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Massdrop Staff Picks: Meet Olivia
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whyderrick
0
Aug 26, 2017
So this is the first time I've seen the term "performance machete." Can you explain what they are and where you wind up using them?
oshet
124
Aug 28, 2017
whyderrickSure! They're part of an Afro Brazilian dance called "Maculelê" that usually goes hand in hand with capoeira training, but which is a separate art form. Maculelê draws its roots from the sugar cane plantations during the slavery era in Brazil (there are varying origin stories, but this is the one I was taught), so the machetes are derivative of that. After we've trained up enough in using the grimas (sticks) we move on to using facões (machetes.) Technically they are still sharp, and can still be used as machetes, but we strike the others' machetes using the backs of the blades only to produce sparks. As you can imagine, this isn't ideal for machete upkeep if the idea is to keep them whole and sharp, so these are kept for performances and practice only; we never used them for anything else. ;)
Frisco
1
Aug 23, 2017
That space pen is pretty snazzy, do you have any other pen brands/similar models you could recommend?
Antibacterial
319
Sep 3, 2017
FriscoI'm pretty sure the uni-ball Power tank and Uni-ball Jetstream pens use a similar idea to Fisher Space Pens
oshet
124
Aug 23, 2017
brandonwangIt's really fun once you get the hang of it, but it has a bit of a steep learning curve. I went from MAYA and Sculptris to ZBrush, and it's much more suited to just sculpting (in my opinion) just because remeshing it from tris to quads was a painnnnn back when I used it last, but also I was trying to use the models in MAYA later. I'm only going to use it to sculpt now, but it was fairly intuitive after you get used to the tools... Sculptris feels more like traditional sculpting (with actual clay) because it is a super watered-down ZBrush, basically. Not a bad place to start, plus it's free ;)
nsyiu
9
Aug 23, 2017
I've been shopping around for a good multi-tool and Leatherman seems to be the brand that pops up over and over again when I ask for recommendations. What model do you use?
oshet
124
Aug 23, 2017
nsyiuThat kind of depends on your price-range and what you will mostly use your multi-tool for. The Surge and Wave offer a decent variety of tools, and for the kinds of setups I need to do when I travel, it's mostly assembly-heavy and the Knifeless Rebar is the one I take with me for its size and versatility (and some of the private venues I go to don't allow knives, although admittedly this one has a saw tool). If you're on a tight budget, Stanley is also a very affordable option; I used to have one when I was a student and it held up pretty well, just needed tightening after heavy use.
kristinaten
510
Aug 22, 2017
Thanks Olivia! Great info for anyone new to EDC or someone (like me!) who's looking to streamline their current carry and make their lives easier. I love the Space Pen and am going to look into some of the other things you recommended. By the way, where do you practice archery around here? I loved it as a kid and would love to pick it back up sometime soon.
oshet
124
Aug 23, 2017
kristinatenOh, nice! Glad to hear this helped, and let me know if you want any other recommendations :) As for ranges, Pacifica Archery in Daly City is the one that's most convenient for me to get to these days; they have an indoor range and some classes, if you're rusty! They also have rentals, which is obviously great if you don't have a bow at the moment. If you like outdoor ranges (and I generally do) the Redwood Bowmen Archery Club in Oakland is also pretty popular, and if you don't mind the drive up, the Briones Archery Range is pretty gorgeous.
BrainFlush
6860
Oct 1, 2017
Alex00322Based on this discussion post.
You would have to be Chuck Norris to even be in her league. ;)
MDDoge
296
Aug 19, 2017
The Leek's a great little knife. Just about everyone I know, myself included, had one for their first EDC. I use mine less often now but I always recommend it.
jean9nes
36
Aug 19, 2017
I must know your method for treating Moleskin paper for gauche. Please share!!
oshet
124
Aug 23, 2017
jean9nessorry for the late reply! was trying to get a good example for a side-by-side.
So the method is actually very simple, you just use a thin wash of clean water (I like to use a Bright brush head shape for this for an even application) and let it dry overnight! Moleskine sketchbooks aren't really meant for gouache, obviously, but this treatment helps the pages become more hydrophilic after the fact, and they are still thick enough to support paint and not seep through if you're judicious with your water use. It's useful if you want more versatility in your sketchbook without carrying two different kinds; with this, I can sketch on untreated pages, and paint on the treated ones.
The left side of the page here is untreated, and you'll notice the paint has some banding due to the overlay of brush strokes; makes for very poor color-mixing, and is pretty unforgiving if you need to layer different colors for a gradient. The right side was treated, and it may be difficult to notice the difference but it's pretty obvious in the tactile sense.
So the method is actually very simple, you just use a thin wash of clean water (I like to use a Bright brush head shape for this for an even application) and let it dry overnight! Moleskine sketchbooks aren't really meant for gouache, obviously, but this treatment helps the pages become more hydrophilic after the fact, and they are still thick enough to support paint and not seep through if you're judicious with your water use. It's useful if you want more versatility in your sketchbook without carrying two different kinds; with this, I can sketch on untreated pages, and paint on the treated ones.
The left side of the page here is untreated, and you'll notice the paint has some banding due to the overlay of brush strokes; makes for very poor color-mixing, and is pretty unforgiving if you need to layer different colors for a gradient. The right side was treated, and it may be difficult to notice the difference but it's pretty obvious in the tactile sense.
namhod
1991
Aug 17, 2017
That's good. I thought you had your handses in Olivia's pocket, which would be an HR issue.
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Q: What do you do at Massdrop?
A: I’ve worn a lot of hats at Massdrop, but my role has always been tied to the visual end of things. Where the work involves photography, illustration, graphic design, or animation, chances are I’ve had a hand in producing it. Lately, my focus has been on creating unique imagery, concise design, and informative animations for our custom products and campaigns.
Q: What do you like most about working at Massdrop?
A: I learn something new every day. We’re filled to the brim with clever and passionate people here who are already experts on so many fronts, but no lifelong learner would ever concede to knowing everything there is to know about their crafts and hobbies. The best part of immersing yourself in the Massdrop experience is in gleaning interesting information from coworkers and community members who couldn't be more excited to let you in on what they are most passionate about.
Q: How did you get into everyday carry?
A: I bought my first EDC product (a Kershaw Storm 1470 combo edge) when I was 18 and two years into what would later become seven years of capoeira training. My friend from the same studio always had a knife or multi-tool handy and walked me through the basics of EDC knives after they piqued my interest. Other EDC items followed as frequent needs piled up: a keychain container for painkillers, a sturdy water bottle, a carabiner...even tweezers for when bits of blade would break off of our performance machetes and do what splinters are similarly wont to do. Although MacGyvering is fun, having the right tool for the job is pretty satisfying; I must have gone through a dozen rolls of athletic tape, and having a knife or card tool handy to cut the more stubborn strips was a whole lot easier (and more versatile) than using my incisors. My EDC choices are also hardly limited to assisting that one hobby, even if the passion started there; I’m also an artist, so I never leave home without some sort of sketchbook and pencil, and I like to knife-sharpen the latter for a custom edge.
Q: What are some of your favorite products in that community?
A: I hardly go anywhere without my black Kershaw Leek; it’s an easy knife to carry, has a great minimal design, and the pocket clip isn't loud. I always have a stainless steel card tool in my wallet these days, too, and I’m pretty happy with the Massdrop Brass AAA Pocket Flashlight; I never thought I’d need a compact flashlight until I started carrying one, and now I can’t seem to live without it. I like having a Leatherman multi-tool around as well for when I travel and have to set up displays for my art, and along that same vein I also carry around a Moleskine for painting and sketching (I have a method for treating the pages first so they accept gouache better), an OHTO Super Promecha Drafting Pencil 0.9, and a General's Flat Sketching Pencil.
Q: What are some of your other hobbies/interests?
A: I do a lot of digital painting when I have the time, and am also trying to get back into ZBrush just for fun. I also still traditionally sketch, paint, and sculpt, and getting away from digital mediums is a nice break from screens. When I have access to a range, I practice archery (I use a Bear Archery Kodiak Magnum 50lb recurve, but am interested in trying compound eventually), and maybe once or twice a year I’ll go fly fishing on the lower Sac. My latest passion has probably been learning more about edible native plants and safe foraging practices; this year I’d like to start pickling, drying, and fermenting ingredients I can forage locally.
Check out Olivia’s picks: ▶ SlideBelts Ratchet Belt: Premium Collection
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/slidebelts-premium-collection
▶ Prometheus Beta-QRv2 Quick-Release AAA Flashlight
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/beta-qr-flashlight
▶ Butterfly Keys
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/butterfly-key
▶ Fisher Chrome/TiNi Infinium Space Pen
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fisher-infinium-space-pen