By Dawn M Chiossi

     Crafters and enthusiasts everywhere are invited to come feed their passions and celebrate the delights of artistry and so much more with the next Maker’s Day Weekend sponsored by the Kinnelon Public Library on March 22 and 23.

    The time will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

   Crafting, art, painting, printing, quilting… It’s deeply quieting, something that gives people a chance to quiet the noise of the outside world, concentrate on a task, letting their creative juices flow that give them a respite. Ultimately, artists will enjoy their finished product. As every art enthusiast knows there’s something utterly cathartic and enjoyable about creating something from their own hands, talents, and imaginations.  

Whatever the interest, Maker’s Day Weekend is a perfect opportunity to dive right in. New Jersey Maker’s Day is a statewide celebration of making and maker culture that takes place every March in the Garden State. The primary goal is to enhance community engagement for New Jersey residents. Makers Day seeks to explore new and interesting opportunities for community wide education, entrepreneurship and hands-on learning experiences.

     “Maker’s Day is something a lot of libraries are doing,” enthuses Kinnelon Public Library Program Coordinator and Club Sponsor, Kim Christian. Explaining that this event has expanded since its beginnings five years ago in Kinnelon and has grown so popular that the library decided to make it an annual event.

    Christian herself has been at the Kinnelon Library for approximately three years, and tells that Makers Day is a much-anticipated event.

    “Our Makers Day began as a STEM event (Science, Technology Engineering, Math),” she explains. “But soon the whole thing took on a life of its own. Now we will make anything.”

    Officials from the Kinnelon Public Library are thrilled, already planning and anticipating the activities yet to come. Friday will feature mostly adult activities such as adult coloring books, paper cutting, rock painting, quilt squares, and many more hands on crafts. There will be making your own buttons and hand sewing. Saturday is the main day and they will feature so much.

    From 10:00 am to 12:00 pm they will have their Tinkercad Program where attendees can create 3D items such as key chains and locker art magnets with the printer, an event that was extremely popular in the past.

    Christian shares that there will also be rock painting, and from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. the library’s Carolyn Balick will be featuring a Science Fair entitled “Science Behind the Food.” Thanks to a grant from the New Jersey STEM Pathways the exhibit will feature food tastings as well the answers to questions such as “what makes oil and vinegar emulsify?” and “what makes yeast rise?” Adding to the fun, they will also be showing the movie “Science Fair.”

    As part of the teen program, they will be featuring the always popular Spearos. The “Girls Who Code” will also be on hand, enjoying and demonstrating a program called scratch, making a cartoon snowman on the computer. As well as much more.

     “We are so excited,” Christian says. “Maker’s Day was so popular last year–people were in and out of the library all day–and this year, it just keeps getting bigger.”

    Possessing an artistic bent herself, Christian shares that she is looking forward to the sewing portion of the event.

    “Maker’s Day is right up our alley at the Kinnelon Library,” she praises. “Crafts are very popular. She mentions that their programs such as wineglass painting, and others, are always sell outs.” We are a bunch of crafty people,” she jokes.

    “Maker’s Day is a wonderful way for everyone to get creative and learn exciting new things,” Christian remarks. “I love seeing people–and especially teens– make things that they have never done before and that they are proud of. It’s great seeing their faces,” she shares.

    For further information or details, please contact the library at 973-838-1321