This week I have been working on the sampler blanket /Â makerspace. While cleaning up the yarn mess to create the makerspace, I came across these blocks I started from my Sampler blanket. I haven’t really forgotten them. There has just been a huge amount of other stuff that I have had to work on. I am blocking them today and I have to admit that they are beautiful!
I thought that they would be ok, but they were so wonky that I Â needed to block them. I block on my ironing board and use my steam iron. I am sure to never touch the iron to the acrylic yarn. This sampler blanket is reminding me of doilies. I love the taupe carpet color behind these squares. It makes the sampler blanket look so clean and lacy.
Before blocking….
After blocking they are a much more uniform size and the edges are straighter. This will make joining a much simpler job.
We are creating a makerspace. What is a makerspace you ask?  well, it is a space where you can make stuff. We have a spare room right now that was our den but as hubs needed a bigger workspace and I needed a brighter workspace, we are creating a makerspace. We both love creating but not the same things. This space will be an area where we can be together but working on different things. He is into electronics, engineering, gizmos, gadgets and 3-d printers. I am into sewing, yarn, painting and artsy craftsy stuff. So we are moving furniture around, sending some off with grown kids as they move on in their lives and getting rid of others. We no longer need a huge room for 8-10 people to watch movies or play video games. We do need a place where we can all gather and make cool stuff.  Our kids are rather techie/creative types, one a programmer, one a mechanical engineer, one a digital design artist (studying), and one into sewing,  So we really do need a space where they can all create!
It will contain:
- a largish table for group work  or cutting
- 4Â chairs for the table
- 3 -4 sewing work spaces
- Storage for yarn, fabric and other soft stuff
- Tool storage on wheels
- 4 roller secretarial type chairs
- Mats for the roller chairs
- a cell phone docking station for all the phones
- wifi access
- several outlets
- a 3-d printer
- Â a fire alarm/smoke alarm/co2 detector
- lots of counter space
- a couch or some comfy chairs for people to hang out in
- good lighting
- all with a industrial type- 50s era style (this is subject to change)
I think we can put together a reputable space without spending too much money. Â We will use what we have until we are sure that working together in one room is actually going to work out! Here are some links to different maker spaces that I found.
https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7095.pdf
http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/a-librarians-guide-to-makerspaces/
We have also set some ground rules, of what can be done in the makerspace. One of the prime rules in our makerspace is no woodworking or spray painting. These both have the potential to damage the machinery in the room.
I will be updating soon with photos of the Sampler blanket / Makerspace.  I hope to include some photos of the creation of the makerspace as we ordered some chairs for the space. I am so excited to see how they look. We almost never buy new things. Our budget and family has prefered the upcycled, recycled, used furniture look. We haven’t bought new furniture in quite a while.
Talk to you later,
Karen