Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire

Deadline Extended for Makers: May 26

Emily Puckett Rodgers — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:52:59 +0000

We have some great Makers who will be showing their inventions, ideas, projects, and work at the upcoming Mini Maker Faire.

But we still have room for more! Our deadline for Maker submissions has been extended to Sunday, May 26. Apply here to show your stuff!

Maker Profile: Michael Flynn’s CloudBean

Emily Puckett Rodgers — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:21:43 +0000

This year Michael Flynn will bring us the CloudBean, a giant inflatable mirrored mylar dome. Michael brings a passion for interactive and engaging science lessons, often building displays that double as education and public art.

His CloudBean is a giant inflated balloon in which you can project images, or use as a shelter. You can check out a video from his Flint, MI installation earlier this month.

His installation will be outside on the Morris Lawrence lawn at the Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire.

Stop by to experience it yourself!

We Have Great Sponsors

Emily Puckett Rodgers — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:38:58 +0000

We’ve received some great financial support from the community to help make the fifth Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire a success. We’d like to thank the following awesome organizations who are not just helping us promote the event but also lending some cash to make things happen. Our goal is to continue to make this event as accessible to the community as possible. A big part of that means making it free.

Huge thank you to all of the organizations that help us make this happen. We are pleased to have support from across the area, from academic programs at the University of Michigan to entrepreneurs and education groups.

Diamond Sponsors

A2Geeks

Brain Monkeys

Carbide Sponsors

Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Michigan

Maker Works

Ann Arbor Hands On Museum

Penny Stamps School of Art and Design, University of Michigan

High Speed Steel Sponsors

Current Motor

Menlo Innovations

This year we added levels of sponsorship to allow organizations and individuals to have more choice in how they support Makers in southeast Michigan. If you or your organization would like to sponsor upcoming Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire events, please drop us a line! a2mfplanners[at]gmail.com

Call for Makers Still Open

Emily Puckett Rodgers — Thu, 09 May 2013 01:41:47 +0000

We’ve had some great applications from Makers across the southeast Michigan area so far. In fact, we’ll be profiling a few of these Makers to give you a sneak peak into the fifth annual Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire in June.

We still have room for more Makers. If you’re interested, you can fill out our application on the main page of our website.

Makers of any age can submit an application, as long as you follow general safety guidelines. So if you have a skill, craft, invention or project you’d like to show off to others, consider submitting your application today! If you want to get a sense of what we accept, look no further:

Things Made From Recycled Items
Making Musical Instruments
3D Printers and CNC Milling
Textile Arts
Home Automation
Rockets
Ham Radio
Puzzles, Games and Toys
Electric vehicles
Airplanes and Aeronautics (models, etc)
Biology/Biotech
Chemistry
Food Makers
Robotics
New inventions
Green Tech
Custom Kites
Temporary Structures (Tents, Domes, etc.)
Unusual Tools or Machines
How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)

Big thanks to Sloe Gin Fizz

Emily Puckett Rodgers — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:17:03 +0000

This year we’ve got a lot of changes in store for you. New venue, new date, and a new design for our poster. Did you see the poster? Did you print one out for your home? Look down and to the right on our site (under our sponsors) and you’ll notice an awesome robot riding a unicorn with wheels.

Nicole Ray, artist and owner of Sloe Gin Fizz, was kind enough to design and create this poster for the fifth Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire. The Faire is a celebration of the creativity, craft, and innovation in our community. We showcase this throughout our organization of the Faire and Nicole’s work is just one illustration of the passion and skill in southeast Michigan.

We’re really proud of this poster and grateful to Nicole for agreeing to work with us. Feel free to print out the poster, enjoy it at home, and help us spread the word!

We’re looking forward to seeing you on June 8.

Mark Your Calendars for the 2013 Mini Maker Faire!

Emily Puckett Rodgers — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:18:08 +0000

We’re excited to partner with Washtenaw Community College to host our fifth annual Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 8, 2013! We’ll start at 10 am and play until 5 pm.

We’ll be hosting this year’s Mini Maker Faire at WCC’s Morris Lawrence building, with lots of space and electricity for the types of activities you expect as well as space for new activities, like featured speakers. We’re also partnering with a local artist to provide a fresh new logo and look for our posters.

Stay tuned to the blog for the Call for Makers, general invitation information, and additional details.

What can you expect to see and do at this year’s Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire? Any of these activities can be featured at the Faire.

Things Made From Recycled Items
Making Musical Instruments
3D Printers and CNC Milling
Textile Arts
Home Automation
Rockets
Ham Radio
Puzzles, Games and Toys
Electric vehicles
Airplanes and Aeronautics (models, etc)
Biology/Biotech
Chemistry
Food Makers
Robotics
New inventions
Green Tech
Custom Kites
Temporary Structures (Tents, Domes, etc.)
Unusual Tools or Machines
How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)

Stay tuned for 2013!

dalegrover — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:57:53 +0000

We’ll shortly be announcing the date and new location for 2013.

2012 Exhibitors!

dalegrover — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:01:45 +0000

We have a few spaces for exhibitors left, but here is the current list of exhibitors for the 2012 Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire. (pdf, 96 kB)

Electrolysis Detonators! Robots! Gatling-Gun Vortex Cannons! Gak! Scientific Sirens! 3D printers! More Robots! A Climb-Inside Truncated Icosahedron!

Make this Saturday Awesome! Come to the faire!

Register to be eligible for door prizes!

dalegrover — Sun, 27 May 2012 12:07:14 +0000

We just got the list of door prizes! Click on the “Register” button to the right and enter your information to be eligible. There is no cost to register, but you must register to be eligible for the prizes.

(Registration is not required to attend.)

Door Prizes for the 2012 Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire

2 winners for a one-year magazine subscription to Make Magazine.

1 winner for a family pass to World Maker Faire New York.

5 winner for one book each (choose one of the following):
Cooking for Geeks
Fashioning Technology
Getting Started with Arduino
Making Things Talk
Making Things See
Make: Electronics
Make: Arduino Bots & Gadgets

1 winner for either:
Compressed Air Rocket Kit
Getting Started with Arduino Kit

Thanks to Make for these great door prizes!

Space for a few more Exhibitors!

dalegrover — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:55:56 +0000

We do have space for a few more exhibitors–email us at tendrid@gmail.com. Thanks!