oakland

Cultivating a Neighborhood Garden as a Community Organizing Hub

Cultivating a Neighborhood Garden as a Community Organizing Hub

By Sophia Smith

Sophia Smith

Sophia is the managing editor of the Make: blog. When she’s not greasing editorial gears, she likes to run, ride, climb, and lift things, and make lo-tech goods like zines, desserts, and altered clothing. @sophiuhcamille

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Bottom’s Up Community Garden in West Oakland, California, has become a jumping off point for strengthening community, organizing events, and DIY living.

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Maker Spotlight: Jillian Northrup & Jeffrey McGrew

Maker Spotlight: Jillian Northrup & Jeffrey McGrew

By Sophia Smith

Sophia Smith

Sophia is the managing editor of the Make: blog. When she’s not greasing editorial gears, she likes to run, ride, climb, and lift things, and make lo-tech goods like zines, desserts, and altered clothing. @sophiuhcamille

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With a small team and a CNC machine, Jillian and Jeffrey are using their design chops to tackle all kinds of interior and architectural projects.

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Nightmare Effects: The Evolution of a Horrifying Character Mask

Nightmare Effects: The Evolution of a Horrifying Character Mask

By Rachel Dagdagan

Rachel Dagdagan

A designer and maker since the little years, Rachel designs for film and commercial projects through her Oakland-based "The Gnome Studio," while regularly collaborating with special makeup effects group Pandora FX. Reach her on Twitter @thegnomestudio

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Learn how Oakland, California-based Pandora FX special effects brought the stuff of nightmares to life for a short indie horror film.

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Compete in Crazy Crate Stacking Sport at East Bay Mini Maker Faire

Compete in Crazy Crate Stacking Sport at East Bay Mini Maker Faire

By Sabrina Merlo

Sabrina Merlo

Sabrina is the Maker Faire Program Director. She works on stage content for the flagship fairs (Bay Area & New York), and also runs Maker Faire's global licensing program for locally and independently produced Maker Faires. She also co-creates the East Bay Mini Maker Faire in her town, Oakland, CA.

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Come one, come all to Oakland’s 6th annual Mini Maker Faire this weekend, Sunday October 18th!

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This Makerspace Wants You to Fail

This Makerspace Wants You to Fail

By Sophia Smith

Sophia Smith

Sophia is the managing editor of the Make: blog. When she’s not greasing editorial gears, she likes to run, ride, climb, and lift things, and make lo-tech goods like zines, desserts, and altered clothing. @sophiuhcamille

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Steam Factory is a brand new Makerspace in Oakland, California, that pairs creative professionals with kids and encourages them to learn from failures.

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Oakland High Schoolers Need Your Power!

Oakland High Schoolers Need Your Power!

By Michelle "Binka" Hlubinka

Michelle "Binka" Hlubinka

Michelle, or Binka, makes . While at Maker Media, she oversaw publications, outreach, and programming for kids, families, and schools. Before joining Maker Media in 2007, she worked at the Exploratorium, in Mitchel Resnick’s Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab, and as a curriculum designer for various publishers and educational researchers. When she’s not supporting future makers, including her two young sons, Binka does some making of her own, most often as a visual artist.

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Tony, Carlos, and Raul, students at Lighthouse Community Charter School in Oakland, have taken on an ambitious senior project they plan to exhibit at Maker Faire: converting a gas-powered truck to electric power. They’ve been working afterschool and weekends and already gave up at least one holiday to work on the conversion. These young men exemplify the self-motivation we see in so many maker projects.

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