When in-person events are nearly impossible, we go virtual! That is the route Maker Faire Twin Tiers will venture this year in consideration of the Covid-19 outbreak. Our friends at Maker Faire are leading the way to hlep us host a virtual event slated for October 16 and 17, 2020. This event will be all online, but there is a call for makers to apply NOW. The deadline for applications is September 20, so no time for procrastination!

Dan Schneiderman is the organizer of this virtual event, which combines all New York State Maker Faires into one event to rule them all. Twin Tiers will join Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Long Island, Fredonia, and World Maker Faire to give our audience an experience unlike any other. Let’s stroll down memory lane to entice folks from New York State inclined to the Maker Culture to apply to be part of this Epic Event.

Maker Faire Twin Tiers is well known for the Power Tool Drag Race. Participants customize power tools to be able to race down a wooden track. Finding the best tool for the task can often be tough, but making the machine aerodynamic and able to steer a straight line is often impossible! Dewalt generously donated power tools as prizes to first and second place winners in 2019.

Our maker faire has traveled the region over several years. We began at the Steele Memorial Library in Elmira, New York, but soon grew too large for the venue. The faire then moved to the Arnot Mall for a few years, until we found the perfect setting for a learning event like this. The Corning Community College is one of our partners and sponsors their campus as the location for Maker Faire Twin Tiers.

What better place to grow the Maker Culture than at a college? The Southeast Steuben County Library makerspace, Creation Station, brings so many goodies to the event each year. Above, you see our amazing crew having too much fun at the mall telling our patrons all things Maker. Our 3D printer runs the entire event with raffles throughout the day. Each crew member finds their favorite activity to highlight, too. We love the makeup effects Painted Love by Jennifer Sekella offers.

Corning is well known for glassblowing, so it seemed obvious that we needed to cover that topic. Luckily in 2019, we had 2 options for viewing. On the left is Mobile Glassblowing Studios from Americus, Georgia. Their equipment is totally mobile, making it perfect for touring Maker Faires!

On the right is a wood-fire ceramic kiln built by Fred Herbst, who instructed ceramics at the college for 20 years. He invited glassblowers from the Corning Museum of Glass to show their skills at this unique furnace. The odd thing about our faire in 2019 was that it SNOWED! That’s right, our April 27, 2019 maker faire gave snow and gusts of wind that no one anticipated. Sometimes weather in the Finger Lakes can be unpredictable.

The organizers of Maker Faire Twin Tiers always think of ways to make the event more enticing and memorable. If snow in April is not memorable enough, we ensured some quality enticement with Zack & Wheezy, the two-headed, fire and water breathing dragon! This beast was built by the Auto Body Welding class of 2019 and we can’t wait to get it back out to the public in 2021.

If you have a knack for creativity, tinkering, problem solving, building, engineering, or designing (the list does not stop there…), put your talents on display for us and help take over the Empire. Be sure to click this link to apply before September 20 to be considered for Empire State Maker Faire. Watch this video to learn more.

While Maker Faire is foremost in this post, I still have so many projects and fun stuff to share. I discovered the glory of harvesting plants for natural dye techniques and am excited to share the results. Last Friday was my first Field Trip to a local Micro Farm to see what’s happening in our neck of the woods. Hints are pending soon to get you all traipsing through the woods on a treasure hunt. I promise to share all the news, but none of the secrets. You have to be the hunter for those.

I leave you with some snippets and hints to your view next week. Until then, get outside! Keep calm and Let nature ❤

That’s a wrap for this stationary moment. I’ll check you on the flip side!