Category Archives: Sumico Net Blog

ThreadTech Workshop at the Edge, Southbank, Brisbane

February 19, 2012 admins148

Today, I attended the ThreadTech Workshop at the Edge in Southbank, Brisbane. The Edge is a digital culture centre and an initiative of State Library of Queensland. They offer free or low cost Workshops.

Today’s workshop was free and all the materials were supplied.

The workshop is described as follows in the Edge website;

ThreadTech workshops by Colleen Morgan
Step into the world of future fashion at our ThreadTech workshops. In the introductory workshop you will learn how to sew a circuit with LEDs and conductive thread to make your very own light laden motif. Come along to the advanced workshop to up the ante and learn how to program LED lights to flash, fade and blink. Prior experience required for the advanced workshop.

At the moment, I am very interested in LED lights and electric circuit, so I was very excited when I found this workshop. I am attending how to program the lighting effects next Saturday and I am looking forward to it.

Materials: 4 x Lily PadLED Lights, Conductive Thread (Silver plated nylon), Coin Power Battery CR2032, Battery Holder

You can buy LilyPad LED lights and Conductive Thread at Little Bird Electronics http://littlebirdelectronics.com/ (Australia), and Battery Holder at Jaycar http://www.jaycar.com.au/

I chose 3 red lights and one yellow. I want to try blue and white next time. The instructor, Colleen said that blue lights seem to use more power than other lights. With Battery we used today, 4 lights would be maximum.

Then you think of the design.Where to locate the lights. You have to saw one thread for positives and connect to the positive side of battery holder, another thread for negatives and connect to the negative side of the battery holder.

I chose a heart for my design and chose a cream kind of fabric to saw.

When you design the circuit, you have to be careful with not touching positive thread and negative thread.

Saw the Battery holder at the back.

Place a battery and you are done.

After I came home, I tried to see through with other fabrics and you can see different effects on each fabric. It is very interesting and I really enjoyed the workshop.

They are hand washable (not with the battery).

I was not sure whether the shape of the heart can be seen. I was happy that I can see the heart shape in the dark (showing at the top)

I cannot wait to learn more next week.

Art with Kids, Arts, Light Art, Photography

Light Art with Garden Lights

December 19, 2011 admins148

We bought some Solar Garden Lights for Xmas.

At night inside the house, we tried to see how they work. They were like Mirror Balls and their lights reflected on the wall. They changes colours from blue, green and red.

I thought that I should try to take photos of them with Slow Shutter again.

Some of the photos are taken when two people are holding and moving them, and some of the photos were taken when I moved them around with my hands.

Camera: Nikon DS3100, Setting: 10″ F14

Please have a look at the results below.

[Show picture list]

Art with Kids, Light Art, Sumico Net Blog

Light Art by Kids with Sparkles and Flashlights

July 11, 2011 admins148

During this school holiday, we went for camping with our friends.

At night time, we tried light art. I asked kids to trace one of the kids with flash lights and I like the effects.

I also took some photos when kids drew with sparkles.

[Show picture list]

Camera: Nikon D3100. Setting: Slow shutter 10 sec, F14, ISO 400.

Arts, Drawing

Drawing Lesson – Face

May 13, 2011 admins148 1 Comment

I have been taking drawing lessons and I would like to share some things that I learned.

This is a face which I drew yesterday at the class. I was trying to draw an actress face in a magazine.

My teacher told me that three lines of the edge of each eye and bottom and nose make a triangle.

If you draw the proportion correctly, the face would look fine.

I also practiced parts of face, such as eyes, nose, mouth and ears. (Click an image to enlarge)

Sumico Net News, Web Design, Web Design/ Development

New Website Development: Artificial Wedding Flowers by Mika

April 27, 2011 admins148

Sumico Net launched a new website, Artificial Wedding Flowers by Mika.

URL: http://www.artificialweddingflowersbymika.com.au

The client is selling artificial wedding flowers and the client has a website http://www.mikasfloraldesigns.com.au/index.php.

This new website is specifically targeting brides to be – wedding bouquets.

This site is developed with a Content Management System. I created a template and 6 pages. The client is updating other pages by herself. The website has an accordion slide show which has link to the other pages and another slide show (fade in/out) in “Real Weddings” page.

It is the most important for them to show product images with relatively large images. We used the pop up window for a larger image when visitors click a product image.

It has a contact form and we installed Google analytics for the client to monitor and analyse the statistics.

Do you need a website? Please contact us for quotes or inquires.

Charity, Sumico Net Blog, Sumico Net News

“Help Japan” Event raised $3000!

April 16, 2011 admins148

We participated the event called “Help Japan” on Sunday 10 April at Beenleigh Showground to raise money for Japan.

It was a very beautiful day, and there were more people than usual at the Beenleigh Sunday Market where the event was held.

There were so many people who joined and involved with their skills of hair cut, make up, Face Painting, Origami, Paper making with recycling materials, bread making, hair beading, and selling handmade accessories.

We also had Japanese traditional dance performance, Japanese Tea ceremony, music performance by talented kids, and demonstration of rice cake making called “Mochitsuki”. I have not tried fresh rice cake for a long time, so I was very happy to taste some of them.

Local ladies enjoyed trying beautiful Japanese kimono.

I would like to introduce some of the business partners who supported the event. Thank you so much for your support!

The organiser: Music with fun http://www.musicwithfun.info ,

Kohana Photography, Chameleon Face Painting, Windaroo Lakes Golf Course.

Hair Studio Grams on the Gold Coast, Chelmer Patios and Decks.

and Sumico Net http://www.sumico.net

Charity, Sumico Net Blog, Sumico Net News

Charity Event “Help Japan”

April 4, 2011 admins148

We are having a charity event at Beenleigh Showground on Sunday, April 10 from 7am to 12pm.

Japanese community in Brisbane/Gold Coast area are involved with this event.

On the Day Program: Green Tea Ceremony, Mochitsuki (making rice cakes), Origami, Traditional Japanese Dance, Kimono Modelling, Hair cut, Hair braiding and make up, Homemade Bread, Massage and Nail Polish, Paper Making and Kids’ Performances.

I will take orders for personalised Poster design and prints. I will donate the money excluding printing cost to the Red Cross.

Download the information.

Art with Kids, Light Art, Photography, Sumico Net Blog

Light Arts by Kids on Earth Hour 2011

March 27, 2011 admins148

We had a small gathering for the Earth Hour on Saturday, 26 March 2011. We have been participating Earth Hour since 2008. This is our 4th year.

Some Kids who joined us this year for the first time made lanterns using recycling materials; decorate a empty jar with papers, ribbons, confetti, cello, and etc. I tied the jar on a stick from the garden with wires.

We did other recycle crafts using plastic bag to make some badges – cut the plastic bag into the shape, draw on them, place on the felt, place the baking paper on the top, then press by the iron. The artwork sticks onto the felt and cut the felt along the shape. (when you use the iron, place the baking paper on the top and press for 20 sec. or so)

When we turned the light off at 8:30pm, a candle light concert was started. Talented kids played flute, clarinet, piano and violin.

After the concert, kids enjoyed light arts. I asked kids to draw with the flash lights and I took the photos. I divided kids into two groups – boys and girls. Boys are young kids between 6 to 10, so the drawings were basic, but quite effective. Girls discussed what they wanted to draw, and they drew a cat, a bunny and peace sign. Girls worked well as a team and their drawings were impressive.

Please have a look at their artworks.

Note: Last 5 photos were not taken on the Earth Hour. Photo taken by Nikon DS3100 with slow shutter speed.

[Show picture list]

Graphic Design, Sumico Net Blog, Sumico Net News

Pray for Japan

March 21, 2011 admins148

The north coast of Japan was hit by a horrible tsunami after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake that occurred 80 miles offshore.

According to the Asahi newspaper today, the death toll is now 8,649 and 13,261 are missing. 319,101 people are in the evacuation centres.

Nuclear Plants are still not stable, and critical situation.

There are many organisations who are collecting donations.

I have done through Red Cross Australia. If you are interested in donating, please visit the Red Cross website in your country.

http://www.redcross.org.au/default.asp

You can show your support in your facebook to create a badge.

http://www.picbadges.com/pray-for-japan-63/1333940/

I created this “pray for Japan”. (Plum flower is from the book called “Flowers Materials”. Click the image, the you can see the whole image. Please feel free to download, if you like.

I believe that Japan will overcome this situation and my thoughts are with people in Japan. I pray for Japan.

Graphic Design, Photography, Sumico Net Blog, Sumico Net News

Printing a Photographic artwork on a Signboard

March 21, 2011 admins148

I liked my artwork of photography and typography, so I decided to print it. First, I though of printing on the Canvas, however, it is quite expensive. When I checked the price for large size (75x150mm), the cost was nearly AU$500.

I thought about printing as a poster and mounted on styrofoam board. I have to do more research how to get the styrofoam and mount properly, or I need to look for someone who can do it.

I asked a local frame shop, but they said that they were not able to help me. I know one place in Brisbane, but I wanted to see it as soon as I could.

I want to try my styrofoam idea one day, but I tried a different thing this time and I think that it would be one of the most reasonable ways.

I asked a local printing company whom I normally use for business card printing. I visited them to see what they can do, and I decided to print on a signboard. The cost was very reasonable for the 620x925mm artwork.

I like the result for the price. It may not be perfect, though. There are some lines from the board, and it is gross finish. (I like mat finish.) If you are looking for a cheaper alternative on large print, this option would be suitable for you.

If you have any suggestions to print large image at reasonable prices, please advise me

Art with Kids, Arts, Books, Sumico Net Blog

21st Century art for kids (Book review)

March 8, 2011 admins148

Gallery of Modern Art (GoMa) Queensland, Australia is displaying an exhibition called “21st Century Art in the first decade”. http://qag.qld.gov.au

This is a fantastic exhibition and it is free!

I have visited a couple of times and each time I really had a great time!

I liked many artworks such as live birds flying called “here to ear” by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, “Soul under the moon” and “Narcissus garden” by Yayoi Kusama, Katharina Grosse’s Spray painting eggs, walking in the 3000 purple balloons, sliding in the sack from the third floor to the ground floor, creating white lego buildings and so on. There are so much fun for adults and kids!

When I visited there last time, I bought the book called “21st Century Art for Kids” and I recommend this book for your children who are interested in the arts.

I often wonder what kind of things the artists did or liked when they were kids. This book has an answer. This books tells you what the artists liked doing when they were kids and how they became artists.

It includes activities for kids which relate to each artist’s work. We tried spray paints by Katharina Grosse’s. It has a wonderful story included by Arthur Koo-Ekka Pambegan Jr.

The book cost around $30, and it has a great value.

This books tells about 36 artists telling the kids followings;