Every December, the thing I look forward to most is bringing home a live Christmas tree. There’s just something about the smell of pine and the quiet moment when you open that first box of ornaments. I always end up sitting on the floor, unwrapping them slowly, because each one has its own story. Some are souvenirs from places I’ve traveled. A few have been passed down through … [Read more...]
Junk Jam Turns ‘Trash’ Into Treasured Creations at HiveLabs
Last weekend, HiveLabs hosted something truly special. Our first-ever Junk Jam, a 72-hour “recycling hardware focused hackathon” that ran nonstop from Friday, Nov. 14, through Sunday, Nov. 16. The idea was simple: take donated junk, give people the tools and space to experiment, and see what creativity blooms when nothing is too broken, too weird or too far gone to build … [Read more...]
Breathing New Life Into ‘Useless’ Computers at HiveLabs
At HiveLabs, we believe that innovation does not always begin with something brand new. Sometimes, it starts with something forgotten. Recently, I took on a project that perfectly captures that idea. I was given an old eMachines PC tower and a bulky CRT monitor that were going to be thrown away and decided to bring them back to life. What I ended up creating was what … [Read more...]
Why a Makerspace?
I get asked a lot why I’m starting a makerspace, and I guess the easiest way to explain it is to tell you about myself. Florida has always been home to me, I feel that in my bones. The nature, wildlife, and the unique community here have shaped who I am. When I was at UCF earning my degree in conservation biology, I spent as much time outside in the green spaces as I could, … [Read more...]