By Kim Halyak

If you need a little inspiration, instruction, or just want to show off your latest creation, then you are invited to attend the weekly meetings of the Midsouth Makers. This group, formed in January 2010, is already gaining speed as membership has grown from 3 to 19 men and women. Midsouth Makers grew out of the desire to bring artists, builders, tinkers, technology lovers, and do it yourselfers together to share ideas, learn new skills, and trade tips and materials. Maker groups exist all over the US and are connected to the Maker Faire events held nationally.

Some current member interests include: taking photographs, making chain mail, building “green” aquariums, and working on computers. Past meetings have included tutorials on how to use a hand built letterpress to make invitations as well as soldering 101. Members decide upcoming projects. Proposed future topics include fused glass, intro to electronics, and wireless encryption. In June, members visited Maker groups in Nashville and Birmingham, and held their 4th Annual Zombie Walk on Beale Street.

The group is also actively building funds to move into a large warehouse to provide space for members to house and work on personal projects. Dues will cover rent and utilities and will furnish the space with tools and equipment for all members to use. Plans include filing for 501c(3).

If you know of rental space that might fit our needs, please contact us with details at midsouthmakers.org. For more information on this group you can attend a meeting by heading over to Christian Brothers University, Nolan Engineering Building, Room 241, at 7 pm on Fridays.  Usually, some of the group gets together for food after the meeting.

By Lillian Johnson

Select Tuesday evenings, June through August, the Library offers lively one-hour adventures in the form of the Experience Series. Held at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, the program is aimed at adults and provides mini-forays into diverse topics, from beekeeping to home brewing.

The cost: 60-minutes of your undivided attention.

The payoff: discovering a new hobby with no up-front fees.

Additional pluses include meeting new people and enjoying an entertaining evening without the aide of a remote control.

Free workshops

Join us at 7 pm for any of the following workshops:

July 6th – Backyard Beekeeping presented by master gardener Gail Kail

July 20th – Essentials of Home Brewing presented by Bluff City Brewers President Ben Pugh

August 3rd – Fuel Film Memphis presented by cinephile David Merrill

August 17th – Foodie’s Guide to Memphis presented by food columnists Stacey Greenberg 
and Michael Hughes (and Foodie Friends)

For more information call 901-415-2700.