Throwback Thursday to Maker Faire 2013

This is a Throwback Thursday post, Maker style!

And these are some Makers!
Alex, Max, Maria, Geoff, Natalie, Suki, James, William, Amanda, and Cameron~ Maker Faire, Bay Area 2013.

{Last year's visit to the Faire was epic, but something of a wipeout... we lost the brakes on our behemoth, in the middle of L.A.... this turned into a 15 hour mess... I will spare you the details. We came >< this close to turning back, but through sheer will, and passion for Maker Faire, we stayed the course. The long, exhausting, obstacle strewn course! I think I drained all my batteries, not just from the drive up, but from the insane levels of high pitched fun we had the rest of the time, too! Today, a small glimpse of a big adventure... one I hope inspires you to join us at the Faire, The Greatest Show and Tell on Earth! }

Delayed, and devising our plan a b c d... plan M, Brave Sir Robin reminds us to always have an emergency strategy. Never give up. Never surrender!

We got the RV serviced and safety overhauled, and ten hours later, with mere minutes to spare, Geoff dropped me at the gates just in time to collect our badges, and registration packets! We made it! And the relief and joy I felt were indescribable. I cried. It's true.

And for this, it was all worthwhile. I kid you not, the synchronized bass fish and lobsters, singing and clapping, to Rock Lobster, this alone, made all of our efforts pay off, and I felt like I could go home happy.

These four guys from Houston Texas, with their Sashimi Tabernacle Choir, have created my all time favorite art car, ever, ever, ever. Until I can ride in the Nekobus, Sashimi Tabernacle Choir will reign supreme in art cardom greatness.



Lobsters and bass... riveting performers, absolutely riveting!

First thing in the morning, we were just hearing them tune-up, and I was already totally smitten. "What can be more annoying than a singing fish? Try 250 of them bolted to a Volvo, singing opera."

Okay. Before we go forward, a few background points:

1. This is the Maker Faire, Bay Area.

2. We go and demonstrate the accomplishments of our Young Makers, and mentors, Love & Rockets, Art & Engineering.

3. We have been going to the Faire since 2010, and we were so smitten we organized a Young Makers Club, and determined to return with as many friends and makers as we could rally.

4. 2011 was great. Seriously. Really great.

5. 2012 was our Maker Prom, and it was seriously really great, too!

6. And last year Love & Rockets Young Makers Club was featured in the Make Blog!

7. It would be my pleasure to write at great length about everything. I could do that, except laundry etc. Also, I don't want to scare you/wear you out/overuse the word "awesome." I'll share a bit, and I hope that if anything captures your imagination, or raises a question, you will leave a comment, ask your question... I will be happy to tell you more, or just confirm that you really should get to a Maker Faire in your area!

Maria and James making sandstone beads with bamboo tools. Awesome.

You can buy things at the Faire, but there are many, many things to see, ride, do, make, and enjoy that are free with admission.

Makers are generous, and awesome. Robin is generous, and awesome.

This is a tire swing. It's making music, and lighting up, with Maria's movement on the swing.

In the tire swing is an iPhone.

Think-Love-Create is awesome.

Max, Alex and James, playing. I have never heard the statement "Don't touch that," at Maker Faire.

Maker Faire is a celebration for all the senses, for everyone. It is awesome.

Max and Maria sharing their Maker Faire projects. Maria taught wool needle felting, expanding on her wool demonstration from 2012. Max shared his methods for making foam weapons.

They taught, shared, exchanged, and engaged for four hours, and drew big, enthusiastic crowds.

Tots, Suki, and Alex. New visitors, every year. It is awesome.


This young maker enjoyed learning how to needle felt so much that she made a thank you gift for Maria.

Young makers, and experienced makers, all makers have a place at Maker Faire.

Everyone can learn something at Maker Faire.

Maria's turn to learn something new. Something MakeyMakey, from SparkFun.

Grant says Awesome!

Maria is making circuits, and the creative vibe is magnetic.

Cameron and Amanda, more awesomeness.

You can learn how to make cheeses at Maker Faire.

You can enjoy an awesome East Bay Urban Agricultural Alliance moment at Maker Faire.

The year before, he had one wooden arm and hand, and this year he has two awesome, wooden arms!

The Faire gets busy, but we always meet people that are happy to slow down, talk, and listen. Makers engage with each other, they share their ideas and their time.

Makers share their awesome hats.

We fell in love with the tiny homes Ward Hensill builds.

We think this over hang would look good on the side of our barn.

William and James, hanging out with a Bodega Portable Building.

Awesome biking power for music on the Pedal Powered Stage.

Awesome bike.

Every awesome mode of transportation... futuristic, artistic, real and imagined.

There is no end to all there is to see and do, to inspire, at the Maker Faire.

Anyone feeling nostalgic?

This year, Kits By Kids is working on a hovercraft. Reminds me of the hovercraft Alex designed and made. We met this Young Makers Club, Kits By Kids, at our first visit to the Faire.

A homemade sub. That's awesome. Scary, but awesome.

Also, awesome.


If you want to bounce in, out of the sun, you are welcome to enjoy the the Breast Stop.


We like to think, make, tinker, play, explore, and we like to see new things, learn new ideas, and bring people together to enjoy the same.

Maria, Sean, and the l.e.d's!

At the end of the day, we descend, en masse, at an area restaurant, where Robin and Shawn bedecked all the waitstaff, and us, with awesome light emitting diode creations!

Perfect ending to an awesome day.

Is it any wonder we look forward to going back?

We hope you can visit a Maker Faire, soon.