Homemade Derby Hat Nets Zephyrhills Woman Day at the Races

A creative daughter-in-law helps a Zephryhills woman win at the day at the races, with this creative Derby hat!

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Joining in Orlando Mini Maker Faire!

We had so much fun at our Faire we want to do it again! So we’re heading over to the Orlando Mini Maker Faire on May 26 to play some more!

At least a couple of our TBMMF friends will be there –  CyberCraft Robots and Makerspace Tampa Bay  - and quite possibly a couple of others. Because if there’s anything more fun than a Maker Faire , it’s TWO Maker Faires!

We’ll be there as part of  Learning is for Everyone’s  Maker booth, with award winning FIRST Tech Challenge Team Duct Tape, the NetBot and some fun hands on photography projects for OMMF guests to enjoy.

Go check out the website and get your OMMF tickets soon!

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire 2012 in Pictures!

Check out our Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Photo Album!

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

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!!

 

TBMMF EventBrite PrePay Open Through 10am March 31!

We’ve extended our discount ticket prepurchase period through March 31 right up to opening time at 10am!

Buy your Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire tickets online now for just $5 for ages 5+.   Tickets are $8 at the door.  See you there!

Thank You, Dex Imaging!

Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire is deeply grateful for the beautiful printing services of Dex Imaging, which gifted TBMMF with our big and beautiful event programs that guests and Makers will enjoy tomorrow.

Dex Imaging specializes in “cutting-edge …document imaging innovation, providing world-class equipment, integrated document management solutions, knowledgeable (and accessible) technical expertise, flexible financing, and competitive pricing . . . all within reach, offered by one company. DEX. We call this, The Total DEX Solution.”

Thank you, Dex Imaging! You certainly Made our Day!

 

Meet the American Radio Relay League: Makers of Communications!

Need more reasons to come out to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire tomorrow?  How about the opportunity to check out some way cool Amateur Radio gear and meet the folks who know how to use it and can teach you to use it, too?

We asked West Central Florida Section Manager Dee Turner to tell us a bit about the group, which is joining us at TBMMF tomorrow.

DT: The American Radio Relay League is a non-profit organization that promotes Amateur Radio. Its purpose is to promote and advance the art, science and enjoyment of Amateur Radio. The ARRL was founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim of Hartford, Connecticut.

The ARRL is the largest membership organization in the USA for radio amateurs with over 156,000 members. The ARRL represents its members with Congress and the FCC. They also are a member of the International Amateur Radio Union.

TBMMF: What else does the ARRL do?

DT: Other membership services include several magazines, broadcast of bulletins pertaining to amateur radio. Volunteer Examiner testing for amateur radio license, contesting, and assistance in emergency communications during disasters.

TBMMF: What makes ARRL fun and important?

DT: With amateur radio you can talk to other operator worldwide, bounce signals off the moon, talk to the astronauts. During disasters you communicate when other services a down. Help with public service events such as walks and bike rides.

TBMMF: What will you be doing at TBMMF?

DT: At TBMMF we plan on showing some of the projects built by our Technical Coordinator and Assistance Section Manager, Geoff Haines, N1GY. Demonstrate Morse code to Twitter and show videos of other DIY projects.

Now that’s something worth relaying!

 

Ready, Set, MAKE!

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!

 

 

TBMMF Welcomes New Sponsor, Gabotronics!

Gabotronics is a young company based in Lakewood Ranch, FL. With over 10 years of analog and digital design experience, Gabotronics designs and manufactures embedded systems, specializing in  8-32 bits microcontroller projects, instrumentation and data acquisition, PCB Layout, custom electronic designs, as well as providing engineering consultation.

Gabotronics owner and operator, Gabriel Anzziani, will be showcasing  some of his products and doing some demonstrations.  He’ll also be running a TBMMF show special  on his Xprotolab, “the first mixed signal oscilloscope with an arbitrary waveform generator in a DIP module.” Measuring only 1 x 1.6 inches, it can be mounted directly on a breadboard.  Normally selling for $49, it will be available at TBMMF for $40.00.

Thanks, Gabotronics, for bringing more great Maker tools to Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire!

Robots, Robots Everywhere!

The University of South Florida’s new underwater robot, Tavros02, made headlines in the Tampa Bay Times this morning, as much for its unique Tweeting ability as its remarkable underwater capabilities.   Every 20 minutes, the robot sends telemetric tweets concerning its whereabouts and water conditions, complete with hashtags.

Tavros02 is just one of USFs many robotics projects. At Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, the USF Robotics Interest Group (RIG) will be on hand with several of their more battle hardened bots, ranging from 3 lbs. to over 200 lbs. in size.

The Tampa Bay Times also featured TBMMF this morning, in a piece titled, “Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire Brings out the Edison in Everyone,” noting that robots will be a star attraction at out inaugural event.   In addition to USF RIG:

And guests will be able to try their hand at driving and using some of these robots, as well!