Expect to see us every year, and we hope to see you, too!

Rob Wood
Director, Battle Pond

And someone else is bound to present a time machine at another one, so we can go back in time and use the transporter at this one!

Set up your own mobile HF station, use amateur radio for remote control of your devices, set up radio-to-ethernet controllers, and more!

Phil

Give it time. Someone is bound to present one of those at a future Maker Faire.

While it is fun and educational to “see” all this stuff, (there really is too much to see even in two days), I have the fondest memories of actually coming home with stuff the kids and I had MADE, much of it new to all of us, from the first Makerfaire.

I understand the economics of putting on a faire like this and realize that it has to grow and attract sponsors (and that there are a limited number of folks who can/will teach/lead workshops) not to mention space, time planning etc.

This will be the first year I won’t go because the balance of [new stuff, things to learn and activities] will be [out-weighed by hassle, parking, cost]. However, I DO recommend it for anyone who hasn’t been before. I just don’t want to fight crowds to see the mousetrap *again* and the fire breathing fire truck *again* and the Coke Zero (instead of Diet Coke) and Mentos, I can see on YouTube.

But seriously, I highly recommend Maker Faires. The high-end flashy stuff is great, but there are also great heaps of little things in unassuming booths. You really need two days to see it all.

I’m skipping this year, because there’s a Disney Land aspect; if you space out visits you’ll appreciate them more, and there will be more new stuff to see the next time.

* * *

My old Bay Area rocket club, LUNAR, hosts the rocket launch. They do an amazing job. For a few bucks you get a rocket, build it, and then fly it. Last year they walked something like 800 people through the process!

the Mozilla project was one of those “little things in unassuming booths” at the first Maker Faire.

PLEASE! Bring a Maker event back to *somewhere* in Texas.

You wrote, “The first Makerfaire had pages of workshops, classes and activities.”

The upcoming Maker Faire is going to have about five times as many hands-on workshops as the first one:

Here are a few of the things you can learn at the Maker Faire!

# » Learn how to shoot a 3D photo with your own digital camera.

# » How to revitalize old toys into wearable art jewelry.

# » Build your own programmable Arduino robot, the Mintybot.

# » How to become a beekeeper.

# » How to build your own blinking electronic bug.

# » Make a rotational casting machine

# » How to make silicone rubber molds, resin casting, urethane foam castings, latex castings and vacuum forming.

# » Build a taiko drum from a wine barrel.

# » How to make your own fully interactive 3D VR helmet.

# » How to create lace embellishments using Xyron’s Creatopia.

# » How to make your own robot from paper pipes.

# » How to make your own car to race on a forty-two foot track.

# » Repurpose a computer hard drive

# » Make an album or journal in 15 min with only paper, scissors, and glue

# » How to build a simple MIDI controller.

# » How to draw through subconscious expression.

# » How to ferment veggies and roots.

# » Make banners, shoe art, collages, greeting cards, kanzashi flowers & hand puppets!

# » How to form and texture metal.

# » How to build a cell out of clay

# » How to make your own 3D domeat Han

# » Learn how to solder

# » How to build LED light pens

# » How to screenprint, sew, and make a beer koozie!

# » Lockpicking: learn how locks work, and how to open them.

# » How to build and launch a rocket during Maker Faire!

# » How to make and launch compressed air rockets at Maker Faire!

# » How to make a laughing cup, sound sandwiches, and other musical instruments.

# » Learn to make yarn using wool from sheep and spindles made from compact disks

# » Make 3D animated sculptures

# » Learn how to make glass beads!

# » Learn to make soap

# » How to cure, smoke, and roast your own bacon.

# » How to create dramatic science demonstrations

# » How to control pests without pesticide and grow your own veggies at home

# » How to make metal art and jewelry.

# » How to needle felt mounds of raw wool into a toothy monster.

# » Learn the needle arts

# » How to make a wallet out of discarded plastic

# » Make your own Arduino-controlled screen-printed electroluminescent display!

# » How to build robotic warships for combat

# » How to build a robot for fun

# » How to use an Oscilloscope

# » Learn how to weave straw

# » How to sculpt wool roving with needle felting.

# » How to make a paper airplane that can flap its wings, tumble, flip over and fly back upside down, loop, spin, and more….

# » How to juggle.

# » How to design and create your own Softies.

# » How to make tofu.

# » How to make an eco-conscious weaving project.

# » Decorate a rubber duckie and join the Rubber Duckie Gutter Races (5 and up), Tee Shirt screening, DIY Bangles

# » How to use Wikipedia

# » How to make yogurt.

# » Create your own clay animations!

And some of the presentations, \ include instructional demos.

If you do come, stop by and try out our mechanical pong game in the Expo hall!