Josh Williams
Introducing The Future Innovators Academy!
Introducing The Future Innovators Academy!
Manager of Maker Works
Maker Feature: Zachary Malott

Zachary may only be 12 years old, but he’s been coming along to Maker Works with a parent for years. This early introduction to making gave him the courage to learn how to use the Epilog Lasers and launch his own business: Table Top Tinkerers. When he isn’t busy making TTRPG accessories, you can find him doing Job Board tasks around the shop to fund the cost of his membership. Read on to discover more about this inspiring young entrepreneur!

Maker Feature: Zachary Malott
Manager of Maker Works
New Maker in Residence: Cameron Knox

Welcome our new Maker in Residence to the Maker Works Community! Cameron Knox will be working out of the shop through late July and will be holding a series of sessions for members on the filmmaking process.

New Maker in Residence: Cameron Knox
Manager of Maker Works
Maker Feature: Poás Bioenergy

Maker Works has been proud to host a variety of project teams from the University of Michigan over its 11+ years in operation. One of these teams, composed of Jose, Sofia, and Rachel, developed and prototyped a novel gasifier design with the resources in our metal shop. What is a gasifier, and how did access to Maker Works help with its development? Read on to find out!

Maker Feature: Poás Bioenergy
Manager of Maker Works
Maker Feature: Patti Ghezzi

Patti only picked up woodworking a few years ago, but since then she’s become an absolute powerhouse in the shop! From learning how to make dovetails by hand to filling her home with custom furniture, she never backs down from a chance to learn something new. Read on to hear more about her woodworking journey at Maker Works and see some of her projects in action.

Maker Feature: Patti Ghezzi

Maker Feature: Erika Cross

Maker Feature: Erika Cross

Erika Cross is a Michigan local and a holder of art and design degrees from the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and The Royal College of Art. Though she still works out of her home state, her creations have garnered praise and won awards around the globe. You’ll often find her taking a hands-on design approach in the Maker Works woodshop or collaborating with other makers in our common spaces. To learn more about how she turns our community makerspace into a haven for creative experimentation, keep reading!

Maker Feature: Ewunet Tadesse

Maker Feature: Ewunet Tadesse

Ewunet founded his business, Bregga & Co., back in 2012 to design and craft “accessories for the young and young-at-heart professional.” His fine leather and hardwood designs include business card cases, wallets, portfolios, and furniture items. But when life brought him from Pennsylvania to Michigan, he was concerned about finding a space to keep doing the work he loved. Thankfully, he found that place in Maker Works—keep reading to hear his story.

Maker Feature: Anke Eichstaedt

Maker Feature: Anke Eichstaedt

Anke began developing her talents for textile design as a seamstress at a dressmaker’s studio in Germany and later on while getting a degree in fashion design. She discovered that while it was nice to have other people construct her designs for her, she missed making things by herself. Anke later moved to the United States, and we’re sure glad she (and Alice the goldendoodle, one of our canine members) ended up in Ann Arbor! Keep reading to find out how she uses the Maker Works textiles area to create beautiful luxury handbags, accessories, and art pieces from high-quality leathers in all colors of the rainbow.

Maker Feature: Elderwood Academy

Maker Feature: Elderwood Academy

Not all of the makers who use our shop have grand aspirations of starting a business, but for those that do, it helps to have a bit of inspiration in the form of a success story. One of the many fabulous startups with origins at Maker Works is Elderwood Academy, a business that began with nothing but a gift idea, access to our ShopBot and Epilog Lasers, and a little bit of traction on the internet. Today, they’re a major supplier of tabletop gaming accessories and have moved into their own production facility. Read on to learn how they got to where they are now!

Maker Feature: Kelly O'Neill

Maker Feature: Kelly O'Neill

Over the next few weeks we’ll be featuring some of the wonderful makers who make our community great. Today we’re highlighting Kelly, a total powerhouse in the metal shop. You might find her making sparks on the plasma cutter, bending sheet metal and rods into gorgeous curves on the slip roller, welding up a storm, or powder coating pieces in a vibrant array of colors. Read on to learn more about how she got to where she is today, and check back next week for another featured maker!

Maker Feature: Lana Krolikowski

Maker Feature: Lana Krolikowski

Over the next few weeks we’ll be featuring some of the wonderful makers who make our community great. First up is Lana Krolikowski, proprietress of Saving Throw Pillows. You can find her using tools all throughout the shop for her own personal projects as well as the textiles area, lasers, and wood shop to create TTRPG-themed accessories to sell. Read on to find out more about her work and her connection to Maker Works, and keep checking back to hear about more of our wonderful members!

Maker Works Open House!

Rainbow image with words Open House October 23rd 2pm - 5pm

Please join us on Sunday, October 23rd anytime between 2pm - 5pm for our Open House celebration of 11 years around the sun!

Stop in for a tour featuring live tool demonstrations! Meet some of our fabulous makers, see their work and hear their stories. Learn about some of our new programs, partnerships, and upcoming accessibility initiatives!

Help us out! We would love to take this opportunity to share the resources of Maker Works to as many groups as possible. Please share and invite a friend, organization, club, company, school, troop, etc. An event on Facebook can be found here.

Thank you!

A New Makerspace, Community Partnerships, and 200,000 + sold units!

The Hawk is the newest makerspace in Farmington Hills. Their open house is on Sat., August 13th from 12pm - 4pm! Read the concentrate article that covers some our collaboration!

Are you trying to make a helpful contribution to our community? Think the resources at Maker Works can help? Check out our new program that reduces the cost of access.

What are we making?

Embroidery Bobbins! Gail recently surpassed 200,000 units sold for her business (GW Stichin' Depot) that she started last year. She’s purchased an upgraded Epilog Laser that is housed in her private studio at Maker Works.

Group Activity Make & Takes

Looking for a unique activity for your company, organization, group date night or birthday? Our guided Make & Take workshops range from birdhouses to building your own CNC. Or let us setup our 40 ft Great Maker Race at your location! Take a peak here and contact us for group pricing.

Below are three that anyone can join!

Spend the day with us building your own CNC Router on Saturday, August 20th at 10am. Bring a friend and build one together!

Discover the joy of computer controlled plasma on Saturday, August 27th at 10:30am and build your own Plasma Cut Sign.

Join us on Sunday, August 28th at 2pm for a relaxing afternoon assembling your own beautiful Kumiko Panel. Anyone can join!

Nifty Neighbors - Go deep with your learning

Southeast Michigan is rich with resources when it comes to making. We like to highlight those resources every time we can. Let us know your favorite!

WCC runs both introductory and in-depth welding programs with fantastic instructors that build award winning welders!

The Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute offers courses ranging from weekend excursions to year long deep dives! GI Bill Eligible!

South East Michigan Woodworkers is a wonderful online (and occasionally in person) community of knowledge, tools, and projects.

How Are We Doing?

Each month we aim to introduce more people to the shop, teach more classes, and support more members. Below are some numbers representing where we're at this month (actual/goal). Follow the links to find how you can help!

Support Your Community of Makers!

CORP. SPONSORS

Be a visible steward of a community of small businesses and makers!

CORP. MEMBERS

Augment your business or students' abilities, or offer an amazing staff perk.

DONATIONS

Your generous offer helps the shop stay accessible and affordable!

Makers in the Shop!

First person to email excutivedirector@maker-works.com with where this sign is at MW gets a free month : )

Seeing, learning, and sharing with people is by far one of the most valuable things you’ll experience at a makerspace. We tend to highlight the fancy projects (as you’ll see below), but our classes, instructors, and many of our members are here to help you get started regardless of how much you know.

Erika Cross Studio produces amazing handmade furniture and objects with attention to the tiniest details. One of their latest pieces is getting a last minute shine before being properly photographed and introduced to the world later this week!

Woody runs his company Lockewood Goods using a variety of tools throughout the wood and metal shop, though much of the final work that really makes his products shine hidden away in his studio space. His most recent product is a Kneeling Chair (pictured), involving a collaboration with fellow maker Anke of Elophina to get the leatherwork just right.

You’ll find Little Lake Technology working on their latest products in our electronics studio. They prototyped an initial board using our PCB Engraver before sending it off to a traditional board house. Pictured is one of the first runs of their Tiny Switchy, fresh out of the reflow oven. This device helps adapt electronic toys (and more) to be more accessible. Read more about it at this article in “Closing The Gap”, an organization that promotes Assistive Technology.

The future is yours to make!