1. Beaver Dams

Beaver dams are shelters built by beavers in oder to protect themselves against predators such as coyotes, wolves, and bears, and to provide easy access to food during winter. These structures modify the natural environment in such a way that the overall ecosystem builds upon the change, making beavers a keystone species. Beavers work at night and are prolific builders, carrying mud and stones with their forepaws and timber between their teeth. Beavers can rebuild primary dams overnight, though they may not defend secondary dams as vigorously.

A minimum water level of 0.6 to 0.9 m is required to keep the underwater entrance to beaver lodges from being blocked by ice during the winter. In lakes, rivers and large streams with deep enough water, beavers may not build dams and instead live in bank burrows and lodges. If the water is not deep enough to keep beavers safe from predators and their lodge entrances ice-free, beavers build dams. Beavers start construction by diverting the stream to lessen the water’s flow pressure. Branches and logs are then driven into the mud of the stream bed to form a base. Then sticks, bark (from deciduous trees), rocks, mud, grass, leaves, masses of plants, and anything else available, are used to build the superstructure.

The average height of a dam is about 1.8 m with an average depth of water behind the dam of 1.2 to 1.8 m. The thickness of the dam is often around 1.5 m or more. The length depends on the stream width, but averages about 4.5 m long. Beavers vary the type of dam built and how they build it, according to the speed of water on the stream. In slow-moving water, they build a straight dam, whereas in fast-moving water they tend to be curved. Spillways and passageways are built into the dam to allow excess water to drain off without damaging it. Dams are generally built wider at the base and the top is usually tilted upstream to resist the force of the current. Beavers can transport their own weight in material; they drag logs along mudslides and float them through canals to get them in place. Once the dam has flooded enough area to the proper depth to form a protective moat for the lodge (often covering many acres), beavers begin construction on the lodge.

On Friday the 7th of March, our Space & Mat class was held on W 50th st at a wicked cool materials resource display called Material Connexion. Relative to our previous assignment, in which we were instructed to research three every-day materials in depth, here we were to explore the many innovative and multi-dimensional materials and select three that depict similar qualities, aesthetics and overall practicality of the items we had chosen.

1. 100% natural rubber sheets – The Rubber Band

This is a newly selected item of mine, after i discovered the extreme limitations of the bobby pin. Combined with what i discovered at M.C, rubber has an immense elasticity and therefore flexibility which i feel will drastically help in the radical manipulation of it original form.

Material number 6414-01 is a 100% natural rubber sheets with high elasticity were the displayed sheets are highly flexible for wrapping around stainless steel frames and exhibit good colour fastness for indoor lights. Two sizes are available 40 x 40 x 0.12 in (100 x 100 x 0.3 cm) with a weight of 2 lb (800 g) and 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.12 in (120 x 120 x 0.3 cm) with a weight of 3 lb (1300 g). The differences in weight relate to specific applications requiring greater tensile strength for load bearing uses in seating elements. There are currently nine colors available: black, green, yellow, purple, pink, red, orange, blue and brown. Patterns and colors are also customizable. Applications include interior design and furniture elements.

The characteristics of this material has inspired my experimental satches, where i’m going to in three various ways connect the various rubber bands in order to make a flexible and durable ‘sheet’ of rubber with which i can then bend, cut, and morph into an egg like figure.

2. Popcorn – Microfibre Cloth

Bua Bhat Factory Ltd.

MC# 7168-01Category: Naturals

Hand crafted three-dimensional cotton textiles from waste fabric. Small spiral tubes of knitted fabric are stitched onto a woven base cloth, creating a vertical pile with a tufted effect. The textured surface is comprised of cotton fabric scrap from textile factories, creating new products from waste materials. The finished product is highly dye-fast and compatible with machine washing. The scrap fabrics are boiled to remove dirt and chemical impurities then dyed with azo-free dyestuff to the desired color. The dying is intentionally non-uniform and due to the variety of textiles incorporated the degree of dye pick-up is also irregular, creating unique patterns of color density and color absence. The textile is cut into strips, which due to the knit construction curl into spiral tubes, and sewn onto the base fabric. Local village women in northern Thailand do the dying and stitching. The textile varies in thickness, but remains at an average pile depth of 1.5 cm (0.59 in), the width, length and shape of the final product are fully customizable. Additionally, color and design can be customized with specific dye colors, and with multi-color patterning. Applications include home décor, carpets, pillowcases, upholstery, and apparel.

In relation to the micro fibre cloth, i was inspired by the ‘Popcorn’ and the manipulation of the cotton cloth to create spiral, rose- like figures, ultimately achieved by sewing multiple layers of the cloth onto one flat piece. This variation will be one of the three of my experimental swatches, along with weaving and padding techniques.

3. Xylatex – Cotton Pads

While this material doesn’t entirely replica my chosen material of cotton pads, having similar qualities this gave a great visual representation of the physical qualities and visual aesthetic of cotton pads. Both being soft, yet sturdy, the multi-layering of the material allows for a large extent of stretching, pulling and weaving, which is ultimately how i will achieve my transformation.

MC# 6381-01 suggests a series of decorative panels with individual structures that are laminated with 100% newwool felt. The felt is applied on all sides around the panel edges and has a regulating effect on the indoor climate, odors and room acoustics. Due to their surface texture, the light and shadow effects off the panels strongly depend on the viewing position. The weight, fire rating, and acoustic properties of the carrier panel material can be customized to comply with the demands of the panels. The felt layer is available in a weight of 240 g/m² in 34 standard colors. Thicker layers are available on request. Custom colors are available with a minimum order of 200 running meters. The maximal panel size is 118 x 47 in (3000 x 1200 mm). The product is also offered as completely assembled wall paneling and as partition wall panel. In addition, special acoustic panels for wall and ceiling coverings are in development. Applications are for high end interior design and furniture construction.

1. Cotton Balls

Cotton pads are pads made of cotton which are used for medical or cosmetic purposes. For medical purposes, cotton pads are used to stop or prevent bleeding from minor punctures such as injections or venipuncture. Cotton was used in the Old World at least 7,000 years ago (5th millennium BC). Evidence of cotton use has been found at the site of Merhgarh, where early cotton threads have been preserved in copper beads. Cotton cultivation became more widespread during the Indus Valley Civilisation, which covered parts of modern eastern Pakistan and northwestern India. The modern mechanical cotton gin was invented in the United States in 1793 by Eli Whitney (1765–1825).

Cotton is actually the world’s “dirtiest” crop, because it requires such heavy doses of potent insecticides. Aldicarb, for instance, the second most commonly used insecticide for cotton, can kill a man with just one drop absorbed into the skin.

Cotton Flower

String of lights made from cotton balls

2. Microfibre Cloth

Microfiber or microfibre is synthentic fibre finer than one denier or decitax/thread. This is smaller than the diameter of a strand of silk, which is itself about 1/5 the diameter of a human hair. The most common types of microfibers are made from polysters, polymides (e.g., nylon, Kevlar, Nomex, trogamide), or a conjugation of polyester, polyamide, and polypropylene (Prolen). Microfiber is used to make mats, knits, and weaves for apparel, upholstery, industrial filters, and cleaning products. The shape, size, and combinations of synthetic fibers are selected for specific characteristics, including softness, toughness, absorption, water repellency, electrodynamics, and filtering capabilities.

Production of ultra-fine fibers (finer than 0.7 denier) dates back to the late 1950s, using melt-blown spinning and flash spinning techniques. However, only fine staples of random length could be manufactured and very few applications could be found. Experiments to produce ultra-fine fibers of a continuous filament type were made subsequently, the most promising of which were run in Japan during the 1960s by Dr. Miyoshi Okamoto, a scientist at Toray Industries. Okamoto’s discoveries, together with those of Dr. Toyohiko Hikota, resulted in many industrial applications. Among these was Ultrasuede one of the first successful synthetic microfibers, which found its way onto the market in the 1970s. Microfiber’s use in the textile industry then expanded. Microfibers were first publicized in the early 1990s in Sweden and saw success as a product in Europe over the course of the decade.In 1992, ACT began a line of microfiber cleaning products for American markets, the first major company to do so and is now Norwex.

Microfiber textiles tend to be flammable if manufactured from hydrocarbons (polyester) or carbohydrates (cellulose) and emit toxic gases when burning, more so if aromatic (PET, PS, ABS) or treated with halogenated flame retarders and aromatic dyes. Their polyester and nylon stock are made from petrochemicals, which are not a renewable resource and are not biodegradable However, if made out of polyprophylene, they are recyclable (Prolen).

There are environmental concerns about this product entering the oceanic food chain. However, no pesticides are used for producing synthetic fibres (in comparison to cotton). If these products are made of polypropylene yarn, the yarn is dope-dyed; i.e. no water is used for dyeing (as with cotton, where thousands of litres of water become contaminated)

3. Bobby Pins

A bobbing pin (also known as a bobby pin, or a kirby grip or hair grip in the United Kingdom) is a type of hairpin, usually of metal or plastic, used in coiffure to hold hair in place. It is a small double-pronged hair pin or clip that slides into hair with the prongs open and then the flexible prongs close over the hair to hold it in place. They are typically plain and unobtrusively colored, but some are elaborately decorated or jeweled. Bobbing pins became popular in the 1920s to hold the new bobbed hairstyles.

Multi-uses, examples consist of:

• As makeshift lockpicks by straightening out two bobby pins to pick the lock.^[3]
• They can be used in place of a clothespin for drying lightweight articles.^[3]
• They can be used as clips to hold multi-portion packages closed between uses.^[3]
• They can be slipped over book pages as a bookmark.^[3]
• Bobby pins may be used to thread laces through pre-cut holes in leather and other heavy materials.

In 1899 the bobbing pin came into wide use as the hairstyle known as the “bob cut” or “bobbed hair” took hold. It was invented in Paris by Robert (Bobby) Pinot. As foreigners caught wind of his invention, the hairstyle gained momentum and the pin became known as “Bobby’s pin.” This trend gained popularity in the 1920s because the hair grips kept their bobbed hair in place. A trademark on the term “bobbie pin” was held for some decades by Smith Victory Corporation of Buffalo, New York. A trademark infringement claim made by Smith Victory Corporation against Procter & Gamble regarding their naming their home permanent product Bobbi was settled in the 1950s by a payment to Smith Victory Corporation by P&G. The term is now in common usage and therefore is no longer a valid trademark. Similarly, the British “kirby grip” is derived from the trademark Kirbigrip, used by a Birmingham manufacturer of such pins, Kirby, Beard & Co. Ltd.

See Attached Link :

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/a6123/life-changing-bobby-pin-tricks/

After hours of sanding, filing, and more sanding I finally got down to a smooth, (finished?) hand. Ideally I would have preferred to have it thicker and more proportional if time had permitted. However, I enjoyed the experience and progression learning wood work techniques.

After the completion of our ‘second skin’, phase two of our habitat assignment involves the creation of a wooden hand that will edeentially accompany the paper fold. Using a topographic technique, layers of wood will be cut, sanded and glued in order to accentuate aspects of movement and human-like qualities.

First day in woodshop- mapping out

For the first task in the Habitat series, experimentation was taken to a whole new level. This idea of folding paper, that ultimately just doesn’t want to be folded (I’ve become vastly aware of the stubbornness of bristol this week) was somewhat confusing.

But thankfully the whole class was having similar angst feelings about this project. To create a ‘second skin’, using only bristol paper, a scalpel, needle and thread or wire we all thought to be virtually impossible. However, after tedious amounts of folding, scoring, cutting and more folding, i eventually got the Habit of it and began developing my hand. I should also mention the part where i stupidly spent a whole day isolating my pieces… on the wrong paper…lesson to always check the paper LEARNED!