Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire

Held at the Ann Arbor District Library – Downtown Branch

Check out our fun, innovative summer camps that we just know you and your camper will love.

Each session is a half-day (three-hour) workshop that will be held in either the morning or afternoon. And, you can mix and match as many morning and afternoon workshops as you choose! You do not have to sign up for the whole week. The workshops will take place the week of July 18-22.

Check out a brief description of each workshop below! Space is limited, and the last day to register is July 11. Click here to sign up.

Build Your Own Bike Shelf

Monday, July 18 | 1pm-4pm

Create a custom bike rack out of weather-resistant wood that can hang in your garage or house! We’ll use hand tools and power tools to cut the wood and assemble the pieces. At the end of the workshop, you’ll have your own bike rack to take home with you, along with some familiarity with basic wood shop tools. Ages: 10+.

This workshop is taught by woodworking wizard Al McWaters and jack of all trades Eric Rudolph.

The Magic Behind Fairy Doors

Tuesday, July 19 | 1pm-4pm

Learn the magic behind making your very own fairy door! You’ll use a variety of tools to cut, shape, and customize your fairy door, then decorate it with different finishes. Feel free to bring personal decorations to really make it your own! We’ll also go over how to install your fairy door once it’s home. Ages: 8+.

This workshop is taught by ambassadors to the fun and whimsical, Kc Dixon and Josh Williams.

Creative Costume Props

Wednesday, July 20 | 1pm-4pm

Make your own custom props like swords, lasers, weapons, crowns, and more! First, we’ll create drawings of our props and plan them, and then we’ll use a variety of materials from the ScrapBox to make them come to life! Ages: 8+.

This workshop is taught by enthusiastic costume designers Stu Parnes and Kc Dixon.

Sew a Felt Plush Monster

Thursday, July 21 | 9am-12pm

Use laser-cut felt parts, hand stitching, and machine sewing to create your own terrific tiny creature. At the end of this workshop, you’ll walk away with an awesome monster as well as basic stitching skills to carry your interests further. Ages: 8+.

This workshop is taught by innovative fiber artist and milliner Je’Tone Alexander.

Forge Your Own Copper Bracelet

Thursday, July 21 | 1pm-4pm

Create your own forged bracelet out of copper wire and copper sheet! You’ll learn metalsmithing techniques like forming, forging, and finishing. Ages: 8+.

This workshop is taught by master metalworkers and jewelry designers Wade Buck and Je’Tone Alexander.

Origami Robotics

Friday, July 22 | 9am-12pm

Learn how to fold a traditional Origami crane and augment it with shape-shifting electronics! We’ll explore the basics of paper folding, electronics, and how the combination allow our creatures to move. Starting with a piece of paper and a few electrical components, you’ll go home with your own animated origami creation! Ages: 8+.

This workshop is taught by origami artist Beth Johnson and electronics wizard Josh Williams.

Metal Lawn Ornaments

Join us for our Quarterly Member Meeting, led by Maker Works co-founders Tom Root and Dale Grover. In it, they’ll cover:

Ann Arbor Health Hacks (http://a2healthhacks.org/) is a non-profit organization in Ann Arbor that is geared towards building the community and bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to develop new ideas in healthcare innovation through healthcare hackathons.

The topic for this year’s hack is Prototyping Disease Prevention. The hackathon reception and networking social will be the evening of Friday, June 24, and then Saturday, June 25-Sunday, June 26 will involve panel speakers, idea-pitching, and hacking/making. Registration for the weekend hackathon can be found here: (http://a2healthhacks.org/) or at http://tinyurl.com/A2H2-Register.

Will we see you at our Felt Plush Monster kids’ workshop on July 21?

You’ll get to use laser-cut felt parts, hand stitching, and machine sewing to create your own terrific tiny creature. At the end of this workshop, you’ll walk away with an awesome monster as well as basic stitching skills to carry your interests further. Ages: 8+.

This workshop is taught by innovative fiber artist and milliner Je’Tone Alexander and CNC Embroidery Enthusiast Eric Rudolph.

Thursday, July 21 | 9am-12pm

Maker Works member Steve wanted to make a wooden clock.

But when he came across drawings online for a “perpetual calendar”–a mechanical calendar that would know the end of each month and advance itself forward, while also tracking the day of the week, the day of the month, astrological signs, and the moon’s phases–he knew it was too unique a project to pass up.

He purchased the drawings, and used the ShopBot, Epilog Laser, and metal lathes to cut the wood, etch the wooden pieces, and turn the metal parts, respectively.

While many small pieces with precise cutting specifications made the project a challenge, Steve ultimately created an incredible project that is both functional and artistically intriguing.

If you’ve been at Maker Works during the past few weeks, you’ve probably noticed anything from large, aluminum-wrapped branches, to shiny stainless steel leaves, to glass and copper “fruit” glowing bright with colorful LED lights scattered throughout the shop.

These are all pieces of an eighteen-foot-tall tree made by The Shiny Seed, a collaborative led by Maker Works staff member Kc Dixon and member Gene Foulk. The project has also been made possible by the work of many volunteers.

The various pieces of the tree were created at Maker Works, using tools like the PCB engraver, the ShopBot CNC router, the Bridgeport mill, soldering irons, metal lathes, and the laser cutter. The team then worked together to assemble all the pieces and make the tree come to life.

The tree is on display at the Grand Rapids ArtPrize competition from September 21 – October 9.

Stop by ArtPrize to see the tree at the corner of Pearl Street and Monroe Avenue, just outside the PNC Plaza, then cast your vote for your favorite exhibits!

To see more photos and updates of the project, click here to checkout The Shiny Seed Facebook page.

Handmade gifts can be the best gifts. But if you’re anything like us, sometimes the stress of the holidays can be magnified by scrambling to finish handmade gifts at the last minute.

That’s why we’ve created this guide with tried-and-true tips and tricks to not only getting through this holiday season, but taking your making game to the next level.

1. Get Started Now

Sometimes makers can be procrastinators, too. (Who, us?) Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, unless it means more stress than there needs to be and the risk of running out of time. By planning out your gifts now, even if you don’t start working on them right away, you’ll have an idea of what you’ll need in order to get the job done. This includes purchasing or ordering materials, knowing what tools you’ll be using, brushing up on any necessary skills, and making initial preparations.

2. Sign Up for Any Check-Out Classes You May Need

As the holidays get closer, space in check-out classes can fill quickly. If there’s a check out class you’ll need to take in order to complete your project, take a look at the calendar and go ahead and sign up now.

3. Enroll in a Make-N-Take Class

Okay, this is one of the most straightforward and easiest ways to make an awesome gift. There’s a ton of positives to signing up for a Make-N-Take class and coming away from it with a gift. For one, there’s no guesswork. You’ll know exactly what you’ll be walking away from the class with. And secondly, you’ll have the support of the instructor and fellow classmates to guide you through every step of the process.

Here are some suggestions:

Birdhouses | November 19 | 12:30pm – 3:00pm

Forged Bracelets (Family) | November 26 | 11am – 1pm

Holiday Stockings (Family) | December 1 | 4pm – 5:30pm or 7pm – 8:30pm

Holiday Ornament (Drop-In) | December 3, 10, and 17 | Between 11am – 3pm

Forged Bracelets (Family) | December 10 | 11am – 1pm

Metal Tree (Family) | December 17 | 11am – 11:30am

Holiday Stockings (Family) | December 17 | 12pm – 1:30pm

Forged Bracelets (Family) | December 24 | 11am – 1pm

Click here to find out more and sign up for a Make-N-Take class.

4. Reserve Tool Time

If there are times you know you’ll be in the shop, why not go ahead and reserve your tool time now? Some tools will be in very high demand come December, so it’s a good idea to start thinking about when you’ll be working in the shop and when you’ll be needing which tools.

5. If You Hit a Rut, Consult with an Expert

We all experience unexpected challenges when working on projects. What’s important is to not let these challenges keep you from making the gift of your (or someone else’s) dreams. Sometimes even just half an hour of talking with an expert can give you just the boost you need to get through the challenge and make your project a reality. Plus, talking with someone who has just about seen or done it all can save you loads of time, which is perhaps the most valuable resource of all during the holiday season.

Maker Works staff members each have unique areas of expertise that they can offer consulting in. If you’d like to find out more about how you could connect with an expert and use consulting for your project, stop by the front desk, email us, or give us a call at (734) 222-4911. We’ll get an understanding of your needs and then connect you with the right person.

6. Celebrate with us at our Holiday Party

At the end of the day, the holiday season is all about friends and family. That’s why we want Maker Works members and their families to join us at our third-annual Nightmare Before Christmas Costume Potluck Extravaganza! Don your favorite costume and bring a dish to pass. We’ll be giving out prizes for best costume and best dish!

Saturday, December 10 | 6-11pm (Kids welcome until 9pm)

Circuits moved into the Tool Crib, which dispersed into the shops. We’re still working on sorting the Tool Crib move, but the new Electronics room is beautifully organized according to 5S methodology, meaning that each tool has been sorted, organized, and given a location and a label of its uses. Finding the correct tool in electronics will be so much easier now! Great Devices for Electronics Projects (click the image to see more detailed specs) One tool you likely won’t have at home is a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) engraver. This machine allows you to make prototype circuit boards while-you-wait, instead of waiting several days for a prototype from a board house. PCB Engraver with new, quiet enclosure PCB Engraver in action 16-Channel Logic Analyzer – for testing Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and other projects Digital Oscilloscope – a powerful tool for visualizing electronic signals Triple output DC power supply and more signal analyzers Reflow Oven – for soldering surface mount components on printed circuit boards

Maker Works 734-222-4911 frontdesk@maker-works.com 3765 Plaza Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Open 1pm-9pm M-Th, 9am-6pm F, 10am-4pm weekends (Open to Pro-level members 9am-1pm M-Th as well) Other places to find us: Would you like to see some neat panoramic photos inside Maker Works from the quiet “Pro hours” of the morning? Visit Google Maps 360 view

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Before we opened the doors to our makerspace (Maker Works), my business partner Tom Root and I talked about how we could help other people create a makerspace in their community.  (We probably don’t have to convince you why we think they’re important for every community to have.)  And as anyone who runs a makerspace knows, we ended up spending a huge amount of time (and still do) on phone calls and tours with these folks.  We do think those tours are useful, and if you want to drop by, we’re happy to spend some time talking shop.  But as time went by, Tom and I talked more about presenting the systems we use with enough detail and within an organizing framework so that someone could hit the ground running, rather than having to re-invent the makerspace wheel over and over again.

Basically, we wanted to create the kind of course that we wished we could have taken before we opened our space.  So in 2014 we had our first Makerspace Operations Bootcamp, and have held a few each year since.  These are five often very full days and a bit overwhelming at times, for instructors and attendees both!

A big question is why two yahoos from Ann Arbor think they know anything about makerspace operations.  A factual, but uninspiring answer is that, well, we’ve been operating one for almost 6 years.  (By the way, we don’t claim special insight into starting a makerspace–we’ve only done that once.)  But the deeper answer has to do with the systems we use and how they align with the values of our makerspace and the larger Maker movement.

Briefly–trying to condense five days of content here–it’s our experience that if you start from some core Maker values, you end up wanting systems that

• Promote safety
• Value openness
• Strive for continuous improvement
• Welcome and support members with a wide range of experiences and knowledge
• Provide access to and preservation of nice equipment
• Organize of tools for quick retrieval
• Provide great customer service
• Encourage self-service, increase skills
• Support the local community
• Promote the larger makerspace and maker movements
• Reduce impact on environment
• Support and encourage member creativity
• Promote an optimistic view of the future
• Empower people to be more than just consumers
• Reduce waste
• and so on

And it turns out that there are systems drawn from Lean manufacturing and other practices that do just that, including:

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• 5S
• Open Book Management
• How to Instruct
• Servant Leadership
• Recipes for creating culture
• Recipes for giving great customer service
• 43 folders
• Visual management systems
• and so on

In the bootcamp, we begin by discussing the relationship between the organization’s mission, vision, guiding principles, systems, culture, experience, and bottom lines, and the need for consistency between them.  This framework organizes much of the content of the week.  With this in mind, we then delve into each of these elements and explore specific systems like SOPs, using an actual makerspace to see how they work in real life.

In the end, though, none of the systems, none of the tools, none of the organizing makes any sense without the context of a mission, a vision, guiding principles, and bottom lines.  Open book management takes effort.  Servant leadership takes effort.  Great customer service takes time.  We hope by the end of the week that we’ve made the case that these systems can all fit together and produce a sustainable makerspace consistent with its mission.

How did we end up with these systems?  Tom actually used these in running a local business with over $10M annual revenue and over 400 employees during the busy holiday season–employees who often come in without any experience and have to become almost immediately productive.  The many parallels suggested that a makerspace run using the same types of systems could help members become productive and keep them safe without requiring the constant attention of staff.  The values of the business were also something we wanted to follow–for example, having more than just profit as a bottom line.  (Our bottom lines are people, planet, and profit.)  We take a tour of this business, since it is another opportunity to see the concepts in action.

In the end, we want to have more makerspaces in the world.  We think these tools increase those odds, and encourage anyone who operates or is thinking of operating a makerspace to take a look at them.

Can’t make it to one of our bootcamps?

• Our member handbook has our guiding principles, mission, and other information:  http://maker-works.com/member-handbooks/
• SOPs:  http://maker-works.com/using-recipes-for-a-great-makerspace/
• 5S (organizing workspaces to reduce waste):  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5S_(methodology)
• Open Book Management:  http://greatgame.com/about/the-origin-of-open-book-management/
• Giving Great Service:  https://www.amazon.com/Zingermans-Guide-Giving-Great-Service/dp/1401301436
• Zingerman’s business practices (including discussion of business framework we use):  https://www.amazon.com/Anarchists-Approach-Building-Business-Zingermans/dp/0964895684
• Lean (many resources–this is an introduction):  http://paulakers.net/docs/leannutshell.pdf  and https://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=88

Camp registration is underway!

Kinetic Camp Ages 8-12 Jun 19 – 23  9:00am – 12:00pm

Comic/Manga Camp Ages 10-14 Jun 26 – 30 & Aug 07 – 11 9:00am – 4:00pm (aftercare available from 4pm to 5pm)

Metal Sculpture Camp Ages 13-16 Jul 10 – 14 & Aug 14 – 18 9:00am – 4:00pm (aftercare available from 4pm to 5pm)

Upcycled Fashion Camp Ages 10-16 Jul 17-21 & Aug 21-25 9:00am – 4:00pm (aftercare available from 4pm to 5pm)

The following meetings will be held at Maker Works in May and are open to all who are interested, no membership required.

Specific meeting topics may be updated here: Ann Arbor Maker Works on Meetup.com

5/3 at 7pm South East Michigan CNC (SEMICNC)
For folks who want to get started with CNC as well as veterans to share information.
(Always the 1st Wednesday of the month 7pm-9pm)
SEMICNC Yahoo group

5/9 at 7pm GO Tech
Self-proclaimed “geek show-and-tell.” Makers present their creations!
(Always the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 7 pm – 9 pm)
Go Tech on Facebook
Go Tech Yahoo group

5/10 at 6:30pm TOOOL The Open Organization Of Lockpickers
A group advancing the general public knowledge about locks and lockpicking.
(Always the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm)
A2 Locksport

5/11 at 7pm Southeast Michigan Woodworkers
Presentations on various woodworking topics, as well as hands-on project builds and teaching sessions.
(Always the second Thursday of the month at 7pm)
SEMI WW

5/17 at 6pm Michigan Robot Kids Club
A group for robotics enthusiasts 5-13, but any age is welcome.
(Always the 3rd Wednesday from 6pm-7pm, followed by the MI Robot Club)
MI Robot Kids Club
MI Robot Kids Club on Facebook

5/17 at 7pm Michigan Robot Club
A group for robotics enthusiasts of all skill levels.
(Always the 3rd Wednesday of the month 7 pm – 9 pm)
MI Robot Club

5/19 from 4pm-6pm Maker Works Fix-It Friday – Come in to help fix, learn to fix, or have your items fixed by MW staff and volunteer fixers.
(Always the 3rd Friday of the month from 4pm-6pm)

Sunday May 14th, 2017:  Mother’s Day – Shop Open

Monday May 29, 2017:  Memorial Day (Weekend/Monday)  – Shop Closed Monday

Saturday June 3, 2017:  We’ll be at the Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire at the Ann Arbor District Library, come see us at The Great Maker Race, or even sign up to volunteer. – Shop Closed

Sunday June 18, 2017:  Father’s Day – Shop Open

Tuesday July 4, 2017:  4th of July – Shop Closed

Saturday/Sunday July 29-30, 2017 : We’ll be at Maker Faire Detroit at The Henry Ford, come see us at The Great Maker Race, or even sign up to volunteer. –  Shop Closed Saturday & Sunday

The following meetings will be held at Maker Works in June and are open to all who are interested, no membership required.

Specific meeting topics may be updated here: Ann Arbor Maker Works on Meetup.com

6/7 at 7pm South East Michigan CNC (SEMICNC)
For folks who want to get started with CNC as well as veterans to share information.
(Always the 1st Wednesday of the month 7pm-9pm)
SEMICNC Yahoo group

6/8 at 7pm Southeast Michigan Woodworkers
Presentations on various woodworking topics, as well as hands-on project builds and teaching sessions.
(Always the second Thursday of the month at 7pm)
SEMI WW

6/13 at 7pm GO Tech
Self-proclaimed “geek show-and-tell.” Makers present their creations!
(Always the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 7 pm – 9 pm)
Go Tech on Facebook
Go Tech Yahoo group

6/14 at 6:30pm TOOOL The Open Organization Of Lockpickers
A group advancing the general public knowledge about locks and lockpicking.
(Always the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm)
A2 Locksport

6/16 from 4pm-6pm Maker Works Fix-It Friday – Come in to help fix, learn to fix, or have your items fixed by MW staff and volunteer fixers.
(Always the 3rd Friday of the month from 4pm-6pm)

6/21 at 6pm Michigan Robot Kids Club
A group for robotics enthusiasts 5-13, but any age is welcome.
(Always the 3rd Wednesday from 6pm-7pm, followed by the MI Robot Club)
MI Robot Kids Club
MI Robot Kids Club on Facebook

6/21 at 7pm Michigan Robot Club
A group for robotics enthusiasts of all skill levels.
(Always the 3rd Wednesday of the month 7 pm – 9 pm)
MI Robot Club

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New Make & Take Class Offering!

Register now to build your own custom frame for your choice of a Motawi tile using the woodshop at Maker Works. All of their 4×4 tiles (except Pine Landscape Mountain and Valley) will be available.

In this experience, you will:

– Select between Oak, Walnut, Cherry, and Maple wood
– Assemble the frame
– Use the ShopBot CNC router to add hardwood dovetailed keys in the back
– Sand, and apply a walnut oil finish
– Optional laser engraving of a Celtic, Art Deco, Prairie, or Shaker Motif.

Maker Works staff will guide you each step of the way. It will take 20-30 minutes. Time slots are available from 10AM to 2PM on 11/18/2017.

$122 includes frame, your choice of tile, laser engraving, and walnut oil finish.

Note: If you already have a 4″x4″ Motawi tile you’d like to use, please bring it with you to class and use the coupon code “haveatile” when you register, which will give you a discount of $40.

Register Now!

See all the beautiful Motawi 4×4 tile styles.

The post Motawi Tile Frame Workshop appeared first on Welcome to Maker Works.

Maker Works will host its first-ever craft show on Saturday December 2, 2017 from 11am-4pm to assist our makers in showing and selling what they’ve been creating!

We welcome items that have been made here at Maker Works, as well as items you or your company have made elsewhere (except food items).

Please register here if you’d like to participate as a vendor.

Looking forward to a fun time seeing what everyone’s been making!

Vendor List (as of 11/14/2017):

Aye Plus Novelty – earrings, necklaces, emblems crafts

Becky Grover Designs – small art quilts and other fabric gift items

Cutie Patootie Studios – greeting cards, bookmarks, magnets

Elderwood Academy – unique tabletop gaming gear crafted from natural materials

E.Lo Ceramic Art – handmade porcelain mugs, cups, bowls and vases.

Elophina LLC – leather purses, key fobs

Erik Olsen – drinking glasses, stickers

Saving Throw Pillows – pillows shaped like D20s,  some art quilt wall hangings

The post Craft Show 12/02/17 appeared first on Welcome to Maker Works.

Feels like we’ve lost a friend…

We all at Maker Works were saddened to hear about TechShop closing.  More people know about makerspaces and the opportunities they make possible because of TechShop.  They moved us closer to they day when the question isn’t “what is a makerspace” but is instead “why don’t we have a makerspace in our community”.  They were a remarkable resource to the people of Allen Park and the larger metro area.

We hope the members of the Allen Park TechShop can find a new makerspace home at one of the many makerspaces in southeast Michigan.  These include:

• i3 Detroit, Ferndale, https://www.i3detroit.org/

• OmniCorp Detroit, http://omnicorpdetroit.com/

• The Village Workshop, Northville, http://www.thevillageworkshop.com/

• The Work Shop, Westland, http://cantonworkshop.com/

• All Hands Active, Ann Arbor, http://www.allhandsactive.org/

• Factory Two, Flint, https://factorytwo.org/

• in addition to local makerspaces in libraries and in universities and colleges

• … and Maker Works, 30 minutes from the Allen Park TechShop, in Ann Arbor.

We can’t make the drive from Allen Park shorter, and we can’t postpone the holiday season, but if we’re in your driving range, we’d like to give former TechShop members and staff a $25 discount off any one class.  (That would make our laser class free, for example.)  And for the remainder of November, TechShop members can receive the family discount on a 30-day membership, just $45.

To our members, please welcome new folks from TechShop and help them feel at home here. With the holidays coming up, this is certainly a difficult time for them to have lost such a great resource.

The post TechShop Closed – Helping TechShop Members appeared first on Welcome to Maker Works.

Master woodcarver and sculptor Mike Kapetan will demonstrate the properties of wood as they relate to carving. He will demonstrate techniques for sharpening carving tools to razor-edge keenness, and he will demonstrate basic techniques of carving wood.

Mike Kapetan is a sculptor with more than forty years of professional experience. He holds a degree in Fine Arts from Harvard and an MFA in sculpture from the University of Michigan. He works in a variety of media. He has created liturgical images and artifacts for more than fifty faith communities including all Christian denominations, a synagogue, and a Buddhist Temple. He also creates abstract art, and he designs sundials. He has developed special skills as a self-taught woodcarver.

If you have a tool that you would like advice on sharpening, please bring it and, time permitting, Mike will be happy to look at it at the end of today’s session.

This presentation is free to Maker Works members and $5 for non-members.

Register now!

The post Woodcarving & Tool Sharpening Demo by Mike Kapetan (2/24 1pm-3pm) appeared first on Welcome to Maker Works.

Explore leathercraft in a fun and functional way! We will be creating a belt from scratch, utilizing several basic tools that have a wide array of uses in leathercraft. We will cover several fundamental techniques that are easy to follow, and once learned, can be applied in many different situations while working with leather.

Workshop is limited to 10 participants, please preregister on our class calendar.

(Maker Works member price is $30, non-member price is $35 for this workshop.)

The post Leather Belt Workshop with Tandy Leather – March 7, 7-8:30pm appeared first on Welcome to Maker Works.

 Take Me to Metal Sculpture Camp!

Take Me to Kinetic Camp!

Show Me What Adults Can Do!

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