🦆✨ Just sent out the latest newsletter from my narrowboat workshop where ducks, gears, and stories collide. This one is about my new column in Automata Magazine and has a T.Rex project for premium subscribers to download and make! workshopnotes.robives.com/p/snippets

Meet the slowest show-off in town… Henri Escargot, a paper Snail to download and make! www.robives.com/project/pape... #PaperAutomata #SnailTrail #MechanicalHaiku #MakerJoy #SlowAndSteady #PrintedKits #WhimsicalMechanisms #NorthYorkshireMakes

Make your own waddling duck automaton! Crank the handle and bring this cheerful duck to life, watch it stomp and bob with delightful precision. This hands-on project comes as a downloadable PDF, ready for you to print, cut, and assemble at home. www.robives.com/project/duck #paperautomata #duck

The crux of their argument is that if they're found liable, then the consequences of their own actions that no one forced them to take could ruin them and the rest of their industry that undertakes similar practices. To which I say motherfucker did you never hear about Napster

jumpers in jumpers

@drlucyrogers.com visited my narrowboat made a scampering dog!

🔧 Paper Piston in Motion! Here’s a peek inside the engine room of your imagination — a working piston mechanism made entirely from paper. With a simple frame, crank handle, and cutaway cylinder, this hands-on build shows exactly how a piston drives motion. www.robives.com/project/pist...

Slow turn, big charm! One gear rotation for every twenty four cranks. This updated worm gear #EssentialMechanism is a quiet celebration of paper movement. Perfect for curious makers, educators and anyone who loves paper engineering! #automata #paperengineering www.robives.com/project/worm...

We are finally ready to announce that EMF 2026 will happen on July 16-19, 2026, at Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire. Expect more updates soon as we start spinning up the organisation again.

So excited to see two of my books in the wild! And in the Salt's Mill bookshop, one of my favourites! More details of the books on my website. #makingpaperautomata #paperengineering #PaperAutomata @thecrowoodpress @saltsmillofficial @hungrytomatouk www.robives.com/books/

A parasol unfurls—yours to craft, yours to keep. Made from paper and card, it opens with a rustle. No music, just a moment of quiet craft. Like it? Tag a maker friend. #maker #umbrella #papercraft #parasol Make your own... www.robives.com/project/pape...

#STEAMjunk Parasol. A bead and wire project to download and make! #maker #automata www.robives.com/project/para...

Wire Dino to download and make. Transform three paper clips and a terminal block into your own adorable desktop dinosaur! workshopnotes.robives.com/p/wire-dino www.robives.com/project/wire...

Cuckoo Whistle. Using paper bellows and cardboard pipes the cuckoo whistle recreates the iconic sound of Common Cuckoo. Alternately press in the two bellows to make the distinctive Cuc-koo sound! #bellows #sound #cuckoo #maker #papercrafts #paperautomata www.robives.com/project/cuck...

Latest newsletter is out! workshopnotes.robives.com Making paper bellows

Gnashers! Pendulum powered #paperAutomata project. Move the box even a fraction to start the teeth a-chattering! www.robives.com/project/gnas...

#STEAMjunk Busy Bee project for you to make on International Bee Day! #internationalbeeday #maker #automata www.robives.com/project/busy...

So excited for Automata Fest 2025 this coming weekend! Looking forward to seeing old friends, making new friends and seeing some amazing automata. Hope to see you there! #automatafest #automata #hastings #maker

Turn the handle to make the Scotch Bird fly! The offset crank and double scotch yoke mechanism produce an organic flapping motion. #STEAMjunk www.robives.com/project/scot...

Penrose Triangle Illusion to download and make! www.robives.com/project/penrose

Easter automata project! 🐰🐣😍

Dolphins #PaperAutomata to download and make from www.robives.com/project/dolphin The project comes as a downloadable pdf for you to print out and make. Crank the handle and bring the dolphins to life!

Easter chicks #STEAMjunk project!

Rise of the Mammals. The cover project from my new book "Making Paper Automata" The project comes as a pdf ready to print out onto thin card. Find out more here www.robives.com/project/rotm/ #automata #dinosaur

Dolphin prototype #paperautomata

Partial solar #eclipse 29th March 2025 Yorkshire

New from the Crowood Press 'Making Paper Automata' by @robives.bsky.social A practical guide explaining the full process of designing and making your own automata with paper. ---✂️--- available from @waterstones.bsky.social 📖 sample to peek insdie and share www.jellybooks.com/cloud_reader...

PegBot #STEAMjunk project to download and make. Full instructions for construction at www.robives.com/project/PegBot #clothespeg #clothespin #automata #maker

Scampering Dog #PaperAutomata to download and make. Download and print out the pdf and make the cute dog scamper! buff.ly/lUs93XO 🎵 Afternoon Coffee by Aventure

Prototype scampering dog. #paperautomata #maker #automata #paperengineering

Polar Bear paper automata project to download and make. Crank the handle and bring the cute animal to life! Find out more at www.robives.com/project/polarbear #paperautomata #paperengineering #paperanimation #automata #maker

Prototyping a cam-in-a-box that can be made with scissors ✂️ and ruler 📏 only. No sharp knife needed. Coming soon at www.robives.com #paperautomata #polarbear

I'm pleased to announce seven new projects free to download from the Brother Creative Center. The projects are on a loose calendar theme with extra projects about time and space! #calendar #papercraft #paperproject https://buff.ly/4hFY8rH

You make my heart flutter 💗 💓 A modified version of the Butterfly Box project from https://buff.ly/3EBeJhL #valentinecraft #maker #paperengineering #pendulum

I’m thrilled to announce that my new book ‘Making Paper Automata’ is now available for pre order. www.robives.com/books/mpa/ #maker #automata #paperengineering #papercraft

Squeeze the peg to make the Dipper bird dip! The spring in the peg returns it to its upright position. https://buff.ly/4gpSecQ #clothespin #clothespeg #automata #dipper #bird #maker #fromTheArchives

❤️ Turn the handle on this simple #STEAMjunk project and make your heart beat! A fun project to download and make in time for Valentine’s day! www.robives.com/project/heartbeat #valentinecrafts #maker #automata

Three paper clips and four beads add together to make these charming moving models. Small enough to fit inside a greeting card, make one for someone you love! Find out more www.robives.com/project/beadwire⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #STEAMJunk #maker #mechanism #crank #STEAM #STEM #paperclip #bead

Persistence of vision and a fast spinning wire work together to create a special kind of magic! The project is really simple but surprising effective. Download the template and instruction pdf at www.robives.com/project/beadheart/ #STEAMjunk #maker #opticalillusion

Latest newsletter. Pendulum Dinosaur. https://buff.ly/4fXpGXV

Pendulum powered dinosaur project to download, cut out and make! https://buff.ly/4gRiRbX #dinosaur #paperengineering #papercraft #maker

Crank the handle on the Counting Sheep project... you'll be asleep by the time the counter reaches 10! https://buff.ly/4j71vJA This is a project from 2007 that I'm looking at with a view to a redesign #automata #maker #paperengineering

Latest newsletter. Make your own bellows powered spinner! workshopnotes.robives.com #newsletter #substack #maker

Spinner #EssentialMechanism to download, print out and make. The paper bellows drives the turbine fast! Use this essential mechanism to bring your own designs to life. Add a pirouetting dancer to the disk, or a dog chasing a cat or an orbiting space craft...#maker #automata https://buff.ly/40cz1Xj

Improve your game with this desktop cricketing rabbit. Lift the rabbit's head to drive the bat and protect your wicket. Howzat! https://buff.ly/3BtdSPi One of six new projects by me on the Brother International Website! #brother #rabbit #paperanimation #automata maker #papercraft

Candy Santa, a fun quick model to download and make. Lift his head and a flood of M&Ms tumble out! https://buff.ly/404iy7I #maker #papercraft #papermodel #santa

Ho ho ho! Make your own running Santa project. Turn the handle and see Santa run as he tries to finish off the last of his festive deliveries. https://buff.ly/3ZXKPwI #maker #automata #christmascraft #santa

Paper Crow! A paper project to download and make. Blow through the hole in the top of this cute bird and hear the authentic sound of a crow created entirely in paper! Caw! Caw! #paperengineering #papersound #maker #automata #crow https://buff.ly/4g7NitS

Follow the fully illustrated instructions and create your own animated Cork Robin using common materials and a touch of #STEAMjunk magic. Download the instructions today and bring this endearing project to life! #automata #maker

Bead and wire running man! Crank the wire handle and make the paper character run! Find out more at https://buff.ly/3Vl3Aaz #automata #STEAMjunk #maker