Kids learn to sew, build at Creative Discovery Museum's Make It Space in Chattanooga

photo Everett Gonzalez, left, and Pierce Gonzalez build things in the new Make it Space at Creative Discovery Museum.
photo Megan Whitehead, left, helps Abigail Everett with her sewing project in the Make it Space at the Creative Discovery Museum.

Chattanooga Mini Maker FaireLocal organizers have put together a Mini Maker Faire for tech enthusiasts, hobbyists, artists and crafters of all ages. It will take place Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at First Tennesse Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. The daylong event will feature projects, performances, competitions and workshops covering a wide range of items including automated electronics, big art pieces and sustainability projects. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 for ages 13-17 and college students.

IF YOU GOWhat: Make It Space at Creative Discovery MuseumWhere: 321 Chestnut St.Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays and Thursdays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays, closed Wednesdays.Admission: $12.95 adults and children ag 2-12; $9.95 military, police and firefighters, $10.95 with stub from Tennessee Aquarium.Information: 423-756-2738 or cdmfun.org

As little hands pound in nails at one work station, others build mini-robotic machines with Cubelets at another. At a third work station, 5-year-old Abigail Everett does her best to master sewing on an applique piece.

She has the pieces of material, one cut out in the shape of a dog, stretched out in a hoop, while educator Megan Whitehead watches over her and offers helpful suggestions.

"I'm making it for my mommy and daddy and little brother," Abigail says as she carefully works to get the needle to poke through the underside of the material at the edge of the top piece.

"I did it without looking," she exclaims after succeeding.

Two minutes later, she is wrapped up in mom's arms, getting a little TLC after a slight mishap with the same needle. She shakes it off quickly enough, wiping the tears away and back working on her sewing within a minute or two.

Abigail and the other kids are at the Creative Discovery Museum in the brand-new Make It Space, participating in a "highly facilitated" program designed to encouraged creativity and building and craft-making skills. It is designed for kids 5 and up, though there is a workbench for 3- and 4-year-olds. On this day, the little ones are working with plastic PVC pipe and elbow joints. Last week it was golf tees and peg boards.

The space was outfitted through donations with tools purchased at a discount from Elder's Ace Hardware. The program is part of new national movement to teach kids to "Make It" using their own imagination and skills, and also to teach them some of the skills adults once learned as kids.

"I learned to sew at 8," says Karen Dewhirst, science manager at the Creative Discovery.

The tools and projects in the Make It Space will change periodically to keep things fresh for the kids, says Luke Evans, public relations coordinator for the museum. And these aren't "play" tools, either. The sewing needles, hammers, nails and manual drills are all real, not the blunted, dull or plastic types today's kids are accustomed to using.

"We like to call it safe danger," Dewhirst says. "The hope is to empower kids to do anything that they set their mind to. It's very exciting to see their faces when they make something, when they take a scrap of fabric, sew it onto another and then make a frame for it to take home."

Hollie Stockman was there with her daughter Zella, 8, who was also working on an applique.

"We homeschool and she loves coming here," Stockman says. "She is free to do whatever she wants. Nothing is structured. There are no time limits, so she can learn and have fun."

Zella says she plans to frame her piece and will hang it in her bedroom.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

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