IMPORTANT: Events are colored by category. To view a list instead of a calendar, click the "Switch to List View" in the top right corner of the calendar.
And NO - this training is not at 2am :-) !!!!!!!!!!!
Darrin, who is often around the shop weeknights after 6:30 and on weekends, has volunteered to do Ad Hoc Trainings on the Drum Sander.
Please have a copy of your receipt printed or on your phone when arriving. This training is for TCMAKER MEMBERS ONLY
PLEASE NOTE: This is a NON-REFUNDABLE ticket. Once you purchase this ticket you may not request a refund/credit for any reason.
Questions or trouble signing up for this class? Email ceramics@tcmaker.org.
9 sessions across 3 summer months
Intermediate level
Prerequisite: Wheel Throwing 101 or equivalent experience
Summer is the perfect time to slow down, go deeper, and let your practice breathe. This three-part series is designed for makers who have the basics under their belt and are ready to push their forms further (without the pressure of a back-to-back weekly commitment).
Spread across three focused 3-week sessions with intentional breaks in between, this class gives you time to make, reflect, experiment on your own, and come back ready for the next challenge. Each module session builds on the last, so by the end of the summer you'll have a cohesive body of work and a noticeably expanded throwing vocabulary.
Session 1: Going Bigger We start by stretching your ambitions and your clay. Our focus will be on throwing larger, more complex forms: taller vessels, wider openings, closed vessels, and pieces that require more control, patience, and planning. Expect hands-on demos, individual feedback, and a honest look at where your technique wants to grow.
Session 2: Lidded Forms One of the most satisfying and technically demanding areas of wheel throwing, lidded forms ask you to think about fit, proportion, and function all at once. We'll explore different lid styles and how the relationship between vessel and lid defines the whole piece.
Session 3: Dinnerware & Beyond The final module takes on the dinner table — plates, bowls, and the forms that make a set feel intentional. We'll also explore what happens when the wheel is just the beginning: altering thrown forms off the wheel and integrating hand-building techniques to push your work into new territory. We'll close the summer with time dedicated to surface decoration and glazing, so your pieces feel as considered on the outside as they are on the inside.
The breaks between modules are part of the class. Use that time to keep making on your own, let pieces dry and get fired, and arrive at the next module with fresh eyes.
This class is for you if you've completed Wheel Throwing 101 or have equivalent studio experience and are ready to work with more intention and less hand-holding in the best possible way.
Instructor: Paola Evangelista is a ceramic artist and educator with 15 years of experience working across functional ware, sculptural installation, and everything in between. Her classes are a space to build real skill while asking bigger questions about what we make and why.
This class is centered around the potter's wheel. Students will understand the basic tools and materials as well as proper studio safety and clean-up practices. Students will learn to prepare clay for throwing, center the clay on the wheel, open and pull clay walls, and create basic forms like cylinders and bowls. Finally, students will learn how to refine and trim forms, apply surface decoration and glaze, and understand the process of bisque and glaze firing.
The skills acquired in this class will the the foundation on which you can keep building with more advanced classes and/or open studio time.
Come ready to get messy. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty; don't worry about clay on your clothes - it washes right off! Most importantly, come ready to have fun!
This class is taught by Paola Evangelista. Artist and educator, born in Peru and based in the Twin Cities since 2019. Read more at www.paolaevangelista.com
This time is set aside to perform tasks around making sure our tools stay in peak performance and trying to ensure that the tools stay in good working order during the month.
Never repaired a tool or performed maintenance before – not a problem!! There are maintenance task for all levels of expertise – and we’ll always have at least one person around that can help you learn!
Come learn about the jewelry bench! We have tools to support fabrication workflows as well as casting (red sand and investment casting). The instructor's subject area is silversmithing, but all interest areas are welcomed as we seek to expand our jewelry-making offerings.
In this orientation, you will learn each tool's role in the jewelry-making process, from cutting and forming to soldering and polishing. This department is distinct from the Lapidary department, but the skills go hand-in-hand!
Measuring and Marking
Forming
Cutting and Reducing
Joining
Polishing
Various Jigs and Miscellaneous
We will end by discussing what's next for the jewelry department, how to get involved, and where to find resources for learning more.
Happy making! ~Abby
Electronics in need of repair? Stop by Twin Cities Maker on Troubleshoot Tuesdays to get help from a pro and learn to fix your device! This will be an opportunity to diagnose your electronics issues and get some basic repairs.
Please sign up using this form to attend, this will help our techs prepare for your arrival!
Troubleshoot Tuesdays are run by RECA, Minnesota Tech for Success, and Free Geek Twin Cities.
Open Circuits is open to both Twin City Maker members and the public at large. We'll meet in the Twin Cities Maker Electronics Lab and spill out into the lobby as necessary.
(on the docket for the foreseeable future)
It is not necessary to RSVP to this event!
Fiber Night on Wednesday in the lobby for anyone who wants to join! We'll be working on beginning knitting and crochet but are open to any other suggestions
Email artifactory@tcmaker.org with questions!
Twin Cities Maker (TC Maker) is a non-profit, all volunteer run, community maker space based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Our mission is to make, share, and learn.
We have a maker space (The Hack Factory) for members to build projects using various media and technologies, from wood and metal working, electronics to fabrics, laser cutters to 3D Printers and beyond.
We invite you to come visit our space and take a tour to learn about our community, and how you can participate in it. We welcome folks to check out the space on Wednesday evenings. A tour of the space will start in the lobby at 7 PM.
Learn more about us at our website! https://www.tcmaker.org/
This event is a tour only. Non-members are not permitted to operate any tools or equipment. Appropriate safety precautions MUST be taken before entering the shop.
Whether you are a brand new member of Twin Cities Maker, or have been a member for a really long time but haven't been in the shop for awhile, attending a new member orientation will get you up to speed on the policies, guidelines, and culture of Twin Cities Maker.
Signup, download a copy of our handbook, and come to session. During orientation you get to meet some new people, have all your questions answered, and get acquainted with Twin Cities Maker policies, guidelines, and culture.
Orientation lasts for about 1 hour with time after for questions and support for any issues.
After you have completed orientation you will receive your fob to access the facility, which will be activated once have paid all membership fees.
If you are going to be working in the woodshop be sure to sign up for woodshop orientation immediately following this class. Check our orientations calendar to register.
All New Members are required to Pre-Register for this Orientation.
If you cannot attend an in person orientation, please reach out to membership@tcmaker.org so that we can work out special arrangements.
Wood Shop Orientation is a required orientation for all woodworkers.
During Orientation we will cover basic shop safety guidelines along with best practices that are necessary to use the wood shop at Twin Cities Maker!
https://wiki.tcmaker.org/en/shop_departments/wood_shop
At Paint Club we hang out and paint. Bring your supplies and a project.
On the first Thursday of the month we're in the classroom, otherwise we're in the Artifactory. You can just show up.
This class will provide wood shop users with foundational skills in woodworking including planning, materials, marking, skills, and tool use.
Students will be introduced to the TC Maker wood shop mindset and safety expectations. Learn how to plan a successful project with a focus on construction methods and joinery. Select wood, measure and mill materials, and learn order of operations and assembly. Finally, we'll cover wood finishing including finish options and technique.
Each of the four sessions will last two hours and start with a lesson portion. If we have any extra time, the instructors can help answer questions and consult on projects.
The workbench, clamps, vices, measuring tools, squares, chisel, hand plane, bandsaw, table saw, jointer, planer, sanding station, and more.
Clothing suitable to the wood shop. Wear close-toed shoes and avoid loose, dangling clothing and accessories.
Eye and hearing protection is required. Dust masks and eye/ear protection are available to borrow but bringing your own is recommended.
Join this in-person orientation to learn more about the CNC routers at Twin Cities Maker.
Orientation will start in the classroom—not the CNC room.
Agenda:
CNC orientation is generally held on the second Friday of the month.
Join us as we listen to Jazz 88's Bluegrass Saturday Morning and work to make the metal shop a little brighter and more functional! First Saturday of every month we'll chip away to make our space better and cleaner!
Registration is not required although it helps us gauge what we can get done. Drop-in and stay a while, or come and pass a broom once, everyone is welcome.
This is orientation required for use of the metal shop at TC Maker Minneapolis. We explain our equipment, safety procedures, storage and training requirements for our more advanced tools. Also provide recommendations for PPE, consumables and other things to help make your use of the metal shop effective for you and our other members.
At 6:45 we will do a brief training for use of the metal shear, which requires in-person checkoff. Following that, you will be allowed to use our 4' sheet metal shear. You can attend either or both sessions if you wish.
Please be on time and let me know if you cannot attend. Thank you
We encourage all members to attend our Town Hall meetings!
The Town Hall is on the 2nd Tuesday of the 3rd month of each quarter. This is an opportunity for every member of Twin Cities Maker to meet with members of the senior leadership. Each meeting will comprise of an update on major ongoing projects, overall strategy, and what the future holds. The remainder of the meeting will be dedicated to general discussion and Q&A.
All Town Hall meeting are held in person in the Artifactory as well as virtually online. To join the meeting online please visit https://go.tcmaker.org/boardmeeting
What tools do we have? Where are they? What do they look like?
Our wiki (wiki.tcmaker.org) needs an overhaul, and we need a group of volunteers to pull it off. Expect a glass of wine, collaboration with fellow makers, and a better-organized collective knowledge base.
No experience needed! Bring a laptop since we'll likely only have one PC set up, but keep in mind this first meeting will be heavily focused on planning, styling, and structure.
We'll be starting fresh with a MediaWiki (like Wikipedia) installation, pulling from the current Wiki.js setup for source material—at least for the parts that aren't wildly out-of-date.
Curious about 3D printing? Want to make organizers, replacement parts, cosplay props, custom brackets, mounts, prototypes, or just something fun you found online? This is your starting point.
No previous 3D printing experience needed. Just bring your curiosity.
In this hands-on session, we will walk through how the 3D lab works, go over shared space guidelines, and guide you step-by-step through printing on our Bambu Lab 3D printers. Bring an STL file if you have one you are excited about, or use one of ours. If your print does not finish during class, you can pick it up later. Filament for training prints is provided.
By the end, you will be officially checked off and ready to use the Bambu Lab printers on your own.
If you have printed before, you are still welcome to join. You can also email us about scheduling a quick 30-minute check-off session.
Want to go further? After this class, members can request intermediate training to unlock our Bambu X1C with AMS. A resin class for the Anycubic resin 3D printers is also available upon request. 3D scanner training for the Creality Raptor Pro is available upon request.
Got any questions or need assistance? Email us at 3D@tcmaker.org and we are happy to help.
We cannot wait to see what you make. Happy making!
Join us for a fun, free evening of creative reuse at Twin Cities Maker! Bring recyclable or unused materials, such as magazines, newspapers, cardboard, fabric scraps, packaging, or other art supplies and transform them into original artwork through collage and sculpture making experimentation.
Come with a friend or on your own and explore how everyday materials can become something new. As part of the event, we'll also be hosting an Art Supply Drive that we will be donating to Art Scraps and other local arts organizations!
If you have extra art materials you're no longer using, consider donating them to help support the community. We'll provide shared tools, adhesives, and additional materials, and no prior art experience is needed. Whether you create an individual piece or collaborate with others, this is a great opportunity to experiment, make art, and connect with the community. This event is free of charge, but please rsvp in advance!
Broken appliance or children's toy? Lost the battery cover on your remote? Don't throw it out - instead, bring it to a plastics repair clinic at Twin Cities Maker!
Once a month, join us for an evening of repair in our 3D Printing Lab. Our volunteers will help diagnose and guide your repair.
Here are examples of what our volunteers are able to help you with:
Sign up on this google form for a 30-minute time slot, and to let us know what you plan to bring in!
~ This is a drop-in, drop-out event. Come as you please. TCM members do not need to RSVP, just show up! ~
Bring your raw metals and get guidance from experts!
Join silversmithing instructor Abby Schneider for Open Studio in the jewelry department! Drop in and out, or come for the whole time, it doesn't matter! We're here to hang out, listen to music, and build a community of people making beautiful things.
No prior jewelry experience is necessary or assumed, and this event can also serve as your orientation for the jewelry department. This is a time for getting together with other artists for community, advice/direct assistance on projects, and learning about safely using the advanced tools.
You can even come if you don't make jewelry but are just curious about the techniques involved in small metalworking. My hope is to build a knowledge-sharing community of practice. Everyone is welcome.
If you're not a member, this is a great way to try out TCM's jewelry tools and see if the space is for you. Bring some raw metal and have some fun!
If there are no users who bring raw metal, that is also completely okay! In that case, Abby will be there running a jewelry demonstration.
Join us for a series of free Gardening Education presentations, led by Hennepin County Master Gardeners, right here at Twin Cities Maker!
This workshop’s topic is Edible Landscapes:
Edible gardening is a growing trend that provides a feast for the eyes and the palate. Discover the benefits of integrating edibles with ornamental plants and learn how to care for and incorporate these beautiful and tasty plants into just about anywhere in your landscape.
Can’t make this one? Check out our calendar for the next presentations in our Gardening Education series!
Thank you to Hennepin County Master Gardeners.
Create real silver jewelry using metal clay, a unique and flexible medium that becomes pure silver when kiln-fired. Use provided molds, surface patterns, and textures to design jewelry that is striking and original. Students will learn basic metal clay techniques to complete 3 to 4 silver pieces such as earrings, pendants, and charms that are truly unique!
Laura Juul
First day is mandatory.
This class is run by Articulture and hosted at Twin Cities Maker.
Got a piece of clothing to mend? A loved item you've worn through? A broken zipper? A torn sleeve? Don't throw it out - instead, bring it to our community mending night in the TCM artifactory!
All are welcome, members and nonmembers alike! Join us for an evening of slow fashion to make your pieces last longer and save them from the landfill. Even if you don't have something to mend, feel free to stop by for a fun evening in community.
Please fill out this form to sign up for a 30-minute time slot to have our volunteers help you out with your repair!
This training is for volunteers who are interested in helping out with electronic repair events held at TC Maker. This is an orientation four our Troubleshoot Tuesday clinics.
Chris Olson will walk trainees through fix-it clinic etiquette, demonstrate how to troubleshoot the most common repairs seen at fix-it clinics, and provide an opportunity to get hands on to build your confidence!
This training is completely free, but registration is required.
Get started welding! In this class, students will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with TIG welding with steel and stainless steel. Subjects covered will include setting up the machines, material selection, safety, technique, and what makes a quality weld.
No prior experience necessary!
Patrick Grace has 8 years of MIG/TIG welding experience and is certified in both Wisconsin and Minnesota. They have worked for mass production companies as well as on military ships and submarines.
*Please Note: Ignore the "Spaces Left" on this Event. It will always show Zero!
MUST BE A MEMBER OF TCMAKER!
Orientation will be a half-hour session covering space changes, equipment and material locations, donations, cleanliness protocols, and safety procedures for new members and those who haven't been down to the Artifactory in a while.
Get oriented for our stained glass supplies! We'll take a look at the tools and materials we have on hand, share some tips for success, and cover proper cleanup.
On this day we will be celebrating all of our Shop Leaders by closing down the makerspace just for them! The space will be set aside for their use from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm as we have lunch, and offer them classes!
Title: Cast it in Clay: Intro to Slip Casting & Mold Making
Dates: Sundays, August 2, 9, and 16
Time: 10 am - 4 pm (lunch break 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm)
Minimum enrollment: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 8
Material Fee: $45
Registration: $150 (standard member rate)*
Total amount charged to each student for the full 3-week series (12 total contact hours), including materials: $195 (standard member rate)*
*Enrollment rates vary based on accessibility needs, whether participants are members or non-members, and a 10% discount for our volunteers. See registration panel for details.
Session 1 (August 2)
Welcome & Overview
Casting into an existing mold (instructor demonstration, followed by hands-on practice)
Discussion & takeaways
Planning your mold
homework: find or create an object to bring with you to class August 9 for making your own mold
Session 2 (August 9)
Make your mold (instructor demonstrations followed by hands-on practice)
Clay up and cottle
Mix and pour plaster
(lunch break)
Making the second half of your mold
Session 3 (August 16)
Casting with your mold
Instructor will check in with each student, review slip-pouring, and troubleshoot if there are issues with student-made molds.
Your successful cast pieces will be bisque fired at our studio. For glazing guidance, sign up for the August 23 Glazing Basics Workshop ($15 member rate).
This workshop’s topic is Small Space Gardening (Square Foot Gardening):
Are you limited by garden space or interested in increasing the density of your garden to increase harvest? This class covers basic square foot gardening techniques, succession planting and management.
Troubleshoot Tuesdays occur on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Join us for an evening of creativity, connection, and community as Twin Cities Queer Open Mic comes to Twin Cities Maker! This open mic celebrates all forms of expression—whether it’s singing, music, poetry, spoken word, visual art, performance, or whatever wild and wonderful ideas our community brings to the stage.
Everyone is welcome to share, or just come to listen, cheer, and enjoy the energy of queer voices and creativity. Bring your art, your words, your songs—or just bring yourself.
It’s time for our Quarterly Cleanup! This is when we come together as a community to care for our shop, tackle big improvement projects, and put energy into making the space better for everyone. From deep cleaning to shop upgrades, your help makes a lasting difference.
Quarterly Cleanup is about more than just chores; it’s about strengthening our community, building pride in our shared space, and spending time together. Whether you’ve been around for years or are brand new, it’s a great way to get involved and connect with others.
After this class you'll have a general understanding of how to operate the screen printing equipment along with the basic principles of screen printing.
Besides learning about the screen printing equipment, you'll learn about shop policies & safety, practical applications of screen printing, how to chose a good image for screen printing, and acceptable surfaces that will screen print well.
Rick Strohmeyer has been a long time member of Twin Cities Maker. After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arets in printmaking, he has enjoyed sharing his knowledge he has learned while being a a print-maker, painter and general designer.
We encourage all members to attend our Finance Committee meetings!
The Finance Committee meets publicly on the 2nd Tuesday of the 1st month of each quarter. This meeting is open to members of Twin Cities Maker and is an opportunity for them to understand our finances and review our quarterly finance reports.
All Finance Committee meeting are held in person in the Artifactory as well as virtually online. To join the meeting online please visit https://go.tcmaker.org/boardmeeting
This workshop’s topic is Using Rain Gardens:
A rain garden is a bowl-shaped garden designed to absorb excess rainwater run-off from a house and its associated landscape. Learn how having a rain garden benefits the environment, how to make one and what plants are suitable.
This workshop will explore the art of block printing, one of the more accessible of printing styles. Students will start out by planning their image idea, and then learn basic carving and inking techniques in prep of the final process of printing their block. A small edition of original numbered fine art prints will be run. If time permits, participants can take another step to dive into reductive printmaking, by additional carving away parts of the original block, to then add another layer with a different ink color. The possibilities of this unique art form are truly endless!
Eva Adderley
Add welding to your DIY skillset with this introductory course.
Learn the basics of MIG welding and walk away with your own small wall-mounted coat hanger. In this class you will learn a basic welding framework to use on your own projects at home or in the TC Maker shop. Safety, machine basics, gas choice and set-up, as well as basic tools will all be covered. For folks starting from zero knowledge to those who have welded in the past and would like to brush-up, this class emphasizes that everyone can be a welder and make their own project dreams come true. Class size is kept small to encourage participation and time with the instructor.
Bring a pair of welding gloves. Recommendations are ones that are thinner for dexterity. Examples are Black Stallion MIG gloves or Vulcan TIG gloves (both work for MIG welding).
Participants should be wearing close-toed shoes and clothing that is 100% cotton or wool. Jeans or similar material without holes are also recommended. No synthetic fibers. Improper attire may require participants to withdraw at time of class without refund. If you have questions regarding proper attire, please reach out to the instructor.
Up To 7 Days Before the Event Starts.
Cory Due is a local 539 pipefitter who focuses on service work and HVAC after earning a welding degree at MCTC and working in a fabrication shop and on the construction side of the pipefitters union. They have both a welding degree and HVAC degree and largely work on commercial systems. They enjoy teaching and making mechanical concepts more accessible to all. When they aren't teaching they're scheming about house projects, tending to their garden, or spending time with their family and menagerie of animals.
This workshop’s topic is Growing and Using Herbs:
Are you planning on growing herbs in the upcoming growing season? Take the mystery out of growing, harvesting and storing herbs. Learn how these easy to grow plants can be used in landscaping to add variety and attract pollinators, as well as in cooking, home decorating, and more! You will also receive a handout as part of the class.
We encourage all members to attend our board meetings!
The Board Meetings are normally held on the 2nd Tuesday of the 2nd month of each quarter, but may fluctuate depending on Board Member schedules/holidays. Please refer to our calendar of events for dates and times of all meetings.
All board meeting are held in person in the Artifactory as well as virtually online. To join the meeting online please visit https://go.tcmaker.org/boardmeeting
To view the agenda for this meeting, please visit this link.
To request an item to be added to the agenda, please contact President@TCMaker.org at least 5 days prior to any board meeting.
Learn enough metalworking to double your project list!
Curious about how to begin your metalworking journey? Have a project idea that you'd like to use metal in? Join us as we explore how to MIG weld, braze, solder, use hand tools, angle grinders, and cover the shear, drill press, and box and pan brake tools in the shop. Feel more confident using the space safely, add more skills to your tool belt, and walk away with a small completed class project. Participants are encouraged to bring in their own project ideas but not required.
Class One: We'll start with the basics—safety, handy tools to use and how to use them, thinking about fabrication layout, and
Class Two: Our second class will go over how to use the oxy-acetylene torch and plasma cutter. We'll also go over the shear, drill press, and horizontal bandsaw as we begin our class project.
Class Three: We'll learn howuse an angle grinder. We'll use the box and pan brake, small hand tools in the metal shop, and finish our small shop project. We'll also cover some basic finishing techniques.
Class Four: Class four is an open work class. Participants can come and work on their individual project with support from the instructor.
Suited to beginners but all levels welcome.
MIG Welding, Oxy-Acetylene, plasma cutting, angle grinder, shear, drill press, bandsaw.
Cory Due is a local 539 pipefitter who focuses on service work and HVAC. They have both a welding degree and HVAC degree and largely work on commercial systems. They enjoy teaching and making welding less intimidating. When they aren't teaching they're scheming about house projects, tending to their garden, or spending time with their family and menagerie of animals.
This workshop’s topic is Sustainability in the Garden:
This class will provide a quick overview of the concept of a sustainable landscape and showcase the basics steps to build a healthy yard and garden. The basics start with the trifecta of soil, sun and water in your current landscape followed by selecting plants to be long-lived and well-suited to your site. Making smart choices will provide you with a lawn and gardens to be enjoyed for many years as well as provide habitats for pollinators and other wildlife.
Frustrated by the short Minnesota growing season? There are several methods you can implement to add weeks to your growing calendar. We’ll discuss techniques that range from simple to advanced and empower you to try one or multiple in the upcoming season to get the most out of your garden. This class covers soil warming methods, crop covers, basic succession planting, and protective structures.
In this orientation, you will learn each tool's role in the jewelry-making process, from cutting and forming to soldering and polishing. The Jewelry department is distinct from the Lapidary department so if you're looking for stone polishing, this department does not have that. But the skills go hand-in-hand, and I encourage you to check out that space as well!
Discover the beauty of watercolor through landscape painting in this 5-week series designed for beginners and developing artists alike.
Watercolor is beautifully suited to capturing the natural world. Its fluidity and versatility can give us soft skies, layered depth, and expressive textures that bring landscapes to life on paper.
In this course, you'll learn how to work with water and pigment from the ground up. We will begin with foundational techniques and build upon your culminating skills toward a finished landscape painting of your own. Along the way, you'll explore how to create natural shapes, color, atmosphere and depth—using a balance of control and spontaneity.
Each session combines guided instruction, hands-on practice, and time to develop your own work, giving you both the skills and confidence to continue painting beyond the course.
Whether you're brand new to watercolor or returning after time away, this class offers a supportive, focused environment where you can slow down, build technique, and enjoy the creative process.
Over five sessions, you will: