Category Archives: DIY Fun

CNN: How to Make More Makers

Dale Dougherty, publisher and founder of MAKE magazine and the creator of Maker Faire (of which Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire is a regional offshoot)  was recently featured on CNN, discussing the Maker movement.

“Makers start with that simple idea to do something, which is why we call it DIY – for “do it yourself.”, Dougherty told CNN.

“Soon, however, they find out that there are lots of people like you out there. When you find others, you have a community and that community offers a place to show your work, trade tools and swap ideas, and just have fun.

“And this isn’t just for some people, or just people who like air cannons. I believe we are all makers. We can find all kinds of makers in our communities. Yet we also want to help create more makers. Through education and community outreach, we can offer the opportunity to make things to more people, but particularly children. They might find these opportunities at school but also at community centers, summer camps and science centers, or even at home. My goal is that all people, young and old, come to see themselves as makers, creators and doers because I know that the people who have the skills and knowledge to make things have the power to make the world a better place.”

Red Rover Red Rover can you ROVer Underwater?

Sure you can! Especially with ROV in a Bag, thanks to a national partnership headed up by the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center in an effort to improve marine technical education in the U.S. and to meet the workplace needs of America’s marine-related workforce and employers.

ROV in a Bag lets you  build and fly your own ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) in just a few minutes – and it’s coming to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!  Check out the video below from a past competition, and visit http://www.materover.org to learn more, see more videos and find some great marine ROV educational resources!

TBMMF Application Deadline Extended to Feb. 22!

The variety of Maker applications rolling in has inspired us to extend our application deadline to February 22. Why? Because we’re curious, and curiosity is good. And because we still have a little room left, and we want to see what other wonderful stuff you can help us fill our space with!

In addition to our fantastic Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Truck Rally, some remarkable commercial Makers (to be announced soon!), our community Makers include:

The West Central Florida Section of the National Association for Amateur Radio is joining us – “Amateur radio operators (hams) were the original Makers and Hackers,” they tell us. “Using new, used and scavenged parts to make transmitters, receivers, and antennas capable of communication with other hams anywhere on Earth. From microchips and robotics to time and space itself, the Makers within the Amateur Radio ranks build and explore new way to play with the radio spectrum. The Core Purpose of the ARRL: To promote and advance the art, science and enjoyment of Amateur Radio. ”   They’ll have some gear you can try your hand at!

The Tampa Bay Inventors Council is a 28 year old group in Tampa Bay that supports “the inventive spirit in us all”. They help educate new inventors about inventing and spread the innovation concept. Look for some innovative things at their exhibit!

The University of South Florida Robotics Interest Group , who will have on hand a variety of their robots, including four fighting robots from 3lbs all the way up to 220lbs, and an autonomous balance bot.

Our Young Makers with their NetBot invention – “ a generic open robot platform designed to be simple to modify to do whatever you want it to do. The goal of the robot is to be a cost efficient way for you to play with bigger robots. The main feature of the robot is the processor, which can be pretty much any kind of netbook or laptop you happen to have laying around the house.”  They hope to be able to drive it around our Mini Maker Faire .

Plus cars, arts, and more!  Don’t see something you do here – then join us and share what you Make with Tampa Bay!

 

Musician Makes Kitchen Music

Musician Stephen Anderson, described as “by far the most amazingly talented composer to have ever lived,” by no less an authority than his mother, had a little time on his hands one Sunday afternoon, and turned his entire kitchen into a synthesizer, demonstrating that he’s more than just a Maker of music!

A couple of our Young Makers shared this great piece with us.  Want to show the world what you’ve made? Apply to be part of the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire March 31!  Got a cool video?  Send it along!

“Today Everybody Can Be a Tinkerer” -Rolf Hut at TEDxDelft

In celebration of tinkering!

Call for Makers Open through January 31!

Want to be a Maker at the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire?  If you’re just demoing, it’s free!  We welcome crafts, engineering, music, robots, workshop digital fabrication, energy, demonstrations, performances, projects and anything home made, innovative, instructive, artistic and interesting!

Our  Tampa Bay Mini Maker application is now live, and we’ll accept applications through the end of January!

Applying

The first step to participating in our Mini Maker Faire is to submit an entry that tells us about yourself and your project. Entries can be submitted from individuals as well as from groups such as hobbyist clubs and schools. We’ll want a short description of what you make and what you will actually bring to Maker Faire, along with links to photographs or videos of what you make. We particularly encourage exhibits that are interactive and that highlight the process of making things.   Here’s some of what we’re looking for:

  •  Student Projects
  • Music Performance and Participation
  • 3D Printers and CNC Mill
  • Textile Arts and Crafts
  • Home Energy Monitoring
  • RC Toys
  • Sustainability
  • Green Tech
  • Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
  • Electronics
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
  • Food and Beverage Makers
  • Robotics
  • Puppets
  • Kites
  • Bicycles
  • Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
  • Unusual Tools or Machines
  • How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)

Types of Makers

Makers: Individuals, groups, schools and organizations that would like to demonstrate what they make and/or how it works in an interactive environment. For Maker groups, schools & organizations, we ask that you have one point person to coordinate your group efforts. Makers do not pay a fee to exhibit at Maker Faire for non-commercial exhibits.

Commercial Makers: Individuals who would like to sell products along with demonstrating what they make at their Mini-Maker exhibit. If you are a Maker with a product that you would like to sell at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, please let us know us that you are a Commercial Maker on your application.  There is a $75 fee for commercial makers.

Please note, companies or commercial entities do not qualify as Commercial Makers. If you are a company or commercial entity, please see our Sponsor page.

Calling All Robots for the TBMMF Robot Makers Round Up!

The Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire is looking for robots! We’re going to have the NetBot  we reported on earlier, but we want to see more robots!

We know there are a lot of FIRST teams in the area, and we know our Mini Maker Faire is being held right after the Orlando FRC Regional , and the Florida FTC State Championship and the FLL State Championship . The Mini Maker Faire is just before the VEX State Championship in April.

But we’re inviting teams from FIRST and VEX and robotics hobbyists to join us for a special Robot Makers Round Up, at the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire on March 31.

If you can join us, email us at info@learningis4everyone.org by the end of January, and let us know!  Robots ROCK! And there’s no better place than our Mini Maker Faire to show everyone why!

Retooling Public Libraries as Hackerspaces

In Libraries make Room for High Tech Hackerspaces, NPR reports this weekend on a promising trend in the redefinition of libraries, or perhaps more accurately, in the growing realization of the amazing and wonderful potential of public libraries not only as pivotal centers of learning and discovery, but also of creation!

Learning is for Everyone (LI4E) , the community learning organization organizing Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, has long believed libraries and museums  can and should be  key learning centers  in our communities.   We wholeheartedly agree with Thomas Gokey,  who teaches a course in Innovation in Public Libraries and narrates the film below,  that libraries are “democracy engines… places where people go to inform themselves and inform their own lives…” , where we “learn to hack the social codes we live in.”

With Maker Bots bringing 3D printing capabilities within reach of more people, efforts are already underway at libraries across the country to create public hackerspaces.  The Fayetteville Free Library in upstate New York calls their planned  Fabulous Laboratory, an “evolution of a computer lab”. The “FabLab”  will have about 8,000 square feet and employ computer driven power tools  Allen County Public Library, in Fort Wayne, IN has created a hackerspace portable in a trailer in its parking lot.

We love the notion, proposed in the film,  of “the world as one big public library,” especially if its got 3D printers and power tools!

Rad Fashion Maker-Style

Laurel Barnhart is a Tampa Interior Designer turned Inventor, who recently developed Top of the Boot , a patent-pending “boot sock”  that enables instant customization of any boot.  Simple, elegant and fun – Nothing like DIY fashion!


Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2012 Call for Makers!

Want to be a Maker at the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire?   Our  Tampa Bay Mini Maker application is now live!

If you’re just demoing, it’s free!  We welcome crafts, engineering, music, robots, workshop digital fabrication, energy, demonstrations, performances, projects and anything home made, innovative, instructive, artistic and interesting!

Understanding the Mini Maker Faire

The first step to participating in our Mini Maker Faire is to understand just what a Maker Faire is: In its simplest form, Maker Faire creates conversations with Makers. It is a show-and-tell format for people of all ages that brings out the “kid ” in all of us. Maker Faire is a community-based learning event that inspires everyone to become a maker and connect to people and projects in their local community. Yet, Maker Faire is a “fair ” which should be fun and engaging.

And it’s equally important to know what a Maker Faire is not: Maker Faire is not a trade show.   While we’re not anti-commercial and welcome small commercial Makers, the event is pointedly non-commercial in nature to the extent that we don’t want it dominated by traditional sales and marketing.  And  Maker Faire should not be become a platform for politics or religion.

You can learn more about Maker Faire on our About page.

Applying

If you’d like to participate in our Mini Maker Faire,  submit an entry that tells us about yourself and your project. Entries can be submitted from individuals as well as from groups such as hobbyist clubs and schools. We’ll want a short description of what you make and what you will actually bring to Maker Faire, along with links to photographs or videos of what you make. We particularly encourage exhibits that are interactive and that highlight the process of making things.   Here’s some of what we’re looking for:

  •  Student Projects
  • Music Performance and Participation
  • 3D Printers and CNC Mill
  • Textile Arts and Crafts
  • Home Energy Monitoring
  • RC Toys
  • Sustainability
  • Green Tech
  • Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
  • Electronics
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
  • Food and Beverage Makers
  • Robotics
  • Puppets
  • Kites
  • Bicycles
  • Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
  • Unusual Tools or Machines
  • How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)
Applications will be accepted through the end of January.

Maker Exhibit: Our standard setup for a Maker exhibit is a 6 or 8 ft table and 2 chairs. If you need more space, please let us know. Use this space to display your work and/or demonstrate how you make something.

NOTE: Makers whose entries are accepted will receive free admission to Mini Maker Faire per the guidelines listed in the Maker Manual. We do not pay for transportation or accommodations.

If you have any questions about participating in the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire,please Email Us.

Types of Makers

Makers: Individuals, groups, schools and organizations that would like to demonstrate what they make and/or how it works in an interactive environment. For Maker groups, schools & organizations, we ask that you have one point person to coordinate your group efforts. Makers do not pay a fee to exhibit at Maker Faire for non-commercial exhibits.

Commercial Makers: Individuals who would like to sell products along with demonstrating what they make at their Mini-Maker exhibit. If you are a Maker with a product that you would like to sell at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, please let us know us that you are a Commercial Maker on your application.  There is a $75 fee for commercial makers.

Please note, companies or commercial entities do not qualify as Commercial Makers. If you are a company or commercial entity, please see our Sponsor page.