It’s no secret that the Maker community has a soft spot for LEGOs. And it’s not only because it brings up warm memories of childhood – it’s because as an adult, we have better motor skills which means our Lego creations are that much more awesome.
Lucky for all of us, the DIY community loves to share (or brag about) what they can do with a plastic pile of bricks. Here are our favorite spots on the web that elevate our brick building to new heights (sometimes literally):
Get Inspired
GeekDad highlights the latest and greatest creations in the Lego community as well as what’s new in Lego land. This is where we stay up to date on which sets to buy next.
Find One-of-a-Kind Pieces
Brickforge specializes in creating all those pieces you wish Lego made. Equip your minifigs with weapons, headgear, hair, and instruments. Add decals to torsos. Even find an animal that never existed in Lego land before.
Expand Your Collection
Brick Link is the best place to buy or sell new, used, and vintage Lego pieces. Whether you want to replace a missing piece or seek out an old set, this community can make it happen.
Show It Off
Your latest masterpiece won’t seem complete until you share it with the world online. Rebrick is a great community of Lego fanatics where you can display your latest work and get inspiration for your next build.
We live in a telecommuting, freelancing, flexible-schedule kind of world. Hurrah! But sometimes locking yourself up in a home office can be just as depressing as working in a cube farm. If you’re lucky enough to live this kind of life, you might want to make a few upgrades to your portable office. There are certain tools you must take with you when taking advantage of your work-life freedom.
Taking your laptop out for the day? Leave home without your lifeline and it’s game over. We’re talking about your charger: It’s life or death for your device. Doubly protect yourself by packing an extension cord with extra plugs attached to it for when outlets are crowded or few and far between. If you plan on working outside in a café, look into investing in a solar charger — an outdoor outlet is a luxury you can’t rely on.
Basking in the sun while working at a glorious sidewalk café. Sounds awesome, right? In theory. You have to consider a few things: the glare on your laptop, the sunburn you will get, and how much you’re going to sweat. But back to the beginning — a photographer’s sun shade (although it may look ridiculous) is the best way to see your screen on a blinding day. Without it, you’ll be squinting your way through work and just end up with a headache.
The best benefit of a flexible work environment is being location-independent. You can work and travel at the same time — talk about multitasking. But if there’s one downside of working on the train, plane or bus, it’s the feeling that someone is reading over your shoulder. People are so nosy! A removable privacy screen will fix that. To prying eyes, it might look like you’re staring at a blank screen, but that’s the point.
Lastly, a freewheeling freelancer can’t live without brushing up on free Wi-Fi knowledge. Study the local shops that offer a good connection, the chains (like Starbucks) that you can always count on, and the hacks who know how to tether your phone to your laptop for a quick connection. Armed with these tools of the trade, you’ll be a power worker — and a happy worker — anywhere, anytime.
Nowadays, a quality gadget case can cost just as much as a designer handbag. So don’t settle for a simple cover that offers nothing but a pathetic pattern. Spring for one that performs double-duty: protection and function! Here’s a roundup of my favorite multitasking cases that give you more than one reason to carry them around.
The iPhone Wallet
If you’re like me, just about all you need when leaving the house is a phone and a credit card — ok, and maybe a key. I’m not one to haul around a big bag unless I’m traveling far. Lucky for me, the tech industry agrees. Try this one for the ladies or this one for the fellas.
The Tablet Stand
To avoid tablet elbow — you know, the pains you feel from awkwardly holding and tapping your tablet — you gotta have a case that gives you options. A hand-strap and pop-up stand are both musts. This one does both.
The Keyboard Case
One of the top complaints on tablets? Typing. This case solves that with a removable foldout keyboard that lets you type as if you were on a laptop. With perks like this, it makes me believe that PCs are on their last leg. Tablets for the win!
Comments (3)
6.4.2012 - Kathy
Love that Marc Jacobs iPhone wallet!
6.4.2012 - My Homepage
you use a great blog here! do you wish to have the invite posts in my small blog? 298092
6.4.2012 - Tony Landa
Someone got me a tablet stand for my birthday, and I really thought it was a waste of plastic and metal. Now that I use it, though, it really does make me more productive. I was surprised!
All creatives have to fight the dreaded “block” every so often. You’ve heard the drill: step away from the computer, do something else, take a walk outside. But what if you never reached the block in the first place? Visit one of these websites for inspiration weekly and the creative juices will never stop flowing.
From technology to living to food to play, there’s a project for every day of the year and then some. Premium members can download free e-books like Unusual Uses for Ordinary Things, Amazing Bicycle Projects, and Ultimate Paper Airplanes.
Here’s another plethora of projects but they’re all electronics based. The high-tech DIY database encourages hacking gadgets to perform above and beyond. Watch their tutorials to pick up a new skill or purchase a DIY kit.
If you have a question about computers, gadgets, the Internet, iPhones, and the like, there’s a chance there’s a how-to from an editor or reader posted here. Search for projects, hacks, tricks and tips.
In this community for 3D printing lovers you can find a free digital design for just about anything. Literally anything. Flashlight? Check. Replica of the Great Wall of China? Check. Hello Kitty cookie cutter? You get the point…
How do you beat Maker’s block? Share your favorite sites below!
Comments (1)
6.4.2012 - Patron Vectras
http://www.imagesavant.com/info.html "Dr." Baily is dead, but his website is still up. btw, Toyota, First.
Email. The scourge of the Internet. At best, a way for your boss to give you work. At worst, an open channel to Nigerian princes of ill repute. To keep from going insane in your inbox, it’s crucial you get a handle on your mail before the reverse happens.
First, archive everything. It’s 2012 for Pete’s sake! Search functions for most email services and clients have never been better. Don’t leave stuff stacked up in your inbox where they can clutter your work and, worse, your thoughts. But before you send emails off to the Forbidden Zone that is your email archive …
Tag things. If search is the savior of email, then tags are the first disciple. I tag things based on what “sphere” of my life they come from. Things like newsletters or marketing mailers are tagged as “low priority” then archived away for later review; while emails from family, friends (and frenemies) are tagged “from my peeps” where they get immediate attention. Which brings me to the scary, but most powerful, tool you have when it comes to email: not emailing.
Email is SO Compuserve circa 1991. We now have a phalanx of communication tools available: SMS, Twitter, Facebook, and, of course, phone. Don’t send a long email when a phone call is clearer. Don’t send out invitations on email when an event on Facebook is more efficient. Use email for what it’s good for: forwarding pictures of dressed-up puppies.
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