Multiple Minds of a Maker

I love this sentiment from Mike Pekovich @Pekovichwoodworks on Instagram.  I love those moments on conception, building and recognition.   It's also at the last stage that you sometimes discover that your conception and the execution, don't match and it's either better, worse or just different than you'd intended.

Sometimes I think that making requires a split personality. The beginning of the process is all about design- worrying about scale, line, proportion, function. Once you start to break down lumber, mill stock, join parts, the focus is only on craftsmanship, accuracy. Then, at a certain point, lost in the zen of the moment, you happen to look up and see that the designer's vision you'd forgotten about has begun to take shape at the hands of the craftsman. At that moment both halves of my brain look across at each other and say "hey, nice job." Then it's back to work.

A photo posted by Mike Pekovich (@pekovichwoodworks) on Dec 28, 2015 at 4:31am PST

Make's Most Interesting Makerspaces in America

Great list of amazing sounding makerspaces across America.  Sadly, none in Maine (yet). 

Make's Most Interesting Makerspaces in America

Debbie Chachra isn't a maker- and that's fine

Debbie Chachra

Interesting article in the Atlantic by associate professor at Olin College of Engineering, Debbie Chachra about why she doesn't identify herself as a maker. 

Why I am not a maker

It was a very timely article for me as I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about making. What a maker is and why it's important.   While it's fine that she doesn't wish to identify as a maker, the perspective which she bases that decision on is not mine.   She sees the roots of making very differently and defines making and maker very differently than I do.

Making is not a rebel movement, scrappy individuals going up against the system. While the shift might be from the corporate to the individual (supported, mind, by a different set of companies selling a different set of things), it mostly re-inscribes familiar values, in slightly different form: that artifacts are important, and people are not...Describing oneself as a maker—regardless of what one actually or mostly does—is a way of accruing to oneself the gendered, capitalist benefits of being a person who makes products.

I started to try and provide counterpoints to some of Mrs. Chachra's points in how she defines these and realized that short of providing a full critique, I couldn't provide an accurate picture of mine.  In short though, capitalism and consumerism are far from making.   People are at the core of it.   Making isn't about the product, but the process and perspective. 

Instead of rattling on, I'll save the long version for another day and encourage you to read her piece and think about what making is to you. 

Great Giant Wooden Lego men

Giant Lego men

 If you don't know of Instructables.com then you need to.  It's an amazing site with instructions on creating or making a range of items.  Whether it's electronics, sewing, cooking, science experiments or interesting effects, Instructables has enough to keep you busy.

I continue to be awed and inspired by some of the makers at Instructables and this is one such project.  Not only is it Lego which is a current big hit in my house post-Christmas, it's wood.  Simon Begg execution of it is gorgeous.   He's a professional wood turner, but obviously also a talented wood crafter as well.

The men were created at a scale of 1:6.25 using Huon pine, Australian red cedar and American walnut.

Lego man waving

Simon Begg

More pictures and build instructions are available at Instructables or visit Simon's Facebook page for more of his work.