Iowa City Fab Lab

A ray of sunshine shining down on a concrete staircase and its handrail, inside a building. In the background down the stairs is a faint red glow from a fire exist sign (which is not itself visible).

Every so often, a particular ray of light just catches the eye and pulls one out of their own mind for a split second

The Global Game Jam is this weekend, and our Fab Lab is hosting a team for the second year! Yesterday we got a visit from Maria Burns Ortiz, the executive director. She hung with the team for an hour or so on a trip to visit different jams. Here she is with Razzi Abussa the organizer, and the team!

One of the best lessons to learn.

Basically what a toucan's beak is like.

To be fair, painting small things is hard.

It is pinewood derby season at the Fab Lab! We help the scouts cut out the car shapes with the bandsaw (that is, we use the bandsaw and they watch) and then the kids/parents can use our drills, hand saws, sanders, and sandpaper to finish them off! Building makers one wooden car at a time!

On this joyous yuletide, I want to share a picture of my stocking! My friend Ali hand knit it for me about 5 years ago, and it is the coolest stocking ever. I present... My Yip-Yip.

For our last stained glass class, we let them go off script and make their own designs. Here are the results! A nice avocado sun catcher and some mushroom plant stands! #DIY #fablab

One of our members experimenting with self-doming resin! The first set on paper prints, the second are a series of pins using a non-kiln enameling technique with wire, glue, and resin. Remember; copyright only comes up with things you sell, not things you keep or give away!

A nice little box I whipped up a few years ago. Still digging through old builds.

Iowa City Fab Lab launches capitol campaign to buy permanent home

If you prefer, here is a local news video about our capital campaign! www.kcrg.com/video/2024/1...

Iowa City Fab Lab launches fundraiser to triple its size with new building The Iowa City Fab Lab, a community makerspace supporting creativity across mediums like woodworking, ceramics, and 3D printing, has launched a fundraising campaign for a new building to expand its res...

dailyiowan.com/2024/12/12/i... Not a bad article, but I am pretty sure some of the quotes put my words in a different order. Check out what the U of Iowa student paper has to say about the Fab Lab!

This is how textbooks should be written.

Beginners stained glass only comes up once every 3 months, but we always have a good time! We also have Iowa Staines Glass Studio teaching weekly at our space, but they don't go as 'freestyle' as you get to when you are a member. Check out our classes on the website!

I have to make a series of flowcharts and do a bunch of long range planning for our new building. I know when to stop working on them for the day when this becomes true.

With all those eggs, your friend must be rich!

Remember to always be nice to your teleportation technician.

Remember to leave John Maclain Twinkies in your vents on Christmas Eve! Paper box wrapped in foil, picture sublimates onto a transparency backed with white vinyl, and a Xmas light placed in the back to light it. My favorite ornament!

What if you drive a 1972 Pinto? Can the note say 'free to a good home'?

I'm in this picture and I don't like it.

Dave better watch out. Someone else might be willing to work for less. This post is about paying essential workers what they are worth.

I've been meaning to make one of these for the Fab Lab. About 75% of repairs come down to this flowchart.

This Giving Tuesday we are announcing our capital campaign for purchasing our own building! Right now we rent 8000 sqft, but our new building will be 39,000 sqft! An integrated youth Fab Lab will allow us to give kids access as well! We need $400k! Please consider giving! Givebutter.com/ICFabLab !

*struggles with inner 12 year old. Must... Not... Comment*

Small things matter! I made this clip for a university department. This tiny clip is non-replaceable by the manufacturer. It snaps like a cheap mechanical pencil pocket clip. The company's suggested solution? Buy another $2000.00 microphone. This decision made someone a nice corporate bonus! Make.

Pro tip: when you absolutely need to be right on the line..

But are asteroids really worth a fortune? What is it that you know?

Please tell me the Stargate symbols are going to be inlayed..

This. It is my favorite. The best thing I have ever made for myself. I like to use hand tools and do chisel work, and needed a good mallet. l used Brazilian cherry, walnut, yellow oak, and a thin bit of mahogany. Spun it on the lathe like a potato masher so the head and handle would match.

Thanks!