What Makes a Maker? – with Featured Maker J.B. of J3DESIGNCO

The second annual NWA Maker Faire is almost here, and makers from all around are getting ready to
show off their latest creations! We recently sat down with local artist and community volunteer JB, of
J3DESIGNCO, who will be bringing back her display booth for this year’s event. In our conversation, JB
talks about what it was like to attend the very first NWA Maker Faire as both a crafter and enthusiast of
maker culture. Whether you plan to attend this year’s event as a participator or simply an observer, this
behind-the-scenes look may give you a better idea of what Maker Faire is all about.

“Last year was the first time that the concept of even being a maker came up,” JB explained. “It never
crossed my mind to share it with anyone outside of my family. I like to make things just to see if I can… or to see how crazy and freaky it will look when I’m done!”

Anyone who has met JB knows just how much she enjoys designing and creating things, though
surprisingly, she never considered putting her work on display before. The decision to apply to Maker
Faire was made only after recommendations from others, including the Fabrication Lab Coordinator for
the Center for Innovation, Shelby Fleming. At first, JB wasn’t sure how her booth would “mesh” with
other projects she had seen, especially the more engineer-oriented categories like robotics and 3D
printing. Luckily, NWA Maker Faire 2022 brought out a diverse range of makers, including DIY crafters,
tinkerers, “foodpreneurs”, and more.

When asked about her favorite part of Maker Faire, JB said it was “the look of awe” on the children’s
faces. “It’s one thing to see on TV, but it’s something else when it’s right in front of you,” JB explained,
“It’s a really good experience whether you’re having a booth or not, because you can see literally
everything. It’s a good opportunity for small business owners to sell their products and for others to
share information. It’s also different than other fairs, because it’s really about the people and what they
are creating in our area.”

It’s no surprise that JB incorporated Halloween elements into the display, given her love for making
custom holiday decorations. With everything from skeletons to preserved insects, this was certainly the
spookiest booth to stop by. It was also important to JB that there be something fun for kids to interact
with, so she made a jumbo game of Tic-Tac-Toe, or in this case, “Cauldrons vs Candy Corns.” Be sure to
stop by J3DESIGNCO at this year’s Maker Faire to see JB’s next project: a dragon embryo encased in clear resin!

For anyone on the fence about showcasing their own work for the first time, JB gives a few simple words
of advice: “Go ahead and do it. You don’t need to have the biggest booth; you don’t need to have a lot of
things. Just bring something to show and something to work on.” JB says that actively working on a
project at your table (miniature potion bottles, for example) helps with the awkwardness and can be a
great conversation starter.

So, mark your calendars for this year’s NWA Maker Faire and prepare to be amazed by the incredible
displays of creativity, artistry, and innovation. JB and many other talented individuals are waiting to share their passions and projects with you, and who knows, you might just discover your own hidden maker talents. Don’t miss this chance to see the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth!”

Maker Applications Close September 15th!

It’s the last call! The opportunity to join Maker Faire NWA as a maker, demonstrator, or performer is coming to a close. 

Makers, creators, tinkerers, and innovators have till Sept. 15 to submit their applications. 

Maker Faire NWA is a chance for makers to share and showcase their hobbies, experiments, projects, and passions to the public. It’s a family-friendly event that will inspire you to learn new skills, discover new ideas, and have fun. 

If you’re a maker who wants to share your work with the world, you should apply to exhibit at Maker Faire NWA. The application deadline is September 15, so don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the greatest show-and-tell on Earth. 

Whether you’re an engineer, an artist, a scientist, a crafter, or anything in between, Maker Faire NWA wants you. You can exhibit as an individual or as a group, and you can choose from different types of exhibits, such as booths, workshops, performances, or demonstrations. 

Maker Faire NWA is a chance to connect with other makers, industry professionals, and like-minded individuals. You can exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and learn from each other. You can also enjoy the amazing exhibits of other makers, ranging from robots to gummy bears to medieval costumes. 

Don’t wait any longer! Apply to exhibit at Maker Faire NWA today and join the maker movement!

Calling Makers Together for Medieval/Fantasy LARP Day

For the love of knights, wizards, and medieval, fantastical adventures, don’t miss out on LARP Day at the Fayetteville Public Library. 

The Medieval/Fantasy LARP Day, much like Maker Faire NWA, features amazing exhibits, workshops, and performances. Be aware that some events require registration. It is slated for all day Saturday, Sept. 2.

LARP, or Live Action Role Playing, is a form of interactive storytelling where participants create and play characters in a fictional setting. LARPing can be a great way to express creativity, meet new friends, and immerse yourself in a fantasy world. The event is free and open to the public.  It is organized by Amtgard from Kingdom of the Emerald Hills, a live-action roleplay group. 

Whether you are new to LARPing or a seasoned veteran, you will find something to enjoy and learn at Fantasy LARP Day. 

Here are some of the highlights of the event: 

• Woven Paracord Bracelets: Learn how to weave paracord bracelets with medieval/fantasy live-action roleplayers Esquire Amser Starseer. Paracord bracelets are not only stylish accessories but also useful survival tools that can be unraveled in case of emergency. This workshop will take place 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Schmieding Foundation Teen Project Room. 

• Boffer Safety & You: Learn about safety and construction of boffer foam weapons. Boffer weapons are padded weapons made from foam and PVC pipes that are used for combat simulation in LARPing. They are designed to be safe and fun to use, but they still require proper handling and care. This hands-on workshop will be led by medieval/fantasy live-action roleplayer Baronet Drakel Pazitorin. This workshop will take place at the Center for Innovation Fab Lab from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

• Photobooth: Drop by the Center for Innovation Photo Studio and have your picture taken with medieval and fantasy live-action roleplay accessories. The photobooth will be open from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Don’t forget to share your photos on social media with the hashtag #MakerFaireNWA! 

• Costume Tips & Tricks: Join medieval/fantasy live-action roleplayer Tiarne Shrooms Myceliain for a lecture on the difference between historical and fantasy outfits and how they differ between LARP groups. This lecture will take place 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the Art & Movement. 

• Peg Weaving: Join medieval/fantasy live-action roleplayer Tiarne Shrooms Myceliain and learn peg weaving and watch a demo on transforming raw fiber into a weaving. Peg weaving is an ancient technique of making narrow strips of fabric by wrapping yarn around wooden pegs. You can use peg weaving to make belts, straps, bands, or decorations for your costume or gear. This workshop will take place 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Art & Movement Room. 

• Basics of Lettering & Calligraphy: Learn the basics of lettering and calligraphy with medieval/fantasy live-action roleplayer Lady Aislinn MacAodha. Lettering and calligraphy are the art of creating beautiful and expressive letters by hand. You can use lettering and calligraphy to make signs, banners, invitations, scrolls, or journals for your LARP character or group. This workshop will take place 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Schmieding Foundation Teen Project Room. 

• Foam Dagger Making: Learn how to create foam daggers with medieval/fantasy live-action roleplayer Drakel Pazitor in this hands-on workshop. Foam daggers are small boffer weapons that are easy to make and use. They can be used as backup weapons, throwing weapons, or stealth weapons in LARPing. This workshop will take place 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Center for Innovation Fab Lab. 

• Medieval/Fantasy Cookie Decorating: Learn how to decorate cookies with medieval/fantasy live-action roleplayer Dyth the Nightblade. Cookie decorating is a fun and delicious way to express your creativity and show your love for medieval and fantasy themes. This workshop will take place 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Deli seating.

We hope to see you at the Fayetteville Public Library with you LARP Day creations or a curious and creative mind! In the meantime, enjoy these photos from last year’s LARP Day!

Prototyping Fails Happen to Everyone

My boss took my design, chucked it in a vice, and then took one decisive swing at it with a rubber mallet. 

More accurately, my boss’ boss. I’d challenged a colleague to break a peg that I have been iterating on, and the department director wanted to take a literal swing at it. 

Every prototype has failed so far, and for various reasons. 

At the Fayetteville Public Library, in the Center For Innovation, and inside the center’s Photography Studio, we have an background support system. It is one of the assets that make available, or at least try to, for patrons to use. The system is useful for hanging backdrops. 

The system is simple: two tripods and a horizontal bar. The tripods are supposed to have two pegs that nest inside the horizontal bar. Someone—we suspect a ne’er-do-well—pilfered the pegs. 

I have been, since then, trying to design and iterate on that a 3D-printed replacement with very limited success.  

There were a variety of failures on the print bed that occurred while we tuned our 3D printers. The first completed print crumbled; the infill setting was too low. One peg sheered in half in the tripod, but it lived long enough for a patron to finish their photoshoot.  

I tried drilling a wood screw through the peg, but I apparently cannot drill straight. In fact, I drilled through the sidewall. The department director smashed my latest iteration with a hammer. 

Back to the drawing board, at least while we await replacement pegs to be sent from the manufacturer. 

Part of what makes prototyping in a maker space, such as the CFI, useful is that I have been able to share my failures with diverse peoples. In turn, they have been able to share advice and knowledge for my next iteration. It has allowed me to quickly create and test ideas before investing a lot of time and money. 

While 3D printing replacement pegs is not most efficient way to solve this problem, it has enabled me to engage in the prototyping process. 

Failure is an integral part of that process. Prototyping is about testing, refining ideas. It is about trying things to see what does and does not work.  

Announcing Maker Faire NWA 2023!

Immerse yourself in a world of creativity, innovation, and endless possibilities: Maker Faire NWA is back for its second year. It’s bigger, better, and more inspiring than ever before.  

The call for makers opened July 1 and will remain open until September. The Maker Faire is an amalgam of makers, engineers, musicians, writers, crafters, metal and woodworkers, visual artists, roboticists, and more to showcase their respective fields and expertise.   

“Maker Faire is a melting pot of local and regional makers sharing what drives them to create amazing things!”

Shelby Fleming, FPL Fabrication & Robotics Lab Coordinator

The Call for Makers application for the 2023 extravaganza is open, and makers and creators are welcome to peruse it to get a head start on their applications.  

The aim is to bring people together for a weekend of sharing, showcasing, and fun. Some may call it the greatest show-and-tell in the solar system. One of the valuable aspects of the Maker Faire NWA is the opportunity to connect with fellow makers, industry professionals, and like-minded individuals. Forge new friendships, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations.  

The Faire is scheduled for October 21 and hosted by Fayetteville Public Library staff. If you’re not sure where to begin making, then you can visit your friendly neighborhood library—in particular, the Center for Innovation at FPL—to get connected with resources and other makers and creators. 

Sneak Peek of NWA Maker Faire Lineup!

NWA Maker Faire is on the horizon, and we’re excited about all the fun things we have for you! 

What is Maker Faire? It’s a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From crafts and fashion to robotics and 3D printing, we’ve got something lined up for everyone!  

The Scott Family Amazeum, RIOT Robotics, Pacific Antenna, INTERFORM, Magnolia Cycles, and Crystal Bridges will all be there, as will local makers like Bellamy Brooks, Stacy Pants, and the library’s own Emily Walker (aka The Cozy Librarian).  

If you’re looking for food, we’ll have that, too! Mika’s Market and Kyya Chocolate will have you covered with plenty of tasty treats to keep you energized all day, and local artists like Matthew Curtis (handeyeco), Makayla Long, and Randi Sparks (Pyrogenic Arts) are ready to inspire you with their creations.  

Even Shelby Fleming, the Center for Innovation’s own pride and joy, is gearing up for an art installation in collaboration with Acadia Kandora, who you might also know from workshops she hosted in the CFI this summer. 

NWA Maker Faire will be at the Fayetteville Public Library October 8^th from 9AM-5PM with workshops, performances, demonstrations, live music, food trucks, vendors, and more! 

If you’re interested in joining our growing number of makers and vendors, registration is open until September 30^th, so get those applications in! 

Innovation at Fayetteville Public Library

NWA Maker Faire host Fayetteville Public Library is home to a state-of-the-art Center for Innovation, or CFI, open to the community and accessible to all with a library card. Community members can create and learn in this space with resources ranging from fully equipped video and audio recording studios to a VR studio and vehicle simulators for workforce development. One unique innovation space is the Koenig Family Fabrication and Robotics Lab equipped with multiple 3D printers, laser cutters and engravers, and Arduinos for the community to expand their skills. Featured Maker Bellamy Brooks is a regular in the “Fab Lab,” and recently shared her experiences with Fayetteville Public Library:

How did you learn about the Center for Innovation?

“It’s actually a really funny story how I learned about it. I just came to library when it first opened–the renovated section–and I was walking around, just touring the place with my boyfriend and we ran into Melissa [CFI manager] over by the theatre . . . she was about ten minutes away from leaving for the day and was like, ‘Hey, you two want a tour?’ just randomly. So she gave me a tour of all the new facilities in more of a back-behind-the-scenes kind of way, and as we were doing the tour I was saying, ‘Oh, I know about this! I know about that!’ and eventually we landed in [the Fab Lab], and I was like, ‘Oh, I know all these things about this and I would love to do this kind of stuff.’ So, months before it even opened, I was in here helping her Beta test stuff in the Fab Lab.”

How would you describe the Center for Innovation to someone?

“I would describe it as [an] open, creative space for people to enhance their own creative endeavors. If they have something that they want done, but don’t have the tools to do it, the tools are here. A lot of us don’t have access to industrial-grade machines . . . having access to these things, especially through a resource like the library, making it free-ish, makes it really awesome and accessible.”

What are your favorite suites or tools offered here?

“Well, unfortunately I haven’t had the pleasure of using anything else besides the Fab Lab, so obviously the Fab Lab is my favorite . . . I used to be really into 3D printing, and I’m a 3D sculptor in my free time [and] as a freelance artist as well, but the laser cutter–I’ve always wanted to get into laser cutting, but it’s such a weird hobby, like, I didn’t think I was going to start getting into it, but it’s been really fun . . . Things like the laser cutter, you just have infinite possibilities of what you can do with it. So that’s my favorite of the things that are in here for me.”

What is your favorite thing you’ve made in the CFI?

“I think [my] favorite thing that I’ve made is a–it’s a game called Pai Sho. It kind of looks like Chinese checkers or Go, and you have tiles that you can place around the board. This is a game that doesn’t exist in real life, it’s actually from a TV show, and there’s a big fan community around this game that they invented rules for, so there’s no official anything for this, and the only way to play it is by either paying hundreds of dollars for a custom carved wood board or laser cutting it. I think that’s my favorite thing I’ve built so far.”

How has the CFI impacted your life or work?

“Well, it’s impacted me in a couple ways. It’s given me more professional opportunities, which has been exciting–being able to teach classes about this kind of thing. I wouldn’t have been able to do that before. It also just gives me that extra edge if I’m wanting to push my hobbies to the limit or if I want to take this and use these skills professionally, as well.”

Why do you think this space is important for the community?

“Well, we just need more maker spaces, and this is now one of them. There used to be, like, one or two in all of Northwest Arkansas, and having another one–especially one that’s as accessible as this is amazing. So, we’re going to see a lot more people making their own things, I think, by having [maker spaces] like this.”

What future projects do you have planned or want to do?

“A lot of the things that I make are props for board games or tabletop gaming. So, expanding on the creations that I’ve already made, which could be terrain for a game or whatever else–I don’t think I have anything big I want to work on right now. I do want to redo the Pai Sho table and make it more ornate, but that’s the only thing I have on my mind right now.”

What about the CFI do you think is important for people to know?

“One of the things that is really nice about it is that it’s accepting of people of all skill levels. So, you could be a complete beginner or [an] advanced user and be able to get something out of it.”

Bellamy Brooks will be featured at the Northwest Arkansas Maker Faire leading kitbashing workshops.