Monthly Archives: December 2011
30Dec/111 comment
Making tops, the video
Posted by Luigi
We’ve been making tops with Explainers, and with visitors on the floor. They are such simple devices, yet mesmerizing to watch, compelling to spin, and complex to make. What’s not to love?
29Dec/111 comment
Kaleidoscope Experiments
Posted by Ryan
In preparation for the open:MAKE season, we’ve been trying out a lot of new experiments in the Tinkering Studio over the past couple of weeks. Last Friday, we brought out some kaleidoscope experiments that Nicole has been working on as … Continue reading
Tagged as: colors, kaleidoscope, markers, patterns, sumi, tabletop exhibits, toys
25Dec/111 comment
Moment of Zen – Snowflakes
Posted by Ryan
And not just any snowflakes, laser-cut computer-generated fractal snowflakes courtesy of Nicole and Dan!
23Dec/11No comments
Tip-Top Tape Top Tutorial
Posted by Ryan
Although we’ve been experimenting with all types of top-making materials over the past few days, I think that my favorite toy was made using only one ingredient – masking tape! “Tape helps” has been an unofficial mantra for solving consistency … Continue reading
20Dec/11No comments
Amazing Marble Catapult
Posted by Ryan
In many of our favorite activities, visitors to the Tinkering Studio often use materials in entirely new and surprising ways. For example, even though we’ve been doing Marble Machines for years and years, every once in a while someone will … Continue reading
Tagged as: catapult, fort, innovation, launcher, marble machines, mechanism, rubber bands, teamwork
19Dec/111 comment
Making Sumi ink
Posted by Luigi
We are getting ready to try a little Sumi Ink Club experiment soon, and so covered a wall in our prototyping space with white paper, so that if the muse should strike, we can pick up a brush a doodle … Continue reading
Tagged as: drawing, ink, japanese, making ink, sumi, sumi ink club, sumi-e
18Dec/11No comments
Moment of Zen: Chime Tops
Posted by lianna
One of the many experiments with tops in the Tinkering Studio
17Dec/111 comment
A Tour of Scott Weaver’s Winter Wonderland
Posted by Ryan
To really get a sense of the color, motion, and story behind Scott Weaver’s holiday masterpiece it’s necessary to hear the man himself give a tour of the winter wonderland. Enjoy some of Scott’s insights on the process of making … Continue reading
16Dec/11No comments
Weaver’s Winter Wonderland
Posted by Ryan
We all know Scott Weaver makes amazing toothpick sculptures, solos on the drums, and juggles knives and frisbee, but he is also the star attraction every holiday season for tens of thousands of visitors to his home in Rohnert Park. … Continue reading
Tagged as: disney, lights, scott weaver, waldo, weaver, winter wonderland
16Dec/112 comments
Making tops
Posted by Luigi
On Tuesday we had a training with the Field Trip Explainers centered about making tops, an activity that we have tried on the floor a couple of times before, and are interested in developing further into something that can be … Continue reading
