During the second half of 2012 I was working on my Master thesis with the topic "Building an appearance-based hand gesture recognition system using the Microsoft Kinect". This happened at Fraunhofer FIT, where I was employed as student worker at that time. FIT had previous expertise in hand and finger-tip recognition by the award-winning 3DMT work by Georg Hackenberg, done in 2010. In his work he used the SwissRanger SR4000 TOF depth sensor, a device that is not affordable to end-users, still priced at more than 4000 USD.
My initial work was to extend 3DMT, adding support for the affordable Kinect sensor. It turned out finger-tips (and more generally, hand poses) are not easily identified at distances beyond 1.5 m between hand and sensor, due to limited depth image resolution. I then explored the use of skin-color classification from the high-resolution RGB image, all attempts showing major deficiencies in real-world environments. The goal to maximize the interaction space beyond 1.5 m with the Kinect could not be reached. I then developed a depth-data-based hand pose training and recognition system. Using a graphical tool, the user can design a set of hand poses (think: victory, fist, palm, ...), show the poses to the system (=train it) and finally get a working classification system that can be integrated into any C++ application.
The video below illustrates the procedure and also demonstrates a kiosk-application built on top of the classification. This application named "FIT Xplorer" allows guests to navigate through a catalog of employees and projects of the Fraunhofer FIT institue, using hand gestures. It was designed in a user-centered approach where the users were involved in both requirements, prototype testing and evaluation of the final prototype.
The Android game Looping Louie is an adaptation of the board game (take a look at this YouTube demonstration) to the Android platform. The real game is not only played by children but also by teenagers and adults who use it to consume alcohol at an increasing pace .
With a team of 5 fellow students we created an Android port of Looping Louie in the winter term of 2012, as part of the SCRUM lab held at Fraunhofer FIT. Each player uses her own device, and pressing the lever is mapped to a shake-up movement of the phone, which has to be made right when Louie's plane passes by. With all devices in the same WiFi network (using existing infrastructure or the Tethering-functionality of a phone), anyone can create a new game session which others can join. Once all players are ready, they start the game together, kicking Louie with their own lever until all players but one have lost their chickens. The SCRUM process was used throughout the creation of this game.
Claim your station is a location-based Android game I developed with a fellow student during the 2011 winter term, for the MIxed-reality games for mobile devices lab held at Fraunhofer FIT. This Android game makes use of the GPS and NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities of modern smartphones.
The idea is to detect the NFC-enabled Touch&Travel Touch points that Deutsche Bahn installed at almost all railway stations throughout Germany. These points have an RFID chip and thus an NFC-phone can read the ID of the chip. Their geographic distribution isn't perfect: not every station has these touch points, some have just one, some have more than 30 of them. In the game you can "check in" at these touch points by bringing your phone close to them (within few centimeters).
Because you are part of a team, if you manage that your team holds the relative majority of check-ins at the station, that station is then claimed by your team, and your team will get points for every minute the station belongs to you. Boring waiting times that results from waiting for the arrival of the next (connecting) train present the perfect opportunity to play the game.
The game is not available on Google Play due to being an unfinished prototype. You can, however, take a look at a few screenshots below.
ShadowBall is a mixed-reality Kinect game for PC that was developed in a team of 4 fellow students and I, as part of the user-oriented design lab at Fraunhofer FIT. The project took place in the 2011 summer term (April - July 2011). The focus of the lab was to continuously develop and improve prototypes based on user interviews and test sessions, where users interact with the prototypes.
To get an idea about the game, see the video below which explains it faster than words. Rather than creating a mouse&keyboard-based game, the user's whole body is part of the gameplay experience. The user stands in front of the Microsoft Kinect, which captures the body which is shown as semi-opaque silhouette (shadow) on the screen.
In a nutshell, the game is similar to flipper consoles, except that you hit the ball with your arms and legs which are solid, acting as reflectors to the ball. The goal is to hit the ball at the right angle so that it hits a target area (i.e., falls into a hole). Some target areas are not appropriate for all balls, thus we used a jungle-theme where balls are represented by fruits or meat, the correct target areas being represented by carnivores or herbivores respectively.
While being a student worker at the User-Centered Computing group of Fraunhofer FIT in 2011, my colleagues and I worked on a home-automation Android app. Electrical devices are connected via smart plugs which can be remotely controlled by the user. The user is always aware of the current power consumption and which devices are turned on. A live camera feed allows the user to monitor their home. We developed the Android app, an HTML+JS Viewer (based on Google Web Toolkit) and the Java-based server software that enabled anyone to control a few devices that were installed in a demonstration room at Fraunhofer FIT. A demo video can be seen on this Fraunhofer FIT web site.
Nexuiz (Classic) is a free, open-source First Person Shooter (FPS) game, similar to commercial games such as Unreal Tournament and Quake. The scene around it was most active between the launch in 2005 and the beginning of 2011. At that time the game was simply called "Nexuiz" but then the core development team decided to create a spin-off commercial game, which is now officially referred to as Nexuiz, using the CryEngine. The greater part of the community and many developers who insisted on the open-source idea of the game decided to fork Nexuiz and to create the game Xonotic. From forum analysis, its community is shrinkin since mid 2013, nevertheless it is an entertaining, free FPS worth giving a shot!
Between 2008 and 2010 I contributed to (the original) Nexuiz as GreEn`mArine in various ways:
I was very interested in competitive 1-vs-1 and team-games. With the help of other community members, I hosted several tournaments in Europe and created a PHP-based ladder website where interested players could register and challenge others in different game modes (both websites are no longer used, but do still work). I also contributed a few features to the game, related to competitive gaming, such as a warm-up mode where people would ready up to begin the game, and the ability to call time-outs.
In 2009 I hosted a video podcast called Nexuiz In-Depth (click here to get to the YouTube channel). In about 10 episodes I explained aspects of the in-game movement as well as the usage of many hidden commands that I discovered while doing programming work on the core.
Yet another contribution was the Nexuiz Demo Recorder. This is a Java tool (with a graphical user interface) that can be used to automate the job of mass-recording videos from Nexuiz or Xonotic. Both games allow to record your play sessions in a compressed format called "demo", which doesn't actually contain video, but the sequence of events that happened in the game (e.g. when you fired a rocket at second 33).
The game engine provides the means to replay these demos at arbitrary speed and to dump them to video files (e.g. uncompressed avi). Using that feature is cumbersome since you have to manually start the recording process, i.e. press a button once you want your video to start, and likewise when you want it to end. The Nexuiz Demo Recorder allows to specify (many) recording jobs in advance, where you specify the file name of the recording, start second, end second and destination video file name. Then the program will launch the game and batch-process all your jobs. Thus, it is a huge time-saver for anyone who creates machinima movies, such as “fragmovies” that demonstrate the skill of individual players or teams.
Before starting to play Nexuiz in 2008 I had played the game Tactical Ops: Assault on Terror for 5 years. Tactical Ops can be described as an arcade-version of the classic Counter-Strike game. At the time the game was very popular and the "clan wars" (=matches between two clans/teams) took places in leagues and tournaments, including ClanBase, ESL (Electronic Sports League) and GameStar Liga.
Tactical Ops also allowed to record games in the demo format and to export its replays as videos. This kindled my interest and so I created a total of 3 "frag videos" featuring players from my clans (including me) battling (= fragging / taking down) other teams.
Having created the Nexuiz Demo Recorder (see above) I also used it to create two Nexuiz videos (which were never published).
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As a newer member of the team, Molly is excited to bring her engineering and business background to the CSC team. Her responsibilities include steel connection design, full building design, foundation design, and Revit/BIM modeling. Her background includes high-wind building and connection design in wood, heavy timber, masonry, light gauge, aluminum, steel, and concrete.
B.S., Civil Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 2011
(Structural Engineering Concentration, Minor in Software Engineering)
Professional Engineering Registration


San Ramon - CA
Prior to its renovation, this garden was a jumble of lawn, river rock and plants with different water requirements. Weeds had taken over the lawn and weed cloth had reduced the soil to a sorry state.
The homeowners loved the look of the Desert Southwest and wanted their own patch to enjoy and to compliment their creativity. Boulders were used to define the beds and create small detailed areas for feature plants. Fast draining soil was built up around the boulders to create interesting berms that also ensure adequate drainage.
The entire garden is irrigated with drip, reducing run off, evaporation and high water bills. A rebate from EBMUD was used towards the installation of this garden.


Jussi Ängeslevä is an educator at the Berlin University of the Arts and Royal College of Arts in London whose research interests focus on the field of digital media and interaction design. He is also the Vice Creative Director of ART+COM, a private company that explores the communicative potential for new media and technology.
ART+COM began with a “motley” crew of artists, hackers, and engineers who wanted to explore the new medium of computers in the context of communication. Over the years, ART+COM has expanded from 20 to nearly 60 team members. With this growth in staff, ART+COM’s collaborative environment is crucial to its success as a company. Hearing Ängeslevä’s discussion of ART+COM shed light on the importance of collaboration within the workplace, a topic that I can apply to my own work. ART+COM does not separate the early concept design from the manufacturing. As a result, the manufacturers are not dealing with the production of somebody else’s ideas, and vice versa. ART+COM does is bringings those people around the same table to leverage the knowledge of the production in the conception. In this kind of environment, it is enriching to share ideas and get perspectives from different disciplines.
Another focus of today’s discussion is the numerous projects that ART+COM has produced in the past several years, including “Raphael’s Pendulum” (2018) and “Evolutionary Stairs” (2014). Here, he notes that technology should never be driving the project and there is this expectation that technology is the solution to all projects. ART+COM understands that companies want to communicate their innovative future-oriented high-tech attitude, but that does not mean they need to use, for instance, augmented reality machine learning; you need agency in order for technology to be most effective.
“Technology already has its own agenda”
The interview with Ängeslevä offered me a new and global perspective on the intersection between art, design, and digital technology. When hearing Ängeslevä talk about his work, it is evident that he is passionate about his careers in both the academic and commercial art worlds. One of the key pieces of advice that Ängeslevä offered is to reach out and talk to people.
“It is this kind of extended network of alumni and the kind of connects that … matter a great deal, [however] you cannot count on that. But you can cherish that … and at some point in your life, you can then pass the baton to the next generation.”


Built-in 2-Port USB Hubs for Convenience
2-Port USB Hubs adds easy access and convenience for input devices like flash drives or a mouse.
This keyboard is only 11.75″ wide and is designed with a Windows Key layout that includes an embedded numeric keypad. This keyboard is a great space saver for your home or office. This keyboard is ideal for use in POS stations, sales, or information kiosks, warehouses, manufacturing environments or anywhere space is limited.
Slim and Portable
Slim design makes for easy portability and ease of use in any workplace.
Slim, Quiet and Fast Scissor-Switch Keys
The slim scissor-switch keys are designed to offer a quieter typing experience and faster key response. The scissor-switch keys also offer a longer product life with a lifecycle of more than 5 million keystrokes.
Multimedia and Internet Controls
Control your media player with just one touch using the built-in Multimedia Hotkeys for easy access to your favorite media or website.
|Keyboard Layout:||78-Key US layout|
|Keyboard Type:||Scissor-Switch Technology|
|Internet Hotkeys:||2 Internet Hotkeys (Home, Email)|
|Media Hotkeys||7 Media Hotkeys(Volume Dn, Volume Up, Play/Pause, Stop, Prev. Track, Next Track, Mute)|
|Ports:||2 USB Hub Ports
|Dimension:||11.2″ x 4.7″ x 0.7″ (286 x 121 x 18 mm)|
|Weight:||1.1 lbs (481 g)|
- Adesso AKB-510HB Mini Keyboard with USB Hubs
- Quick Start Guide
- Operating System: Windows® 2000 / XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
- Connectivity Interface: USB
Master Carton Qty
|USB||783750006699||12.6″ x 8″ x 1.4″||1.6 lbs||20|


As most of our pieces are costume jewelry made from copper or brass, plated with 18kt gold and rhodium, they need special looking after for you to enjoy the beauty for a longer period of time. Here’s a list of tips for you on how to care for your ElenaTs jewelry.
- Avoid water: Do not place next to heater, window, air conditioner or in the bathroom. Do not wear in the pool.
- Avoid sweat: Remove jewelry when exercising, or any other demanding physical work, as sweating causes the jewelry to tarnish.
- Storing in our original boxes or pouches is the best way to keep your jewelry. A zip plastic bag is a great alternative if no longer have the packaging.
- Avoid cosmetics: Apply scents or cosmetics before you put on your jewelry. Perfumes and lotions will tarnish the jewelry.
Brass is the most commonly used base metal used by luxury fashion houses to produce their costume jewelry due to its malleable characteristics. Think Chanel and Dior. We plate our pieces in 14k yellow gold, 18k rose gold and rhodium. Plated brass pieces will, unfortunately, tarnish over time. However, if you keep the pieces away from water, sweat and cosmetics, and keep them in a tightly sealed plastic pouch their beauty will last much longer.
- We use natural jemstones and pearls in our jewelry.
- Cubic zirconia is one of the highest quality replica of natural diamonds, and sometimes clearer and brighter than natural diamonds.


The Frederick Memorial Hospital opened the James M. Stockman Cancer Institute in August of 2017 with a vision designed to promote healing, provide support, and create a treatment experience unlike any other.
Feelings of strength, renewal, hope, joy, energy, and courage inspired the design of the James M Stockman Cancer Institute. From the interior and exterior design to the clinical workflows and treatment planning, the Optimal Healing Environment philosophy was used as a guiding force for this innovative and unique facility.
Beginning in 2018, I will be seeing patients at the Stockman Institute.
For more information, go to the Integrative Medicine page at FMH.


A June 6 Close to Home article and a June 20 letter shed light on a foursome of often-overlooked landmarks of local history: the cornerstones of the District of Columbia's original diamond perimeter. In particular, the future of the southern cornerstone was questioned in light of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge reconstruction. Specifically, the bridge project was said to "threaten" the cornerstone in that it "could damage or destroy the cornerstone's site" at Jones Point Park.
The new bridge will be built adjacent to the existing bridge, more than 2 1/2 football fields (more than 800 feet) north of the cornerstone. Also, the new bridge's impact on Jones Point Park will be minimized through a number of design characteristics, including wide pier spacing. In contrast with the existing bridge, the much greater distance between piers will minimize the new bridge's physical intrusion into the park, enabling greater utilization of the recreational space under the bridge and improving the sightlines through the park.
Our intent is not only to protect the south cornerstone but to enhance the site. Located immediately south of the Jones Point Lighthouse, placed amid riprap within the lighthouse retaining wall, it is now difficult to access. The 207-year-old marker itself needs restoration, having been subject to considerable exposure. As part of efforts to improve areas adjacent to the bridge, we will work with the local community, the park's owner -- the National Park Service -- and others to explore the creation of a south cornerstone visiting space that is a focal point for residents and visitors.
Clearly, building the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge will occasion some unavoidable negative impacts. But it's also an opportunity to leave Jones Point Park an even better place for kids to play soccer, citizens to walk their dogs and history buffs to experience our region's heritage. A key element of that goal is a south D.C. cornerstone site where our region's heritage can be better explored and celebrated.
GENE McCORMICK, Project Manager Potomac Crossing Consultants Alexandria.


Portwest S488 Contrast Bib & Brace - Unlined
The S488 is designed to be completely practical and safe, the Contrast Bib & Brace protects the lower body and chest against wet conditions whilst ensuring safety thanks to its high vis colouring and retro-reflective banding. Flexible elasticated back for a comfort fit, fully taped waterproof seams, high comfort fit, multi layer chest pocket to keep essentials at hand and breathable waterproof fabric. Fabric: 100% Polyester, Breathable 300D Oxford Weave with a Stain Resistant finish, PU Coated 190g. EN ISO 20471 Class 2; EN343 Class 3:2; GO/RT 3279 (ORANGE ONLY).
XS fits a 32-34” chest, S fits a 36-38” chest, M fits a 40-41” chest, L fits a 42-44” chest, XL fits a 46-48” chest, XXL fits a 50-52” chest, 3XL fits a 54-55” chest,


You can stop choosing either/or and begin to embrace the beauty of both/and. This collection was created by Graeme Seabrook to remind you that both your experience of motherhood AND your child's experience of childhood are important.
A spacious and trendy tote bag to help you carry around everything that matters.
• 100% spun polyester weather resistant fabric
• Bag 15" x 15" (38.1cm x 38.1cm)
• Capacity – 2.6 US gal (10l)
• Maximum weight limit – 44lbs (20kg)
• Dual handles 100% natural cotton bull denim
• Handle length 11.8" (30 cm), width 1" (2.5cm)


The 2015 earthquake in Nepal devastated the homes, schools, and livelihoods of thousands of people. The Kavre Dwarpaleswor Lower Secondary school in a rural village outside of Kathmandu was destroyed, halting the education and development of 300 children who travel for 90 minutes to and from school every day.
Locals came together after the earthquake to construct temporary structures to keep the school running, but a long-term solution is necessary to build resiliency within the community. With your help, we can sustainably rebuild this vital community resource and provide a safe learning and gathering space for generations to come.
Building a Sustainable Future
The first phase of five classrooms on the lower level is nearing completion, but more funds are needed to complete the remaining classrooms on the upper level, the waste and sanitary facilities, kitchen, and library. The site has been studied and designed with sustainability in mind: using local materials and resources for building, renewable energy for power, terraced landscapes to prevent erosion, and zero-waste management strategies that will be used in conjunction with a neighboring farm. The project is also supporting the local economy by employing a Nepali construction company, Rammed Earth Solutions, for the building construction and exposing the community to new ways of creating and sustaining place.
Promoting Equal Education for Girls
The provision of sanitary facilities is extremely important for the development of female education, as girls are often forced to stay at home during menstruation due to lack of proper facilities. Only 66% of adolescent girls in Nepal are actively attending school, and Nepali women are only 65.7% as literate as men (Unicef Statistics). This inequality in educational attainment can be mitigated by providing a clean, central space for girls to address their needs without missing school. In addition to girls, many children in the villages surrounding Kavre School do not have access to plumbing and sanitation at home, and clean, modern sanitary facilities at school is vital to their health and development.
Cultivating a Community Space
In addition to the educational use of the new school, the buildings will also function as a gathering place for the community to hold meetings and events, as there is currently no other central public space to do so. The school will also serve as a pilot project for rammed earth construction of buildings in rural Nepal, where winding mountain roads make vehicular transport of materials difficult.
Kavre School is being constructed using sustainable site strategies and locally-sourced rammed earth, which is a material made of local clay, soil, and cement, rendering it earthquake proof. The school will be powered by solar panels mounted on the wide gabled roof that provides shelter during the monsoon season. An anaerobic digester will process the human waste from the new toilet facilities into fertilizer that will be used on the adjacent farm. Finally, a terraced gabion basket amphitheater will support the integrity of the landscape by preventing erosion and also act as seating for outdoor performances and meetings.
How you can help
We need to raise $50,000 to pay for materials and labor to finish construction of the upper school. Any donation you make will go towards improving the quality of life and education for the children and families of this courageous community.
-Your contribution will directly impact the lives of young women who will no longer have to stay away from school once a month, increasing their social and economic opportunities.
-Your contribution will provide clean and modern sanitary conditions for the entire community who uses the space, improving health conditions and limiting the spread of infectious diseases and premature death.
-Your contribution will increase the visibility of rammed earth as a sustainable building material that can prevent the devastation and loss of life caused by earthquakes in this region and beyond.
-Any additional funds raised will go towards the completion of the school and any furnishings and supplies needed.
Thank you for your support!
For more information, and to download the Kavre School Master Plan, visit https://www.c-ap.net/kavre-school/ and sign up for the email newsletter to receive updates on the project.
This campaign is an effort led by Kids of Kathmandu with pro-bono assistance from Cycle Architecture + Planning and Arun Rimal of the Office of Structural Design.


To select a museum, click “Details/Reserve”, then select which Pass to reserve.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Gardner Museum houses the collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner, a local patron of the arts who died in 1924, in a building she commissioned to look like a 15th century Venetian palazzo. The center of the original building showcases courtyard plantings that reflect the seasons as they evolve throughout the year. In addition to her collection, which remains displayed exactly she arranged it per her will, there are changing exhibitions, concerts, lectures, family events, and an artist-in-residence program. In 2012, the museum opened an addition designed by Renzo Piano that houses a space for their concert series.
$5 general admission for up to 4 visitors. Children under the age of 18 are always admitted free.


100% Marino wool hand woven in the Himalayas. Beautiful soft, versatile and resilient pure new wool. Naturally breathes providing year round comfort anywhere anytime. This shawl or scarf makes the perfect travel companion.
Merino Wool Pashmina
- Handwoven with handknotted fringing
- 100 x 200cm – wear as a shawl, scarf, wrap and blanket
- Merino wool is super warm but also super light and very durable
- Perfect to take with you on your travels and be warm on the plane
- Composition: 100% Merino
- Care instruction: Dry Clean
All likemary products have a story.
Our ‘wear forever’ blanket scarves are handwoven on traditional looms by weavers of a cooperative society that came together in 1944 to keep the handloom industry alive.
All knitted accessories are hand made from hand spun wool by ladies in the Himalayas. These women are the sole providers for their families, as their husbands cannot work and the project provides most of them with their only source of income.
Many likemary clothes are made from excess fabric. This means they can never be mass-produced, and every item is special and unique to its proud owner.
We invest a lot of time finding the highest quality fabrics. This is extremely important to us, as is who we buy our material from and the tailors who make our clothes.
We are all about supporting local craftspeople providing them with a way of selling their amazing garments abroad.
Many of likemary clothes are made from the last remaining rolls of beautiful fabric. We love this because it means that garments really cannot be mass produced and you’ll probably be the only one you know wearing this style in this print.
Merino wool is amazing and is the inspiration of likemary. Nicky’s black Takhi Shawl, after many expeditions, continuous to look as gorgeous as the day she bought it.
Why is it amazing:
Due to the interlocking structure of Merino fibres it is super strong and durable which is why you can literally wear likemary Merino wool scarves, shawls and throws for life.
For some of us, merino wool doesn’t have the itchiness normally associated with wool because the fibres from the Merino sheep’s fleece are much finer, more flexible and softly bend.
The fibre is very breathable, efficiently wicking moisture away from your body, through the wool and away into the atmosphere to keep you warm, cool and dry. Wool wonderfully protects your skin against the sun’s harmful UV rays.
likemary Merino wool scarves, shawls and throws are handwoven on traditional looms by a cooperative society in the Himalayan mountains. By buying likemary Merino wool products you are helping to sustain the livelihood of these amazing craftspeople.
We recommend you care for your 100% Merino wool product by drycleaning it.


The input voltage, output voltage and frequency, and overall power handling depend on the design of the specific device or circuitry. The inverter does not produce any power; the power is provided by the DC source.
A power inverter can be entirely electronic or may be a combination of mechanical effects (such as a rotary apparatus) and electronic circuitry. Static inverters do not use moving parts in the conversion process.
Circuitry that performs the opposite function, converting AC to DC, is called a rectifier.
Input and output
A typical power inverter device or circuit requires a relatively stable DC power source capable of supplying enough current for the intended power demands of the system. The input voltage depends on the design and purpose of the inverter. Examples include:
- 12 V DC, for smaller consumer and commercial inverters that typically run from a rechargeable 12 V lead acid battery or automotive electrical outlet.
- 24, 36 and 48 V DC, which are common standards for home energy systems.
- 200 to 400 V DC, when power is from photovoltaic solar panels.
- 300 to 450 V DC, when power is from electric vehicle battery packs in vehicle-to-grid systems.
- Hundreds of thousands of volts, where the inverter is part of a high-voltage direct current power transmission system.
An inverter can produce a square wave, modified sine wave, pulsed sine wave, pulse width modulated wave (PWM) or sine wave depending on circuit design. The two dominant commercialized waveform types of inverters as of 2007 are modified sine wave and sine wave.
There are two basic designs for producing household plug-in voltage from a lower-voltage DC source, the first of which uses a switching boost converter to produce a higher-voltage DC and then converts to AC. The second method converts DC to AC at battery level and uses a line-frequency transformer to create the output voltage.
This is one of the simplest waveforms an inverter design can produce and is best suited to low-sensitivity applications such as lighting and heating. Square wave output can produce “humming” when connected to audio equipment and is generally unsuitable for sensitive electronics.
A power inverter device which produces a multiple step sinusoidal AC waveform is referred to as a sine wave inverter. To more clearly distinguish the inverters with outputs of much less distortion than the modified sine wave (three step) inverter designs, the manufacturers often use the phrase pure sine wave inverter. Almost all consumer grade inverters that are sold as a “pure sine wave inverter” do not produce a smooth sine wave output at all, just a less choppy output than the square wave (two step) and modified sine wave (three step) inverters. However, this is not critical for most electronics as they deal with the output quite well.
Where power inverter devices substitute for standard line power, a sine wave output is desirable because many electrical products are engineered to work best with a sine wave AC power source. The standard electric utility provides a sine wave, typically with minor imperfections but sometimes with significant distortion.
Sine wave inverters with more than three steps in the wave output are more complex and have significantly higher cost than a modified sine wave, with only three steps, or square wave (one step) types of the same power handling. Switch-mode power supply (SMPS) devices, such as personal computers or DVD players, function on quality modified sine wave power. AC motors directly operated on non-sinusoidal power may produce extra heat, may have different speed-torque characteristics, or may produce more audible noise than when running on sinusoidal power.
Modified sine wave
The modified sine wave output of such an inverter is the sum of two square waves one of which is phase shifted 90 degrees relative to the other. The result is three level waveform with equal intervals of zero volts; peak positive volts; zero volts; peak negative volts and then zero volts. This sequence is repeated. The resultant wave very roughly resembles the shape of a sine wave. Most inexpensive consumer power inverters produce a modified sine wave rather than a pure sine wave.
The waveform in commercially available modified-sine-wave inverters resembles a square wave but with a pause during the polarity reversal. Switching states are developed for positive, negative and zero voltages. Generally, the peak voltage to RMS voltage ratio does not maintain the same relationship as for a sine wave. The DC bus voltage may be actively regulated, or the “on” and “off” times can be modified to maintain the same RMS value output up to the DC bus voltage to compensate for DC bus voltage variations.
The ratio of on to off time can be adjusted to vary the RMS voltage while maintaining a constant frequency with a technique called pulse width modulation (PWM). The generated gate pulses are given to each switch in accordance with the developed pattern to obtain the desired output. Harmonic spectrum in the output depends on the width of the pulses and the modulation frequency. When operating induction motors, voltage harmonics are usually not of concern; however, harmonic distortion in the current waveform introduces additional heating and can produce pulsating torques.
Numerous items of electric equipment will operate quite well on modified sine wave power inverter devices, especially loads that are resistive in nature such as traditional incandescent light bulbs. Items with a switch-mode power supply operate almost entirely without problems, but if the item has a mains transformer, this can overheat depending on how marginally it is rated.
However, the load may operate less efficiently owing to the harmonics associated with a modified sine wave and produce a humming noise during operation. This also affects the efficiency of the system as a whole, since the manufacturer’s nominal conversion efficiency does not account for harmonics. Therefore, pure sine wave inverters may provide significantly higher efficiency than modified sine wave inverters.
Most AC motors will run on MSW inverters with an efficiency reduction of about 20% owing to the harmonic content. However, they may be quite noisy. A series LC filter tuned to the fundamental frequency may help.
A common modified sine wave inverter topology found in consumer power inverters is as follows: An onboard microcontroller rapidly switches on and off power MOSFETs at high frequency like ~50 kHz. The MOSFETs directly pull from a low voltage DC source (such as a battery). This signal then goes through step-up transformers (generally many smaller transformers are placed in parallel to reduce the overall size of the inverter) to produce a higher voltage signal. The output of the step-up transformers then gets filtered by capacitors to produce a high voltage DC supply. Finally, this DC supply is pulsed with additional power MOSFETs by the microcontroller to produce the final modified sine wave signal.
The AC output frequency of a power inverter device is usually the same as standard power line frequency, 50 or 60 hertz
If the output of the device or circuit is to be further conditioned (for example stepped up) then the frequency may be much higher for good transformer efficiency.
The AC output voltage of a power inverter is often regulated to be the same as the grid line voltage, typically 120 or 240 VAC at the distribution level, even when there are changes in the load that the inverter is driving. This allows the inverter to power numerous devices designed for standard line power.
Some inverters also allow selectable or continuously variable output voltages.
A power inverter will often have an overall power rating expressed in watts or kilowatts. This describes the power that will be available to the device the inverter is driving and, indirectly, the power that will be needed from the DC source. Smaller popular consumer and commercial devices designed to mimic line power typically range from 150 to 3000 watts.
Not all inverter applications are solely or primarily concerned with power delivery; in some cases the frequency and or waveform properties are used by the follow-on circuit or device.
The runtime of an inverter is dependent on the battery power and the amount of power being drawn from the inverter at a given time. As the amount of equipment using the inverter increases, the runtime will decrease. In order to prolong the runtime of an inverter, additional batteries can be added to the inverter.
When attempting to add more batteries to an inverter, there are two basic options for installation:
- Series configuration
- If the goal is to increase the overall voltage of the inverter, one can daisy chain batteries in a series configuration. In a series configuration, if a single battery dies, the other batteries will not be able to power the load.
- Parallel configuration
- If the goal is to increase capacity and prolong the runtime of the inverter, batteries can be connected in parallel. This increases the overall ampere-hour (Ah) rating of the battery set.
If a single battery is discharged though, the other batteries will then discharge through it. This can lead to rapid discharge of the entire pack, or even an over-current and possible fire. To avoid this, large paralleled batteries may be connected via diodes or intelligent monitoring with automatic switching to isolate an under-voltage battery from the others.
DC power source usage
An inverter converts the DC electricity from sources such as batteries or fuel cells to AC electricity. The electricity can be at any required voltage; in particular it can operate AC equipment designed for mains operation, or rectified to produce DC at any desired voltage.
Uninterruptible power supplies
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) uses batteries and an inverter to supply AC power when mains power is not available. When mains power is restored, a rectifier supplies DC power to recharge the batteries.
Electric motor speed control
Inverter circuits designed to produce a variable output voltage range are often used within motor speed controllers. The DC power for the inverter section can be derived from a normal AC wall outlet or some other source. Control and feedback circuitry is used to adjust the final output of the inverter section which will ultimately determine the speed of the motor operating under its mechanical load. Motor speed control needs are numerous and include things like: industrial motor driven equipment, electric vehicles, rail transport systems, and power tools. (See related: variable-frequency drive ) Switching states are developed for positive, negative and zero voltages as per the patterns given in the switching Table 1.The generated gate pulses are given to each switch in accordance with the developed pattern and thus the output is obtained


MS Powerpoint Animation & Graphics-26th March 2020
Tuesday 26th March 2020
Clonmel Park Hotel, Clonmel
9:30am – 4:30pm
You will be able to create visually appealing Powerpoint presentations that concentrate on graphics and animation. You will gain a thorough understanding of how graphics work and can be enhanced. and learn how animation can be used in a professional manner which enhances the message rather than distracts from it.
You should be very familiar with the basic use of PowerPoint and be able to create simple presentations, format slides and text. This course is not suitable for new users of PowerPoint, it is specifically aimed at those who need to create visually appealing presentations for a major event, project or presentation and who wish to learn what PowerPoint has to offer in creating high-end graphics and animation.
o Replace boring bullet lists with interactive smart-art graphics.
o Creating charts in PowerPoint and linking them to Excel, so that they update automatically.
o Animate your charts to see columns rise or line charts sweep across the screen.
• Video and Audio
o Using video or audio.
o Trimming video.
o Looping video.
o Use the animation pane and control timing and effects.
o Animation painter.
o Animation triggers.
o Created layered animation using several animations on the same object.
o Create hyperlinks to bring a slide to another application.
o Create hotspots and turn a screenshot into an interactive menu.
o Use Action Buttons for navigation.
• Master Slides
o Learn what they are and how to use them.
o Apply animation to Master Slides.
• Colour and Design
o Create and edit Themes.
o Understand how colours work together or against each other.
o Use your own custom colours


Innovation From The Start
Welcome to Akvila, a Finnish innovation driven family-owned company founded in 1920. We manufacture unbreakable & reusable high-quality glassware and plates. In addition, we produce reusable glasses in consumer friendly retail carton packages, also under the brand VERDI.
With a variety of designs suited for many different environments and occasions, we provide a sustainable alternative to replace single use plastic glasses with reusable, high-quality, attractive, multi-purpose, safe and responsibly produced glasses.
They are ideal for both home and business, indoors and outdoors as an elegant, safe to use glass – an unbeatable alternative for daily use in areas unsuitable for regular glass.
All our products are designed and manufactured at our factory in Outokumpu, Finland.
Akvila is a flexible, efficient and innovation driven family-owned company, founded over a century ago.
The company’s roots are in the town of Vyborg (now part of Russia) in the 1920s with walking salesmen offering inks and decorated nibs of ink pens. Akvila inks and glues were widely used in society and thus became a symbol of the nation’s civilization especially in the school environment, still remembered by the older generations. Until the 1960s ballpoint pens were still in use and ink bottles were needed in the era of fountain pens that followed.
The production of plastic products was introduced when a bake lite press was acquired to produce bake lite caps for glue and ink bottles.
In the 1960s the production line was expanded to disposable plastic cutlery. They eventually became the company’s main product line.
In 1995 Akvila started to produce glasses for multiple use as a sustainable alternative for disposables, made of polycarbonate, which is the same material that CD discs are made of. The Smart, Privilege and Tao glass lines were introduced with domestic and international markets in focus.
Today, unbreakable glasses represent the main product line of the company. Akvila has 2,500 square meters glass production capacity including 7 injection molding machines and inhouse tampo printing capacity. We are constantly seeking new opportunities to enlarge our portfolio of products and market share. Akvila’s unbreakables are well known throughout the beverage industry, HoReCa and the retail trade.
In our operations, we keep our promises and do everything we can to satisfy customers’ expectations and needs. We continuously improve the quality of our products, services, and operations. We are committed to BSCI Code of Conduct values.
Our ethical code of conduct includes compliance with laws and regulations, fighting corruption and bribery, respect of human rights, equality, diversity, and equality. We take responsibility for a safe, healthy, and well-maintained working environment wherever we operate. We do not accept sexual or other harassment and the use of child labor. We encourage our employees and stakeholders to raise their concerns in case of violations of any kind.
We follow the principles and practices of responsible environmental management in all our business operations. We focus on constantly improving the efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint in our value chain in accordance with best practices. We are committed to high quality products and services. We interact closely with our customers so that we can understand their needs and expectations and ensure sustainable business relationships.


Savannah Concrete Patios
Custom colored and designed concrete stamped patios have become increasingly popular for backyards and outdoor living areas. They are a low maintenance, cost efficient alternative to brick pavers and wooden decks. Available in a very wide variety of patterns, colors and design options we can create the perfect patio for you. It doesn't stop at just the patio. Steps and walkways from your home to the patios locations, built in fire pits and even BBQ's and outdoor kitchen areas! You may need a new slab poured for a new hot tub, or just need a nice area outside to set up your new patio table and chair. Sitting area outdoor couches and chairs are becoming more popular and are a cozy way to spend some time outside in the fresh air, from spring to fall. With so many options you can create a completely unique backyard that accents your home and reflects your outdoor lifestyle. Why choose concrete over wood or brick pavers? Wood rots, splinters and needs to be stained almost every year. Brick pavers settle unevenly over time, while grass and weeds grow through the cracks. Contrary to those, stamped and decorative concrete, with a little bit of maintenance and upkeep, can last a lifetime! But knowing when and when not to reseal a patio is crucial. Too early and the acrylic sealers can cause delamination of the concrete. So leave it to the pros and call Savannah Stamped Concrete to handle any and all maintenance and stamped patio projects!


Welcome to our gallery of AI-generated tattoos. At Ai-Tattoos, we pride ourselves on creating a wide range of unique, personalized designs. Here, you’ll discover the boundless potential of AI in transforming the way we think about tattoo art.
As you can see, our AI doesn’t just create tattoos – it breathes life into them. Each design is unique, reflecting a harmony of your ideas and the AI’s interpretation. Our AI captures the essence of diverse tattoo styles, from the intricate details of biomechanical tattoos to the bold contrasts of blackwork, and the vibrant hues of watercolor designs.
Our AI takes your text inputs and transforms them into stunning visual expressions. The images above show the range of designs that have sprung from different text inputs, each one a unique interpretation that could be the next symbol etched onto your skin.
Explore the world of AI Tattoos, where the future of body art is at your fingertips. Our sophisticated tattoo generator utilizes cutting-edge AI technology to turn your ideas into stunning tattoo designs. With a variety of styles available, including traditional tattoo, geometric tattoo, and realism tattoo, your personalized body art is just a few clicks away.
With AI Tattoos, you’ll discover the freedom to experiment with various tattoo styles without the permanent commitment. Our tattoo generator offers an extensive range of designs, from the bold lines of geometric tattoos to the intricate detail of realism tattoos, and the timeless appeal of traditional tattoos. Whether you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind wannado or a design that speaks to your soul, AI Tattoos is your gateway to unparalleled creativity.
AI Tattoos is more than just a tattoo generator. It’s a tool that allows you to explore the artistry of different tattoo styles, including traditional, geometric, and realism tattoos. Whether you’re a seasoned tattoo enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of body art, our AI-powered platform offers a unique opportunity to create your wannado or find new inspiration. Experience the next level of tattoo design with AI Tattoos.


Staining offers an alternative appearance and PFS offers a range of stain solutions to achieve your desired result. Scouring Europe for only the best products PFS can offer unique alternatives to the traditional mainstream ones offered in the industry that are easy care and easily repaired. We have a wide range of colours upon request and will always endeavor to colour match existing floors where possible.
Staining especially the darker blacks and browns that are flooding the pages of interior magazines is becoming increasingly popular. The process of staining is very different to other floor finishes. Stain is usually rubbed onto the wood and then immediately wiped off. The amount of stain that floors can absorb is finite and depends on the timber. The floor will not get darker if you flood it with an excess of stain or apply further coats.
The durability of your stained floor will greatly depend on the finish system that you use. Perth Flooring Solutions will use a minimum of 3 coats to ensure the floor doesn’t scratch or mark easily once the room is furnished and in use.


Pack of 1 / Master Box of 250
- Especially designed for convenient oxygen therapy during surgery or critical care to the patients.
- Made from non-toxic and non-irritant medical grade PVC material.
- Provided with adjustable elastic strap for proper positioning of mask.
- 200 cm kink – resistant tube to ensure continuous flow of oxygen.
- Proximal end fitted with soft funnel shape connector for easy connection to oxygen source.
Size: – Adult, Child.


The FIIDO D4S features a 52-tooth large chain and a 12-tooth flywheel for a comfortable ride and adapt to different road conditions. This bike has a built-in large-capacity battery design, the body is simple, and the lines are beautiful, the body can be folded in half.
Three Modes Of Riding
It has pure electric, riding, electric assist three riding modes. Equipped with the advantage of normal bike and e-bike, freely to change to the pure electric cycling when you tried, the other manpower function will sistisfy your fitness desire even out of power in the way of home.
20 Inch Inflatable Rubber Tire With Front and Rear Double Disc Brakes
Shockproof inflatable tires with wear-resistant and anti-slip texture,the brakes are more stable and effective, ensure your a more comfortable riding experience in different road conditions.
250W Motor, 25km/h Max Speed
250W motor can offer 25km/h max speed and 30 degree steep slopes. Electric motorcycle range up to 25-40km. Using brushless and toothed motor, the power consumption is lower, the endurance is 20% stronger than the normal brushless and toothless motor, and the starting torque is larger.
Max Load 120kg
The body is made of high-strength aluminum alloy, light, no rust. Lightweight and tough aluminum alloy frame has 120kg payload.
Adjustable Height of Saddle and Handlebar
Adjustable saddle tube 75-105cm, adjustable handlebar 95-110cm.
Ultra-bright Headlights And Red Taillights For Braking
It features an ultra-bright headlight for added safety in night riding.
FCC & CE Certificaion
Pass FCC and CE verification, it is safe product.


In the ever-evolving world of photo editing, Fotor AI Generator has emerged as a powerful tool that leverages the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform images and redefine the editing process. Developed by Fotor, a leading online photo editing platform, Fotor AI Generator has garnered attention for its ability to automate complex editing tasks and enhance images with stunning results. In this article, we will explore the revolutionary features of Fotor AI Generator and how it is reshaping the landscape of photo editing with its AI-powered technology.
What is Fotor AI Generator?
Fotor AI Generator is an innovative photo editing tool that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to streamline and simplify the editing process. With a user-friendly interface and a wide array of AI-powered features, Fotor AI Generator caters to both novice users and professional photographers, allowing them to achieve breathtaking results effortlessly. The software’s AI algorithms analyze images, recognize elements, and automatically apply adjustments, saving users valuable time and effort in manual editing.
Key Features of Fotor AI Generator
- AI-Powered Enhancements: Fotor AI Generator uses AI algorithms to analyze images and automatically apply enhancements to optimize color balance, brightness, and contrast, resulting in improved image quality.
- AI Sky Replacement: With the AI Sky Replacement feature, users can instantly change the sky in their photos with a selection of captivating and realistic sky overlays. This feature enhances the mood and aesthetics of the image with just a few clicks.
- AI Portrait Enhancer: Fotor AI Generator’s AI Portrait Enhancer intelligently identifies facial features and skin tones to automatically retouch portraits, reducing blemishes and achieving natural-looking results.
- AI Beauty: The AI Beauty tool allows users to enhance facial features, apply virtual makeup, and even adjust the shape of facial elements, making it a favorite among selfie enthusiasts and portrait photographers.
- AI Photo Effects: Fotor AI Generator offers a variety of AI-generated photo effects, such as artistic styles and filters, that instantly transform images into stunning visual masterpieces.
Benefits of Fotor AI Generator
- Time Efficiency: The AI-powered features of Fotor AI automate the editing process, saving users significant time and effort. Users can achieve professional-quality results in a fraction of the time it would take with manual editing.
- User-Friendly Interface: Fotor AI’s intuitive interface makes it accessible to users of all skill levels. The straightforward design allows users to navigate through the features effortlessly and focus on their creative vision.
- Consistent Results: The AI algorithms in Fotor AI consistently deliver high-quality enhancements, ensuring that edited images maintain their authenticity and professional appeal.
- Creativity and Versatility: With a wide range of AI-powered effects and enhancements, Fotor AI offers creative flexibility to users, allowing them to experiment and achieve their desired visual styles.
- Accessibility: As an online platform, Fotor AIr is easily accessible from various devices, making it a convenient tool for users to edit their photos anytime, anywhere.
How to Use Fotor AI Generator
- Upload an Image: Start by uploading the image you wish to edit into Fotor AI.
- Select an AI Feature: Choose from a selection of AI-powered features, such as AI Sky Replacement or AI Portrait Enhancer, depending on your editing needs.
- Apply Enhancements: With just a click, Fotor AI will automatically apply the chosen enhancements to your image.
- Fine-Tune the Results: Users have the option to fine-tune the AI-generated enhancements to suit their preferences and achieve their desired look.
- Save and Share: Once satisfied with the edits, save the image in your preferred format and share it with the world.
Fotor AIr represents a significant advancement in the field of photo editing, revolutionizing the way users enhance and transform their images. With its AI-powered features, the software provides a powerful and accessible platform for photographers and creative enthusiasts to achieve professional-quality results effortlessly. The time-saving benefits, user-friendly interface, and creative versatility of Fotor AI have made it a popular choice among users seeking to elevate their photo editing experience.
As AI technology continues to evolve, Fotor AI is at the forefront of the photo editing landscape, providing a glimpse into the exciting possibilities of AI-powered creativity. Embrace the power of Fotor AI and unlock your creative potential in photo editing, as you witness your images come to life with stunning enhancements and captivating effects.


MiTi & MiTi XL Titanium Screw-In Suture Anchors
The small diameter and tremendous pull-out strength of MiTi Titanium Screw-In Suture Anchors make them a versatile tool for addressing a variety of small-joint applications.
Featuring an extended shaft, the MiTi XL is ideal for use in the arthroscopic management of shoulder instability.
- Diameters: 2.0mm, 2.5mm, & 3.5mm
- Single and double-loaded configurations
- Available with needles (BB-1 & MO-6)
- 1.5mm Drill bit included
- Fully-threaded design
- Self-tapping threads
- Loaded w/Parcus Braid™ high strength suture
- Made of 6AI-4V ELI titanium alloy


5 Axis Slicer
The first true multi-axis slicing software
The 5 Axis Slicer is tailored to any additive manufacturing machines with 5 or more axis (such as robots with 5 or more axis). The slicing process works the same as any other ‘normal’ slicer except that the layer generation allows for curved layers. This gives some unique opportunities such as:
- printing with zero overhang (where every layer of material is printed on a ‘previous’ layer with 100% overlap)
- printing on top of existing (curved) objects
- printing without supports
For the above reasons, the 5-Axis Slicer is used for metal repair, printing plastics on metal parts, and printing complex objects (in metal and/or plastic).
Examples of objects sliced with the 5 Axis Slicer
Example 1: A coil
The example of the coil shows a simulation of the toolhead motions (the ‘stick’) and the layer deposition (in yellow). The layers are deposited with zero overhang, and therefore, this coil can be printed without support structures.
Example 2: Panton Chair
This example shows how the Panton Chair can be printed in any material (plastic or metal) with zero overhang and without support structures. The nozzle is represented by the ‘stick’, while the deposited material is shown in yellow.
Example 3: Segmented toolpaths
The example shows how the 5 Axis Slicer can be used to generate toolpaths for segmented printing. This block can also be sliced in one piece, resulting in curved layers.
Example 4: Radial toolpaths
The 5 Axis Slicer can generate radial toolpaths as well, just by selecting a tubular base, allowing to print complex shapes with zero overhang and without supports.
Real world applications
The videos below show real world applications where our 5 Axis Slicer is applied. The first shows how to go from design to print, where the object is finally printed with an industrial robot (in plastic). The second video shows how the 5-Axis Slicer is used in metal repair. The third video shows how it is used to print polymer on a metal car part. The last video (most right) shows 3d metal printing of a ‘big’ elbow piece by a robot on a turn and tilt table. In all cases, there is no overhang and no supports are needed.
How it works
The 5 Axis Slicer requires two .STL models to generate a toolpath: a Print model and a Base model. The first model is the print itself. This should be a solid “waterttight” object with a realistic thickness. The Base model is the base on which you want to print.
Examples of a Base:
- a flat surface
- a 3d-scanned car body panel
- a segmented part of the object, printed previously
Simulate and create 3D printer commands
The 5-Axis Slicer allows you to simulate the printing process with any toolhead, by uploading a STL model of it. Once you are done, press the button for “Save gcode’, and use this file in your favourite postprocessor. For instance, use RoboDK, Robotmaster or Robotstudio to generate print comands (for both robot and print tool). For non robot printers, we can provide postprocessors (for instance for Duet control boards).
What will you make?
For those of you who are looking for a (not necessarily free, but) suitable slicer to print designs/models not open to the public: please contact us and send us a CAD model of something else what is representative for what you want to print; also, let us know what printer hardware (e.g. which robot cell) you intend to use.
For those of you who are looking for a cheap ride: you can try the 5 Axis Slicer software for a reduced price (the duration depends on what we agree), under the following conditions:
- You have a 5 or more axis 3D printer up and running.
- You are willing to share photos and videos on social media and create a link to our website and software.
If your do actually post videos, we will pay back money.
In any case, when you send us an email, or fill in the request form, make sure to fill in the required details as written above, and/or to repeat the requirements and confirm them. Also, state your name, company name (if applicable) and country of residence clearly.


This is the first of two reports on wind turbines and aesthetic design. The second is The Landscape Impact and Visual Design of Windfarms by Caroline Stanton. There is also a discussion of aesthetics in chapter eight of Wind Energy Comes of Age, in the Preface to Wind Turbines & the Landscape, and in Design as if People Matter: Aesthetic Guidelines for the Wind Industry.
Wind Turbines & the Landscape originally appeared as Vindmøller og Landskab: Arkitektur og Æstetik in late 1995. The English translation, which wind energy aficionados eagerly awaited, was published in late 1996.
The report is beautifully illustrated with color photographs and land use maps depicting various views of wind turbine installations across Denmark. These installations include single turbines, clusters, and wind power plants. Technical specifications for each photo include the size, type, and number of turbines, their spacing, and the point of view from which the photo was taken.
The maps, in scales of 1:40,000 and 1:25,000, offer sufficient detail to identify roads, railroads, power lines, buildings, water courses, drainage canals, urban and industrial areas, and forests. Combined with Denmark’s 1:100,000 Topografisk Atlas, the detailed site maps can be used to replicate the views found in Wind Turbines & the Landscape.
Wasting no time, Nielsen clearly states his theme in the first paragraph: “Ecological awareness combined with artistic insight are to be considered key concepts when technical installations, including wind turbines, are located in the landscape.” “The goal,” he goes on to say, “is to establish a beautiful and narrative composition in relation to water or land surfaces, a visual balance between elements in the landscape created by man and nature, (as) a whole.
Nielsen warns early in the report that every effort to ‘hide’ or ‘blur’ a wind farm seems to be doomed to failure from the start because wind turbines exceed the scale of nearly all other objects on the landscape. But wind turbines can be successfully integrated with the land. Single wind turbines used by farmers, for example, become functionally a part of the farm and its other farm structures.
“Order is the first commandment of aesthetics,” says Nielsen. In the design of wind plants this commandment emphasizes the necessity of presenting the wind turbines as “a clear coherent unit, i.e. in geometrical–often linear–formations” that contrast with the landscape. “A wind farm can be regarded as a gigantic sculptural element in the landscape, a land-art project if you like. . . The purpose must thus be to make the wind turbines and the landscape form a coherent unit emphasising both elements. . . . It is essential that the delimitation of the wind farm is perceived in a clear, unambiguous way–both at close range and from a distance. . . . This is best achieved by . . . creating rhythm and order in the internal geometry. And with a significant distance to other turbines in the area.” The latter theme of visually separating one project from another was emphasized in a 1984 study by architecture students at California Polytechnic Institute in Pomona, by landscape planner Robert Thayer in the late 1980s, and again more recently by Scottish landscape architect Caroline Stanton in her report, Landscape Impact and Visual Design of Windfarms.
When wind turbines are erected in a geometrical pattern, Nielsen stresses that the individual turbines should be “located in accordance with an overall, thorough-going system to make it easier to perceive the wind turbines as a coherent cluster and not as single, scattered turbines. “Coherency” and “clarity” of a wind power plant as a single visual unit is a theme that is constantly repeated by both Nielsen and Stanton.
As with CalPoly’s findings in 1984 and that of subsequent observers, Nielsen recommends that designers strive for uniformity “with respect to design, rotational direction and speed, colour, height, and rotor diameter” among the turbines in their arrays.
Advocates of dispersed or distributed generation in North America who are struggling to define just exactly what these terms mean will find Nielsen’s suggestions helpful. He describes a wind plant as “a cohesive group, consisting of 8 or more single turbines,” a definition sufficiently broad to encompass the small arrays envisioned in America’s heartland. For his part Nielsen defines a “cluster” as an array of 4-7 turbines.
Clusters require special design consideration. Because there is less interference among turbines, Nielsen suggests packing the turbines closer together in clusters than would be acceptable in larger arrays. From a distance, tight clusters are perceived as a compact installation. In the example at Klinkby, four Vestas V27 turbines were installed in a row four rotor diameters apart.
Nielsen explains that one of Denmark’s first wind plants was installed on the island of Fanø in 1983. The project totaled 13 turbines. After the turbines were installed, roads used during construction were covered over and revegetated. This is of special interest considering the current controversy in California with erosion from wind plants due to excessive road construction. In a related example, page 15 offers a striking photo of a wind turbine installed in the border between two fields. The land is tilled to the base of the tower and there are no roads servicing the turbine.
The book examines 33 sites in some detail. At Kappel, for example, Nielsen suggests that the design of the DWT Wind Dane 34 “lacks clarity, and the nacelle appears architecturally unconnected with the otherwise very curved components of the wind turbine.” Other less charitable observers have called this particularly wind turbine a “box on a stick.” Nevertheless, Nielsen finds the sweeping arc made by the array alongside a coastal dike is quite pleasing in its repetition.
Like others in the Danish wind community Nielsen argues that proper proportioning of components is essential for a coherent wind turbine design. “There should be a harmonious relationship between the tower and nacelle, between the nacelle and blades, and between the blades and tower–with aerodynamics as the common basis for the design,” he says. Similarly, he joins Thayer and Stanton in suggesting that the transition between the vertical lines of the tower and the horizontal lines of the ground is a critical area as well. “Unfortunately, turbine arrangements are also often marred by ugly transformer boxes in various shapes erected near the foot of the turbine. It would seem a good idea in the future to integrate this function in either the base or at the bottom of the turbine tower.”
Nielsen summarizes by encouraging designers to strive for total solutions: “from the overall landscape perspective, the transition from the turbine to the terrain, to the design of the turbine itself.”
The inclusion of scenes of wind turbines on the Whitewater Wash in the San Gorgonio Pass has almost become a cliche among observers of wind turbine aesthetics. Nielsen’s caption to the obligatory photo of a phalanx of machines on the Wash notes that the “dense compact turbine arrangements appear as technical landscapes with a scary but also fascinating effect.”
Nielson concludes that wind power development is here to stay and that development will only intensify. (This observation is not quite so apparent from the North American side of the Atlantic.) Wind turbines, he says, when located thoughtfully, can enrich the cultural landscape rather than detract from it.
Wind Turbines & the Landscape is a must for all wind turbine and wind power plant designers. It should also be required reading for every chief executive officer of a wind company, especially those in California.
Wind Turbines & the Landscape: Architecture & Aesthetics by Frode Birk Nielsen, Birk Nielsens Tegnestue, prepared for the Danish Energy Agency’s Development Programme for Renewable Energy, 1996, ISBN 87-985801-1-6, 63 pages, A4 format paperback, can be ordered for DKK 225 ($40) excluding VAT from Birk Nielsens Tegnestue, Soendergade 1A; DK-8000 Arhus C; Denmark; phone: +45 86 20 21 10; fax: +45 86 20 26 76. Originally appeared as Vindmøller og Landskab: Arkitektur og Æstetik, ISBN 87-985-801-0-8.


High-performance exhaust systems are designed to maximize the power, efficiency, and sound of your vehicle’s engine. These performance-oriented systems offer significant improvements over stock exhaust systems, allowing you to unleash the full potential of your engine while enhancing the overall driving experience. Whether you’re seeking increased horsepower, improved torque, or a more aggressive exhaust note, a high-performance exhaust system can deliver exceptional results.
The Power of High-Performance Exhaust Systems
High-performance exhaust systems are engineered to optimize exhaust gas flow, reducing back pressure and improving engine efficiency. By utilizing mandrel-bent tubing, larger diameter pipes, and free-flowing mufflers and resonators, these systems minimize restrictions in the exhaust pathway, enabling the engine to breathe more freely. The result is increased horsepower and torque, allowing your vehicle to accelerate more quickly and respond more dynamically. Additionally, high-performance exhaust systems can enhance fuel efficiency by reducing engine load and improving overall engine performance.
Benefits of High-Performance Exhaust Systems
Beyond the performance enhancements, high-performance exhaust systems offer a range of benefits. The most noticeable advantage is the enhanced exhaust sound. These systems provide a more aggressive and sporty exhaust note, delivering a thrilling auditory experience that matches the increased performance. Moreover, high-performance exhaust systems are often made from high-quality materials such as stainless steel, ensuring durability, resistance to corrosion, and an appealing aesthetic appearance. Additionally, some high-performance exhaust systems are designed to reduce weight, further improving overall vehicle performance.
Types of High-Performance Exhaust Systems
There are various types of high-performance exhaust systems available, each catering to different vehicle types, engine configurations, and performance goals. Cat-back exhaust systems replace the exhaust components from the catalytic converter to the rear of the vehicle, providing improved flow and sound. Axle-back exhaust systems focus on the components from the rear axle to the mufflers, offering a balance between performance and sound enhancement. Headers, on the other hand, replace the factory exhaust manifolds, optimizing exhaust flow from the engine cylinders. Each system type offers unique benefits and can be customized to match your specific vehicle and performance preferences.
Professional Installation and Customization
To ensure the optimal performance and fitment of a high-performance exhaust system, professional installation is highly recommended. Experienced technicians, such as those at Autolab in Englewood, have the expertise and knowledge to select and install the right system for your vehicle, ensuring proper fitment and integration. Additionally, customization options may be available, allowing you to tailor the exhaust system to your desired sound level, appearance, and performance goals. Professional installation ensures that the system is properly aligned, free from leaks, and meets any applicable emissions regulations.
High-Performance Exhaust Near Me
If you’re looking to unlock the true potential of your vehicle and elevate its performance and sound, consider installing a high-performance exhaust system. Contact Autolab in Englewood to explore the various options available and discuss how a high-performance exhaust system can transform your driving experience. Our team of experts will provide professional installation services, ensuring that the system is expertly fitted to your vehicle. Experience the exhilaration of increased power, improved efficiency, and a captivating exhaust note with a high-performance exhaust system tailored to your vehicle and preferences.


Jazzy Pillow Throw
Get wrapped up in one of these luxurious throws. They fold into an attractive accent pillow that looks great on any bed, chair, or sofa.
Each Pillow throw is made of soft 100% cotton fabric with an intricate hand-embroidered design on the front of the pillow.
- Unfolded PIllow Throw measures 50" x 70".
- Machine Washable
- Polyester fill
Product ID: H4201-JZY
You Save: $80.00


The Marvel Oversized Inflatable Shield Pool Float is an officially licensed pool float from SwimWays featuring bold Spider-Man or Captain America graphics! This fun pool float is 55 inches wide and 6.5 inches thick, a great size for kids of all ages. Perfect for pool parties, Marvel collectors, and for real-life superheroes who occasionally need a break from saving the world. Constructed of heavy-duty PVC and a quick-release valve for easier inflation/deflation. Sold individually. Colors and styles may vary. For kids age 5 and older.
The Marvel Oversized Inflatable Shield Pool Float is a pool float with bold and colorful Marvel graphics!
This round float measures 55 inches across and 6.5 inches thick – a great size for everyone!
Heavy-duty PVC construction with quick-release valve for easier inflation/deflation.
Great for pool parties, Marvel fans, and collectors!
For kids age 5 and older.


‘Hoofster’ NFT-Backed Shoe Hits AVAVAV’s Milan Fashion Week Runway
During Milan Fashion Week on Sunday, a distinctive shoe with crowdsourced design decisions and NFT functionality made its debut on the AVAVAV runway. Dubbed the Hoofster, the cloven-toed boot with a faux-fur overlay recalled the hooves of a shaggy pony. And now you can order it.
The Hoofster, created in partnership with Web3 design studio OnlyEver, is linked to an Ethereum NFT thanks to an embedded near field communication (NFC) chip. That connects the footwear to its digital twin, featuring a certificate of ownership, design and co-creation details, and further benefits to be unveiled as the project evolves.
The shoe was co-created with the AVAVAV community, whereby details from structure to color and materials—and even the name—were all put to a vote. Ultimately, it can be worn with or without the faux-fur, revealing a black leather
“By embracing blockchain technology and involving our community in the design process, we are pushing boundaries and challenging traditional norms,” OnlyEver founder Rocco Bressanin said in a statement. He also emphasized his belief that the future of fashion lies in community and co-creation.
OnlyEver is the newly launched arm of luxury Italian design and production company RubensLuciano, which boasts a 35-year history in the footwear industry. The firm has worked with clients including Versace, Birkenstock, Calvin Klein, and Beyoncé’s Ivy Park.
OnlyEver combines physical production expertise with Web3 capabilities all under one roof, enabling the team to ensure continuity between digital and physical design while being able to swiftly realize projects without the need for outsourcing.
The Hoofster, currently live for presale on the OnlyEver website, will be made to order in an effort to combat issues of overproduction. It’s priced at €750 (about $795).
AVAVAV’s Milan Fashion Week show turned heads with humor, as models sprinted down the runway in scrappy-looking, unfinished outfits. Hypebeast described the show as “stress-induced chaos,” calling it a critique of the fashion industry’s propulsive nature and intense deadlines.
Earlier this year Lacoste unveiled an apparel collection co-designed with its Web3 UNDW3 community, while Casio recently announced a blockchain co-creation program linked to its G-Shock wristwatch line.
Last month, AVAVAV launched the Finger Flop in collaboration with Amsterdam-based brand Yume Yume. The sandal, featuring a profile silhouette in the shape of toes, was a riff on AVAVAV’s signature finger boots, which are reminiscent of rubber gloves for the feet. Like the Hoofster, the concept has parallels with Maison Margiela’s iconic Tabi boots derived from traditional Japanese footwear.


Modern provisioning in SharePoint has taken on a new framework called Site designs. Site designs are like templates in that they can be used each time a new site is created in your Office 365 tenancy. A site design is essentially a list of actions (site scripts) that you want SharePoint to execute when creating new sites. These actions may include:
- Creating a new list or library (or modifying the default one created with the site)
- Creating site columns, content types, and configuring other list settings
- Applying a theme
- Setting a site logo
- Adding navigation
- Triggering a Microsoft Flow
- Installing a deployed solution from the app catalog
- Setting regional settings for the site
- Setting external sharing capability for the site
Extending site designs
While site designs are continually being improved and expanded on by Microsoft, there are some gaps. From the beginning, Microsoft was aware they wouldn’t be able to fill all gaps from the start so they allowed us to extend the out of the box provisioning using Microsoft Flow and Azure Functions using the “triggerFlow” action. To learn more about this functionality follow this PnP documentation.
This model is extremely extensible and allows you to move some of the workload over to an Azure Function or Azure Automation Services to run PowerShell & C# to apply more custom provisioning artifacts such as pre-configured pages and web parts.
Currently there is a limitation using this model. Given that the provisioning process has moved off into Azure, we are unable to notify the user what the current stage the Azure Function is currently running at.
Here is what the current messaging system looks like
I’ve been told that that ability to provide our own messaging into this dialog is “coming”, but currently I wanted to overcome this limitation.
Clippy is back!
Months ago when SPFx application customizers were released I jokingly built a Clippy extension to run on modern SharePoint pages. The goal was to show how to call Microsoft Graph from an application customizer.
I thought I would supercharge the functionality of Clippy by connecting him to the site design provisioning process.
Socket.io + Express
In order to do this, I had to come up with a mechanism for providing Clippy real-time updates during the provisioning process. I had recently started playing around with Socket.io and I believed this would be the best route forward.
I implemented Socket.io inside an Express api which is currently living up in the Azure. The plan is use this Socket.io as a messaging relay between the Azure Functions and my Clippy extension.
This is what the new flow looks like
We start with a site design that sends the new site URL to Microsoft Flow. Microsoft Flow will pick up that trigger and send an HTTP request to a Durable Azure Function orchestrator in Azure.
The Durable Azure Function orchestrator allows me to split out provisioning tasks (create lists, create pages, provision navigation, apply branding) while at the same time, maintaining state across my Azure Function tasks. As the provisioning is happening, I will send updates to Socket.io.
The Socket.io will receive the message from the Azure Function and update Clippy in real-time in SharePoint.
In order to configure Socket.io to be the messaging system, I had to make sure I was working with individual clients and not broadcasting messages across all Clippy extensions in my tenancy. To do this, I am emitting from Clippy a “room” name. This room is the siteURL of the current site Clippy is running.
By doing this, whenever I send a message from Socket.io to Clippy, I know exactly where to send it to.
Messaging to Clippy is done through a POST request to Socket.Io The POST request contains a message, the provisioning status (complete/running) and the URL (unique identifier for the room). I take these parameters and emit the message to the Clippy extensions where room name is equal to the Site URL.
Configuring Clippy is quite simple, it’s as easy as connecting to Socket.io in Azure and subscribing to the “emit” events.
Inside the _renderPlaceHolders() function of my application customizer, I am going to create a new Clippy and register to Socket.io
Inside the _registerSocketIO, I instantiate a new socket request to Socket.io. Once connected, I am going to send a message with my “room” name. This room name is going to be uniquely identified by the siteUrl of the current site being provisioned.
I have two basic actions I am subscribing to — “provisioningUpdate” and “provisioningComplete”. When Socket.io receives a message and broadcasts that, Clippy will pick it up and “speak” to the user the current update from provisioning.
The Azure Function
As previously mentioned, I am using a Durable Function to do the provisioning process. To learn about Durable Functions follow this link. Here is what the Orchestrator tasks looks like.
Notice that I am passing in the siteUrl coming from my Microsoft Flow HTTP trigger. Inside, I have a couple tasks that are running.
- Establish site as a hub site
- Provisioning Lists
- Provision Pages
- Provision Terms
Also notice that I have an _emitUpdate() function which is running before and after my asynchronous tasks. During the provisioning process, this _emitUpdate is going to POST a message to Socket.io.
What a task looks like
Let’s take a look at what an individual task looks like.
My Azure Function task is going to create a new AppOnly context to SharePoint, load a provisioning template that contains a set of lists to be created and uses ApplyProvisioningTemplate(template) to apply the template to my site.
My _emitUpdate is fairly simple. It’s going to take a message from the Orchestrator, create a new HttpClient and execute a POST message to my Socket.io with the current status of the provisioning process.
Putting it together
Without going to deep into this (because it really is more high level education than anything)… let’s see what these messages look like in real time.
If Gif is missing… wait for it to load. Full size view can be found here.
Want to learn more?
If you are looking to learn more about how I put this together, join me at SharePoint Saturday Denver on October 6th and I’ll be also be demoing this solution at SharePoint Saturday New England! Sign up!


With the A+ Premium Fleece Joggers staying active is no problem, nor is lazing around in some seriously cosy pants. With these joggers, you truly get the best of both worlds.
80% ringspun cotton, 20% polyester
The fabric is soft and pleasant to touch, has a subtle luxurious feel. Made from specially spun fibres that make very strong and smooth fabric, perfect for printing
A gusset insert to give a drop-crotch feel
With side seams
Located along the sides, they help hold the garment's shape longer and give it structural support.
Adjust the waistband with flat, self-coloured drawstrings for the perfect fit.
.: 80% combed ringspun cotton, 20% polyester
.: Medium-heavy fabric (8.2 oz /yd² (280 g/m²))
.: 2 side pockets and back pocket
.: Soft 3-end fleece
.: Ribbed bottom and waistband cuffs
Printed in the United States by Awkward Styles
- 2 Color.
- 4 Sizes.
- All in stock.


The most dramatic change you can make in your house is flooring. Quality, professionally installed flooring adds an air of sophistication, style and comfort. Often times, it can be the very last piece of the puzzle to make a house feel like a home.
Whether you're ready for a change, updating an out-of-style home or embarking on a complete reno, Delight Flooring Inc. has a variety of products available to suit your needs plus the experts to install it for you. From soft, plush carpets, to sharp-looking hardwood and laminate, you have the option of choosing from all our flooring products. And if you're unsure of what you're looking for, no problem! Our professional staff are happy to help you establish your vision for your home and pick out the perfect product, all complimentary to your existing decor through a shop-at-home consultation. Our professional flooring and carpet consultants work with you every step of the way. With customer satisfaction being our number one concern, at Delight Flooring we offer expert installation and only high quality product.
You no longer have to cringe at the thought of what's underneath your living room's outdated shag carpet. Let the experts at Delight Flooring handle it for you and add the final touches to make you fall in love with your home again.
this week's specials
- Select & better Canadian made hardwood flooring supplied and installed for only $6.50 / square foot
- 12 millimeter high density laminate flooring for only $2.99 / square foot including installation
- Get free underpad with the purchase of any carpet
Delight Flooring Inc.
1200 Bay Street Suite 202
Phone: (416) 335-3008
Fax: (416) 628-4063


The Jade Putter Mallet Design
The overall design is that of a mallet style head.Several various designs were worked on for several years before selecting the one used now. It took some trial and error to get the right size and feel. The shape is intended to put the maximum kinetic energy directly behind the ball with a low center of gravity to produce topspin and get the ball rolling properly.
The putter face is “flat lapped” on polishing machines to produce a mirror like flat surface. The weight of the head, the angle of the shaft and the loft of the face are all within the “standards” of typical putters designs. The weight is the only thing that may vary to any degree due to personal preference.
For more on the actual cutting and polishing process, various videos may be found on Youtube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK6cgkDOuUY) or under How It’s Made/jadeputters.
The putter design does conform to the USGA Rules as they allow me to state (decision 93-238) however if any serious money is involved you should verify it with your local USGA representative.


Birthdays are special occasions, a time when we celebrate the milestones of life and create cherished memories with loved ones. Among the many elements that make a birthday celebration memorable, the cake undoubtedly takes centre stage. While store-bought cakes are readily available, the growing trend of custom birthday cakes Auckland has captured the hearts and taste buds of individuals looking to add a personal touch to their celebrations. In this article, we explore why custom cakes Auckland, particularly birthday cakes, have become an essential part of the modern celebration.
A Slice of Individuality
Custom cakes are more than just desserts; they are edible works of art crafted to reflect the personality, interests, and passions of the birthday celebrant. Unlike mass-produced cakes, which often lack character and uniqueness, custom cakes Auckland offer a canvas for creativity and personalization. Whether it’s a superhero-themed cake for a young fan, an elegant floral design for a sophisticated celebrant, or a cake featuring a Favorite hobby, custom cakes allow for limitless imagination and customization.
Furthermore, custom cakes cater to dietary preferences and restrictions. In an era where many individuals have specific dietary requirements, such as gluten-free, vegan, or allergen-free options, custom cake creators can accommodate these needs. This ensures that everyone at the celebration can enjoy a delicious piece of cake without worrying about compromising their health or values. In essence, custom cakes are a delicious expression of individuality that brings joy and satisfaction to both the palate and the heart.
Creating Lasting Memories
Beyond their visual appeal and taste, custom birthday cakes Auckland play a crucial role in creating lasting memories. When a birthday cake is designed with thought and care, it becomes a symbol of love and affection. It’s the moment when the birthday celebrant blows out the candles and makes a wish, surrounded by the warm embrace of friends and family, that truly encapsulates the essence of a birthday celebration.
Custom cakes also serve as conversation starters and photo opportunities. People gather around the cake to admire its intricate design, ask about the inspiration behind it, and capture the moment with photographs that will be cherished for years to come. The cake-cutting ceremony is a tradition that transcends generations, and custom cakes Auckland elevate this tradition to an art form. The joy of sharing a beautifully designed and delicious cake with loved ones is an experience that creates indelible memories, making custom birthday cakes Auckland an indispensable part of any celebration.
In conclusion, custom cakes, particularly birthday cakes Auckland, have evolved from being a luxury to becoming a necessity in modern celebrations. They provide a unique and personalized touch to birthdays, allowing individuals to express their creativity and cater to specific dietary needs. More importantly, custom cakes are an embodiment of the love and care that goes into celebrating life’s milestones. They transform ordinary moments into extraordinary memories, reminding us that sometimes, the sweetest moments in life are the ones we share over a custom-made, delicious slice of cake.


Finally! A pencil skirt you can take for a ride! Love, love, love this!
Take it for a ride.
Ann DeOtte started designing out of a basic need — she rode her bike on a daily basis, and had trouble transitioning from bike-appropriate gear to her workday. So why not just create her own line of clothing that would be as casually fashionable as it was functional? The answer to that question is Iva Jean.
DeOtte’s pieces employ just a few clever nips and tucks to ease the transition from road to office. Take the Reveal Skirt, pictured above. The tailored skirt unzips in the back to expose additional fabric for easy pedaling, and features a high-waisted cut for comfortable coverage. Other pieces to look out for are the Everyday Blouse and the Two-Way Reflective Vest, which is reflective on one side and minimal chic on the other.


There are elements of a good design that must be attended to and contended with, no matter the medium-print, broadcast, web, even mobile phone displays.
Think of the elements of design as the basic building blocks.
At the most basic level, there are five elements in any design:
1. Lines and linework
These terms do not refer to pen-and-ink or pencil sketches, but to borders, frames and rules. Horizontal or vertical, thick or thin, regular or irregular, they help define and delimit spaces around various elements on your pages. Good linework increases both the readability and “directionality” (see #5, below) of the design as a whole.
Any enclosed area, form or contour in your design is a shape. Shapes in most layouts are square or rectangular, but nothing says they must be, and circles are useful, too. You can also use images to create other, regular or irregular shapes.
Texture imparts a “surface” feeling, and is tactile in printed matter, so choosing the paper stock-matte, weave, coated-is a design decision, too. Textures on layouts meant for broadcast or the Internet are visual only, but still key.
Color is probably the element that most designers are at least acutely aware of, if not schooled in. However, color is not required in many designs, and some art educators suggest creating designs without any color first. The artist, in this view, should then add only as much color as needed to enhance or complete the design. Another school of thought holds that color should be one of the first elements determined. Experience and experimentation will help every artist develop a good color sense and strategy.
Effectively designed layouts, in magazines or on your computer screen, usually have a sense of motion. A good design will lead the reader’s eyes through the design deliberately, using color changes, shapes, linework and copy placement direct viewers’ attention to what the designer wants them to see.
The bottom line of good design is, quite simply, to attract readers’ attention, direct it in a particular way and, in concert with the copywriting, make a positive impression.


Part of a series of new affordable, wallet-friendly fine hardware, we are introducing the Burbridge collection. Each pull and knob is cast from solid brass or iron and come in a variety of sizes, perfect for all kinds of kitchens and cabinets. Available in 4 different finishes.
With Horton Brasses special order program, you can shop and browse for cabinet and furniture hardware that is unlike anything else. All of the selections here come from our partner Armac Martin in the UK as special order items. They trend towards modern, but are, as always, available in all 7 of our standard finishes.
Now available for purchase, we introduce our completely hand forged iron holdfasts. We stock these holdfasts in a 11/16" diameter, but they are completely customizable to your specifications. These holdfasts are sold per pair.
Authentic sand cast campaign hardware is here at last. We now offer drawer pulls and ring pulls, all which mount flush with the material by mortising them in. Available in all seven of our standard finishes.
Appropriate for the kitchen and attractive for many other areas around the home, Bakes pulls are cast in five sizes. The simple, contemporary design blends into a variety of décors, and a comfortable grip makes each piece suitable for horizontal and vertical mounting.
Bourneville is one of our newest additions. Bourneville is a village on the south side of Birmingham, best known for its connection with the Cadbury family and, of course, chocolate. Historically, it had many stables and thriving blacksmiths around the village that influenced the design for the knobs, a blending of a "smithy's" anvil with a chocolate drop.
Made of solid brass and hand finished in our Cromwell, CT, factory, these knobs match up with our Bourneville appliance pulls. Available in 2 different sizes, these knobs come in your choice of 5 brass finishes and 2 nickel finishes. Lacquering is available for all brass finishes, as well.
With its influence taken from the iconic Jefferson Building in Washington, DC, these fully machined and expertly engineered Art Deco style fittings are a fabulous addition to our range of kitchen handles & knobs. Available in seven finishes and four different sizes.
Our Queslett hardware shares its name with a region of the U.K. city Birmingham and charmingly captures British style. The smooth, sleek hardware can be mounted with or without a back plate on a spice cabinet, dishwasher, or small or large fixtures. These knobs are made in England and hand finished in our Connecticut factory.
The Williamsburg line of hand forged iron pulls are completely made in the USA and inspired by the old factories in the Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn. These pulls will fit right into any style, from a converted loft to reclaimed wood furniture to a rustic cabin. Made from raw steel with broken edges, they feel as good as they look.
Inspired by the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and developed with the folks at Crown Point Cabinetry, our newest knob and back plate combination gives your cabinets a little something extra. Matches well with our entire line of Mackintosh hardware.
Our mission drop pull has a unique look and feel. The drop on these pulls is sand cast from very heavy brass and gives the pieces a solid feel, very appropriate for arts and crafts furniture and cabinetry. This pull is available three ways: with two different backplates or no backplate at all.


Inspired by the irregularities and organic forms of nature, i make jewelry from porcelain.
I’m intrigued by skin and i’m experimenting on ways the material can compliment skin, facial features and textiles (clothes) with textures, shapes and colours.
I often like to keep the porcelain unglazed, bare and mat. I also love to work with color, but each piece has to show a bit of nakedness. It’s such a beautiful material on it’s own and so interesting to use in jewelry. It looks elegant and delicate and because it’s handmade, each piece is unique.