Maker Focus: Joanne Baker

Jeweller and artist Joanne Baker is the focus of today’s Maker blog. Based in Edinburgh, Joanne has a unique approach to creating jewellery, bringing together unusually elements to create something rather special. Inspired by the urban landscape, her brooches, necklaces and earrings are bright, tactile pieces of waerable artwork. Describing her creative process she says: “I love experimenting with new materials and incorporating them into my work – resin, textiles, and lately wood and Iona marble.”

Join her Mini Maker Faire workshop to discover the world of felting. Using soft merino wool, you can learn to create a colourful, tactile percussion toy. Oh and things are going to get a bit soapy, so don’t forget your apron and a towel!

Workshops at the 2014 Edinburgh Mini Maker Faire

We’re delighted to announce the exciting mix of workshops happening at this year’s Edinburgh Mini Maker Faire. There’s an array of activities on offer, with workshops from makers in a variety of different disciplines. A selection of activities are available to be pre-booked in advance and there’s also loads of activities where you simply drop-in on the day.

Families book their place to try out some soap making, building their own bird box, making their own accordion book or lampshade. Older makers can create their own silver ring, capacitive sensing arduino or learn how to use a sewing machine.

Or, if you’re just planning to drop-in on the day, don’t miss your chance to make a monster, discover the art of Chinese knotting or craft a parasite!

Tickets are now on sale for bookable workshops – see our workshops page for a full list of the activities on offer and information on how to book.

2014 Makers Announced

Exciting news… we’ve just announced the first batch of makers who will be participating in the 2014 Edinburgh Mini Maker Faire!

We’ve pulled together an exciting and diverse bunch with makers from a wide range of disciplines including engineering and electronics, arts and crafts, science and sustainability, music, maths and much more…

This year’s line up features chillies, a one-man-band, some noisy toys, underwater robots, a biotech laboratory in a 13×11 inch box and the world’s first pedal powered hydraulic hybrid Reliant Robin pick up to name just a few!

See the makers page of our site for a full list of makers confirmed so far and keep tuned as we’ll be adding more information on some of the participating makers to our blog in the run up to the event. Announcements about workshops and talks happening at the event will also follow soon.

The 2014 Edinburgh Mini Maker Faire will take place on Sunday 20 April at Summerhall and tickets are available now – click here to book.

Sugar Sugar Skulls at Mini Maker Faire

Roll up and decorate a Mexican sugar skull. Get creative with this sugary sweet workshop – inspired by day of the dead.

Maker Mahala Le May is bringing her Sugar Sugar Skulls to Edinburgh Mini Maker Faire as a hands on workshop which encourages people to explore pattern and colour as they decorate their own sugar skulls. Sugar skulls are exactly as they sound – skull-shaped sugar – by far the most popular symbol of the Day of the Dead, the skulls are given as gifts to the living and the dead.

Mahala is a designer who creates fantastical eating experiences that engage, surprise and promote social exchange. By modifying spaces, utensils and edibles, she delivers bespoke events of many shapes and most sizes, providing a real treat for all who take part.

For more information check out her website – http://www.mahalalemay.co.uk/

Fix your stuff at the Repair Cafe!

What do you do with a chair when the leg has come loose? With a toaster that no longer works? Or with a woolly jumper that’s full of holes?

Toss it? No way! Bring it along to the Repair Café at the Edinburgh Mini Maker Faire.

Brought to you by Glasgow’s MAKLab, designers, crafters and people who make and fix stuff will be ready and waiting to make your object good as new or find it a whole new purpose. They’ll even talk you through how they did it.

Any broken, badly-designed or malfunctioning object is welcome, but how about…

• Electronics and small electrical items – headphones, speakers etc.
• Clothes – knitted, or for darning or patching
• Household items and gadgets

The Café will be open all day. No need to pre-book, just grab a seat and see what MAKLab’s makers can create!

Find out more about MAKLab at maklab.co.uk.

The Edinburgh Mini Maker Faire will take place at Summerhall on Sunday 7 April from 10am-5pm. Tickets cost just £2.50 and under 5s go free.

Book online at sciencefestival.co.uk or call the box office on 0844 557 2686.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival which runs from 23 March – 7 April 2013.