Between Shell & Spark

Between Shell & Spark

🐢 The Burrowed Chronicle — Studio Update

Last time we checked in, the Studio was in that familiar in-between state — boxes stacked, tools half-unpacked, momentum present but not quite settled. Between Moves, Beneath the Shell was about getting our footing again.

Now, things are finally clicking into place.

We’re almost completely settled, the space is functioning again, and the Studio is doing what it does best: experimenting, learning, and slowly tightening everything up in preparation for the new year.

 

🔧 The Printer Is Live (And It’s a Blast)

One of the biggest updates is that the Bambu Labs 3D printer is officially up and running — and honestly, it’s been performing really well. No wild issues, no horror stories, just solid results and a growing sense of confidence with each print.

The only real hiccup so far was getting PETG filament dialed in, which took an extra attempt to behave the way we wanted. Once that hurdle was cleared, everything settled right down.

(Mid-print on the Bambu Labs machine — learning PETG and dialing in brackets to make future access smoother.)

 

We’re still waiting on the AMS 2 Pro to arrive, so full multi-material workflows are just over the horizon. In the meantime, we’re already putting the printer to work — currently printing AMS flipper brackets to make access easier when hands-on adjustments are needed.

And honestly?
The whole thing feels like being a kid on Christmas morning.

(Some PLA prints we tried. The Trash Can took approximately 18 hours to complete.)

There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a machine bring an idea into physical form layer by layer. It’s playful. It’s practical. And it opens doors we’ve only just started peeking through.

 

🪡 Tightening the Studio for the New Year

Beyond the printer, the focus right now is refinement — organizing the workspace, clarifying priorities, and smoothing out the day-to-day flow so we can move into the new year with confidence instead of chaos.

That includes:

  • Cleaning up the physical layout so tools and materials live where they actually belong

  • Fine-tuning workflows so experiments don’t turn into friction

  • Making sure the Studio can support steady creation without burning out

Nothing flashy — just the kind of foundational work that quietly makes everything better.

🎨 Creation in the Background

Creative conversations and ideas are still moving along behind the scenes. Some of what’s being tested will eventually land in the shop, some will simply make us smarter and more capable moving forward — and both outcomes are wins.

This phase is less about announcements and more about alignment.

 

📦 What to Expect Next

  • More behind-the-scenes looks as the printer and workflows evolve

  • Gradual shop updates shaped by real testing, not guesswork

  • A steady, intentional pace that favors quality over noise

We’re not rushing toward a finish line.
We’re building something we can stand behind — carefully, thoughtfully, and with a lot of joy along the way.

Thanks for being here while the shell hardens and the sparks start to fly.

— 🐢Turtle

 

🔥 From the Fireside

If you’d like a quieter reflection on winter comfort, creative rest, and finding warmth in the slow season, you can read the latest Leatherback Ledger entry here:

Ledger Vol. 1 · No. 05 — Fireside Craft & Winter Comfort
https://turtlecraftstudio.com/blogs/leatherback-ledger/ledger-vol-1-no-05-fireside-craft-winter-comfort

Go Back