Paper straws
—PLAY
![straws_toy4](https://annabetts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/straws_toy4-1.jpg)
I’d been keeping these stripey straws for something as their little stripes create an optical illusion when the straws are rolled around. Then this little toy sprung to mind.
![straws_toy3](https://annabetts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/straws_toy3-1.jpg)
![straws_toy1](https://annabetts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/straws_toy1-1.jpg)
![straws_toy_square](https://annabetts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/straws_toy_square.jpg)
Using wire I made a little frame that would hold cut pieces of the straws. I should say at this point that I used two straws whose stripes were printed in opposite directions. This was what created a strange effect.
This video begins to capture the strange optical effect, but ideally you’d see all the straws rolling at a constant speed at the same time!
![dan-gold-07AAmZ1dECU-unsplash](https://annabetts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/dan-gold-07AAmZ1dECU-unsplash-scaled.jpg)
On sharing the video above, I was reminded that it’s the same kind of thing going on with barber shop signs. It creates an infinitely upward moving effect, like a corkscrew. There’s even an interesting reason why babershop signs feature blue and red. You can see a video about it here.