Sunday, December 29, 2013

So, Why the Silence?

So, my only excuse for radio silence in the last two weeks is the flu.  It's nasty to be trapped in bed for 6 days without the energy to actually accomplish anything.  And I had every opportunity to try.

I have the sweetest spouse, and like any engineer believes that having the right tool will make you more productive.  And in his mind, what better time to be more productive than when you're laid up in bed all day.  So with a gleam in his eye he went to work.  He had rigged the Bose to an Iphone and a Kindle HD with bluetooth to a desktop so that I had internet, TV, radio, a telephone and a laptop with wireless printing.  I could tell by his smile that he was so proud of how "conducive" he had designed my work environment for my confinement.  Alas, he knew I was truly sick when he returned from work at the end of the evening.  Nothing had moved and I lay moaning but not aware enough to be bored.  The next day his wonder turned to worry and he pondered aloud if he should call the doctor when my phone didn't go dead though I had forgot to plug it in all day.

With much prayer and patience, my confinement finally lifted two days before Christmas Eve, and we made the long trek north for the Holidays.  And thanks to Lysol and seclusion, no one else came down with the dreaded sickness.  So now I'm not sick, but I'm still behind on my work.  But all is right with the world.  My family got a few days off from Holiday preparations, and my household once again understands how important it is to have Mom healthy.  In all, my house might be messier.  But I haven't felt this loved in a long time.

Now, if he could just rig up some device that would do my laundry?

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

"So...why this blogging thing?"

So there are a lot of topics that are running through my mind that I would love to talk about next:  the ideal contents of a makerspace, monetization, business plans or floor layouts.  These conversations  swirl around in my head.  Not to mention, how do I start up a Kickstarter? (and is it two words or just one ;)
  That's the function of a blog, eventually I can talk about whatever I want.  And trust me, I will. But that isn't my reason to blog.  I think of blogging as being authentic, a reflection of a core value.  This is a chance to speak to the idea of community.  
   Day after day I bring my dish to the proverbial potluck.  And it's only one dish among many.  It's not the best dish...at times it may be the worst.  And it will only make a great meal when I am willing to let others show me what they can create.  And not simply because there are a lot of fine cooks invited.  Rather, the conversation and acceptance of good friends transcends the gourmet (and covers a multitude of recipe disasters).  
   This is the fundamental belief that undergirds everything we do at Maker's Edge.  There is no good thing that we can accomplish that wouldn't be made better by the input and reflection of a friend.  Community drives this blog, and it drives our desire for this space.  A shared experience where every person feels the value he or she brings to the creative moment just by being present.  This is collaboration from inspiration to design, from conception to prototype.  And how can we cultivate this paradigm in the room if we are unwilling to embrace it as people? 
   I felt the need for this value to be clearly said before we ask people to invest in us or our vision.  We are open source to the core, and we embrace collaboration as a way of being, not just a business plan.

Monday, December 9, 2013

So what is a makerspace?  That is what most people ask when Rick and I talk about this business venture.  Well, it means a lot of things to a lot of people.  But the fact is, the idea of makerspace is exploding around the nation.   Milwaukee Maker Space put it well: We aim to foster a community of makers by providing an environment in terms of people, equipment and space that supports the creative process and personal growth. Modern software, the Internet and economies of scale have all come together to allow ordinary people with a little bit of know-how to begin blurring the lines between manufacturer and consumer. With some effort and the help of a growing community of makers it is possible for a lone individual to make things of amazing quality and functionality.  We envision a space that brings together a community of DIY people with wonderful fabrication equipment in a way that supports collaboration, creativity, ingenuity and personal development. Our long-term goal is to have a top-rated fabrication lab, community classes and individual pods that support startups and small-businesses.  Our hope is to build out this lab that is accessible to those in higher education, individual innovators and community youth groups (like 4-H and Scouts), but focused on the maker community in Waco.  For a better look at what this means practically, take a view of Artisans AsylumATX Hackerspace or Maker Works.  Then, dream with us as we think about how amazing this would be in Waco, Texas.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

More like a Day 2, not really Day 1

So technically, Day 1 was yesterday.  And it ended not in a whimper or a roar, but with a nod and a wink.  Which is the cosmic way of saying, "keep going, you're on the right path."  Which is a great message to have.  After all, I've quit my job and gave up an income, we are eating a lot of beans and rice, shopping consignment and no longer buying Bulleit, but have settled on Jack (on sale).  So, to put it succinctly, my husband and I are devoted to creating a makerspace in Waco.

As I write this post, we don't have a single follower.  Which makes sense, as we don't even have a business.  But, we have a passion for seeing something new happen in Waco.  And not just for us or our clan.  We believe that Waco is waiting expectantly for a place where ingenuity, practicality, community and creation can come together.  And, yesterday we received a nod from Baylor and the Bric that they may be ready for it too.

So for all of the hackers, makers, tinkerers and garage innovators (as well as the academics out there), here we come.  This post is a celebration.  Tomorrow reality will come.  Today, we celebrate and say "Hello Waco!  Here we come!"  And thank you Jesus, for showing us the right road.