In Progress This project is a high-resolution, fully 3D printable version of the classic board game Catan, designed with detailed terrain tiles and multi-color printing in mind. The set includes textured hex tiles for each resource type, player pieces such as roads, settlements, and cities, as well as matching number tokens, all modeled to create a more immersive tabletop experience. Optimized for multi-material (MMU) printing, the files allow for vibrant color separation and fine detail, resulting in a visually striking and fully playable board when paired with the official cards and dice.
In Progress This mixed-media art project transforms everyday discarded materials into a playful landscape scene. The composition centers on a winding river, with grassy banks and colorful flowers built entirely from upcycled objects. Bottle caps, packaging, and household plastics are repurposed to create texture, color, and dimensional detail, giving new life to materials that would otherwise be thrown away.
Plastic forks become flower stems and blossoms, while caps of varying sizes and shades are arranged to suggest flowing water, shoreline transitions, and natural movement. Cardboard serves as the base, with the layout sketched by hand to guide placement and composition. Hot glue and simple hand tools are used to assemble the piece, emphasizing accessibility and creativity over traditional art materials.
The project highlights environmental awareness, resourcefulness, and imaginative reuse. By turning common waste into a recognizable natural scene, the artwork encourages viewers to rethink materials and consider how creativity can play a role in sustainability. Both collaborative and tactile in nature, this piece blends art-making with storytelling, play, and problem-solving.
In Progress This tray packing puzzle is a precision-cut wooden brain teaser that combines logic, spatial reasoning, and tactile design. The puzzle features a hexagonal wooden tray engraved with a honeycomb grid, designed to hold a set of numbered, interlocking pieces that must be arranged to fit within the frame and satisfy the number constraints around the perimeter of the frame.
Each puzzle piece is laser-cut from wood and etched with numbers, adding an extra layer of challenge and visual interest. The natural wood tones and engraved details give the puzzle a warm, handcrafted feel while clearly defining each shape and boundary.
Both engaging and decorative, this tray puzzle encourages problem-solving and patience as players experiment with different configurations to achieve a complete fit. It works equally well as a tabletop game, a thoughtful gift, or a display piece that invites curiosity and hands-on interaction.
In Progress These handmade cross-stitch bookmarks are charming, functional pieces of fiber art designed for book lovers. Each bookmark is carefully stitched on white aida cloth using colorful embroidery floss, featuring playful, story-themed designs such as cats, owls, and books. The detailed stitching creates a pixel-art look that adds personality and warmth to every piece.
Long and narrow in shape, the bookmarks are perfectly sized to slip between pages without damaging books, making them both practical and decorative. The neatly finished edges and consistent stitching showcase patience, skill, and attention to detail.
In Progress This one-of-a-kind picnic quilt is handcrafted from reclaimed denim jeans, transforming well-loved materials into a durable and visually striking textile. Rows of overlapping denim circles in varying shades of blue create a rhythmic, scale-like pattern that adds depth and movement across the surface. The natural variations in the denim—fades, textures, and tones—give the quilt its unique character and story.
Designed for outdoor use, the quilt is both sturdy and soft, making it ideal for picnics, beach days, or casual gatherings. The recycled construction celebrates sustainability and resourcefulness, blending practicality with artistic design. Built to be used, washed, and enjoyed, this quilt honors the beauty of reuse while offering a comfortable place to gather and relax.
In Progress This custom outdoor kitchen is designed as a functional and inviting backyard gathering space, blending handcrafted elements with durable, weather-ready materials. Anchored by a covered cooking area with a wood-fired oven and grill, the space is organized to support cooking, prep, and entertaining in an open-air setting.
A paver patio around the firepit creates a clean, finished surface that ties the entire area together while providing long-term durability and ease of maintenance. The surrounding gravel zones add texture and visual contrast, while reclaimed wood, corrugated metal, and industrial accents give the kitchen a warm, rustic character.
Designed for both everyday use and larger gatherings, the layout encourages movement, conversation, and shared meals. Once completed, the paver installation will define the space as a permanent outdoor room—equally suited for cooking, hosting, and relaxing around the fire.
In Progress These illuminated metal light pillars are striking outdoor sculptural fixtures that combine functional lighting with artistic design. Each tall, rectangular column is crafted from metal and plasma-cut with redwood tree silhouettes. When lit from within, the cutout designs glow warmly, casting intricate patterns of light onto the surrounding ground and creating a magical nighttime atmosphere.
Blending durability with artistry, these light pillars serve as both landscape lighting and outdoor art. They add character, depth, and a sense of wonder to the setting, transforming an ordinary walkway into an inviting, storybook-like experience after dark.
In Progress These handcrafted shadowbox artworks bring scenes from the Wings of Fire book series to life through layered, laser-cut wood elements. Each component of the scene—terrain, foliage, creatures, and sky—was precisely cut from wood and individually hand-painted before being assembled into dimensional compositions.
The combination of laser cutting and hand painting allows for both precision and artistic expression, while the shadowbox format frames the piece like a window into a fantasy realm. Designed for fans of Wings of Fire and lovers of narrative art, these pieces celebrate storytelling, craftsmanship, and the magic of seeing a beloved fictional world rendered in three dimensions.
Completed on February 27, 2026 These metal ferns are sculptural garden accents crafted from steel and finished with a warm, natural rust patina. Each fern features individually shaped fronds with flowing, organic cutouts that capture the delicate structure of real fern leaves while translating it into a durable, weathered metal form.
Designed to be freestanding, the ferns are supported by integrated metal stakes that allow them to be easily placed in soil, grass, or landscape beds. Over time, the rusted finish continues to deepen and evolve, adding character and blending seamlessly into natural outdoor settings.
Striking yet subtle, these metal ferns add height, texture, and an artistic element to gardens, ponds, or lawns. Their combination of natural form and industrial material makes them a timeless outdoor sculpture that complements both modern and rustic landscapes.
Completed on February 9, 2026 Tara and I made this landscape quilt of Delicate Arch with lots of help from my mom. It uses a technique of sewing each layer on top of the last one and quilting as you go.
Completed on February 3, 2026 Savannah made a steel model kit of the London Eye. I made one of a butterfly. Savannah and I are working on a model of a dragon.
Completed on January 21, 2026 Low-poly papercraft, or Pepakura, is a modern technique where 3D digital models are "unfolded" into 2D templates. Unlike traditional origami, it uses heavy cardstock, precise cutting, and numbered tabs to glue geometric facets into a sturdy, hollow sculpture. It is a popular way to create stylized home decor and complex cosplay armor through a meditative process of scoring and assembly.
Completed on January 5, 2026 These decorative snowflakes are laser cut from wood, creating crisp, clean lines and intricate winter-inspired patterns. Each snowflake features a unique design, highlighting the precision of the laser cutting and the natural character of the wood grain beneath the painted finish.
Suspended individually from clear line, the snowflakes appear to float in the air, forming a layered, drifting display reminiscent of falling snow.
Lightweight yet sturdy, these wooden snowflakes are ideal for hanging displays, window décor, or festive installations. Their handcrafted quality and detailed designs make them a timeless winter decoration that can be reused year after year.
Completed on December 31, 2025 These book nook kits are intricately detailed miniature dioramas designed to fit between books on a shelf, creating the illusion of a hidden world tucked inside a library. Each scene is built in layered depth, with carefully crafted architectural elements, tiny props, and warm LED lighting that brings the space to life.
The kits feature richly themed environments—such as a cozy old bookstore with arched windows, shelves of miniature books, framed artwork, and glowing lamps, or a narrow street scene complete with signage, railings, bridges, and seasonal details like cherry blossoms. Laser-cut components, printed details, and hand-assembled pieces combine to create a sense of realism and storytelling in a compact format.
When illuminated, the book nooks cast a soft, inviting glow that highlights the depth and craftsmanship of each scene, transforming an ordinary bookshelf into an immersive visual experience. These kits blend model-making, art, and storytelling, making them both decorative and interactive.
Completed on December 18, 2025 This exterior lighting design highlights the historic character of the building while adding a festive, eye-catching nighttime presence. Color-changing LED lights trace the rooflines, gables, porch details, and architectural trim, emphasizing the home’s Victorian-inspired shapes and decorative elements.
The lighting is carefully placed to outline key features without overpowering the structure, creating a balanced glow that enhances depth and symmetry. Coordinated red and green tones wash across the façade and monument sign, tying the building and signage together into a cohesive visual display.
At night, the illuminated exterior transforms the property into a welcoming landmark, blending architectural accent lighting with seasonal color to create a warm, inviting, and memorable street presence.
Completed on December 15, 2025 These delicate white earrings are made using freestanding lace embroidery, creating an intricate snowflake design that is both lightweight and detailed. Each snowflake is stitched entirely from thread, resulting in a lace structure that holds its shape without fabric backing.
The crisp white color highlights the fine stitching and layered petal-like points, giving the earrings a soft, elegant appearance reminiscent of freshly fallen snow. Small embroidered loops at the top allow them to hang gracefully from earring hooks, adding subtle movement while remaining comfortable to wear.
Lightweight and airy, these earrings are perfect for winter wear, holiday outfits, or anyone who loves delicate, handcrafted accessories. Their timeless snowflake design makes them versatile for both everyday elegance and seasonal occasions.
Completed on December 2, 2025 This handcrafted lightbox features a painted white wood frame housing a black backboard and four individually etched glass panels that slide neatly into place. Each glass layer contains a different element of the overall image, and when stacked together, they create a striking three-dimensional scene with depth, separation, and visual movement.
An integrated LED light strip runs around the perimeter of the frame, softly illuminating the etched glass from behind. The light enhances the etched details and creates subtle shadows between layers, bringing the scene to life—especially in low light.
This piece includes multiple interchangeable designs. The winter scene shown depicts a snowman, deer, and trees set within a quiet forest landscape. Additional etched scenes include butterflies drifting through tall grass, a city skyline illuminated by fireworks, and a Halloween graveyard with flying bats. Each scene transforms the lightbox into a unique seasonal or thematic display.
Both decorative and technical in its construction, this layered glass artwork blends woodworking, glass etching, and lighting into a single immersive piece. Designed to be displayed on a shelf or wall, it offers a dynamic, glowing window into a carefully crafted miniature world.
Completed on November 13, 2025 This custom monument sign was designed to create a strong, lasting presence while complementing the architectural character of the site. The sign is anchored by two solid CMU columns, finished with a textured stucco surface that adds depth and durability while echoing the materials of the surrounding buildings.
A welded steel frame securely supports the sign panel, providing long-term structural integrity and a clean, modern contrast to the masonry elements. The base is framed by a landscaped border filled with decorative rock, enhancing visibility and grounding the sign within the site.
Integrated lighting highlights the sign after dark, ensuring clear readability and visual impact at night. The combination of masonry, steel, and landscape elements results in a monument sign that is both functional and refined—designed to welcome visitors and establish a clear identity from the street.
Completed on October 24, 2025 These homemade shoes are a one-of-a-kind, Harry Potter–inspired creation, handcrafted from start to finish. The uppers are sewn from dark, wizard-themed fabric featuring subtle magical motifs, giving the shoes a mysterious, nighttime feel reminiscent of the Wizarding World. The interior is fully lined for comfort, and metal eyelets add durability while enhancing the handmade, custom look.
Bright magenta laces provide a bold contrast against the dark fabric, adding personality and a modern twist to the magical theme. The shoes are built on sturdy white rubber soles, which were attached separately, showing the construction process and craftsmanship involved in making footwear entirely by hand.
From pattern pieces to final assembly, these shoes showcase creativity, sewing skill, and fandom combined into a wearable art piece—functional, comfortable, and truly unique for any Harry Potter fan.
Completed on September 20, 2025 We each made pinewood derby cars for the ward pinewood derby. We met up at the church at 3:00 to set up for the pinewood derby activity. We had about 30 cars in the brackets, and it was a lot of fun. None of our cars were very fast, but we weren't there to win. We were there to help everyone have fun. The highlight of the rave was Chris's car that had a water bottle on top. He pressurized it with a bike pump and then pulled a pin when it was time to race. The crowd loved it.
Completed on January 5, 2025 The kids have gotten numerous Lego sets for birthdays and Christmases. Notable among them are the Hogwarts Castle, Ideas Tree House, and several Friends sets.
Completed on December 25, 2024 The whole family, but especially Madi enjoys doing diamond art projects. We have completed dozens over the years. Madi especially likes to listen to audio books while doing diamond art.
