Sunday, April 7, 2013

Scotland Sundays: Summerhall and the Mini Maker Faire



Today I went to the Edinburgh Mini Maker Faire which was hosted as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Tinker, tailor, homespun maker



The Faire showcases what people are making--everything from innovative technologies to sewing and crafting.  It was held at the Summerhall venue--an impressive building with space for festival events as well as workshop spaces.  

To say the faire was 'mini' is very accurate.  There were about 8-10 booths in one room that consisted of the bulk of the Faire.  With that said, there were a lot of interesting things there--though we ended up venturing off and checking out the Science Festival as well.


Hey look...'I'm on a boat'...teeheee.  The space is very interactive and there were a ton of things for kids to do (of which I, of course, took part in as well....).  I'm wearing my Raspberry Sorbet dress with my new, *ahem*, Ness jacket (it was half price and my resistance was futile).


Though the coolest thing ever was the sewing bicycle.  The brilliant idea of Hannah Brackston, it's a vintage singer sewing machine connected up to a bicycle.


The sewing bicycle was envisaged as an art piece--bringing people together.  Hannah has done a series of events called One Cycle, One Sew in which she moves throughout public outdoor spaces and invites people to sew or bicycle with her to make things.  Such a fun idea... One person bicycles while the other person sews:


I had a blast.  I know this photo looks like I'm sewing my arm...but I'm just lifting the presser foot:


There were loads of other bikes that had been re-engineered in fun ways (like the one below).  Kids and adults could have a go riding any of the bikes...it was really fun to watch.  But the real reason for this photo is the NYC subway sign (funny, eh?):

If there's anything David and I can do, it's effortlessly moving between silly and classy.  One of our absolute favourite tea parlours (which doubles as an antique shop) is just around the corner from the Summerhall venue.  Anteaques is an amazing place--we just LOVE it.  It's only open on the weekends, so we took the opportunity to try out some new tea (almond for me and hazelnut for David).  Yum.
  
















Hope you had a lovely and crafting inspired Sunday!
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14 comments

  1. Looks like a great event - and you look fabulous in that outfit (LOVE those shoes!)

    No crafting for me today I'm afraid, just trying to catch up on all the other studd I should have got done during the week.

    Sunday a day of rest? Pah! :)

    www.mancunianvintage.com

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  2. You look great in this outfit.

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  3. It looks like you had fun :)
    Me- I decided to get sunburned. OK I did not TRY to get sunburned, it just happened- so I am complaining to everyone ;)

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  4. This looks like it was a lot of fun! :)

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  5. Looks like so much fun! What creative re-constructions of bicycles =)
    Me, I spent the day hiding indoors from the 15 cm of snow we got yesterday... Wish I could have taken pictures of my new-made dress, but worked on new projects instead. A pretty good day, in other words =)

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  6. For a mini faire, that had a lot of fantastic and creative ideas. It looks like so much fun!
    You are surely the best-dressed lady I "know". Your outfit is just Sunday outing perfection and those shoes are amazing.

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  7. How fun is that!??! And I love the sewing bike! It would be a challenge to find someone around here to pedal the thing while I sewed tho... Is there an ironing bike close by?

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  8. Hooray for Maker Faires! One of my favouritest things in the whole world.

    Hey, is Anteaques that place you took me when I came to visit? Ah, memories :) x

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    1. That's the place!! I was thinking of you when we were there!!!

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  9. Not sure how you missed the other 40 makers at Summerhall on Sunday! The Mini Maker Faire took over pretty much every available space in the complex. "Mini" was the one thing it wasn't!

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    1. oh no! not sure how I missed that too!! I went to every room....hmmmm that place is a bit of a maze!

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  10. Your wonderful posts make me feel I'm on the wrong side of the pond! How priceless is that moveable sewing machine! Lovely outfit-lovely event-lovely to have a partner who shares your enthusiasms!

    D'ellis

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  11. As an exiled Scot who spent many years in Edinburgh in her teens and twenties, I am enjoying your Scotland Sundays. The nostalgia! The homesickness! Looking forward to the next post and storing the information for my return home in only four years and nine months!

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  12. I'm so annoyed I missed this - I didn't find out it was on til the day!

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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