Fashioning Technology: A DIY Intro to Smart Crafting (Craft: Projects) (Paperback)

~ Syuzi Pakhchyan (Author)
Key Phrases: interactive toys, home accents, operating values, Technical Primers, Space Invader, Roll Speakers (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ready to take your craft projects to the next level? With "smart" materials, unorthodox assembly techniques, and the right tools, you can create accessories, housewares, and toys that light up, make sounds, or do even more. Fashioning Technology is an introductory DIY book that brings technology and crafts together in a fun and unique way. You get jargon-free primers and lots of how-to projects that will have you making -- and even wearing -- functional works of art. Written for a broad audience, this book demonstrates how to blend sewing and assembly techniques with traditional electronics to assemble simple circuits using conductive thread, solder joints for snaps, and switches for buttons. With the sewing machine as a viable substitute for the soldering iron, you can craft a new generation of objects that are interactive, quirky, and fashion-conscious. Author Syuzi Pakhchyan, a seasoned artist, roboticist, and teacher, explains how to use smart materials such as thermo- and photochromatic inks that change color by touch or sunlight, magnetic and conductive paints, polymorph plastic, fiber optics, and more. In Fashioning Technology, you'll find: An invaluable reference section that breaks down the materials, components, and tools with clear, concise explanations and photos A wide range of projects, including electronic accessories, interactive plush toys, and color-changing blinds, all using diverse crafting techniques Techniques for seasoned crafters interested in incorporating simple electronics into their own projects Methods for makers proficient in electronics who are looking for unconventional ways to create novel projects

Each project encourages you to personalize andcustomize using your own designs, materials, and craft skills. Fashioning Technology translates traditional electronics into fun, fashionable interactive projects for the geek, fashionista, and the craft aficionado alike. Now you really can be the flashiest dresser in town.

About the Author

Syuzi Pakhchyan is an Art Director, robotics instructor, writer, blogger and a seasoned tinkerer working and residing in Los Angeles, CA. Her work explores the intersection of culture and technology through the research, investigation and design of technological systems and interactions for a range of cultural contexts.

Definitely not camera-shy, Syuzi has made two guest appearance on Craft Lab, the DIY Network's new, hip crafting DIY Television series. Her television debut aired on January 1, 2007 and will be followed by the another scheduled for the Fall of 2007. For the launch of Craft magazine, Syuzi designed and helped create an environmental installation at the 2006 Maker Faire. At the Makers Faire, her work was featured as a "Special Exhibition" where she taught workshops on how to create the Wearable Light Bracelet and sew electronics.

Syuzi's projects have been published in numerous publications and books, including Shojo-Beat, a manga publication, Craft magazine, and in the Crafter Culture Handbook authored by Amy Spencer.

On weekends, she teaches a robotics class to children between the ages of 9-14 at Art Center College of Design. She also occasionally holds workshops in Los Angeles on crafting electronics. Monthly, she writes articles for Shojo-Beat, covering topics that range from fashion, technology and the latest must-have gadgets. And nightly, she researches and blogs about interactive, tech toys on her blog we-love-technology.com. She received her BFA from UC Berkeley in Literature and her MFA in Media Design from the Art Center College of Design. Her MFA thesis titled "SparkLab" was exhibited at Eyebeam, an Art and Technology gallery in New York, as wellas the Fashion Future Event in Pisa, 2006 Maker Faire and 2006 Emerging Technologies Conference. SparkLab is a novel platform that creates a space for the cultural production of technologically crafted artefacts.

Her designs explore and encourage ludic activities that celebrate the quirky and speculative and reflect personal experiences and cultural narratives. Syuzi has the unique ability to make the complex simple, translate learning into entertainment, and use technology as a tool to inspire creativity.

Product Details

• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596514379
• ISBN-13: 978-0596514372
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,611 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative book, an easy read with good photos., July 7, 2008

By	Sheila Mclaughlin "Impulse 2 Create" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just received this book today and I am already impressed. Syuzi has a great chapter on how to use a DMM (digital multimeter), she even has a step by step proper placement of the probes to test for Voltage, Amps, Current and Ohms.

Book is full of very interesting projects with good step by step instructions and photos for each project.

I first came across Syuzi on TV, she was on Craftlab (HGTV). I decided to try one of the projects she demonstrated on the program. It was the "Rock N Roll" speakers, she covers them in this book starting on page 149. The speaker project was fun to do and turned out well. I actually made the speakers for my Grandson.

If you enjoy crafting are willing to learn simple electronics, Syuzi will get you hooked on "smart crafting". Every time I think of a new project, I now find myself trying to incorporate some form of electronics into my work.

I am definitely impressed with Syuzi's book, she has a gift for teaching.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun For Fashion Techies, August 13, 2008

By	Daniel McKinnon (Tewksbury, MA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

'Fashioning Technology: A DIY Intro to Smart Crafting' is a great book for fashion hobbyists that love creating things to wear and play with. With this book it's all about making clothes and toys with a tech edge. Over 200 pages are dedicated to make things like glow bags, luminescent tables, and funky headphones. You'll learn about the magic of what LEDs can do for nearly anything and how the electronics work.

Get out your soldering iron and start having fun!!!

***** RECOMMENDED

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars creative project concepts, July 12, 2008

By	Krystina Castella "material lover" (california) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is filled with so many ideas for useful fun projects. I am not a techy person but love new materials. Each project is explained in great detail so that it is hard to make a mistake and easy to learn. I also love the style, characters and designs that Syuzi has created. I am recommending it to my students as a fun way to learn the basics of new materials and technologies.