Making Problems to Solve

This week I chatted with Keith Peters, often known as bit-101 on the web. Keith has been creating and sharing computer art on his web site since the Flash days of the 2000s. He's still out there making art and recently made some prints available on his store. We talked about his ongoing exploration of programming art, some computer hardware, exploring crafts such as blacksmithing and even making music!

In this episode I have a year-end catch up chat with my friend Trevor Higgins, know as @dustysqueak on Instagram. We chat about belt buckles furniture, sewing, leather and 3D printing. Along the way we imagine building an envelope stuffing machine. I am sure with all those skills we could figure it out. Don't miss the bit about a 7-1/2 foot tall Start Wars robot (android? can you call them robots if they are from Star Wars?)Remember kids, Music is Math!

My guest is Dean from @dean_makes on Instagram. We chat about his history in making, including working in a secondary school wood shop, working is music stores and learning the skills of a guitar tech, to guitar building and digital fabrication. Of course, along the way we discuss Dean's discovery of the maker community.We also learn that it might just be the year for Andy Pugh to get a pen plotter. Check out Dean on Instagram and https://www.youtube.com/@DeanMakeshttps://www.youtube.com/@DeanMakes.

Mark and Nick are back, and we chat about getting back to business after a break due to the natural cycles of life. Hear us chat about why YouTube sucks, marketing, telling your story, how to identify and manage distractions, and ADHD. We actually did some recommendations, I recommended the Woodworkers Book Club and The Shaker Legacy by Christian Becksvoort.Mark recommends the Op Podcast, hear stories from professional camera operators. Nick Recommends the ADHD Chatter Podcast. Find out 13 Ways to Trigger ADHD Rage.

My guest is Kelli Anderson, the artist, designer, and tinkerer behind interactive books like This Book is a Camera. Kelli's latest book, Alphabet in Motion, is a pop-up book that explores the history of how letterforms got their shapes. We chat about how she discovered the craft of paper engineering, problem-solving the design problems of a pop-up book, teaching, and as usual, the art of paying attention. Check out Alphabet in Motion and Kelli's Instagram.

This week I talk to artist, educator, and learning designer Jack Thomas about seeing patterns, making art, and the scientific side of art and printmaking, and doing and getting lost in the process. Along the way we end up talking about Paul from the Woodworking is Bullshit podcast and his approach to creating and collaborating. We also chat about her book Artist Therapy: 26 Secrets to Studio Success. Find out more about her work on Instagram and jackthomas.art.

This week I talked to Jamie Seel of Seel Made about her creative journey from learning fashion design to creating her unique line of leather handbags. We chat about her experience teaching and demonstrating at the Catskill Mountain Maker Camp and her mobile pop-up store . Check out Seel Made on Instagram and seelmade.com

My guest this week is Kathy Ceceri, a maker, writer, and educator who focuses on history, science, technology, and art. We talked about her latest book published by Make:Community Paper Inventions Second Edition, along with her path to STEAM education through home schooling and curiosity. We discuss the current state of Maker Faires and the value of connecting with your local creative community. Check out Kathy's work on her web site kathyceceri.comKathy was proud to share her kid's work as well.Jax Ceceri's Drywall Eating Simulator on Steam from Peripheral PlayboxAnthony Ceceri's hand-drawn animated short film Stairwell

After work travel and technical difficulties, here's a great conversation with Tom Breslin from The Phoenix Woodshop! We talk about his start making signs in the garage with just a 1965 Craftsman router, to his rediscovery of sign making with a CNC Router. Along the way we discuss the value of learning and sharing in the making community. Tom highlights the creative community with his new podcast Create and Connect.Check out Tom on Instagram and the Create and Connect Podcast.Photo by Mark Adams Pictures

If you've been around the online maker community, you may have run into Paul Meyette, one of the best supporters of the community around. I was lucky to meet Paul at northeast maker events several years ago and he's definitely supported my work as well. We chatted about how he got started making things, discovering the online maker community, and building your own little community, finding folks to support. Paul created the Northeast Makers Facebook and Instagram accounts to highlight the wide range of creative people he encountered along the way. Check out Paul and Northeast Makers on Instagram.