New Makers

Makers love to share... ideas, projects, and passion! We have a passion for STEAM, that's Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math and Music, so whenever we can share our interests with others, like a school... it's a great feeling! This is why we are thrilled to see that Kipp school will be an exhibitor at their first Maker Faire, in San Diego! October 3 & 4, at Balboa Park, Kipp students will be teaching the art of origami and promoting a tradition of peace, service, and outreach.

Brainstorming and exploring ideas for Kipp was fun, and we are very excited that the ideas the Benevolent Order Of Makers developed are going through as a wonderful plan. It supports their curriculum, and builds character... these are some of the fabulous benefits of having fun through making!

New Name, Same Makers

We are the Benevolent Order Of Makers! We play, experiment, design, sew, build, sculpt, weld, code, mentor, cook, tinker, and share... But you know all of this, because we're the same makers who began in 2010, as the Young Makers Club: Love & Rockets :: Art & Engineering!

October 3 & 4, Benevolent Order Of Makers will be exhibiting at Maker Faire San Diego, in Balboa Park! What a beautiful space, and an auspicious time for Balboa Park, as they celebrate their centennial year. Maker Faire will be Balboa Park's "fall signature centennial event!"

We are busy making and organizing for the Faire. It's fun and frantic! Maker Faire events are happening everywhere... Go to where the fun is being made. Visit Make.com and MakerFaire.com for details.  

Make Way For Making

We did it. In spite of my doubts and insecurities, we we flung our doors wide open and invited people in. It was good. It was timely, and inspiring, and good. Here is some of what we enjoyed...

1. Priscilla's school has been invited to hold a booth at San Diego Maker Faire, which is a brand new experience for them. She asked for some suggestions for her 5th through middle school students... what could they do at the Faire, for the Maker Faire? We played with ideas that leaned toward technical, and ideas that leaned toward crafty. Our first test idea was the the copper dancer; a Homopolar motor. It's simple... sort of. Bending wire into just the right shape to make contact with magnets at the bottom of a AA battery takes some patience. It was fun to see the wire figure twirl, and we found the secret is in very carefully denting the positive end of the battery, so the dancer's foot can more easily balance. The downside: it's a short show. The battery drained in less than two minutes, and even when we considered using rechargeable batteries, we decided this was amusing, but wasteful. Not too bad for a one time experiment and example of a simple motor, but hardly ideal for repeating all day at a two day fair.

Priscilla offered that crafty might be a better direction, and after some consideration, I thought of the Thousand Origami Cranes. I think it offers a lot that will make their Maker Faire experience interesting, engaging and worthwhile, while being an easy introduction for their first visit. The students will learn the historic and cultural significances of folding the cranes, and making 1,000 of them will be an admirable challenge. They can choose someone to receive the gift, and further their community outreach by teaching Faire visitors how to do origami, while sharing their goal and intentions with everyone. From an academic perspective, we were thinking of many ways it would support school curriculum, including: history, math and geometry, language arts, and practical art.

The real point of all of this, for me, is that Maker Faire is not only impressive, it is supportive, inclusive, meant to inspire by being receptive to everyone, at all levels. So, wherever you are in a learning process, you are welcome to share, and encouraged to learn. The learning is what is celebrated, the sharing and engagement are what matter. No one should give up, or fail to start, because they are intimidated by bigger-fancier things, or feel inadequate to an experiment, an idea, a desire to learn. Do it. Make it. Play. Break it. Take it apart. Try again. Fail. Ask for help. Offer suggestions. Support. Encourage. Tinker. Dabble. Do it, again. Even if you feel like you don't know what you are doing, when you try, when you step forward, you are already inspiring someone else to play, too.

2. Geoff brought out motors, batteries, cables, and wheels, and Maria got a quick refresher in circuitry and rudimentary car making. She eagerly shared her interest with Emma M. and Amira.

3. Anna B brought out her handmade patchwork pillow, and made some updates for repurposing it. It's made up of memories, of treasured pieces, and she even added a new square, something from her travels to Iceland. We all watched YouTube videos about beautiful Sashiko stitching. Inspiring, for sure, and also requiring tremendous patience. I am all for trying new things, as well as knowing when to simply appreciate someone else's skills and dedication!

4. Bambi is working on her Halloween costume. Definitely a DIY project, from the design up! She's developing her own patterns for her original design, and sewing a lot of ruffles! We brought out other dress patterns, and special rulers, which we hope will be helpful. William worked on cutting his custom pattern for another pair of breeches. Priscilla decided she'd bring her sewing machine to our next gathering... jumping into new ventures can be much easier to imagine when you are surrounded by friends.

5. Maria is making a drawing tutorial. She acknowledged that drawing while documenting every step, including photographing the progress, is a lot of work. But she persisted. I should also add that, this is the very weekend that she demonstrated her new found skill: H@cking. She's into the interface, locally modifying code in her browser. Making changes. H@cking for good. We are so proud.

6. Speaking of persistence... I followed a tutorial for making granny squares, and I really loved this pattern that has fewer holes and gaps than many granny squares. But my persistence got a bit carried away, and I made it really huge, and then it got very wonky, and not a bit square. So, sadly, I had to frog the whole thing. I am a bit discouraged, but I strongly suspect that when this heat wave passes, I will be in a shop, choosing colors for a new crocheted blanket.

7. The big attraction of the day, literally, was the tentacle arm. It's coming closer and closer to completion, thanks to Geoff's effective and diligent persistence. He was glad for the assistance of William and Paul, and for the awe felt cheers and admiration from the rest of us, when he got the arm properly wired and dancing! It's a sight, and a sound! Pneumatic pistons firing and aluminum rings collapsing and rising at his command. We mean to top it with something thematic, and bring it to the Faire.

{One more thing... because it's just too sweet to leave unmentioned: The next morning, after a full day, and late night of working, playing, making, tinkering, eating, laughing, and sharing, Maria was up very early, and when we found her at the kitchen sink, she'd already cleaned the entire kitchen. My heart. Our girl. She's an inspiration.}

Make Plans

As mentioned before, we have two applications sent in for the San Diego Maker Faire, and we are in talks to bring even more of our Make Club flavor for the two day event. Now, all we have to do is get ready... and do, please read that with the uncertainty, mild stress, and bewilderment befitting us facing a new, big, and elaborate undertaking. I think the picture of my sewing and needle case beautifully illustrates how frayed and tangled I can be, any typical day of the week, so when facing extra challenges... well, I am feeling a bit doubtful, overwhelmed, excited. Sure, I admit it, there's a bit of a thrill in the chaos and uncertainty.

And since the house is in a state (the usual state, really) and we have projects to complete, projects to start, and projects to propose, I went ahead and invited friends over for a casual Stitch-n-Bitch-Hot Glue-Metal Welding-Wool Felting-Snack Nomming get together.

Honestly, my reclusive introvert side never knows what to make of my wild for STEAM side. Inside my head, it sounds something like this...

Reclusive Introvert: We should close the doors, draw the curtains, finish the Tentacle, make a list of supplies, and organize our embroidery floss.

Wild For STEAM: Sure, sounds fine, but let's invite everyone who likes to code, likes wood, metal, threads, wool, glue, glitter, food, and robots, and see if they'd like to help set up a Viking tent and a 6' tall pneumatic tentacle in Balboa Park, and we can grill burgers, or make it a potluck! This will be awesome.

Reclusive Introvert: But. But. But. What if they actually want to come??

Wild For STEAM: This is going to be great. We can eat noms, and make crafts, and chat, and people will learn about Maker Faire, and we can get help from our Young Makers, and everyone will share ideas!

Reclusive Introvert: We have to nap, before they come... and... and...

Wild For STEAM: Trust me.

Reclusive Introvert: OhmyGod.

Make Plans For San Diego Maker Faire

Two applications... so far. We have been a very busy Make Club... just browse our archives to see everything we've been doing, from hosting a backyard mini make faire to making a Viking tent, and loads of crafting, sewing, wood working, tinkering, playing, forging... it goes on and on! We'd love to bring our drawing automaton, Da Vinci, to the Maker Faire in San Diego, as well as the project we call Giant Robotic Tentacle. I would love for all of our Make Club participants to join us at the Faire, to share projects. Hopefully our applications are accepted, and we find ourselves a sizable space for setting up. We know how things work in the Bay Area... but SD is new to us. If we can't get passes for all of our club participants, we strongly urge you to get yourselves tickets, because Maker Faires are great events, not to be missed! I'll keep you posted on our progress and plans, and please wish us luck with those applications!

CNC Router Sign Making

Frankenrouter is a success, thanks to Geoff and William. We have all been eagerly awaiting this day, and the prospect of all that can be done with a personally designed, manufactured, constructed and programmed CNC router, and now you too can see Frank N. Router at work. William made the 3D model using 3ds Max, Mudbox, and Meshmixer, all Autodesk software. Once the digital 3-d image was fine tuned, Geoff and William used MasterCam to generate G Code for the router... but, maybe you would just like to see the movie!

Besides designing the sign, and getting all the details figured out in the software, William painted the finished carving. The details, the shading... it looks fantastic. And finally, he put this video together. I am marveling at all of this, and he's already working on his next project(s).

Make Your Own Upcyled Style Statement

A few times a year we show up at a favorite resale shop for their Huge Frocking Sale... it's an event, a happening, a great place to build a stylin' wardrobe, and save cash. This time we went with the idea of fulfilling some back-to-school needs, hoping to score a vest, and travel bag. But I don't suggest visiting resale shops with too specific an agenda, because you never know what might capture your heart and imagination. No vest for Max... bummer. No travel bag for Alex... we have a back-up plan. But we did score a sewing lesson and design opportunity for Maria!

Meet Marty, of Marty-O custom clothing. She had her booth and sewing table all set up, under the big top, in the midst of the Huge Frocking Sale, and she generously invited Maria to join her for an introduction to machine sewing and to also design an up-cycled utility apron... buttons, lace, trim, belt loops, ruffles, and fringe all artfully added to an old mini-skirt... this is DIY fashion meets function!


Maria embroiders, so she has some sewing experience, but she was thrilled to step up to the next level, because Marty is such a patient and enthusiastic instructor. With gentle guidance, and sound advice, Maria added the red ruffle to the camo print-mini skirt. I was especially happy to pick up the tip about raising the back of the sewing foot, when approaching a thick section of fabric... such an obvious, yet ingenious, trick for making a smooth transition between fabric weights!

What is upcycling? Before you toss it, before you donate it, or recycle it... see if you can't reuse pieces to make something new, better, unique, your own. See Marty's website for examples, and I keep thinking of the fabulous upcycling we love from Calamity Kim!

I've been collecting vintage handkerchiefs to make a scarf, or to appliqué onto a quilt, but this light and lacy jacket, refashioned with a coat tail of hankies, has me rethinking my options... Upcycling makes old things new, and fashion fun. A sewing machine makes it all faster, and easier, a Serger would be great, too, but there is plenty that can done with just a needle pulling thread. Maria asked if we could try this at home, please?? I think the wool skirt we found at the sale, maybe the gauze dress from Marty's dollar bin, will make excellent foundations for some upcycled creations.

Haute couture, anyone? Marty and her client were designing a fabulous and frou frou tutu tulle coat... a little ensemble for the Playa.

When you upcycle you save resources, enjoy creativity, express your own style... so put a bird on it, add a gear, turn it upside down, give it a new life and make it your own.