If you’ve visited our website over the past couple of months you might have noticed that the list of sponsor logos on the right side of the page has been growing.

We are deeply thankful for our event Sponsors–they help us cover the costs of producing this hands-on, fun-filled, inspirational juggling act we call the East Bay Mini Maker Faire.

The 2012 lead sponsors to date are:  Make Magazine, Park Day School, Studio One Art Center, City National Bank, Clif Kid, Brushstrokes Studio, Orange Door Properties, Galileo Learning, and CAMP 510. You guys rock!

Please frequent their businesses, buy their products, and stop by their booths at the Faire–Clay Sculpting with Brushstrokes, Seed Bombs with Orange Door Properties, Cob Oven Pretzel Making and Tasting with CAMP 510, Masks and Crown Eco-Crafts with Clif Kid, and A Shake and Quake Test Center with Galileo Learning.

We also are extremely grateful to Project 6, Greener Printer, and Lansharks who donated their time and services to help us with little things like design, printing, and wireless technology.

And our media sponsors did what they do best and got the word out to all of you.  Thanks to East Bay Express, Berkeleyside, Oakland Local, 510Families, and Edible East Bay.

See you all in four days!

Have you seen a western bluebird flitting about your neighborhood lately? This small thrush nests in pairs and feeds on insects (grasshoppers, termites, beetles, you name it)–a  great asset for the home gardener who occasionally does battle with bugs.  Cue TweethausOAK, a project of the FLUX Foundation that’s working with elementary school students to design, build, and install houses for the western bluebird, encouraging the growth and sustainability of the species in Oakland.

I had the pleasure of participating in the final celebration of the pilot Tweethaus project last spring where 17 3rd grade students from Park Day School, the magical cast of characters from the Flux Foundation, and a few supporting cast members ceremoniously planted the birdhouse posts in the soil.

After learning about the habitat desires of the western bluebird, the kids worked in teams to create and construct their birdhouses and then place them throughout the surrounding community.

Lucky for all of us, the FLUX Foundation folk will be at this year’s East Bay Mini Maker Faire and you too can contribute to the creation of a full-scale TweetHaus construction.  Throughout the day, FLUX will lead workshops where attendees can assemble and reassemble a giant, cardboard playhouse made of light cardboard and magnets.  A giant birdhouse puzzle, if you will, where you can help share concepts for future urban bird habitats.

Oh, and don’t miss the mobile fire sculptures, and FLUXcycles that will also be part of the FLUX Foundation exhibit at the Mini Maker Faire this year.  What, you ask?  Right.  Check it out.

Yep.  We’re gearing up for the 2012 East Bay Mini Maker Faire. Mark your calendars now for Sunday, October 14th!  Makers, please note our Call for Makers will go live in June.

Believe it or not, the planning crew is already busy getting things in order for the 3rd annual event.  We’re connecting with sponsors and media partners, getting a volunteer team ready to hit Maker Faire Bay Area May 19 & 20 for ideas, developing our presenter and workshop schedule, and figuring out how to make this year’s Faire the best yet.

As an an all-volunteer run event we’re always looking for people with energy and time to help out. So send an email to info AT ebmakerfaire.com if you want to get involved.

We’ll keep posting with details about the 2012 experience as they develop. Watch for our Call for Makers in June.  Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest news. Stay tuned and spread the word!

The crew behind the East Bay Mini Maker Faire wants to shout out a huge thank you to all of our sponsors. Their support helps make this exciting, interactive, crazy-fun day possible.

Yelp about them, buy their products, join their mailing lists, like them on Facebook, and of course, frequent their businesses.  Here’s a few call-outs:

Brushstrokes–the Berkeley-based pottery painting and mosaics studio will have a booth at the Faire where you can create your own jewelry.  They will  fire it in the kilns at Brushstrokes after the Faire, and then host a Mini Maker Faire after-party at Brushstrokes in late October where the clay jewelry can be picked up.  Super cool!

ClifKids–A periennel supporter of family events, Clif  jumped right on board for the East Bay Mini Maker Faire. Check out their craft project using recycled packaging materials.  While you’re there, grab a snack to keep you making.

MAKE Magazine–Where Maker Faire started:  the nation’s best DIY projects magazine, MAKE celebrates your right to tweak, hack, and bend any technology to your own will.  MAKE is published quarterly, and is loaded with exciting projects that help you make the most of your technology at home and away from home.  Keep the making going through the whole year—subscribe today!

Vessel Gallery–Owned and run by the amazing Lonnie Lee, Vessel Gallery is a must-stop on the growing Oakland art gallery scene.  Vessel’s new exhibition presents the latest work of Cyrus Tilton, a sculptor and inspirational artist for makers of all sorts. “The Cycle” is a site specific installation where natural science meets creepy kinetic deliverance. Do not miss this spectacle of a show running October 4th-29th!

Orange Door Properties–Orange Door Properties is an independent real estate brokerage with experience serving homeowners and prospective homeowners in Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont, San Francisco, Alameda, Emeryville, Albany and Kensington. Orange Door is a certified ecobroker® and   a green business using sustainable business practices. They are also extremely enjoyable people, and experts in their field.  Look for the Orange Door Properties/Park Day School seed bomb booth at the Faire!

East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse–Can you say Swap-O-Rama-Rama?  The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse is the source for any creative endeavor and a mainstay of products for our onsite repurposing textiles mash-up.  They’re a big supporter and supplier for makers throughout the East Bay.

East Bay Bicycle Coalition—  Be healthy, avoid parking, and reduce your carbon footprint.  Bike to the event and the friendly people from the East Bay Bicycle Coalition will park and store your wheels for you.  Become a member while you’re there and help make the East Bay a better place to ride.

Park Day School— The East Bay Mini Maker Faire is fortunate to have Park Day School as its sponsor and non-profit beneficiary.  Park Day School is a diverse, independent bridge-K through 8th grade school with a 35 year history of progressive education. Park believes a successful learner is one who is confident, caring, and creative—very much the traits of a Maker.

The thank you list goes on:  East Bay Express, Music for People and Thingamagigs, 510 Families, Edible East Bay, VineCrowd, and Studio One Art Center.  YOU ARE THE BEST!