-tender captured this pretty video clip of Mermaid Glimmer swimming at a private school fundraiser party this past weekend. I made a gif! We love performing
They asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I couldn’t think of anything, so I asked for inflatable costumes. They delivered. Here is a ridiculous video of an inflatable dinosaur
The Sonic Runway.. a tunnel of sound reactive LED lighted hoops with beautiful light animations that strobe over and around and through as you dance your way along beneath them. This
New tutorial is live over at Adafruit.com: make a creepy electronic Eye of Newt just in time for Halloween. First I put it inside a jar. Jars are great. Eye of
Hello all! I just finished up a tutorial about how I made these fiber optic whips. Here’s a little bit of backstory.. I was getting ready for last week’s LED light
Hello lovely readers. I’m writing to you from the comfort of my dodgy motel room in Salem, Oregon. I’m here for just under two weeks, performing a nightly fire dancing
This past July I had the good fortune to travel to Mexico with Way Beyond Productions to shoot photos and video of my LED mermaid tail, Mermaid Glimmer. We got
I am a magical rainbow unicorn. This was my very first attempt at anything involving animatronics, robotics, automatons, servos, or Making Things Move With Electricity. I think I may be
The new Wonder Woman movie is coming out June 2.. do you have your costume ready? Make these super awesome Wonder Woman cosplay bracers using Circuit Playground, side-glow acrylic and Worbla. Circuit Playground’s
I just published a new tutorial at the Adafruit Learning System: it’s a quick and easy Neopixel Jewel necklace. This is a really simple project but it’s oh-so pretty
I have one of the best jobs in the world: I work as an LED light dancer at high tech events and corporate galas in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I just published a new tutorial on the Adafruit Learning System: how to make an LED and glass pebble floor border. Check it out! https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-and-glass-pebble-floor/introduction I used to have a
My LED light dance show is getting complicated. Problem 1: Dancers When I’m onstage dancing, my focus is in my body. I feel the flow of the props, feel the music, and
It’s beginning to be that season where I get to go out to fancy events and play with all the crazy toys and costumes I worked on all winter. Here’s
I joined an all-female barbarian cosplay group. We’re called “the Horde”. I’ve been working on my barbarian costume and I have to admit — this character is really speaking to
New from the Adafruit Learning System: Sparkle Skirt Playground. Use the Circuit Playground board to create costume art with motion sensitive, sound reactive and custom color palette modes. Circuit Playground’s built-in sensors
January 21-22 found me at NC MerMania 2017: the largest gathering of Mermaids and Merfolk in the world. Performers and hobbyists from all over the globe came to splash around, connect,
My Rainbow Chakra hoodie guide is live at the Adafruit Learning System: Rainbow Chakra Hoodie Tutorial Festivals and events can get chilly at night. What better way to warm up
I’m not very good at relaxing. Every time I take a vacation I always seem to find a way to work. This month I took my new neoprene Ariel mermaid tail to
Making myself a third set of POV LED Supernova poi this week. I finally updated the Adafruit Industries tutorial with the new switch design — the original design was a
I just finished making this gorgeous brand-new Ariel cosplay mermaid tail. (Awesome underwater photos here!) It’s made from neoprene and lots of paint with a custom made translucent monofin inside
Once upon a time the Moon, weary of her travels, set rashly upon the ocean and sank to the bottom of the sea. Her glow from the deepest trench did
I made a very very pretty hoodie. I found this amazing hoodie at Maker Faire, made by Kinetic Couture. I couldn’t resist it, and decided to take it home and add
I was invited to perform part of my light dancing show at GlowCon 2016. GlowCon describes itself as “an LED convention and party celebrating everything that glows. An electrical forest of
It’s been hot the last couple of weeks, and we’ve been trying very hard to get away from our computer screens and out into the bright, blinky sunshine. We even
Mermaid Glimmer is the world’s only swimmable LED mermaid tail (as far as I know). She’s my pride and joy, and probably the most difficult and troublesome thing I’ve ever
This past weekend was the 16th annual Maker Faire in the Bay Area. I got to go for the very first time and experience the madness. The place was huge, and
This video will walk you through how to create, convert, and choreograph images using the KineticPOV code that is featured in our Supernova Poi and MorningStar Double Staff guides. You can download the images
Once upon a time I transformed a boring candelabra wall sconce from Target into a delightful LED remote controlled art piece with 3d printed candle holders and rainbow LED tea
Finally found a minute to photograph and post this is a gorgeous one-of-a-kind 3d printed Sunspot necklace with color-shifting rainbow LEDs inside. I’ve listed this for sale on my Etsy
My newest post at the Adafruit Learning Center is up.. learn to make a light-up twinkling parasol. This parasol will shield you from the fierce rays of the sun, and protect you from
I’m always getting excited and posting photos of my LED props and costumes in action. Since I create most of this stuff myself, I’m also fascinated with what’s “under the
I had the opportunity to perform for Chinese New Year celebration for the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce last night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Union City. I had a
This morning I got to visit the teamLab art installation in Palo Alto at the Pace Gallery. teamLab (f. 2001, Tokyo, by Toshiyuki Inoko) is an interdisciplinary group of ultra-technologists
I just completed a new guide on the Adafruit Learning Center detailing how to build your own giant 36 pixel LED poi. You can upload hundreds of images, and they
I got a pewter Ingot for Christmas this year. Ingot. What a great word. Ingot. It just feels so great on my tongue. Ingot. I also like to say words
It’s been just over a year since I got my 3d printer, and for this whole year I’ve been modeling in Tinkercad. It’s high time I learned a *real* 3d modeling
I have a magical fairy bedroom. It just became a big more magical this week with the addition of my new 3d printed wall sconce fairy lights creation. I’ve had
I managed to finish this costume just in time for the holiday season to start, and just took it out on its inaugural flight at the Niles Electric Lights Parade. It
For those following along, I’ve spent the last month working on this Wasp costume for Adafruit’s #ElectronicHalloween project. Here’s the last blog installment, with details on building the animatronic wing
As summer winds to a close I’ve been lucky enough to book Mermaid Glimmer at a fair number of events. She’s finding her audience! The people who seem to appreciate Mermaid Glimmer
Last Spring, I built a neoprene mermaid tail that was a reimagining of Queen Elsa from Frozen, if she were to change herself into a mermaid. It has 3d printed
Reblogged from Adafruit.com — more about our Electronic Halloween Wasp Costume construction! Here’s the original post.. reblogged here for your reading pleasure! #ElectronicHalloween 2015 at Adafruit – 9/22 Update It’s
3d printed Wasp Halloween costume helmet goodness!! I’m so excited. Orignal post here #ElectronicHalloween 2015 at Adafruit – 9/25 Update Prior installments: 9/14, 9/22.Halloween dress-up is fun and all, but it’s time
I’ve got a new Adafruit Learning Center guide up: how to make your own LED, persistence-of-vision double staffs. I’m calling them Morning Star Double Staffs. They’re pretty great. They’re based on the Genesis Poi tutorial
I’m working with Adafruit.com on a super exciting Halloween costume project. Halloween’s my most favorite holiday, and this year I’m building something ambitious: From the Adafruit Blog: Halloween is our
My company, Fire Pixie Entertainment, was selected to perform at the ISES NCC Gala in San Francisco this year. The theme was Bright Lights, Big Glam and I got all excited
Check it out! I was interviewed by 16 Hertz, a New York based web site and store focusing on bringing products to young and beginner-makers, getting them interested in arduino
I just finished up and shipped off a gorgeous custom black and gold Wizard hoodie. I have been getting away from making hoodies lately — it’s been hot and working
I just completed a new tutorial over at Adafruit.com — make your own Galaxy Pendant. I wanted an LED necklace I could wear swimming or hot tubbing. Really, it was Mermaid Glimmer who
Fire Pixie will be performing at the NCC ISES gala event on Tuesday. I’m spending this week working on accessories and light-up costumes, getting everything ready. We’ll have 6 fantastic performers showing
I had a fantastic fire dancing – and – swimming mermaid gig last weekend and got some wonderful video of Glimmer swimming. The pool I was in was lit just
I had the very good fortune of visiting Venice this spring. Venice.. the city of Carnival, canals, masks, and the Aperol Spritz. I’ve heard about Venice for years — who
Last week I was in Venice. If you haven’t been to Venice, GO. It was amazing. It was more beautiful, gritty, exciting, delicious, and REAL than I could have possibly
The construction is all done on my Elsa Mermaid tail, and it’s time to make it PRETTY!(part one, construction, is here)I used Jones Tones sparkle paint in about 5 different
I got it into my head that I must have yet another swimming mermaid tail. I will not repeat the folly of taking on another Glimmer LED Swimming Mermaid project, but I
For some reason, I always seem to lose my focus and motivation in the spring time. Maybe it’s the weather.. spring fever is running rampant and California’s spring sunshine is
My favorite kind of project is the kind of project that makes me happy and also makes someone else’s day. Recently I was asked to contribute to a superhero costume
The new DotStar LEDs from Adafruit.com just arrived a couple weeks ago and I am the lucky lucky duck who got to play with them. The cool thing about DotStars as opposed
I just got back from NCMerFest in North Carolina. I am a Mermaid performer and this is the best Mermaid convention I’ve ever been to — I had a whole year’s worth of fun
My second Adafruit tutorial post is live! Cosmic Turtle Loves you. Check it out! I made this for my brother’s girlfriend as a Christmas gift and I loved it so
I got an UP! Mini 3D printer for Christmas this year. Wowza. I’m SO excited.. I haven’t stopped playing with it since just about the minute I unwrapped it and I’m having
I’m having a blast with my new 3D Printer, and the first thing I’m printing is jewelry. Tiaras, necklaces, pendants, LED jewelry enclosures.. all the perfectly sized things I’ve always wanted
So, this is exciting. I’ve been invited to become a contributor to the Adafruit Learning Center — Adafruit’s online shop is where I buy most of the supplies for all the light-up costumes I’ve
My latest project is officially finished! I made my first set of LED Isis Wings and they are, of course, my new favorite thing ever. Here they are in action:
Halloween costume #3: Aeronaut Erin and her magical arduino powered flaming rocket pack. 🙂 Featuring interactive steampunk goggles, a glowing fairy bottle, my glowing soul caster on my wrist and my “secret of nimh
This upcycled leather Steampunk Festival Belt is really fun. It’s got a steampunk octopus. Who doesn’t love a steampunk octopus? It also has a steampunk dragonfly on the other side,
So, I have been making stuff. I never stop making stuff. I just haven’t been posting about it all. 🙂 Too busy traveling the world as a Mermaid, I think.
I’m finally getting caught up with life after 5 days in Mexico with the Mermaid Portfolio Workshop followed by a crazy-busy weekend — I came home and jumped into 3 fire shows, 3 Frozen
This year has been all about mermaids. I’m going on Bob and Malena’s Mermaid Portfolio Workshop to Centoes in Mexico in just a couple weeks, and I’m working day and night to
I’m listening to the audiobook verion of Stormlight by Brandon Sanderson while working on things, and woke up this morning gripped with the inescapable need for a Soulcaster of my
Now that my LED Mermaid Tail is functional, I’ve been spending every waking minute adding bells and whistles, animations and robust-ification. I’ve got a pool lined up for my very first
I haven’t posted in the last few months because I’ve been pouring all my energy into creating this. I call her Glimmer the Mermaid. 🙂 (She’s even got her own
My current plan for world-domination through illuminated fashion: a programmable LED swimmable mermaid tail.Electronics and water don’t play well together. I am starting small, though I have to admit the
I woke up in the middle of the night and heard a very odd sucking noise in the bathroom. Bleary-eyed, I stumbled in there and saw something purple and squishy
I’ve been modifying my light-up shoes and now they’re extra-awesome. I got some new velostat, which works a treat. The velostat is a pressure sensitive material which basically gets turned into a
I have always wanted a pair of light-up shoes. All the kids are wearing them. They can stomp and their shoes light up with red or blue or sparkly and
I got home from a fire show the other night, exhausted from a very long day. As I was unloading the car, my body told me she was quite finished, and instead
It’s finished! It’s finally finally finished! Well, except for all the additional decorating and sequining and seaweed and such. But it’s finished enough for Prime Time. How to Make a
I finished this peacock fairy costume yesterday. With the sunset getting later and later this time of year, there was plenty of time to head out to the arboretum for
My new embroidery machine arrived today!!! I am SO excited. It’s a Brother SE400 Embroidery and Sewing Machine. Originally I got the PE500, but the 500 does only embroidery, not regular sewing,
Wow! So, I’ve been out of the country, fire dancing at a theme park in Japan, for most of the winter. I’m back now and I got an embroidery machine for Christmas,