POULSBO — In one corner of the Poulsbo Seventh-Day Adventist School sat a model of Star Wars character R2-D2, a robotic arm and a table of circuit boards. Across the room, a woodworker stood at a small lathe, creating tops for children to spin as they wandered past the booth.
Though the majority of vendors at the inaugural Kitsap MiniMaker Faire on Sunday all had different interests, co-organizer Murry Rexin said the Faire was going as planned.
“This is exactly what we’ve been looking to do,” Rexin said. “We’re getting people together.”
The exact number of vendors had not been tallied by the afternoon, Vendors filled two buildings and a field at the Adventist School just off Lincoln Road in Poulsbo.
Down the hill in the church basement, a crowd of people stood around Brad Griffith as he showcased his pinewood derby collection, craft-stick bridges and remote controlled cars.
This was not Griffith’s first venue to demonstrate his craft-stick work and he said kids are always drawn to the intricate crafts.
“There are always a few kids just magnetized to this booth,” he said.
Griffith came up with the idea of pushing the envelope of craft-stick models on the return ferry from Edmonds after visiting the Museum of Flight. He and his son purchased two cups of hot chocolate. After swirling the hot beverage with a wooden stir-stick to cool it, Griffith noticed the ease which the wood could be manipulated. With engineering still on their minds after visiting the museum, Griffith and his son began to discuss the possibilities of craft-stick bending.
“We just began molding and shaping the wood,” Griffith said. “Now we’re trying to develop new forms of engineering competition.”
Griffith now owns craftstickbending.com, a website dedicated to wood crafting projects for children that go beyond using only straight sticks, he said. He was one of many at the Faire that has a small business built around self-interests.
Outside, everything from the sound of Poulsbo metalsmith Pamela Bellesen’s precision hammer to people laughing as they rode Segways filled the air.
Near the excitement of metal work booth, Andrew Dyrdahl took a break to enjoy lunch in the sun.
Dyrdahl worked with mainstream companies such as Nordstrom as a fashion designer up until a few years ago. Now he owns his own business — Twisted Root Studios — in Seattle.
“Yesterday I was at a Punk Rock festival, today I’m here,” he said. “I’m a maker, it’s how I make my living.”
Dyrdahl’s business is currently focused on rag dolls, but he said the business may soon expand for specialized clothing.
Faire volunteer Wendy Bynum said the event could have supported a few more vendors, but she was happy overall. The weather was a bonus.
“Its cool. I’m glad I took a day off work so I could help out,” she said.
