Pet Wagon

This week I worked on finishing more parts of the Pet Wagon. I attached the purple strips and the ribbons to the outside. I also completed the yellow half bowl using acrylic paint, then added a layer of varnish to make it strong and stop it from chipping.

For the resting place, I tested several pinks until I found the perfect shade. I painted the handle black with acrylic, but the paint didn’t stick well—probably because the material isn’t good for acrylic—so I covered it with black tape instead. I then drilled holes on the wagon side to attach the handle securely.

For the turf area, I wrapped the grass with a box cut to the right size. I also made a thin box for the partition, covered it with pink fabric, and attached it in place.

This week I started building the Pet Wagon. I first painted the whole wagon  base white and covered up any uneven surfaces, so the fabric would attach smoothly. 
I realized the pink fabric from my earlier samples was a bit too transparent—it looked white against the white background. So, I went shopping again and picked out a darker pink fabric. 
I attached the pink fabric first, then I will add the purple stripes later. I experimented with a few different ways to cover the wagon, making sure the sliding door still worked easily.

Today I had my first call with Priscilla (the inventor of Pet Wagon!) and her parents. It was my first time working with a young inventor, so I felt a bit nervous. Ellie helped me prepare a lot by reminding me to keep the language clear and easy to understand.

During the call, I learned it's important not to accidentally change a young inventor’s ideas. Instead, my job is to support and gently guide their invention to come into real life. It went really well, and now I’m ready and excited to start building the wagon!

I looked online for the right bowls but couldn't find any half bowls that worked. So instead, I decided to create them myself using paper-mâché. I'll attach them onto the wagon when everything is done.

This week I focused on choosing materials for the Pet Wagon.

For the outside decoration, I explored two options—fabric and paint. I went to a fabric store and tested lots of different colors and textures. I made two samples: one using fabric and ribbons, and another is to paint it. After I talk to Priscilla, we'll pick which style she likes best.

For the wagon base, my first choice had a structure on the outside that was a bit too obvious. Ellie suggested I look for a smoother design. After researching again, I finally found the ideal wagon—it opens on the side, making it easier for pets to get in and out.

To begin, I created a realistic drawing (like a quick rendered picture) to see how the wagon might look with real materials and colors. It helped me imagine clearly how things would fit together. Next, I began exploring actual materials and tested some fabric options and textures.