Katian's Apartment: Mezzanine Bed

loft install 3
Originally uploaded by katian

My lab partner Adam came over one Saturday and helped me install this 4x8 platform for my yet be be acquired bed.

I was convinced that 2x3s and 5/8th inch ply would suffice for this project (esp as we always joke about over building everything) but am now a staunch 2x4 3/4inch overbuilding loyalist. screw sleek; sturdy sturdy sturdy!

With 2 cuts to the short end and a couple dozen screws this $46 install went up in about and hour. We made a little ladder from the scraps once neither of us could get up there.

It still needs a cross beam... and a mattress.

window installation

window installation
Originally uploaded by katian

I dont have the greatest view out of my window by my desk. Its probably a good thing I dont stare out it the whole time. I also incidentally dont have a curtain and since this is also my bedroom I thought a little privacy was in order. I got some full page transparent peel and stick labels from the discount bin at bureau en gros (staples) and got all kinds of ideas. (think of all the things that need full page transparent labeling!!!)

I chose this picture (that I took of Bob in the library in Bath when he and Steph came to visit me last year) for the metawindow appeal and also because its simple looks good in b&w and I like the symmetry.

I used this thing Bob posted last year called the rasterbator (http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/) to see how it would look blown up but I didnt like the final look and decided to go with the original image in 8 sheets (rather that the 3x5 15 sheet one that would have filled the whole window) I just eyeballed it and cropped and saved each segment (yes Bob I was holding a ruler up to the screen you would burst a blood vessel in your eyeball no doubt but I dont have CS2 on my computer.) Its not perfect but it will do. ill get a pic in the daytime and post it up later.


In retrospect Id get this printed at the shop on acetate(overhead projector film 'paper') b/c I used almost a whole ink cartridge and b/c the peel and stick bubbles and will undoubtedly be a nightmare to remove.

Now I have massive plans for a photo emulsion etched 'stain'-glass window. Who had the photo emulsion glass etching stuff was that mom or Bobby? (someone etched a moon and stars on one of the cars back windows) Do you think you could do photo emulsion glass etching? I guess you just have frosted and clear there is no gradient of frost so itd have to be super contrast b&w photos.

Katian's Apartment: The 'study'

study
Originally uploaded by katian

I found some yellow paint, not enough for the room but I got one wall out of it. Also I found this chair and painted it with the found paint. My desk is the same Kevin and Dad helped me build last fall from $5 laminate board from the scrap bin at home depot on an old folding table I inherited from Dad's old study. I'd like to get some boards (3 inch planks a foot long) or a shelf for my DV tapes which is why there is some blank wall space. I have my eye out for scrap wood or an old bottle holder.

Katian's Apartment: Kitchen paint

cabinet paint 2
Originally uploaded by katian

I had a load of green paint left over from the gallon I found and used in the bathroom so I thought I'd paint the cabinets and wall in the kitchen. The former tenant painted the railing and one of the cupboard doors blue and the rest of the cupboards black (I don't think this girl was drawing with a full box of crayons the place was a wreck when I moved in)

Katian's New Apartment: Bathroom 'renovation'

bathroom renovation
Originally uploaded by katian

I just moved into my very first all by myself apartment the night before my 28th birthday. The first thing I did was redo the disgusting bathroom. The former tenant had left it DISCUSTING. Ill spare you the details but I was throwing up in my mouth even on the third pass of cleaning it. All the tiles were falling off and mold and mildew was growing behind them. there was *years* (some of the old packaging had expiration dates) of accumulated gross and garbage under the tub and exposed dank subflooring. I called the landlord in the first day bc i couldnt believe he would have thought that was acceptable, his reaction was to phone the upstairs neighbor and tell them to put their shower curtain in when they took a shower. ha! Well if its going to be like that I figured I'd just take matters into my own hands. Luckily Ive been heavily trained in 'quick fix' itll do for a while style home reno and since I only plan to be here for a year I dont particularly care if the landlord doesnt want to take care of his property.

Now having rented this particualr apartment because it was so cheap the last thing I want to do is put money into it. So here is my $20 bathroom renovation supply kit

box of economy peel and stick tile from home depot: $15
can of green paint found on the street: $0
paint roller, scraper from dollarama: $2.50
gallon bleach, pharmaprix: $2.50

Step 1: Gut
First I pulled all the loose tile and falling in drywall from the walls and floor and drug all the gross crap from under and around the tub. The tiles just fell off for the most part. I had to scrap 2 of them off total. There was black mold behind some of them so this led me to the necessary step 2

Step 2: Bleach
I sprayed, soaked and scrubbed the entire room with bleach in 2 rounds.

Step 3: Paint
I scraped the dodgy wall and taped over the holes with masking tape then painted everything including where the tile was going to go (hoping to stop any future mold)

Step 4: Peel and Stick
I then followed the directions for the peel and stick tiles and applied them to the wall. I left the tile on the floor after discovering it was laid (partially) over other linoleum which was cemented to subflooring. The bottom layer of linoleum was also broken and missing in sections so I scratched it up with Ajax and steel wool and let it dry thoroughly then applied a third layer of linoleum (Yes this gave me a smug satisfaction like I was sticking it to the landlord even tho Ive undoubtedly raised the value of this place with $20 and an afternoon)

Finally, I took a blade to all the porcelain and mirrors and one final bleach down for good measure and I have a livable bathroom!

UPDATE: half the wall tiles have since fallen off in the 93 degree heat. so frustrating. I need to get some heavy duty tile glue.

Pantiltonantor 2.0

The pantiltinator is an ongoing project which pans, tilts, shuttles, or in other ways moves a camera, most likely for a timelapse application. (pan-tilt-inator)

Pantiltinator 1.0 was a device which would produce a circular pan. It was used for the "Cut your Hair" ukulele cover video on youtube. HERE!!!!

Pantiltinator 2.0 was a device which raised the camera from 2 feet off the ground to about 11 feet off the ground. Although neither a pan or tilt, the name is still used. It was used for the "War on War" timelapse sidewalk caulk ukulele cover video. HERE!!!!

Important Supplies:
Pantiltinator 1.0:
-Wheel hub with bearing
-3/4" PVC arm
-bucket to hang weights
-mini tripod to tape to the other end

Pantiltinator 2.0:
-12 foot board (wanted to go 16 feet, but the board looked scary high)
-other 2x4's
-packaging tape
-sliders
-wooden pulley, and metal pulleys
-string and spring(bungee)

Electronics for Both
-stepper motor (from all-electronics)
-arduino (from sparkfun)
-stepper motor driver (from sparkfun)

Links to Pantiltinator 2.0 photos
ByrnnB's
Katians
Bob's
Bliss

Link to Pantiltinator 1.0 photos
Kevin

S-10 O2 Sensor

After the "service engine soon" light came on in the S-10 and finding the P0139 code with the scan gauge, the O2 sensor was replaced.

The old one was removed and the new one was spliced on using the included kit.