Erie Makes! Free Maker Events All Week Long Nov. 12-16

Calling all makers: come celebrate Erie Makes Nov. 12-16 at Blasco Library, along with local nonprofits and businesses.

Erie Makes is a week-long event for makers and enthusiasts of all interests, from art to electronics to 3D design and more. Celebrate creativity, curiosity and hands-on learning! Try something new: pick up a take-and-make kit, attend one of our maker programs, or get acquainted with other maker resources in town. 

This is a free, family-friendly event for curious minds. See the full schedule of events here:

Erie Makes Buttons, 3-5pm (Drop-In, No Registration)   

Join us to make an Erie Makes themed button to wear throughout the week! Drop in at the Blasco Library's Idea Lab any time between 3 and 5 pm. Choose from one of our maker-themed designs or draw your own design from scratch. One button per person. All ages welcome! Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Wood Carving: Holiday Tree Decoration, 3-5pm (Registration Required)

Join local woodworker Ken Bownes and learn to carve a holiday tree decoration out of wood. This project should take about an hour to carve, but if you don't finish by the end of class, just drop by the Idea Lab during our regular hours to use our in-house carving tools. Ages 8 to adult. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. All materials and tools will be provided. Registration required. Free and open to the public.

• Register Here
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

 Make a Website, 6-7:30pm (Registration Required) 

Join Toni M. to learn how to make a website with Google Sites. This can be used to enhance resumes, store photos, or as a digital journal. A Gmail account is required. Feel free to bring in your own laptop or use one of the Idea Lab’s laptops. Free. Ages 13 to adult.

• Register Here 
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Paper Circuits 6-7:30pm (Registration Required) 

Join us for an exciting workshop where you'll dive into the world of paper circuits. Learn the basics of circuitry while making a light-up holiday card! No experience needed—just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm. Let's make art that sparks and shines! Free. Ages 13 to adult.

• Register Here 
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Dinovember Jewelry, 6-7pm (No Registration) 

Learn how to make jewelry out of plastic dinosaurs! We will have supplies and instructions to make necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Come make some fun accessories with your favorite dinosaurs to celebrate Erie Makes and Dinovember! This program starts at 6pm in the Blasco Library's Storytime Room. All ages welcome, no registration required! Questions? Call the Children's Library at 814-451-6936. 

• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Make a Magnet 2-4pm (Registration Required)  

Register to reserve your magnet and stop in any time between 2 to 4pm to make it! Use infusible ink pens to draw a picture, and then iron on your drawing to the magnet. Poof! Your art is transferred to a magnet surface, ready to be displayed. Ages 8 to Adult 

• Register Here
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Soap Making 5:30-7pm (Registration Required) 

Join local maker Anush Dulgaryan Bruno for a lesson in soap making. Anush will talk about the soap making process and using a premade soap base, scents and other mix ins, you will make your own soap to take home. Ages 13 to Adult. 

• Register Here
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Acrylic Pour Painting Workshop, 11am-1pm (Registration Required)

Join us at the Erie Art Museum for a two-hour acrylic pour-painting workshop inspired by work and conceptual themes in the current exhibition, Summoning the Wind by Chinese-American artist Qian Li. This abstract and playful technique is designed to capture the essence of dreaming through fluid creativity. Open to participants ages 9 and up. The workshop will take place in the Museum's 2nd-floor classroom.

• Register Here
• Location: Erie Art Museum, 20 E 5th St, Erie, PA 16507

Cricut Mini Bags, 2-3:30 pm (Registration Required)   

Create your own small bag using pre-cut images from the Lab's Cricut machine. You will pick your design, weed it and then iron it on to a fabric bag. Perfect for your small treasures or to use as wrapping for gift cards when the holidays arrive! Ages 13 and up.

• Register Here
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Teen Cookies & Canvas, 6-7:30 pm (Registration Required)

All skill levels are welcome for this mini-painting party. You will learn some basic techniques and leave with a finished 4 x 4 inch painting with an easel for display. Bring a friend or meet some new ones while you paint and enjoy a snack. Free teen program, ages 13-18 years old. This program will take place in the Blasco Library's Teen Space. For more information, please contact teenspace@eriecountypa.gov. 

• Register Here
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Phone Photography, 6-7 pm (Registration Required)

Join local maker Abby Fetzner to learn about how to improve you photography skills with your cell phone. She will discuss rules of composition and basic editing features most smartphones have. Bring your phone and your creativity to this class. Free. Ages 13 to adult.

• Register Here
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Plant a Succulent, 9am-12pm (Drop-In, No Registration)

Come plant a free succulent, then cut and engrave a label for it on the Glowforge. We'll provide the dirt, the plant, and a biodegradable pot to put it in. Afterward, we'll help you engrave a custom message onto a wooden houseplant stake design. Be prepared to get your hands a little dirty! Drop in at the Idea Lab any time between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. to participate. Plants available while supplies last. All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

3D Cookie Cutters, 3pm-4pm  (Registration Required)

Design your own 3D printed cookie cutter! We’ll teach you how to use the tools in the cookiecad app to create a custom cookie cutter in your chosen shape. After class is over, the Idea Lab will print your cookie cutter and contact you to pick it up when it’s finished. Ages 12 to Adult. Children 15 and under must be with an adult. This class requires basic computer skills.

• Register Here 
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

CAM Erie Open House, 12pm-4pm (Registration Required)   

Take a tour of Community Access Media's professional grade production facility! Learn about audio and video recording, editing, photography, streaming, and everything else CAM has to offer. All ages welcome!

Each half-hour tour session is reserved under one person's name, but each session can have 1-4 people. Please sign up for only one session per group. Click on the time below to register.

• 12 pm to 12:30 pm
• 12:30 pm to 1 pm
• 1 pm to 1:30 pm
• 1:30 pm to 2 pm
• 2 pm to 2:30 pm
• 2:30 pm to 3 pm
• 3 pm to 3:30 pm
• 3:30 pm to 4 pm

Location: CAM Erie, 142 W 12th St, Erie, PA 16501 

Knitting 101: Cotton Dishcloth, 9-11 am (Registration Required)  

Learn the basics of knitting and make your own cotton dishcloth! Learn the different kinds of stitches used in knitting, including knit and purl stitches and stockinette versus garter stitch. We will teach you how start your project by casting on and finish it by binding off. All supplies will be provided for this project, but if you have your own supplies you are welcome to bring them. Ages 12 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• Register Here
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Lace Prints and Mini Pattern Prints, 10-11:30 am (No Registration)

Stop in to try you hand at the art of printmaking with local maker, Abby Fetzner. Printmaking is an art process in which one makes and imprint onto a surface using ink. In this class learn how to make a lace mono print and a mini relief print using different patterns. Free. No registration required. Ages 8 to adult

• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

 Let's Start Creating Your Next Novel!  (Registration Required)  

Do you want to write a novel but are having trouble getting started? Make a free hour-long appointment with Next Chapters! Bring your idea and we'll help you turn it into a full outline of your book to get you on your way. Click on the time you'd like to register for below.

• Session 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45: a.m.
• Session 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
• Session 3 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
• Session 4 from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

 Idea Lab Open House, 12-3pm (Drop-In, No Registration)

Visit the Idea Lab to learn what the library's makerspace is all about and try out a few simple projects. Color a ceramic tile engraved by our laser cutter, use the Cricut to cut an Erie Makes sticker, or try out one of our Maker Kits. All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Community Art Project: Paper Stars, 12-3pm (Drop-In, No Registration)  

Stop by the Idea Lab to add to our community art piece! Learn how to fold a simple paper star. Make as few or as many as you like, then add them to our jar or take a few home. The finished star jar will be displayed in the Idea Lab. All ages welcome! Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• Location: Blasco Library, 160 East Front Street Erie, PA 16507

Acrylic Pours, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  (Registration Required)

Join local maker Brandon Borgia for lesson in acrylic pouring. Apply color in puddles, pools and marble-like patterns. Leave your creation here at the Idea Lab and return to pick it up once it's dry. Ages 14 to Adult.

• Register Here
• Location: Inner-City Neighborhood Art House, 201 East 10^th Street, Erie PA 16503

Gourd Critters 10am-12pm (Registration Required)

Dream up, design and decorate a critter of your choice using a variety of art materials on miniature gourds at the Neighborhood Art House’s Erie Makes event. Finished projects will be perfect for the holiday season or displaying all year round.

Please note: this event replaces the regularly scheduled Second Saturday workshop for the month of November.  Gourd critters will take some time, it is recommended that participants arrive at the beginning of the workshop rather than dropping in later. Creative folks of all ages are invited to join us for this free event.

• Pre-registration is required. To register, visit neighborhoodarthouse.org/community-art-events.
•  Location: Inner-City Neighborhood Art House, 201 East 10^th Street, Erie PA 16503

Woodshop Open House 10am-2pm (Drop-In, No Registration) 

Lake Erie Woodworks will be open for a tour their professional wood shop. They have lots of tools and will be making things on the CNC. If you have questions about woodworking, stop on down! All ages welcome.

Location: Lake Erie Woodworks, 1113 Walnut St, Erie, PA 16501 

Print Shop Open House, 2pm-4pm (Drop-In, No Registration)

Drop in at Grounded Print Shop any time between 2 and 4 pm to see the papermaking process in action and try it for yourself! While you're there, get a tour of their workspace and learn about the art of printmaking and papermaking.

Location: Grounded Print Shop, 1902 Cherry St, Erie, PA 16502 

Get more information about Erie Makes Week here!