I was lucky enough to visit Newcastle Upon Tyne for the Makerfaire_uk this March, and since then I’ve been brimming with ideas, and feeling the need to make things. This post is partially here to demonstrate that I am, in fact, still alive, and to show off a couple of little things I’ve made.

First, I got a p8tch. This self proclaimed commando nerd patch is an embroidered QR code, which links to a configurable tinyurl style redirect. My first act of making was to sew this onto my Timbuk2 Hacker bag. Here’s a picture of the result:

Unfortunately, I don’t have QR enabled phone (yet), but I tested it by stealing my mothers :).

Next, whilst in Newcastle, at the Makerfaire (during time which I snapped some pics). I bought a tvbgone kit, which I built. This is a subversive little thing which switches of TVs. Lots of them. It also has a range of about 45 metres, and knows 46 different IR remote control codes. I intend to have a lot of fun switching off TVs in shops with this. Here’s a macro shot I took using a screw on +10 filter, and my 50 mm lens:

In other news, I hope to start posting content to zshbits.com once I’ve finished my thesis, and had time to create some more screencasts. If anyone’s interested in contributing, mail me, or comment with disqus.