Category Archives: Mini Maker Faire

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2012 in Pictures!

Posted on April 5, 2012 | Leave a comment

Check out our Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Photo Album!

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Posted in Artists, Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Food Trucks, Hobbysts, Inventions, Makers, Makerspace, Mini Maker Faire, Music, New technology, Radio, Robotics, ROV, Sponsors, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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Thanks to all for a Wonderful 2012 Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!

Posted on March 31, 2012 | 1 Comment

Our inaugural Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2012 was a resounding success, with over 300 people enjoying over 20 Maker exhibits indoors and out – at least  until some torrential Florida spring rains came, driving everyone indoors – where the party continued right up until closing time!

There were robots to drive,  custom chess pieces to make, duct tape and paper crafts to create, patent searches to, cool inventors to talk with, 3D printers to marvel at, great art, great food, and great people to share it all with!

Many, many thanks to all the great volunteers who helped make our event so successful, from the great FTC Team Duct Tape family that staffed our registration table all day to the wonderful University Area Community Development Corporation volunteers who helped guests and Makers and aided in the smooth and swift movement of Makers from the patio to the gym when the skies opened up.   It all went so smoothly, no one missed a beat in activities or fun!

We’ll share more photos and stories soon.  And you can find more on our Facebook page, too.

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2012 totally made our day!!

 

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Posted in Artists, Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Food Trucks, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Makers, Makerspace, Mini Maker Faire, Music, Robotics, ROV, Sponsors, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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Ready, Set, MAKE!

Posted on March 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

The banners are in, the programs are printed, the swag and buttons are here, the Makers and our Volunteers are ready, the Food Trucks are fired up, the robot batteries and the electric cars are charging, the artists have arrayed their wares, the media’s been alerted,  and the pennants are ready to fly for the Tampa Bay’s first ever Mini Maker Faire!

There’s still time to get your discounted tickets at EventBrite . Just $5 prepaid and $8 at the door, for ages 5+ . We promise you won’t go home empty-handed, hungry or without new knowledge  - there’s toys to make, art to stencil, things to solder, swag to collect and great food to eat!

So head on over the University Area Community Center Complex at 14013 N. 22nd Street tomorrow morning, to enjoy a little taste of the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth!

 

 

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Posted in Artists, Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Food Trucks, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Makers, Mini Maker Faire, RC, ROV, Sponsors, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Event Map & Program Now Available!

Posted on March 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Our event map and program is now available online! Paper copies will be available at the event, courtesy of DEX Imaging, whose in-kind support of Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire is deeply appreciated!

Check out all the great Makers we’ll have on hand.  We couldn’t put it all in the program, but here’s just some of the eye-opening (and  mouth watering!) fun you can have at TBMMF this coming Saturday:

Enjoy this and so much more, at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire on Saturday, March 31, from 10am-4pm at the University Area Community Center Complex in Tampa!

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Posted in Artists, Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Food Trucks, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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Check out the Line Up for TBMMF 2012!

Posted on March 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

The line up for our very first Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire is amazing! Check it out!   There’s robots on the land and in the water, music, arts, crafts, toy making, inventions, inventors, amateur radio, and food galore!

And, wonderfully, a ... sadly – no

That’s right – Make will be at the  Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, showcasing their wonderful wares!

We erred! MakerShed is unable to join us, but will be sending along some materials for us to share.  And of course we’ve got the Maker spirit in our blood -Check out our great roster!

Our Commercial Makers include:

And we’ve got an amazing collection of community Makers!

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Food Truck Rally -Our Culinary Makers

Our Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Food Truck Rally vendors are donating a portion of proceeds from the day to the University Area Community Center Complex!

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

Maker line-up and schedules subject to change.

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Posted in Artists, Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Entrepreneurs, Florida Inventors, Food Trucks, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Makers, MakerShed, Mini Maker Faire, Music, New technology, RC, Robotics, ROV, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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What’s So Awesome about Makerspaces? Everything!

Posted on March 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Learning is for Everyone, the lead organizer of Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, recently met with University Area Community Center Complex directors, Tampa Freeskool, and Forward Thinking Initiatives, for a Skype meeting with James Carlson, of SchoolFactory.org, an organization that assists in the development of community makerspaces.  We’re confident our collaborative efforts will result in the creation of at least one big public makerspace in the Tampa Bay area, and hopefully several!

The makerspace movement is growing nationwide, but it’s a relatively new concept for Tampa Bay.  James Carlson’s BucketWorks in Milwaukee is a great example of the community building power of a makerspace.  The Mt. Elliott Makerspace in Detroit  is another. The Mt. Elliot folks recently created this video titled “What Is the Mt. Elliott Makerspace?” that  captures the spirit and power of makerspace awesomeness!

If you’d like to see great public spaces like this in our area, join in our Makerspace Unconference, which will be held during our Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire on March 31.  Check back regularly for the event agenda to see what time we’ll hold our informal informational gathering, so you can share your voice and vision about what you’d like to see in your own Tampa Bay Makerspace!

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Entrepreneurs, Makers, Makerspace, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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More Food! Unforgettable Cupcakes Joins TBMMF Food Truck Rally!

Posted on March 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, a truck full of cupcakes arrives!

Unforgettable Cupcakes & More joins our Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Food Truck Rally, bringing their fine collection of gourmet cupcakes, pretzels and marshmallow pops to the table.

Better get your tickets for TBMMF soon! It’s just $5 a person, prepaid through EventBrite, saving you $3 off the price at the door – that you can put towards some great food or art!

Get Your TBMMF Tickets Today!

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Posted in Food Trucks, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire

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TBMMF Venue Tour: More Room for Makers & UACCC Rocks!

Posted on February 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

TBMMF toured our hosting facility, the University Area Community Center Complex today, and can’t sing the venue’s praises enough!  In addition to the beautiful outdoor patio space, UACCC is providing an equally spacious indoor community room space, and a great field for our TBMMF Food Truck Rally with  picnicking facilities under a shady forest of oaks!

We’ve confirmed the availability of sufficient power resources, wifi, tables and chairs for our Makers, space for electric race cars and robots, and plenty of parking and room to roam for our event attendees.

In short, the University Area Community Center Complex is made for a Mini Maker Faire, and we can’t think of a more wonderful home for the inaugural Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!

That said – We’ve got plenty of room to accommodate a few more Makers, indoors and out!

Here’s just some of the possibilities you can showcase:

  • 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.)

Individuals, groups, schools and organizations that would like to demonstrate what they make and/or how it works in an interactive environment can have exhibit space at no cost!

Individuals who would like to sell products along with demonstrating what they make at their Mini-Maker exhibit pay a $75 Commercial Maker exhibit fee.  Large companies and other commercial enterprises are welcome to participate as event Sponsors.

Maker Applications accepted through February 22!

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Hobbysts, Inventions, Makers, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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CNN: How to Make More Makers

Posted on February 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

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.”

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Posted in DIY, DIY Fun, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Makers, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire

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TBMMF Application Deadline Extended to Feb. 22!

Posted on February 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

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!

 

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Posted in Craftspeople, DIY, DIY Fun, Florida Inventors, Hobbysts, Inventions, Make, Makers, Mini Maker Faire, Tampa Bay inventors, Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Young Makers

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