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Bellingham Makerspace Newsletter

August 2022

Hello from the Makerspace! We have exciting news for you.

Featured in This Issue:

Meet a Member: Heidi O’Ferrall
New Board President: Jeff Copeland
Important Volunteer Meeting
Maker Faire
Birchwood International Market Update
FerndAle Block Party
Bellingham Makerspace Wiki
Group Quilt Project
Woodshop Class Update
Cosplay Meetup
NeoPixels Workshop
Upcoming Classes

Meet a Member: Heidi O’Ferrall

1) What is your earliest memory of making something?

My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 5 years old. She wanted all her granddaughters to know how, so she sat us down and patiently explained how to run the machine. I was the youngest, but I was the one who was the most interested in playing with it. I made a tiny little quilt that was so small, the "squares" were less than an inch each. I can't imagine trying to work with pieces that tiny! It must not have seemed so small in my 5-year-old hands. Luckily, my grandmother had the foresight to keep it and gave it back to me once I was an adult. It's my earliest known artwork and my favorite keepsake.

2) What is your favorite thing to make now? Your favorite tool?

Nearly thirty years later, I still love sewing! I design and make different fashion pieces for my small business, Forest Girl Clothing. I make lots of accessories and jewelry, but full garments are the most fulfilling. I am never too far from my sewing machine, but I also spend lots of time drawing designs for embroidery and printing.

3) What are you currently working on?

Currently, I'm using the laser cutter at the Makerspace to create a line of leather jewelry. These are lacy designs of intertwined leaves, cut from an eye-catching variety of designer leather hides. I especially love metallic finishes and organic textures. Leather is one of my favorite materials, and it's been so rewarding to discover new ways of using it.

4) How did you get involved at the Makerspace?

I found the Makerspace just by walking through Bellis Fair Mall last spring. My main interest was learning to use the laser cutter, so I'm glad to have fulfilled that goal!

5) What is your current involvement at the Makerspace?

I'm the sewing Tool Champion and a brand new Administrative Member. I've been working on improving the sewing area and getting all the machines functional. It's already come a long way, but I have lots more plans!

6) What do you like the most about the Makerspace?

My favorite thing about the Makerspace is sharing my knowledge and experience with other members. I've collected a lot of random skills over my years as a professional craftsperson, and teaching them to other people is even more fulfilling than using those skills for myself. I hope that others can get the benefit of my experience, and I'll do my part to keep growing our community.

7) What advice do you have for other makers?

Never stop learning! Every day you spend at the Makerspace, you can learn something new. Just keep your eyes and mind open!

9) Is there anything else you would like to add?

Please check out my store at www.forestgirlclothing.com and my artistic portfolio at www.atelierheidi.com.

.Photo credit: Bodi Hallett (@sattvaphoto) with photoshopping by Dan Marshall

New Board President: Jeff Copeland

1) What is your first memory of making something?

When I was perhaps five -- mind you, this was back when Kennedy was President -- I wanted to make a machine with a keyboard on it that would allow me to communicate with someone far away and I could also use to control my imaginary spaceship. I made a pretend version with crayons, scissors, glue and a corrugated cardboard box. (For the hardcore computer geeks: notice that I anticipated the concept of Alan Kay's Dynabook by about two decades.) A while later, when my parents wouldn't buy me a chemistry set, I cut out a mock chemistry set from a shirt cardboard -- test tubes, flasks, little bottles.

2) How did you get involved at the Makerspace?

I blame Dan Marshall, who I knew from Toastmasters. He dragged me into the Space one afternoon, introduced me to Mary and Jeremiah and Ben, and I was hooked.

3) What experience do you bring to the Board Presidency?

Too many years managing software teams. Managing volunteers is a slightly different gig, since we can't reward outstanding service with money. But my overarching management philosophy still applies for goal setting for volunteer projects: "here's where we want to go -- take this part of it, and let us know when you need help." And the rest of the soft skills -- dealing with clashing personalities, balancing priorities, getting projects over the finish line -- transfer nicely.

4) What types of things are you doing for the Makerspace?

Other than chairing the board meetings, I like being the utility in-fielder and picking up projects like collecting our new chairs for the classroom. But I also try to spend my Saturdays at the Space to check in with members.

5) What is your favorite tool?

This week the laser cutter. Last month the button-making tools. The month before that the 3D printers. Do I contradict myself? I contain multitudes.

6) What is your favorite type of project?

Because of my background building typesetting and computer display software, anything that has a graphical element to it I find very cool.

7) What do you like most about the Makerspace?

That we're a bunch of disparate souls in community trying to make things and learning from each other. And as we go on, we connect with other interesting communities, like TAG, Makers Making Change and Whatcom Intergenerational High School.

8) What advice do you have for other makers?

I keep finding myself quoting the slacker philosophers of San Dimas, Bill and Ted: "Be excellent to each other." Remember that we’re a herd of cats, so we move in random directions— don’t let that upset you, and make allowances for others. Also, remember that we’re all volunteers.

Important Volunteer Meeting

The next volunteer meeting, Saturday, August 6 at 1pm, will include an announcement about the names of the new Administrative Members. These are volunteers who will be overseeing operations of parts of the Makerspace including the other volunteers who work in their areas. Administrative Members will report to our Operations Managers, Phoebe Clark and Jason Davies. Be sure to come to the meeting for this important announcement.

Maker Faire

Join us for Bellingham Maker Faire October 1st from 11am-6pm!

We're excited to see momentum building for this year's Bellingham Maker Faire! Having secured the space in Bellis Fair Mall that was previously occupied by the Gap (kitty-corner from Makerspace!), now we're into the logistical planning and outreach stage. Our passionate and enthusiastic team are already making contact with makers in the community, and on August 1 we'll launch our official "Call for Makers".

If you're interested in either having your own table at the Faire, or in joining our volunteer team, please contact Lisa Lang at 253.468.5330 or email lisa@bmakers.org.

We look forward to seeing you!

Birchwood International Market Update

Bellingham Makerspace will have a booth at the Birchwood International Market August 19 from 6-8pm. This is a fun opportunity to reach out to the community and share activities. We had a booth in June and July. Thank you to everyone who is participating in this effort!

FerndAle Block Party

Bellingham Makerspace will have an activity booth at the FerndAle Block Party at FrinGe Brewing in Ferndale on Saturday, August 20 from 12-8pm. Entry for this event is free. For more information, see the event page at https://facebook.com/events/s/1st-annual-ferndale-block-part/377054571153360/.

Bellingham Makerspace Wiki

Do you want information about the Bellingham Makerspace? On the Makerspace Wiki, you can find information about various topics including membership, volunteering, our shop and equipment, and our Board of Directors. The membership information includes safety policies for the Makerspace. You can find all this online at wiki.bellinghammakerspace.org.

Group Quilt Project

Join our Makerspace community in a group sewing project to decorate the Makerspace windows! Members and volunteers are invited to design their own fabric square, which will be incorporated into a large collaborative quilt. All fabric-friendly mediums are welcome — you can paint, print, draw, glue, embroider, etc — as long as it can still be sewn when you are done. Show up to Monday Project Night to participate!

Woodshop Class Update

Take our required woodshop tools and safety standards class so you can use woodshop tools at the Makerspace. The popular Intro to the Woodshop Class is now available more frequently. There are classes available on Tuesday August 16 or 30 from 5:45-7:15 pm. Sign up here before classes fill up.

Cosplay Meetup (Free)

Come share ideas, projects, and techniques of costume making, creature creation and cosplay. This group meets the fourth Saturday of every month, including August 27, from 3-5pm. This meetup is free. You don’t need to register. Just show up and get ready to nerd out with fellow cosplay fans! Kids under 12 are welcome with an adult assistant.

NeoPixels Workshop

Learn how to program NeoPixel lights with an Arduino microcontroller. With one data line, you can tell every LED on a strip to be a certain color and brightness. See the listing for information about what to do before the class. This is Friday, August 12 from 4:00-5:30 pm. Sign up here.

Upcoming Classes

You can view a list of upcoming classes at the Makerspace by clicking here.

Project Night (free)
Intro to the Woodshop
Intro to the Wood Lathe
Intro to the Vinyl Cutter
Craft Time (free)
Intro to the Laser Cutter
Intro to Vector Graphics
NeoPixels Workshop
Arduino Meetup (free)
NorthWest Free Repair Event
Intro to Screen Printing
The Co-op Factory
Cosplay Meetup (free)

Aug 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 - 5:30pm
Aug 2, 11, 16, 30 - 5:45pm
Aug 3, 17 - 6pm
Aug 4, 18 - 6pm
Aug 6, 13, 20, 27 - 2pm
Aug 10, 24 - 6pm
Aug 11 - 6pm/ Aug 26 - 5pm
Aug 12 - 4pm
Aug 12 - 6pm
Aug 14, 21 - 1pm
Aug 24 - 5:30pm
Aug 25 - 6pm
Aug 27 - 3pm

This is a newsletter from the Bellingham Makerspace, brought to you in part by Grizzly Tools, inc.

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