Maker Faire Fun

by Very Interesting

4.4K422

Intro: Maker Faire Fun

The Maker Fair in Austin was incredible. Some pictures are ...well, I did my best I could with my little camera. Here are a few highlights. (I wish I could have captured more.)
In step 4, I have an instructable on making a purse from the Swap-A-Rama.



STEP 1: Walk All Over the Place!

We spent 6 hours going to and from the faire, so we made sure to experience everything we could.

Outside: the giant Mouse Trap, the cycle-powered wheel, and the guitar pick cycle amused the crowds and kids.

The EPYBird Diet Coke & Mentos show dazzled everyone!

An incredible car, covered with singing fish and lobsters, gteeted us when we arrived. 2 fish at the top led the way with a maestro in the middle.
(Sadly, the pictures didn't come out.)
Also outside.....huge kites, catapults, rockets, bicycle snake, performers, Microsoft booth, giant skull to put flowers on, and I know I'm forgetting so much more.




STEP 2: Inside the Arena

The main arena had Robogames, First Robotics, and the Tesla Coil show. (See the videos at the beginning.)

Also in the main arena were some amazing Robotics groups showing off their talents. I especially liked the life-sized R2D2 units.

STEP 3: The Covered Barn

This takes an entire day itself. I only covered a few places though. Of course, Instructables were there, and we were able to meet the staff. There were electric cars, cnc machines, artists, and shows.

Check out the Dirt Art, the metal working, the electric cars, and the fire show.

STEP 4: Swap-A-Rama

This is where I really had fun. What to make...what to make...I couldn't think, so I made another purse. I can't take credit for this instructable though. It's a combination of 2 instructables: colindd95, Bed Book Bag from Jeans, and for the straps, I took advice from weiblen.c, Recycled Denim Shopping Bag.

There were many people helping me, but my main, tireless helpers were Kevin, Missy & Shannon. I also want to thank the lady who gave me the Girl Scout patches!

I was going to make another jean purse, but found some dress pants instead. I accented the top/waist of the bag with pieces from a Hawaiian shirt. For the straps, I removed some yarn flowers and butterflies from a shirt, and sewed them on. Since they were kind enough to do screen printing for us, I thought I should have that done too. (It took about an hour to make.)
Mouse over the pictures for instructions.

STEP 5: Swap-A-Rama (Continued From Last Step)

There were too many pictures, so this is the second half.

STEP 6: Show Your Pictures in the Comment Sections....

If you have better pictures, and I'm sure you do, please comment and add them. I will be able to add some more from a friend Monday evening.

By the way, the Mouse Trap people need your donations. It cost 7k to get the Mouse Trap there last year. This year, it was 12k. They really put on an exciting show.

24 Comments

omnibot 15 years ago

Smeg, I'm on the wrong continent again.

Very Interesting 15 years ago

Narf! I haven't heard the word SMEG since watching Red Dwarf on PBS. Ha!

omnibot 15 years ago

Yer, Great show. I keep it in my phone to watch when I'm bored.

ilpug 12 years ago

great that someone remembers that

The nerdling 13 years ago

i wish i went.
where and when is it?

TheClock 13 years ago

I was there!!! It was very awesome, seeing all of the crazy contraptions and what not...

Very Interesting 14 years ago

Looks like everyone around the world gets to enjoy the Maker Faire this year except Texas????!!!! Do we not all know the phrase....Don't Mess with Texas? Yes, I understand the economy, but Texas had large turn outs the first 2 years out of the gate. We bragged to everyone who would listen; got them excited, then felt like Linus after the Great Pumpkin didn't show up. Humph.

KentsOkay 15 years ago

Awesome! What day did you go? I went but didn't take my camera....

get to da parakeet 15 years ago

aww i wanted to see the robogames!! i just got a flip video cam *WHAAAAAAA*

jcrazy 15 years ago

I feel so cool being able to say I was there! In fact, I'm in the front row in the first video, somewhere in the crowd of people. Thanks!

dark sponge 15 years ago

I wanted to go, but my parents didn't have time to take me. Maybe next year!

Very Interesting 15 years ago

Thanks to understandblue and sunglint for the great pictures! I need a new camera.

Very Interesting 15 years ago

Yes we did! We met Eric and the whole gang. They must have thought we were crazy though. But hey, we're Instructables junkies!

greensteam 15 years ago

I am planning UK's first ever Maker Fair in Glasgow in March 2009. Anyone in the UK or anywhere who would be interested in bringing their Make And Tell / See And Do to share with us, just get in touch.

understandblue 15 years ago

I have pics from the show barn on my blog. I was a maker and it was incredible. I can't wait until the next one! www.understandblue.blogspot.com for pictures!
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