Maker Faire is Coming to Austin

Austin is going to be one of the lucky few cities in the country this year to host Make: magazine's Maker Faire! This is going to be a really cool event, and one that is definitely suited to Austin's pool of creative genius. If you aren't familiar with the Make: or Craft: magazines, click on the current issues below. They are quarterly publications and online zines that feature wild and crazy project ideas from all kinds of wild and crazy people.

I subscribe to Craft:, which is mostly for the traditional arts & crafts mediums that have been revamped to meet today's trendy hipster needs. Make: is more for the super-smart, inventor/MacGyver types. However, the step-by-step instructions and photos, called "instructables," are easy to understand and stress the theory that ANYONE can do them. They have featured a remarkable array of DIY projects, ranging from practical solutions for your average appliance malfunctions, to creating mass chaos with only a few household items. Some of the most popular projects they've featured are:

• A homeade cotton candy machine
• An ipod or flash-drive charger made from a breath mint tin (pictured)
• Techniques for getting mountains of change from jammed vending machines, pay phones, & video games
• WWII techniques for locking someone to a tree without restraints (very dangerous)
• A remote device that allows you to lock up someone's shopping cart wheels from across a store or parking lot

But your invention or idea doesn't have to be complicated or mischievous to be selected for the Maker Faire. A whole list of suggested topics is featured on their web site's call for entries. They prefer exhibits that are non-commercial, interactive, and focus on the process of making.

If you already have a project, invention, presentation or demonstration ready to go, you can audition in person this Sunday, July 15th at the Austin Children's Museum. Applications and proposals are not officially due until August 15th. The Austin Maker Faire will take place October 20th and 21st at the Travis County Fairgrounds. For more info and entry forms, click here:

And even if you don't have something to exhibit, you should still buy a ticket and attend. It's sure to be the kind of thing you don't get to see very often.