2009 Maker Faire Answered

You got a pin for being an AUTHOR. It's an even more rarefied group. I went on Sunday and took a bowl of Gummi Lego. I hung out at the booth for a little while making finger loop braids then wandered around for a few hours. Then I went back to the Instructables booth and talked to folks. The Gummi Lego were a hit - especially with the LegoLand people. I'm in love with a gigantic Wood Burning Steam Tractor. Is that strange?

True, I forgot. The sign did say "Talk to us if you have posted an Instructable." I talked to Randofo. Probably about 50% of the members have never posted any instructables or even comments. I'm not a huge fan of 'steampunk'. I liked the robots and electronic stuff like Arduino.

I like Steampunk, but the tractor isn't Steampunk it's Steam - the real thing. I love historic stuff. A huge, simple, gorgeous, historic machine, with a whistle that can be heard a mile away and is still capable of running under it's own steam - that's true love.

"Run under it's own steam". First time I've used that when it was totally accurate.

I guess it wasn't steampunk, there wasn't any fake stick-on grunge or high-tech electronics hidden behind old fashioned looking brass. Maybe the only reason I didn't like it was because the whistle made me deaf for about five minutes when I was looking at it.

Hahaha. I LOVED that whistle but I saw all the people who worked on the tractor plug their ears before it went off and followed suit.

Last time they were inside one of the large, open warehouse-type buildings...

Hey, it was good to meet you, and see the bike in person :-) Very cool!

:-) Yeah, pretty much everything is. I was curious about which big hall they'd be in. MAKE says their booth is in Fiesta Hall, near the main entrance from the parking lot.

:( Miss out on the chance to hang out with ibles, go the the faire AND meet Kelsey! Arrrrrrgh!

It's already there! You, and Kiteman, and Jake and Hannah, and lots of others. Instructables is the community of members. You all just need to get together at a pub somewhere (it's a tiny little country, how hard can that be? :-).

YAY I met Kelseymh at the Maker Faire. It was incredible.

/Jealous!!

^{I mean Eric and his team, lol}

But is is hard to meet up with other people, because I am not independent and my parents are very busy with many things, our lives are currently unstable... I can't do much. :-( Other than post instructables and comments, lol.

Hard, when half the UK Instructables are below the drinking age and can't drive. There are perhaps four or five of us with independent means and the ability to go to another city to meet people.

Hey mum, can I have a lift to a pub in Norfolk so I can meet up with a schoolteacher I met on the internet?

In all probability the only time we are likely to meet is at an event like Maker Faire which I sadly couldn't go to- next time there is one in this country I will make time, out of paper and hot glue if necessary, to get to it.

That said, I am moving to a city with a stronger DIY community that might be England's version of the bay area, so will have a look/listen around to see if there are any likely events going on.

ROFLMAO - That's exactly how it is for me. Austin Maker faire is 15 minutes away but I have to give em the slip, cuz being recognized would require some explaining...

Huzzah! I could actually attend that one.

Yeah, 2 agree Seattle is the better choice.

Not better, but just more accessible.

Agreed, lets make our own maker, uhh...something... and invite Squid Labs.

>same here<

Shall we start a chant?

Would love to see a Lancaster County Maker Faire ;-)

You should start one! I'm sure a lot of people would join you.

I was thinking of trying to have a simple Show n Tell, but it is difficult even in planning it with the uncertainties in my life at the moment...

How about one between Cleveland and Boston.

_{preferebly closer to Cleveland. Hmmm...}

There is Notacon, right in Cleveland. Mitch Altman's gonna drop in and bring his passel of soldering irons, to beef up the hardware-hacking area we already had planned. It's in mid-April, you have no time to waste! You should be working on your entry for the Anything but Ethernet contest right now!

Yeah Sydney would be great! That's about the middle, isn;t it?

Some where between Sydney and Canberra. Do they even have Maker Fair in Australia?

I believe we've discussed this before, but I still suggest Boston.

I second this.

That is still more driving than I can do at the moment :-)