TONIGHT at 7pm in the Lounge: Fireside Chat on Big Fish!
Curious about how we designed, built, and raced our kinetic sculpture, Lowell Makes Big Fish? Come to our Public Fireside Chat to find out what it took to get from concept to finish line.
Get your holiday shopping done early with 2 days of locally made, hand crafted goods from your Community Makerspace!
Lowell Makes is hosting an arts and crafts market filled with items all made by our Maker Members right here in the space! You’ll be able to browse ceramics, handmade wood projects, leather goods, papercraft, stained glass and more! Each piece is locally made and supports a local artist. If you buy from our Community Table, a portion of your purchase will go to support the continuation of our awesome Makerspace!
When: Saturday December 3rd from 12-5pm & Saturday December 10th from 12-5pm
Where: At the Lowell Makes loading dock, 130 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA
Come support local artists and get your holiday shopping out of the way, all at the same time!
Coming Soon – New 4’x8’ laser cutter!
Did you know? Lowell Makes is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Monthly Member Meeting
Tuesday, December 6th at 7pm in the Lounge!
All current members are encouraged to attend to hear what’s going on at the space and meet other members! Attending virtually? The link is posted in Basecamp!
Upcoming Events and Classes at Lowell Makes
All events are public unless otherwise indicated.
Meetups and Hangouts
Open Houses – Sign up for a tour!
Every Wednesday | 6 – 8pm | free
Prospective members can stop by for a tour, see what we are working on, or join our makerspace. Please fill out this form so we know to expect you.
Board Game Night (Members only)
Every Wednesday | 7:30pm | free
Lowell Makes members are invited to weekly board game night – noobs welcome! Join the Board Games Basecamp to learn more.
Fiber and Mixed Media Meetup (public – please RSVP)
Wednesday, December 14 | 7 – 9pm | free
Join us for a monthly meetup of creative folks as we play with our current fiber and mixed media projects. While we may have monthly demos of different techniques and tools, please bring your own /projects/supplies to work with. FAMM meetups typically fall on the second Wednesday of the month. This meeting is open to the public, but please RSVP (by reserving a ticket) so we can manage space.
Lock Sports Meetup (Members and guests of members only)
Sunday, December 18 | 1 – 4pm | free
Join the Locksports club for a monthly meetup on the third Sunday of the month. Bring any picks & locks you have. If you’re new to lock picking, there will bring extra tools and a bunch of practice locks…There should be projects for everyone at every level. This is a free meetup and will take place in either the classroom or lounge as space permits. No registration is required, but you can join the Locksport Basecamp to find out more information.
Electronics Hacker Night (public – please RSVP)
Wednesday, December 21 | 6:30 – 7:30 pm | free
We will gather to brainstorm, exchange ideas, solve problems, fix things and network as we meet like- minded people who think that electronics is cool. No experience required. This is a free event and open to the public, but space is limited. Please RSVP by reserving a ticket.
Classes and Workshops
Introduction to Monoprinting with a Gel Plate (public)
Sunday, November 27 | 10:30am – 1pm | $28 – 35 + $10 materials fee
Gel printing is a monoprinting technique that uses a flexible gel plate for fantastic results. It’s easy and fun to get started. You’ll leave class with dozens of prints that you can use in bookbinding, card making, jewelry, sewing projects, or even framed wall art. We’ll discuss the basics of gel printing, choosing materials, care of the gel plate, mark making, masking, and more. This class pairs perfectly with the Card Making workshop later in the day.
Card Making for the Holidays and Beyond (public)
Sunday, November 27 | 2 – 4pm | $28 – 35 + $10 materials fee
This is a workshop paired with an open studio. In the first half of the class, we’ll walk through some sample card layouts. In the second half, you can make more of those or follow your own imagination using the provided tools and supplies. This workshop pairs perfectly with the Gel Plate workshop earlier in the day.
DIY Cherry Charcuterie Board (Members only – Level 2 checkout required)
Tuesday, November 29 | 6:30 – 9pm | $60 + $15 materials fee
Make your own charcuterie board in one evening! The board will be made from native cherry harvested in Maine. You will be using the table saw, band saw, router table, trim router, and sanders. You will finish the project on your own with Osmo’s hard wax or minder all oil that is food safe, water resistant and very durable. Impress your friends or give as a gift!
Open Sewing Studio (Members only)
Thursday, December 1 or December 15| 6 – 8pm | $35
If you have trouble starting a project, lose motivation or get lost this is a great space to keep yourself on track and ask questions to learn more! We have two sewing machines available as well as extra needles and various other notions. If you prefer your own machine feel free to bring it.
Beginner Bowl Turning Workshop (Members only – Level 1 Lathe checkout required)
Saturday, December 3 | 9 – 11:30am | $85 + $10 materials fee
For the emerging lathe turner, this workshop builds on the beginner spindle-turning workshop and will qualify you for a Level 2 checkout (bowl turning). Scope of workshop: Create a bowl roughed to shape demonstrating familiarity with all machine parts and turning competency by finding center, turning to round, shape outside, shape bottom to accept chuck and rough out the inside, sweep to 1” wall. An 8”x8”x2” rectangular blank will be provided.
Beginner Spindle Turning Workshop (Members only)
Saturday, December 10 | 9 – 11:30am | $85 + $10 materials fee
For the beginner, this workshop will teach fundamentals of spindle turning that will qualify you for a Level 1 checkout (spindle-turning). These techniques will provide basic skills allowing you to work independently in the lathe shop. Carbide tipped tools will be used to learn spindle-turning.
Woodshop Machinery Fundamentals (Members only)
Monday, December 12 AND 19 | 6 – 9:30pm | $150 + $20 materials fee
This beginner level workshop will provide instruction and hands-on experience in safely operating Lowell Makes’ woodshop power machines. It will prepare members for a level 2 checkout.
Wooden Picture Frame Workshop (Members only, Level 2 Checkout Required)
Tuesday, December 13 | 6:30 – 8:30pm | $65 + $10 materials fee
This workshop will teach you how to make two of the most frequently used frames, the floating frame and the wall frame. You will make one of these frames. Participants will learn how to take raw wood, mill it to the frame’s dimension, use a framing miter sled to cut perfect miters on the table saw and join the frame segments together with the Logan v-nail joiner.