©Jennifer Lethbridge, 2010 Ted Ursus of Ursine Necessities makes a chainmail bracelet on the spot for yours truly.
Maker Faire Detroit came to an end this past weekend, after months of preparation on the part of Makers and volunteers. If you missed it...you missed a lot more than seeing some interesting ideas and meeting some great people. You missed seeing the spirit of Michiganders in action. The volunteers were helpful and energetic. The Makers had products, information, demonstrations, and make-and-take/educational sessions galore. There was so much to see and do both indoors and out, and the energy of the entire event...well, it's hard to come down from.
Some of the best and most innovative local designers and crafters were at the faire, exchanging ideas and motivating people. In an area so hard-hit by the economy, it was refreshing to see that the creativity and energy that has made Michigan such an interesting place hasn't left. The people have instead adapted and found new ways to shine.
Some personal favorites we were lucky to see:
©Jennifer Lethbridge, 2010. Penguicon Maker Booth
Penguicon was out in force, demonstrating how to make ice cream with liquid nitrogen. They were also doing other demonstrations with liquid nitrogen.
©Jennifer Lethbridge, 2010
A time machine!
Goodrich High School Robotics Teams built a replica of the H.G. Wells' Time Machine that blew bubbles. Kids chased it all day like it was driven by the Pied Piper. They did an incredible job.
©Jennifer Lethbridge 2010
Steampunk Leather was showing off some great masks and goggles. They were also passing out info for the World Steam Expo which was held in Dearborn earlier this year. Who doesn't love Steampunk? It's got something for everyone!
©Jennifer Lethbridge, 2010
Meanwhile, Ursine Necessities was showing off (and making!) some interesting chainmail at the same table. I got to talk to the maker, Ted Ursus, for a bit, and he shared his enthusiasm with me. I checked out his website and he does some really interesting stuff.
©Jennifer Lethbridge, 2010
Hands + Notions Fiber Goods was there as well, showcasing some really interesting, hand dyed yarn. While they had lots of interesting, chunky yarn, I had a hard time deciding between the silk blend and the sock yarn. In the end, I chose to go with the sock yarn because it's machine-washable and I have a thing for socks...
©Jennifer Lethbridge, 2010
Glittersniffer Cosmetics was there as well, enticing potential customers with their delicious palette of eyeshadow colors.
Some of us just can't help ourseives when these kinds of colors show up...
If you're interested in hearing more about Maker Faire Detroit, or seeing/sharing pictures and stories about the Maker Faire, there are several places you can go and...I heard on good authority that the space is rented for the next 2 years so if you want to be a Maker, you didn't miss your chance!
Check out these sites for more about the Maker Faire.
Make: coverage of the faire.
Maker Faire Detroit on Facebook.
Maker Faire Detroit groups on Flickr. Maker specific group here.
General Maker Faire group here.
If you like this article, you might like these articles:
Maker Faire Detroit coming to the Henry Ford
Craft room storage solutions for fall: totes for craft portability
Comments
Wow...
I know, it's narcissistic to comment on an article written in part about yourself, but I'm just so psyched. On behalf of World Steam Expo, Steampunk Leather and myself thank you Jen for an awesome article and it was wonderful talking to you. :)
It was great talking to you too, Ted!
I wanted to take a moment to advise you about GlitterSniffer Cosmetics, who you have featured in this article. GlitterSniffer Cosmetics is in the middle of a recall of several pigments made from 2006-2010. The recalled pigments were knowingly made with ingredients not approved for use around the eyes. The company also sold nonvegan items that were advertised as vegan, used money raised for TWLOHA/ASPCA/GLAAD charities to fund their recall, and knowingly sold a collection marketed for Little Girls which has been recalled as unsafe. Additionally, the company refuses to comply with FDA required labeling, sold trademark infringing products (some of which are now recalled), and has a history of failing to either ship out product or replacing product without notice. There are still hundreds of people waiting for refunds, and refunds for recalled products have been repeatedly denied based on the whim of the proprietor. The reach of these products is unknown. GS sold on Etsy, their independent site, Artfire, The Spotted Box, and at craft fairs in numerous locations.
Recall info may be found here: http://glittersniffercosmetics.com/recall.html
An exhaustive overview and proof of the issues may be found here: glittersniffercomplaints.blogspot.com
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