Making Things

I've been doing a little silk knitting and kumihimo:


This is a class sample, 4-ply bombyx silk yarn, knitted on 00's. I have knitted with 2-ply for lace before, but had not tried a solid fabric. It looks nice, and feels fabulous, a success.

The kumihimo band is made with reeled silk given to me by Michael:


It's threaded through holes in the knitting:


And then doubled back:


Sharp people will notice there is also crochet at the top of the bag; I'm not adept at it, but I can get the job done. It does make a nice finish, and looks fine on both sides, so it is good for flop-over tops.

Lots of people make things, of course, and we went to San Mateo last weekend to see some of them at the Maker Faire. This is our second year going, and people have asked just what is the Maker Faire, so ths year I took some photos.There were foodies of various sorts, including cheese makers:


mushroom growers:


Chocolate makers:


Local food advocates:


There were blacksmiths:


A cooper:


Welders and sculptors of all kinds:

welded trees: fire safe, and tres cool.

Rocket makers and makers of other things launchable:

This is a potato gattling gun. I'm just glad my boys did not think of this when they were in the potato-launcher stage of growing up...

There were Art Cars:

Whirly Car


Radio Flyer Car

A car with actual bras:


Inside the buildings were all sorts of robotic cars:


A chair made from corrugated cardboard:


There were things for yarnies too: Tactile had a nice booth inside the Craft building, and I talked with Brooke a bit about how her business and life have changed with a new baby. She will also be a vendor at SOAR this year, yay!

Outside, there was a solar dyed yarn purveyor:


Primitive Arts booth:


with felted hats and boots, baskets and tools:


mineral painting agents:


The Maker Faire has just about anything you could imagine, booths with helpful people teaching things. Spindles and Flyers Guild had a booth teaching spinning, there were several yarn companies teaching knitting and crochet, sewing and quilting, all sorts of crafts, not to mention the electronics guys, and the mechanical guys, solar stuff, electric cars, rainwater collection systems, you name it. If you can make it, it was there, with lots of happy people of all ages playing, demonstrating, talking about what they make, and learning things. It's reminiscent of the 60's, with new century variants.

It is crowded; there are various strategies to cope with parking, crowds, eating, whatever, but the fairgrounds is a big place, made to handle lots of people, and it never seemed overwhelming. This coming from me, who is crowd-averse.

All in all it is a fun day, with too much to see and do, and we arrived home Very Tired!