MAG SF at Maker Faire, 2010

Besides checking out all the exhibits and demos at this year's Maker Faire in the Bay Area, I volunteered some time helping out at the Metal Arts Guild San Francisco (MAG SF) booth.  I carpooled with Harriete Estel Berman (actually her husband dropped us off so we didn't have to pay $17 to park for one day) and was her helper at her Riveting workshop. 

Here's Harriete showing the techniques of riveting.  Since we were stuck under a large building overhang, the lighting wasn't all that good.

Our participants busy working on their pin or pendants

Riveting with the hammer on a horn anvil

Wha-la!  A beautiful pin.

A pendant

A western-themed pin (note the cowboy hat on the bottom)

These are just a few happy students who were so proud of their own creations.  It's just wonderful to see the big smiles on their faces.

Maker Faire 2010, Part 4 Pictures

The last of the Faire pictures:

Giant piano keys?

Gerard's Paella - DElicious, and the chef is in black

Cardboard Tunnel

Other end of tunnel

Resident, perched right outside the cardboard tunnel

If you enjoyed these pictures, I hope there's a Maker Faire coming to your area soon. Currently the Faire is happening in NYC, Detroit and I believe Austin too. It's just neat to be surrounded by so many talented people who came to share their visions and inspirations.

Maker Faire 2010, Part 3 Pictures

Vehicle and transportation at the Maker Faire, SF Bay Area

Raygun Gothic Rocketship where visitors can hike up to the metal hull.

Old Favorites

Decorated camper - Home Sweet Home.

Covered with Mirrors

Gotta love those teeth.

Recycling scrap metal???

One of my favorites - Cupcake Electric Vehicle from Acme Muffineering.

Big Bikes

An even bigger bike - with an antique feel

I don't know about this one - looks quite uncomfortable, if you ask me.

Maker Faire 2010, Part 2 Pictures

Continuing from yesterday's post, here are some fire arts.

A fire breathing dragon.

Snail Cart with antennae that blows flames.

Flaming Lotus Girls

Closer look at a part of Flaming Lotus Girls.

Flames come out from the thin tubes at the top.

Pretty awesome snakes.

... to be continued tomorrow.

Maker Faire 2010, Part 1 Pictures

The 2010 Maker Faire was another smashing success. The Faire is a DIY festival where you can find geeky projects and traditional craft demos. It is for people who like to tinker, build, and blow things up.

On Friday, setup day, a friend of mine asked me to help her set up her booth. There were seminars for the makers and volunteers. Dale Dougherty, founder of Maker Faire and publisher of Make magazines, spoke about his vision of bringing together the makers so they could inspire each other and others, and to get feedback about their projects and inventions.

Then Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine, talked about the Next Industrial Revolution, where every garage can be a micro-factory with entrepreneurial opportunities. I took so many pictures that I will split them into several postings. The following are some of the geeky techie projects:

R2-D2 was actually moving around and "talking".

Athletic stick robots that exercise for me - this one does arm curls and leg curls (above)

Robots doing push-ups.

The original Russell, the Electric Giraffe

Now, at 19 feet tall. Russell can walk, raise his neck, and moves his head. He has sensors so that when you stroke the top of his nose, he "talks" and tells you his name. Each year, he has added features.

Solar powered sewing machine that also embroiders.

Music by ArcAttack. They used 2 hand-built Tesla coils that throws out electric charges (like lightening bolts). The band was on the right side, and the robotic drum was on the left. It was really amazing.