December 24, 2004

10:56 am - Really obscure stuff about the Auction:

The Great Pattern may be drawn (or "grown" by computer) two ways:

In the first way, the horizontal and vertical "pie slices" extend further out than the diagonal "pie slices". In the second way, the diagonal slices extend further out than the horizontal and vertical slices. How the pattern is started (vertical or diagonal orientation of the starting vectors) determines the outcome of the design. To my horror, yes horror, last night I realized that the graphic I posted in the auction depicting the initial sequence of growth describes Variety 1, but that the pattern generated and used for the puzzle being auctioned is Variety 2. This morning I created a Variety 1 image with the coloring scheme used for the puzzle's Variety 2 image and a reduced copy of it is shown here (Variety 1, above). The way the colors of the slice's edges line up is different, an in my opinion better looking, and reflects the original hand drawn version I did when I was 16 years old. If I could wave a magic wand, the auction would be cancelled, the puzzle never have been cut, and a new puzzle created to replace it with the Variety 1 image. However, The Show Must Go On, and I'm going to do nothing about the situation other than to post this note here for the historical record! Was is, is. The essence of The Great Pattern appears fully in both varieties. I enjoyed making the puzzle and thinking about the shapes and colors while cutting them.

Minor footnote. In the auction, I say the pattern was grown to 16 cycles, actually it is 32 cycles.

December 22, 2004

5:05 pm - Bit under the weather today, hopefully transitory. Last night I printed and mounted the image for The Great Pattern puzzle, the last puzzle of the year and the 40th of the 100 Puzzles Project. I have downsized the scope of the puzzle, it will have around 325 pieces instead of around 450 although the size will be the same, about 12 1/2" across. I cut about a third of the puzzle today, and if I feel up to it, will continue tomorrow. I'd like to have the auction launched before Friday night. The puzzle will be hard to assemble, but nothing like the extraordinarily difficult Magnificent FlowScape Pattern Geometric Pattern puzzle I made earlier this year.

December 23, 2004

6:09 pm - Auction launched!!!!! This is the fifth year in a row I've posted eight auctions on eBay, with the current auction #40. 60 more to go!

4:05 pm - Puzzle #590, The Great Pattern is done and I was able to take pictures for the auction as there was still enough natural light. Auction launch will be within about two hours - need to count pieces, write up description, etc. Cutting done for the year, yay!