Only a couple of days to Liverpool MakeFest now and here's the final podcast I can squeeze in before the big day. Our first repeat guest on the show as I went to see Little Sandbox but this time at their new home of Norris Green Library in Liverpool. I spoke to the project organisers Helen, Chris and Snoof about what they do, the impact it has and how things have changed since last year when I interviewed them for season 1. The new location is much bigger as you'll be able to see from the photo. It's all accessible and the resources the library provide are fantastic.
Project Linus is an international organisation of volunteers who make patchwork quilts and blankets to be given to children free of charge. Children in hospitals and care homes, the homeless and anyone else who could benefit. The blankets offer comfort and let them know someone cares.
Mike will be displaying some of the synths he's built on the DOES Liverpool stand at Liverpool MakeFest. So you can go along and see them for yourself, chat to Mike and maybe even have a little go if you ask him nicely. We discussed laser etching of fabric and all the possibilities this opens us for artists and makers. Liverpool Synthesizer Meet happens on a Saturday every couple of months at DOES Liverpool. Usually the 2nd Saturday of the month to coincide with a Maker Day event. The next being August 2019 at the time of writing.
It's season 2 episode 5 of Radio MakeFest and this time I talked with Darren AKA Hex Ceramic about his work laser etching fabric at DOES Liverpool among the many other cool things he makes. Darren is making the official badges for Liverpool MakeFest this year, not to mention the banners and some other goodies. I'm not at liberty to reveal the full design of the badges for this year I'm afraid but I have been authorised to share this image (to the right) of the stamp used to make them with you.
We're back with another great interview. That's right it's season 2 episode 4 of Radio MakeFest and this time I talked with Lorraine Underwood about the many great projects she's built and how she got into making. For Liverpool MakeFest this year Lorraine will be bringing Cubert, a 1 metre LED cube she built which can not only be used as a display but also play games such as Snake and Pac-Man thanks to it's Micro:Bit controller. During the interview we also discussed one of Lorraine's latest projects which are these fantastic light up wings for an angel costume.
This time I drove up to Neston on the Wirral to meet up with Pat Link who runs their school makerspace. Pat has been involved in Maker groups and events around Liverpool for years and it's great to see him passing on his passion (and skills of course) to new generations. We talked about how this fits in with the learning structure, what the kids get from it and how supportive the staff and parents are.
It's the second episode of our new season for 2019 and this time our guest maker is Michael Dales of Electric Flapjack guitars. Maker of fine custom guitars and luthier, a subject close to my heart.
We're back with series 2 of Radio MakeFest, the podcast companion to Liverpool MakeFest, the largest maker community event in the UK! This year we're interviewing the Makers, volunteers and amazing people involved in the upcoming event on June 29th 2019. I began this series by sitting down with Jackie Pease and Adrian McEwen of DoES Liverpool, a makerspace and co-working hub in the heart of Liverpool, and it's close to my heart too because Liverpool LUG meets there. DoES supports loads of great community groups and events such as the regular Maker Night every Thursday and Maker Day on the 2nd Saturday of every month.