In 2013, I had the honor of introducing Mark Frauenfelder, editor of Make, to a packed audience at the American Library Association conference. Mark told the eager audience that he was working on a new book, one that focused on father-daughter DIY projects. It's here and it's called Maker Dad: Lunch Box Guitars, Antigravity Jars, and 22 Other Incredibly Cool Father-Daughter DIY Projects (affiliate link). I got my first look at Maker Dad when ... [ Read More ]
Code and Cupcakes in Chicago: It’s STEM Girl Friday!
Mother-daughter bonding. Is there an app for that? If not, it's time to start building one and Code and Cupcakes is the place to start. This first-ever beginning coding (computer programming) workshop for mothers and daughter will take place in Chicago on Saturday, October 25, from 1-6 PM. You may have noticed that my Maker Teens are both boys, so I'm sending Brandie and one of her daughters with instructions to eat extra cupcakes learn extra ... [ Read More ]
DIY Book Safe
Making a book safe is one of those projects that I've long had on my to-do list, but put off. How fun would it be to secret away something special and hide it in plain site in a book? In the end, it was simple and somewhat meditative. I can't wait to make another one. ... [ Read More ]
Banana Graffiti
Move over book graffiti, there's a tastier form of parent-approved vandalism in da house... Banana Graffiti! It's simple, and somewhat spy-like to write a secret message on a banana. Put away your Sharpie! Just use a toothpick, end of a wooden match, or even your fingernail to etch out a message on the banana skin. Over the course of a few hours, the message will darken as the bruises oxidize and they become visible to the world. Of course ... [ Read More ]
How to Do Book Graffiti
before I got the idea to do book graffiti from my friend Akemi, who often does interesting things with her boys. I picked up an old picture book at a recent garage sale. It was in decent shape, but beyond its prime, so I designated it for my project. I thought this *might* be something the Young Maker Teen would enjoy, but alas, he is too old to get a thrill from the otherwise verboten act of marking up a book. The idea with book ... [ Read More ]
Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects. A Book Review
I received a review copy of the DIY Duct Tape Project Book, Sticky Fingers (affiliate link). Author Sophie Maletsky provides dozens of DIY duct tape projects along with advice on how to make them. The book starts off with an introduction to making things, or crafting, with duct tape. She's pretty clear on the three basics: a place to work, tape and a good pair of scissors, but she rounds off what would otherwise be a very short chapter with ... [ Read More ]
The Butterfly in my Office
I was just going about my day last Wednesday when I finally puttered into my office to get some work done and I saw a butterfly, flitting about in the container on my desk! Black Swallowtail Butterfly I had expected the Black Swallowtail Butterfly to emerge from its pupa around July 14, so I wasn't even on watch yet. Still, it was exciting to see the beautiful butterfly. Feeling compelled to release her into the world as soon as possible, I ... [ Read More ]