Category Archives: Makers 2015

Introducing Hangmade by Gladys

Posted on May 20, 2015 by megadolen | Leave a comment

Gladys is the creator of Hangmade by Gladys. Before she started Hangmade by Gladys, she used to do cross-stitch for a number of years, and tried out painting while living overseas for close to 6 years. She creates patchwork bags and other hand-sewn articles, primarily stuffed animals, cushions and cushion covers, but lately tote bags and bag accessories as well. Choosing the fabric, creating the pattern, cutting and sewing everything herself, each item that she creates is unique.

Screenshot_2015-05-15-08-03-36 For one and a half years she has been selling her crafts, the first items were patchwork bags as a Christmas gift. Gladys attends bazaars and fairs to showcase her crafts for sale; as she does not have a shop, she uses her home as a base for delivering to customers who order from her. At the moment, she is showcasing her work primarily on Facebook HangmadebyGladys. Her own website is under development and will be hopefully up and running early second half of this year. Occasionally she puts items for sale at carousell.

She loves doing patchwork and creating other stuff from fabric as it gives her a lot of creative room to explore; it never follows a template to 100%, the process of creating something nice out of raw materials, something that people like and love. Getting positive feedback about her work is always encouraging and has made her pursue her craft.

As each item is unique, Gladys is often asked for customization of articles. The challenge here is to make sure that what the customer has in mind and what will be created is similar so that both parties end up happy. Sometime it does not work out so she ends up with a customized item in her living room waiting for a new home.

This is her second time participating at the Makers Faire. Gladys’ first experience at Singapore Mini Maker Faire last year was a very nice outing, a good opportunity to showcase her crafts. She met a lot of like-minded people and did good business; overall a very positive experience. For this year, Gladys has gone back to her favorite: owls. There will be mini owl bag charms, paper weights, pin cushions, cushions and patchwork owls in various sizes and patterns.

[Note: This write-up was contributed in full by Gladys herself. Thank you, Gladys. :) ]

Alice in Crafty-land

Posted on May 14, 2015 by megadolen | 3 comments

Before my interview with Alice, I had checked out her website at www.scottiecrafts.blogspot.com and was totally blown away by her plastic spoon roses craftwork. Later on, I learnt that Alice has come up with the idea herself, and I was so impressed!

These are the roses designed and made by Alice. Do you like them too?

Plastic roses

Joining the Maker Faire

This will be Alice’s first Maker Faire experience, having being introduced by Mr Davy Young who joined us last year and who will also be joining in this year. A warm welcome to Alice!

How she begun

Alice recalled her first craft work to be curtains-making for her mother during her teenage days and making pom-pom ball characters to earn a craft badge during her Girls’ Brigade days.

But her real passion for handicraft started in 2003 when she attended the Perth Royal Show in Australia. She shared with us that it is an annual community event which showcases Western Australia’s agriculture and horticulture, arts and handicrafts, animals, photography, cooking demonstration, performances and competitions. That’s quite a range of activities, isn’t it?

2nd Prize (Cross-Stitch) at Perth Royal Show Creative Craft Competition 2004

Alice took part in the Perth Royal Show Creative Craft Competition in 2004 and 2005 and bagged victories. Her cross-stitched cushion cover featuring Winnie the Pooh and friends won her the 2^nd Prize in the first year.

3rd Prize (Parchment card) at Perth Royal Show 2004

In the second year, she won 2^nd Prize for beading jewellery. She also won 3^rd Prize for Parchment Crafts in both years.

Impressive!

Alice told us that the exposure to the wide variety of handicrafts on display at the Perth Royal Show left a deep impression on her and after that, she began to take handicraft lessons and make gifts for family and friends. She even trained in Australia to be a qualified Parchment Teacher, though she only teach for passion and leisure.

Despite having a full-time job as an administrative assistant in the hospitality industry, Alice received full support from her family, boss, colleagues and friends and was often recommended customers. Hence, her weekends are always occupied, either teaching crafts or creating new items. She also shared that it was through crafts that she made many friends in life!

Her craft works

Alice likes to try any crafts which are unique and interesting, and she knows a good variety!

parchment
cross-stitch
beadings
greeting cards
scrapbooking
clay modelling
wood painting
spoon art
upcycling old arts into altered arts (converting desk top calendar into a post-it note pad cover or notebook cover, or cutting wine bottles and turning them into pen or candle holders)

Below were what Alice shared about the two crafts that she will be showcasing at the Maker Faire Singapore in July.

Parchment Craft

“It was at the Perth Royal show that the dolly lace picture frame caught my attention and was told that it was made from vellum paper. With simple tools, it will turn the vellum paper from grey color to white color. Amazed with the fine details on the dolly, I fell in love with parchment crafts. Later on, my teacher – Ms Christine Coppen encouraged me to take part in the Parchment Crafts Competition at the yearly event - Perth Royal Show. With her guidance and coaching, I come in 3rd prize in 2004 and 2005. After that I stop for a long period due to family and work commitments. Only in the recently years I pick up the skills again. I find that Parchment craft is very therapeutic and helps to calm down your mind too. You would not feel tired after working on the card for 2 hrs but a sense of great satisfaction of achievements.”

Photo_Collage_Maker_tTtNpp

It is a beautiful art indeed, and Alice will be demonstrating at the booth on one of the days for visitors to try out. I am sure others will be fascinated just like me!

Everlasting Roses made from disposable spoon

“I personally like roses and always wanted to make it with different materials apart from crepe papers, fabric, ribbon, leather, felts. So I started my journey of searching online and gather ideas. I learnt the skills by myself through trial and error. Recently I make roses with mini dessert spoons and it is almost a year since I start this craft.

Every now and then when I have new ideas, I will make the items with the consideration in mind that people would use them rather than a display item only. Or I should call it practical items.”

An awesome and creative idea, and I really love it! Alice will be conducting a 90-minute workshop on both days of the Maker Faire Singapore held at 15 Tampines Street 11 on 11 and 12 July. The workshop will be recommended for adults only. Do watch out for more information on http://makerfairesingapore.com

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Posted in Makers 2015

Tagged cross-stitch, DIY, parchment, Perth Royal Show Creative Craft Competition, plastic spoon art

Making as a family

Posted on May 13, 2015 by meenakshiveerappan | Leave a comment

1. The Nah family

Wee Yang and his family will be showcasing some simple “weekend projects” that the children or teenagers can do using some common household items and tools mostly made by his children who are 13 and 14 years old.

2. The Curic family

Anjali, Sophia and their parents Make as a family. They have been introduced to making since they were 4 years old. The girls are curating their own booth this time around.

The girls say : ““We would like to share and teach pottery and book making, as well as some of the other Maker stuff that we do in our home Makerspace. People visiting our booth will learn how to make pottery using clay and a home made pottery wheel, gt some inspiration on how to make their own pottery wheel. They will also learn how to bind and make their own books.”

3. Elda

Elda and her son Make together to bring Jurek’s ideas and imgination come true. As for her workshop:
Visitors will be able to start their Maker journey by making a simple craft.
They will be able to explore the materials available and the tools at their disposal. After which they will be able to start making something right there and then.
They can personalize a notebook, a mirror, or a treasure box.
The purpose of the boot is to get everybody that passes by the possibility to be a maker.

4. The Know What’s OK (KWOK) Family
Members of the Kwok family will be showcasing and sharing their DIY projects on Art & Craft, Arduino, Robotics, Quad-copters and 3D-printing. Discover how you and your family members can have fun by learning and tinkering together.

5. Makers of Temasek
Exciting projects through Learning in Fun & Engaging ways done by staff, students & even parents!

6. Singapore Homeschoolers group

Homeschoolers exhibit their science projects. Science craft bags also available for purchase of $2 each, with funds raised towards the Queenstown Library Community Garden.

Maker introduction for Maker Faire Singapore - Mr Ng Pan Yew

Posted on April 22, 2015 by megadolen | Leave a comment

The Maker Faire Singapore team has been excited about the elevation of our Maker Faire status from a “Mini” event to a “Featured” one. Leading up to the event that will happen on 11 & 12 July at 15 Tampines Street 11, we will continue our practice of showcasing our participating makers .

The first to be featured this year will be Mr Ng Pan Yew, coincidentally the first maker to be featured for Singapore Mini Maker Faire 2014 as well.

Recapping the year 2014, Mr Ng jokingly commented that he has over participated. Well, I think not everybody can do that, and it is in itself an achievement. Despite being his first year taking part in a Science Centre programme, Mr Ng has been most enthusiastic. He started with two workshops in April and June 2014, leading up to the Mini Maker Faire itself in July where he not only took a booth to showcase his works, but conducted two workshops as well to teach people how to make their own Kaleidoscope and Roly - Poly.

Mr Ng was very reflective of the activities he conducted. “Frankly speaking, my successful rate for lead-up event or mini workshop is only 50%”, he said. He explained that not everything turned out to be what he expected them to be. He noted the challenge to come up with interesting activities for 7-12 year-old children and to use materials which are easily available.

Participating in the Singapore Mini Maker Faire became a family affair for Mr Ng. Together with his wife, Mr Ng and their two grown-up daughters carried out the workshops and explained to interested visitors about Mr Ng’s showcase at the event. Mr Ng also took the opportunity to thank his wife and two daughters, who assisted him patiently during his workshops, helping him with facilitation, photography and publicity. Such a sweet gesture!

Tips for new participating makers

We asked Mr Ng for advice for first time participants, and he encouraged new makers to try to form a team to work together as there are challenges working alone. For his case, he single-handedly take charge of 2D-drawing, laser cutting, laser engraving, electronics circuit design, PCB art-work and the sourcing of affordable resources. Mr Ng also highlighted that it is inevitable that hardware-intensive hobbies incur higher cost compared to software-based ones, so new makers would need to be aware of such cost issues.

What’s new?

For the upcoming Maker Faire in July, Mr Ng is working towards expanding his acrylic showcase. While he will keep his previous display (Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, Esplanade, etc), he will also be adding the Helix Bridge, the Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore River Bumboat and more!