You Know it's a Party when the Cupcakes Arrive

The Maker Faire is being held in the Bay Area this weekend.  I'm here to help, to experience, to learn, to relate.  I've been planning this for a while, and I'm finally here - for 3 days.  This is Day two.

Friday at the Maker Faire.  The Faire will officially begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday.  Friday is the day when most of the makers start arriving to set up their equipment, products for sale, demonstrations and activities.  I am again a volunteer, this time as a Maker's Assistant. There's a nice group photo of the volunteer team in the album for this post.  Zelig.

I like the Maker's Assistant role, especially because the maker I am assigned to is building a water art piece with a tall tower, made mostly from salvaged items.

The Water Causeway

He calls himself Michael R. Phyxx. His daughter, The Lovely Devin. I and the other volunteers of the Maker Corps were at Michael's bidding as he worked to assemble the Water Causeway.  The video compresses an entire day into a few minutes, with chats with a very special father and daughter in the 2nd half of the video.  I have yet to see the sculpture work, as I left before it was fully built.  Something to look forward to today!

During the day, I was able to roam the Faire, and see some of the other makers at work.

Brolly Flock

This large scale, interactive, fire art piece was produced by the Flux Foundation.  The team this weekend was an all-female group of fire producing artists, who've been working since Tuesday to get the piece ready!  I was lucky to capture the first test firing of the piece!

LA 3-D Club

I followd the signs to the 3-D area and found some familiar names, Larry Kaufmann and Steve Berezin of the LA 3-D Club.  I belonged to the group many years ago, and loved what they could do old photos and movies.  This is a group of 3-D artists and photographers that loves to share what they do at their monthly meetings.  This group has been to all but one Maker Faire!  I got a chance to take a photo with the club.  Zelig.

Lunapillar

Not your average taxi-cab, but it's the Maker Faire, after all!  $2.00 will catch you a ride on the Lunapillar, which also made an appearance as a mutant vehicle at Burning Man.  An interview with the artists and the story of the Lunapillar.

There's so much more, but in the interest of time and getting to the show for today's fun, I will end with dessert.

And Finally! Cupcakes!

The cupcakes were originally muffins and cupcakes.  Muffins gave way to the more visual cupcakes.  I spoke to a couple of cupcake makers.

These cupcakes are a great way to get your transportation into the show.  Others have to walk, but if you are a cupcake maker, you can bring it in!  I counted five cupcakes assembling.

The wonderful thing about Making, is the sharing of information that occurs.  I spoke with a cupcake maker who can help you get started on your very own cupcake.

Trish writes as for Patch and as Handmade Penguin for the Handmade Penguin blog