Maker Faire!

I found out how to volunteer at the Maker Faire this year. I signed up to teach people to knit. This means I got in free! I also signed up Steven to teach people to knit. Free is nice. The last time I went to Maker Faire I thought it was overrun with poorly monitored children acting like everything was a toy, even the things clearly set up for an older audience. This year, it was probably also the case, but you can't complain about free. Also I signed up for the noon-4 shift, so the busiest time I was hiding in the knitting booth. 

Getting there early was great. We were allowed in I think 90 min early, but arrived just under an hour early. A lot of the things weren't set up yet, but the bigger art exhibits were. Even better no one was at them. 

Steven jumping to get to a higher high five.

Giant ball of yarn at the knitting booth. The only time it was empty...

Stilt lessons. For obvious reasons I did not partake. 

About 10 min before the public was allowed in we walked by the main entrance. I was very happy to not be in this mob. Going to the Maker Faire as a maker is so much easier. 

Tape. 

In the darkroom they had really cool things. Too many to take pictures of. The one picture that came out well is this light sculpture. It is made of plastic cups, and christmas lights. I might need to make one.

A robot playing chess. 

Automatic marker.

There was a little booth where you can make light up monsters. I made this one. If you squeeze it's tummy, it's nose lights up. I had it in my pocket while teaching knitting. I showed it to the children that were far too young to learn knitting and were just getting frustrated. Then directed them over there. Excellent solution. 

The teaching went fairly well. I signed up to teach both crochet and knitting. I hadn't expected to teach both at the same time... But, it all worked out. It still amazes me how many people don't know a slip knot. I've know this since I was a child, and always thought it was common knowledge. Most people got the basics down. One little girl was far too young to learn (she wasn't coordinated enough to hold the sticks) so I taught her finger knitting instead. 

Steven teaching.

My wrist was full of things by the end of the day. I was amused with the Safety First band. With so much Burning Man like things around, it's a different priority than their "Safety Third."

Mushroom Jerky

Free yarn from volunteering

The booth I was working in had knitting, crochet, needlepoint, spinning, and weaving. Three of these I can do well. Those three were very well staffed, and came with free take home supplies. You get to start a project and take it home to finish it. After I was done with my shift I wanted to try out the spinning and weaving. 

The spinning didn't have take home things. You could just try it out for a while. The only one teaching it was a 12 year old girl. She was a very competent spinner and teacher, but still odd to be the only one. 

The weaving was on a little hand loom. They only had about 5 of these, so you couldn't take them home to finish your project. I spent about an hour on mine, and I got tired of sitting and I was hungry. I finished it early. It's a tiny and cute thing, and I made a fancy design. The woman who taught weaving lives near me, so I may learn more weaving from her in the future.