James Pearson 
James is a self-taught maker who handcrafts his own string instruments. He has made ukuleles, violins, cellos and guitars, all in his home workshop. He prefers using local or repurposed wood to make his instruments. Watch his Maker Video to learn more about his craft.
John Fleming - Icons Unlimited 
John Fleming is a local cosplayer and prop maker. John uses both EVA foam and 3D printed items to make his props and costumes. His love for pop culture, mainly the Marvel and DC universes, inspired him to make large-scale props for people to enjoy at community events. Watch his Maker Video to learn more about his craft. Check out his Facebook page, Icons Unlimited, to see his work and to see which events he will be at next.
Matthew Allen 
Matt is a local engineer with a passion for making. He enjoys working with electronics, laser cutters, software programming, and knitting. He is a father of three children, who love to see what he makes. The family enjoys making with a variety of fiber arts together. Watch his Maker Video to learn more about his craft, knitting.
Brandon Borgia 
Brandon Borgia is a local self-taught artist of 10 years. He is a photographer and creates handmade furniture/décor using wood, resin, acrylic and metal. Visit his website https://borgiaartistrystudio.com/ to check out some of his work. Maker Videos will be available starting on Nov. 13th.
Max Blumish 
Max Blumish is a digital artist and educator, focusing on 3D design, animation and media. A self-taught artist, Max includes multiple disciplines in his approach. 3D printing, sculpting, painting, and photography are often included in his projects. Watch his Maker Video to learn more about his craft.
Interested in learning more about 3D Printing? Take the Learn to 3D Print class here.
Want to give 3D modeling a try? Check out TinkerCAD!
Kenneth Bownes 
Kenneth started carving wooden spoons and other kitchen utensils about six years ago when he saw a video of a woodworker and thought he'd give it a try. The wood he uses comes from local trees in Erie near his home. He makes all sorts of spoons, spatulas and even shoehorns. They are all different - no two come out the same as wood differs from branch to branch. Come see Kenneth demonstrate and learn more about spoon carving at Erie Makes on Saturday Nov. 12th at the Blasco Library. Can't make the demonstration? Check out Kenneth's maker video during the week of Erie Makes! You can check out Kenneth's work on his website or reach out to him and attend a meeting of the Erie Spoon Club by checking events on their Facebook page.
Ansumana Gbembo 
Ansumana is a talented tailor from Sierra Leone. While living in a refugee camp in Guinea, he took a vocational course to learn the art of tailoring. In 2009, he relocated to Erie. He works with both African and Western fabrics to create outfits his clients will love. He mends clothes, creates garments, and teaches sewing lessons. You can reach him by phone at (814) 413-3694 or email at ansumana.gbembo@gmail.com To learn more about his business visit his Facebook page.
Ashley Pastore 
Ashley Pastore is an artist living and working in Erie, Pa. She received her Masters of Fine Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a focus in printmaking and new media. Recently, her work was displayed in a solo exhibition at the Erie Art Museum titled Everyday Monumental. Her work is on permanent display in Chicago’s Union Station and the Cleveland’s Downtown Hilton Hotel. She has shown around the country in Chicago, Austin, Cleveland, Buffalo and Albuquerque. After receiving her graduate degree, she was hired as the print shop technician at the historical Ox Bow School of Art in Saugatuck, Michigan and has most recently taught at SUNY Fredonia in the printmaking department. Ashley is currently building a communal printshop and makerspace, Grounded Printshop, in Erie.
Grounded Printshop
Grounded Printshop is an interdisciplinary, contemporary print and papermaking shop/ artist residency located in Erie. Their goal is to provide creative space to explore new ideas and perspectives. They have drawer and cubby space as well as private studios and open unfinished areas to get messy and explore BIG ideas. For more information visit their website.
Creating with Community Project
Meet Eric, Fredy and Steve, one of six teams working on the Creating with Community project. This project focuses on the implementation of community-engaged, art-centered social projects. Their project area is the 19th Street corridor, between Cherry Street on the west side of Erie to Parade Street on the east side of Erie.
Lake Erie Woodworks
Lake Erie Woodworks is owned by Armando Reyes, a local craftsman who has been building furniture and wooden goods since 2008. He then created the Lake Erie School of Woodworking: a center for learning and advancing the art and craft of woodworking, based in Erie, PA. They offer classes and video workshops. Learn more about them on their website.
David Sack 
A costume creator with a love of Star Wars, David has been vacuum forming and creating costumes for seven years. He volunteers his time with the 501st Legion, a group who dresses up in movie accurate Star Wars costumes for charity. His first and favorite costume is Agent Kallus, shown in the photo.
Meeting Groups
Adrianne Hills
Adrianne is a wool spinner who found her love for the craft in 2013. Wool spinning is the art of using a wheel to twist wool into yarn. She uses the yarn she spins to knit; one of her favorite projects was a green vest that used some of her very first spun yarn.
Meeting Groups
Esther Ortiz
Esther loves making things with her hands and taught herself how to create piñatas. She makes traditional piñatas, but also makes piñatas of cartoon characters, wedding cakes, Air Jordan sneakers, avocados, lipstick, Mexican candy, popsicles... anything she can think of! Esther is the only piñata maker in the region. For more information about Esther, visit her Erie Arts and Culture profile.
Brandon Levesque 
Meet Brandon, a third generation pickler who has been making his own tangy pickles for five years. His favorite recipe is his spicy dill recipe.
Scott O'Rourke
Scott is a maker with many interests but has recently delved into the art of cross stich and embroidery. Its other interests include jewelry making and woodworking.