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    1. Efficient Engineering

    Handmade Geek Gifts for the Holidays

    Nov. 22, 2016
    It’s that time of year again. Holiday products are in the stores and commercials are starting to appear, and soon everyone will be asking what you want as a gift.
    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 02 Thinkstock Photos Xmas Web

    It’s that time of year again. Holiday products are in the stores and commercials are starting to appear, and soon everyone will be asking what you want as a gift. That new welder or 3D printer might be too pricey, but how do you get something you might actually like if you don’t have rich friends?

    Shopping at small businesses can have a big economic impact. There are plenty of handmade stores on etsy.com and other spaces on the internet that offer cool gift ideas at good prices, while offering the opportunity to help small businesses. Most people know someone that makes some kind of knick-knack or whatchamacallit. If we diverted just part of our holiday spending to those small companies, we would be directly helping to boost the local economy. For this holiday season, try buying from friends for friends. Here is a list to inspire you to shop small.   

    Product: Circuit Board Keychain

    Company: Circuit Breaker Labs

    Owner: Amanda Preske

    ​
    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 09 13 01 Circuit Breaker Labs Circuit Board Keychain Amanda Preske 0

    Broken circuit boards find new life as jewelry and accessories, thanks to Circuit Breaker Labs. Owner and artist Amanda Preske combines her love of science (she has a Ph.D. in chemistry) and making to create a line of products for the geek at heart. The circuit boards are sourced locally and occasionally include components that did not meet manufacturers’ specifications. Preske seeks to prevent these discarded materials from being dumped in a landfill and hopes that, by presenting her work, she can encourage people to recycle responsibly. Each piece is handmade in her Rochester, N.Y. studio. She uses a durable epoxy resin as a sealant, which also acts as a lens to magnify the circuit board.

    Product: Math Keychain Wallet

    Company: Crooked Smile Creations

    Owner: Ally Krapfl

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    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 09 13 02 Crooked Smile Creations Math Keychain Wallet Ally Krapfl

    Crooked Smile Creations is a handmade shop that specializes in accessories for an active life.  Each accessory is designed and handmade by Ally Krapfl in her Tampa, Fl. studio.  Every accessory is designed to provide you with a fun and convenient product for keeping your necessities together in one place on your busiest day.  

    Product: Floppy Disk Notebook

    Company: Its Bits N’ Bytes

    Owner: Hollie Olsen

    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 09 13 03 Its Bits N Bytes Floppy Disk Notebook Hollie Olsen

    Its Bits, N’ Bytes creates customizable, handmade books and jewelry using everything from recycled/upcycled tech to mixed media and traditional materials. The company’s unique items can be personalized to feature names, sayings, images, or logos.

    Product: Quarks Print

    Company: We Love CMYK

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    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 09 13 04 We Love Cmyk Quarks1 Print We Love Cmyk

    We Love CMYK is a small-but-mighty design and print studio with an affinity for all things quirky. Its superpower is delivering archival quality and unique print on a selection of media—ranging from resin-coated satin to traditional cotton canvas. One particular series, titled “Subatomic Ecology,” features a classic minimalist textbook aesthetic.

    Product: WWID-Coasters

    Company: Neurons Not Included

    Owner: Randy Green

    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 09 13 05 Neurons Not Included Wwid Coasters Randy Green

    Neurons Not Included is a small family business located in Allen, Tex. The company motto, “gifts for people with IQs higher than that of a ham sandwich, which rules out a surprisingly large part of the population,” gives you a good idea of the types of products they carry. You’ll find a great variety of items designed for STEM students, teachers, and practitioners.

    Product: Programmer Mug

    Company: perksandrecreation

    Owner: Matt Schrier

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    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 09 13 06 Perksandrecreation Programmer Mug Matt Schrier

    perksandrecreation is a designer and maker of humorous, unique coffee mugs. A dye sublimation process is used to permanently imprint lasting messages on each cup. Personalization is available for all products. Any coffee-loving programmer who has had their hands deep in C++ code (or any other code, for that matter) will appreciate this ceramic coffee mug. And yes—they are dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

    Product: Laser Warning Tie

    Company: Cyberoptix

    Owner: Bethany Shorb

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    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 09 13 07 Cyberoptix Laser Warning Tie Bethany Shorb

    This is a fun choice if you love entertaining cats with laser pointers, have a laser cutter at your maker space, or innovate anything that goes pew, pew, pew! Class II through Class IV laser products must carry this symbol—from dollar store laser pointers to DARPA weapons from the future.

    Cyberoptix Tie Lab was started in 2006 after owner Bethany Shorb identified a market for creative-yet-sophisticated neckwear. With over a million neckties printed by hand (with no automation, machines, press, or even clamps!), this Detroit-based business is committed to making life a little better for those whose tastes don’t lend themselves to traditional ties. Notable designs include an SIR test board, graph paper, oscillator waves, and a snippet of BASIC code from a Commodore 64.

    Product: Space Art Print

    Company: RBWordDesign

    Owner: Rachel Bradley

    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 09 13 08 Rb Word Design Space Art Print Rachel Bradley

    Founded in 2015 and based in Pasadena, Calif., RBWordDesign crafts quality paper goods featuring a unique take on classic subjects—engineering, space, biology, and bibliophily. With a Master’s degree in Evolutionary Biology, Rachel Bradley brings together humor and a technical eye to create “art in real life,” as presented in greeting cards, art prints for the home or office, and other paper goods.

    Product: High Voltage Pillow

    Company: WFrancis Design

    Owner: Mark Ellison

    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 09 13 09 W Francis Design High Voltage Pillow Mark Ellison

    “Luxury Homewares—Nothing More, Nothing Less” is the motto of WFrancis Design and the company sure lives up to it with its edgy designs and craftsmanship. Based in the beautiful state of North Carolina, the team at WFrancis spend their days knee-deep in fabric and tinkering with designs so you can enjoy modern homewares as much as they do.

    Product: Electrical Engineering V Neck

    Company: Grammatical Art

    Owner: Natalie McCasling

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    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 09 13 10 Grammatical Art Electrical Engineering V Neck Natalie Mc Casling

    Grammatical Art combines owner Natalie McCasling’s love of science, correcting people’s grammar, and sarcasm into witty prints and wearable art. Everything in the shop is meant to make people smile and inspire pride in their love of geek chic. In addition to these designs, proceeds from special autism-inspired merchandise go to an Arizona non-profit school for children with special needs. 

    Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2016 02 Source Esb Lookin For Parts Banner 0

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