Rory’s sitster, Maysoon, surprised us again by what she brought to the festival site yesterday. It was an automata, which Maysoon and her son created together at home after being inspired by one of the automata that we displayed in the Cabinet of Curiosities.
I was really glad to see that it was made from a tea bag box: the material she found at home. Turning things found around the house into automata already smells of tinkering to me…
(The right is the automata she got inspired from our Cabinet of Curiosities. She found a good size box!)
I could see how much she and her son enjoyed working on this project at home. She also showed us another automata that she made at home. It was a carousel.
I remember that she was talking about the carousel idea but had no time to work on it at the site on that day (because she was making the ballerina automata). And now her idea has taken shape so quickly and exists as a working automata in front of us! Amazing how far she has come within just one day and night, making three automata, borrowing the book of Cabaret Mechanical Automata’s, trying many things, and continuing being engaged in this activity as the first time experience in her life. Also, I found a comment from Rory on Luigi’s post, saying “We had an amazing time that day and am still trying to make that bear 
and my sis got a lil obsessed with this activity 
”, which made us happier.
The festival is finally starting today (yes, it has not even started yet!). I am really looking forward to it.
Sounds like everything is going swimmingly! It is so exciting to read all of your updates. Happy tinkering… can’t wait to read more.
my kids had a wonderful day tinkering at the tables today. In fact the whole family had fun! great work guys. the kids are now goig through their legos and thinking about ways to tinker with their odds and ends.
keep up the great work, ideas and inspiration!