Alrighty then! Thanks to everyone who tuned into #SolarPunkSunday, and @MaQuest and @BrambleBearGrrrauwling , and everyone who chimed in about #GuerillaGardening and #PeanutGardening (do at your own risk!). Tune in next Sunday (assuming there's still an internet) with more about #Rewilding #RepairCafes #Degrowth #Sustainability #LibraryOfThings #Makerspace, etc! Suggestions welcome!

#Colorado - #Libraries and the ‘economy of sharing’

An ode to the palace of the people

By Kaylee Harter - Apr. 9, 2025

"Visit one of BPL’s #makerspaces, a feature that’s become a staple in many libraries, and you can use #3DPrinters, #looms, #LaserCutters, #ScreenPrinting equipment and more.

" 'It’s a collaborative learning environment,' Farnan says. 'We’re learning together. If you were to go into the makerspace today and ask, like, ‘I’m thinking about doing this,’ then they would say, ‘I don’t know how to do that, but let’s figure it out.’

" 'That is inherently resilient.'

"He recalls a blind artist who came in with a unique challenge: 'She wanted to be able to see her drawings.'

" 'They worked with her with 3D printers, with the laser cutters and that kind of thing, in order to transfer her drawings into dimensional objects, because they were abstractions, so that she could then see them with her fingers.'

"Despite the always expanding array of programming and services, the books themselves — and literacy for all ages — are ever important."

https://boulderweekly.com/special-editions/libraries-and-the-economy-of-sharing/

#WatertownMA - Watertown's "#LibraryOfThings" offers creative #community #workspace. Here's a look inside.

Story by Jordyn Jagolinzer

"The library in Watertown, Massachusetts is providing the tools and a space for people to get creative and learn new skills.

" 'A lot of libraries have started a 'library of things' collection, but they don't have necessarily a space to allow people to just make and create and build community,' Watertown Public Library director Kim Hewitt said. 'We have a big Hatch-maker space and that was one of the first in the area.'

"The 'Hatch' facility on Summer Street is right around the block from the main library. The workshop is stocked with tools, materials and expertise for everyone to learn in a venue that fosters #creativity.

"We have scraps of material to play around with, the #SewingMachines, or create something, #JewelryMaking. It doesn't have to be prescriptive. You can go there and see what appeals to you," Hewitt said.

"The #Hatchspace is a standout amongst similar programs in Massachusetts, and it just celebrated it's tenth birthday. It has #ButtonMakers, #LaserCutters, and even #3DPrinters.

"Talented expert volunteers are on hand to assist patrons with their projects, which is how Seth Deitch first started making things in the space.

" 'We're very lucky to have the people that we have who volunteer here. Many of them are extremely talented. Lots of people with advanced degrees,' Deitch said.

"Hatch also offers workshops that more and more people in the community are getting involved in.

" 'It's nice having a space for the entire community that's free to come to and work at,' Deitch said. 'Nowadays, people spend a lot of their time staring at screens, not enough working with their hands.'

"The best part is, anyone in the state can get in on the fun.

" 'As long as you're a #Massachusetts resident, you can get a library card at the #WatertownPubliclibrary,' said Ran Cronin, the library's access services supervisor.

"The library is hoping to expand the Hatch space. It also has one of the largest English language-learning programs, called #ProjectLiteracy, which serves 900 students per year."

Source:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/watertown-s-library-of-things-offers-creative-community-workspace-here-s-a-look-inside/ar-AA1Cfel3

Been busy this evening, with a chain-reaction of events.

I got my #3DPrinter working again - nozzle was blocked, and I couldn't get it unblocked, so I ordered some replacement ones, which arrived nearly a week ago. For multiple reasons, I haven't had the opportunity and/or energy to fit it, until tonight. Got a great test print run off, first try with the new nozzle, so tomorrow I'll be able to set off the ~15 hour print I was trying to do when it blocked.

Also been thinking about a re-spin of the #MakerSpace concept that hopefully won't be so fkn horrible to run. I've been ruminating on this for the last couple of years - especially since I rage-quit running my local makerspace in the summer of 2023, when I had an #AutisticMeltdown due to having to leave our premises because the landlord was a rogue. Tonight I was able to actually get some good ideas down, some basic principles: virtual; non-hierarchical; no committee/board; distributed inventory; premise-less; nomadic - meeting in various venues around the area; organised online (pref using something federated); self-organising; plus a bunch of other things.

As a result of *that*, I ended up looking at #ActivityPub based applications, looking for things that might help with the "virtual makerspace" idea. Found three that I feel I need to check out: Hubzilla, Mobilizon, and NodeBB.

Looking at those three, NodeBB stuck out as it actually mentions FreeBSD as a supported platform, so *that* made me update my #FreeBSD-based mini-NAS, so I could test it. So I've just got it back up to scratch, because it WAS running FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE-p5 GENERIC, but after running freebsd-update, I found it's now no longer supported. While I've been typing this, it's just finished installing 14.2-RELEASE-p3.

Oh, and also been talking with my wife about how her #AutismAssessment went this evening.

And posting about British Chips and Mushy Peas.

My thoughts about planting a garden (buy farm share instead!) Buyerarchy of Needs & how to shift your mindset about consumption: lots of links, ideas & frothy #solarpunk stuff to stare down the chaos.

https://susankayequinn.com/2025/04/how-to-prepare-not-prep-for-uncertain-times-and-build-a-better-world-in-the-process.html

Here's a #craft work in progress. #cad drawing in #qcad of an #islamic tile pattern. Engraved that into a piece of plywood with a #lasercut machine. The dark spots are burnt away to a depth of ca. 1.5 mm. I pressed a prepared sheet of clay onto the form and got this pattern. Next step is glazing. Now I know this works, I have lots of ideas.
#pottery #makerspace #fablab

A sign for a Local #Makerspace. #hackspace

What would you make it out of? Black Aluminium backing with copper lettering would be my preference so that the copper rusts naturally. It will be in a middle of an estate with a playground next to it and the building will have a barn shape.

What would be your opinion. This is the only chance to bikeshed.

Made a little candle holder out of a bit of scrap oak. Just about to start something a bit more elegant with a bit of yew. #WoodTurning #woodworking #MakerSpace

“Exploration and creativity is a right.” Hmmm... Yeah, this seems to make sense, but it may have some unforeseen consequences. #creativity #schools #education #STEM #STEAM #makers #makerspace

Danke an die @dasa für die tolle #makerfaireruhr ! Wir kommen gerne wieder, es war eine schöne Zusammenarbeit mit euch @c3re , @ctdo . #fablablünen , #pingeV und #makerspace #schwerte , war schön mit euch in der Energiehalle

Made a laser crafted sign to go outside the laser room of my local makerspace. Very happy with how it turned out. I did a blog post over on Maker Forums on the make. (see link)

https://forum.makerforums.info/t/makerspace-laser-room-sign/92959?u=nedman

I made this cool owl! I was part of a tester group for a new class at Protohaven for laser engraving and used a couple different techniques to get this effect.