Science and Innovation

The upcoming Science Week and Innovation Dublin Festival represent a fantastic opportunity and an interesting challenge for TOG. With the week and festival running from the 7th-14th November and 10th-21st November respectively. We have an opportunity to run over two weeks of events. The challenge is what to fill the two weeks with.

So we’re looking for your suggestions and ideas for events, activities and projects. Think big!

Our space offers a lot of scope with a class room, large common room, workshop, kitchen and other workrooms. We’ve got equipment like hand/power tools, a CNC router, 3D printer, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzer, sewing machines, science, computer and networking hardware, etc. The ability and time to get materials or extra equipment. Add working on activities over multiple days and the skills of TOG members and the wider public. I think we can come up with something interesting.

Post your suggestions as a comment below.

Dublin 8 is Great!

Last Saturday, four TOG members participated in Dublin 8 is Great!‘s Pop Up Party by running tables on creating electronic bracelets and basic soldering.

The party was organised by local teens with support from mentors, volunteers, and staff from The Computer Clubhouse, to thank the local kids for helping during the Big Clean earlier in the day. Even though the weather was wet they all seemed to have had a great time and even accidentally met President Mary McAleese.

From the Clubhouse website:

The Computer Clubhouse provides a creative and safe after-school learning environment for young people from under-served communities in the south west inner city area of Dublin.

It’s almost a hackerspace for kids. We were very impressed with everybody involved and we hope to be able to participate and collaborate on events in the future.

Cheryl also provides lots more information on her blog. We took some photos after the kids went home for the evening because we were too busy to get any earlier.
Cheryl and Meg working on some homework.

Oops, Craftings

Hey all, sorry this is late, things have been way too busy around here. First off, thanks to those people who came to the Crochet Workshop. We hope you enjoyed it. It turned out to be more frustrating than I thought. Now I understand what my mother meant when she said she didn’t have the patience for it! Still, I’m very impressed with what can be made with a length of string and one needle with a hook in it!

Secondly, Craft Night on Tuesday, 21st September is still on. From about 7pm until we all leave for last buses. Bring anything you want to work on, and just hang out with other crafters. Although I suspect there will be a few others finishing off their crochet with me 🙂 As usual, please use the form below to book a place.

Thirdly, this will be the last Tuesday Craft Night that I, and a few others, will be able to attend. (Don’t worry, Meg will keep them ticking along. Although, if you’re a member I’m sure she’d appreciate some help.) This saddens me, so I’m trying to find another day to have another Craft Night/Day on. Restrictions due to availability of free space, and available members really cuts down the options: Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Please, if are interested in coming on one of these days, let us know which you’d prefer, what times, and how often you’d be able to make it (e.g. every week, every two weeks, once a month, etc). Through the form below, or in email to crafty[at]tog.ie
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What’s that you say, Crafting? Oh, okay!

Tuesday, 7th September, from 7pm until about last buses. In TOG (behind the dodgy looking black gate, there’s an intercom button you can press for admittance). Limited to 12 people. Bring any form of craft you want (and can carry) to work on. We have a sewing machine on the premises (in another room, can be a bit lonely all by yourself), but you should bring whatever thread you need as our selection is poor. Otherwise, we have tea, and usually coffee. It’s a fun night, always a bunch of new people around, and some very talented craftspeople (as well as newbies like me). Send us a note through the Contact Form below if you would like to come along.

Speaking of events, have you seen our first workshop? Crochet Workshop – Stars and Spheres, it’s got pretty pictures. We’re just about full. But because of the way we’re booking places not all are taken yet, but some people do already have dibs on them. If you’re interested you can still contact us about it and we’ll put you on the wait-list. Also, we welcome any suggestions you have for future workshops (whether you’re offering to run them, or there’s something you’d really like to learn about).

*EDIT* Still a couple of places left! Let us know if you want to pop along tomorrow!

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Crochet Workshop – Stars and Spheres

My, do we have a treat for you! Sunday, 12th of September (mark it in your calendar), we will have TOG’s very first craft workshop! From 3pm to 7pm, 8 lucky participants will receive once-off tutelage in crochet. The tutor, specially flown in from Austria, will teach the attendees how to make crochet stars and spheres (more commonly called a type of a certain holiday decoration, but it’s too early, can’t bring myself to say it).

Cost for this one-of-a-kind workshop is €15 for non-members, and €9 for TOG-members. Price includes the workshop, and materials to make two pieces (2 stars, 2 spheres, or 1 star + 1 sphere). There is plenty of scope for ability; patterns and techniques for beginners, and more complicated pieces for those familiar with crochet. It is strictly limited to 8 participants, places confirmed upon payment. Contact us through the form below to state your interest.

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Crafting Call!

Hello again, I hope you’re all enjoying the Irish Hackerspaces Week that’s going on. I am personally very impressed with the talks I’ve attended, and now I have even more to add to the never-ending list of stuff I have to do. If you haven’t been to anything yet there’s still more on, and there’s an Open Social night tomorrow for just chatting and having a laugh.

My point? Oh yes, the point of this post. This is the call for Craft Night next Tuesday (24th August). If you want to attend send us a note through the form below. (We’ll more than likely send you a reply asking you to confirm, because we really want to make sure you’ll be there :)) Details same as usual, Tuesday, from 7pm (until about last buses). Bring anything you’re working on, and just have fun with other crafters. Looking forward to seeing you there!

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