Category: Member Spotlight

Staff Spotlight: Mason Merriam

Mason Merriam is the Director of Facilities and Operations here at Generator. He has been at Generator for a little over a year. Mason comes to us with experience as a freelance carpenter off-Broadway, Foreman in New York City, and more recently as a maintenance technician at the University of Vermont Medical Center. It has been so fun getting to know Mason this summer. He is a funny guy who is always willing to help. There is no one else I’d want to hang off the roof with!

We hope you enjoy reading a little more about how Mason got here, what he does, and what brings him joy in his own words.

Hometown/Birthplace?
Ription, VT

Current Home Location?
Vergennes, VT

What is your job title at Generator, and what do you do?
Director of Facilities and Operations. I am tasked with making sure the facility is kept running smoothly. This includes everything from writing policies, to fixing equipment & scheduling major repairs and upgrades, to running our Fabrication Services & Space Rental programs.

How did you first discover Generator, and how did you end up working here?
A good friend of mine has been a member here for many years and told me he thought that I would be a good fit at Generator.

When you’re at Generator, what brings you joy? Why?
I love getting to interact with the members and see all of the interesting, cool projects that they’re working on. It’s a really wonderful community.

What’s one rewarding/fulfilling aspect of working at Generator you either didn’t expect, or didn’t know would be part of your job?
It’s really wonderful to be part of a team that is fun, creative, emotionally intelligent, and excited to be part of such a cool place.

What’s one aspect of your job you wish you could do more of?
I would love to be able to do more physical repair work on the tools and equipment.

If you didn’t work at Generator, what would you be doing right now?
Probably still working at University of Vermont Medical Center.

If you had 2 weeks to do whatever you wanted to do, and all the money you needed to do it… What would IT be?
I would book a two week fishing trip to Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

Here at Generator our mission is to help people make stuff. What is it about making something that is so important, and why should other people care?
When you learn a new skill and use it to create something, or you learn to use complicated or dangerous tools safely and well, it builds confidence and allows you to bring that into other areas of your life. “If I can do X, why can’t I do Y?” Learning to make something exercises both physical and mental traits. You have to problem solve, you have to try out new methods, or ask a fellow member for help and in doing so you grow and become part of a community. It can bring a sense of pride and self reliance to a person.

How would other community members describe you?
Devastatingly Handsome™

Thank you so much for sharing Mason!

July 22, 2024
JumpStart Graduate – Prince Awhaitey of Healthy Kingdom

Hi Friend,

I’m Prince Awhaitey, the founder and CEO of Healthy Kingdom and a graduate of the JumpStart 2024 business incubator program.

I first heard about JumpStart when I was selling coconuts at the Burlington Farmers Market and met Meg Hammond, Generator’s executive director, who encouraged me to apply. Healthy Kingdom is my nutrition wellness business that provides nutrition retreats, corporate wellness, and branded coconuts for events. Over the past 3 months in JumpStart I’ve refined my business plan, constructed a coconut bike cart prototype, and optimized my laser engraving process for my coconuts.

I grew up in Ghana where fresh coconuts were a big part of our culture. Then when I was pursuing my Masters in nutrition I learned that coconuts have a wide variety of documented health benefits; including macronutrients and antioxidants that help with insulin sensitivity, high blood pressure, kidney function, and digestive health. As a community nutritionist, I was thrilled to discover that coconuts are a superfood that can make a positive impact for so many people.

Now I put a fresh spin on serving coconuts by customizing them for events. I use a laser cutter to engrave logos or words on the shell of the coconut, which have become very popular as event refreshments or promotional giveaways.

JumpStart has been hugely beneficial to my business development. It’s been so helpful to have the structure of a class and cohort of peers to provide accountability and motivation to keep moving forward. I’ve taken other business courses, but JumpStart is the only one that’s had such relevant information that I can immediately put to use for my business.

I think a lot of that is thanks to our instructor Emily Eley. Her advice is like food with good seasoning – it has spice to it! It’s never the obvious or generic response, she’s giving us well-researched, grounded, and innovative guidance.

The engineering consultation I received through JumpStart helped me to finesse my process for laser cutting my coconuts, and put me in touch with skilled metalworkers that constructed the prototype of my new coconut bike cart – complete with a freezer, sink, and awning!

Looking ahead, I want to grow my business to offer more corporate retreats and nutrition workshops. And I am especially passionate about connecting low-income communities with better nutritional options. I am hoping to become part of the USDA funded Summer Food Service Program to provide eligible families with free coconuts.

I am so grateful to Generator and the JumpStart program for providing me with the guidance and support to push my business forward and provide healthy food options to more people.

Sincerely,
Prince Awhaitey
CEO of Healthy Kingdom

Prince… Thank you so much for the kind and thoughtful words!

As a nonprofit, community support from people like you is what enables Generator to continue to offer our impactful programs for entrepreneurs such as Prince.

Supporting Generator is never a bad idea, but right now it’s an especially good one!

We are currently fundraising to support programs like JumpStart, and if we raise $20,000 in community donations by June 16th we will unlock a $20,000 match from some generous sponsors. So please consider making a donation today… We won’t make it without you!

Special thanks to our sponsors:

June 10, 2024
Member Spotlight: Jon Roberts

Jon Roberts has been a Generator member for over 3 years now, and is a multimedia artist using the laser cutter, plasma cutter, and woodshop for some interesting applications in sculpture. We first talked to Jon about his art installation for the total eclipse event in Lake Champlain this April.

We’re excited to bring you his full Generator story in his own words.

I found my way to Generator when I was looking for space to make art and a community to fend off the isolation that one can feel as an artist. But I had no idea the ways my 2D artwork would be transformed into large public sculptures over the next few years at Generator.

When I first came to Generator I was mostly making paintings and works on paper. The woodshop allowed me to make panels for paintings and the laser cutter offered interesting possibilities for cut paper works. As I watched people bring ambitious dreams into reality it helped me to think bigger.

As the 2024 eclipse was approaching this past year, I had an idea for a sculpture that was unlike anything I had previously done. I used the laser cutter and woodshop at Generator to fabricate a temporary 10 ft. x 40 ft. installation of floating faces. The sculpture was placed offshore in Lake Champlain and glowed during the eclipse and at night with phosphorescence.

My eclipse installation has received positive attention and helped inspire new works. I was recently accepted as the Generator Artist-In-Residence for the fall and I plan on using the CNC driven plasma cutter to cut large scale sculptures out of sheet steel, and the computer lab to help design my sculptures. It’s not just the tools that help enable projects like this, it’s the community and the other members.

I often describe Generator as feeling like an MFA program at a major university for a tiny fraction of the cost. Being a studio member and the work I make here has also helped me to secure a competitive residency at The Vermont Studio Center, and I am currently writing a proposal for the BCA Community Art Fund for a large public art project in Burlington. I am very grateful to what Generator has done for me, and what it does for creative culture and business in Vermont.

Jon Roberts
@JonMichaelRoberts

Thank you so much for sharing Jon!

As a nonprofit Generator relies on community support to continue to offer our impactful programs and resources to artists like Jon. Will you give today to support Generator?

We currently have a fundraising goal to raise $20,000 in community donations to unlock an additional $20,000 match from our generous sponsors – which means if you give today your gift will have twice the impact!

Special thanks to our sponsors:

June 4, 2024
Member Spotlight: Barbara Sauer-Davis

Barbara Sauer-Davis first came to Generator as a fledgling woodworker looking to make use of the full suite of tools in our woodshop. Since then her skills and her small business have grown, and we’re thrilled to have her in this year’s cohort of our JumpStart entrepreneurship program. Barbara has a unique focus on using traditional craftsmanship techniques to make furniture that connects history, sustainability, and quality.

We hope you enjoy reading about Barbara’s woodworking journey in her own words.

Woodworking for me isn’t just about crafting furniture – it’s about weaving together history, craftsmanship, and community. I’m Barbara Sauer-Davis, the maker behind Wolf and Wood Thrush. Being a member at Generator, and now as an entrepreneur in their JumpStart business incubator, has allowed me to elevate my business to new heights.

At the heart of my practice is an appreciation for history and sustainability. Using traditional centuries-old techniques, I aim to forge connections between the past and the present. My commitment to sustainability drives me to challenge the disposable culture of mass-produced furniture and to craft pieces that transcend trends and are made to last.

My woodworking journey began at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School, where I took an 11- week certificate course that sparked my interest in historic craftsmanship. During the course I constructed a chair using only hand tools and fell in love with the process of crafting furniture by hand. After selling my final project, an old fashioned wooden coffee grinder, I launched an Etsy store and ventured into entrepreneurship.

Joining Generator Makerspace in 2018 was transformative for my business. I was able to expand from the hand-carved spoons I was making at home to larger cutting boards and pieces of furniture that I could make in the woodshop. Being a member opened up so many opportunities, like accessing a full suite of tools and selling at the Art Hop and Holiday Humbug markets.

I’m now enrolled in Generator’s JumpStart program and I’m gaining guidance on all the logistics of running a small business. Before this class I was flying by the seat of my pants. Now I’m learning all the specific steps and skills I need to move my business forward – from taxes to marketing strategy. JumpStart has given me clarity on my business goals and a concrete roadmap for the future, empowering me to navigate entrepreneurship with purpose and direction.

As I work towards turning Wolf and Wood Thrush into a full-time career, Generator remains a vital resource for me. Generator members have given me advice, support and creative inspiration in what would otherwise be a very solitary pursuit. Its community, tools, and supportive environment have been instrumental in my growth as a woodworker and entrepreneur.

JumpStart and Generator have given me the confidence to grow my business in ways I never thought possible. I hope they can continue to help other makers like me in the future.

Right now Generator is trying to raise $20,000 in community donations to unlock a $20,000 matching donation. These funds would provide vitally needed support for Generator’s educational programs.

We’re 25% of the way towards our goal. Will you join me in giving back to Generator?

Sincerely,
Barbara Sauer-Davis

Thank you so much for sharing Barbara!

As a nonprofit Generator relies on community support to continue to offer our impactful programs and resources to makers like Parker. Will you give today to support Generator?

We currently have a fundraising goal to raise $20,000 in community donations to unlock an additional $20,000 match from our generous sponsors – which means if you give today your gift will have twice the impact!

Special thanks to our sponsors:

May 22, 2024
Member Spotlight: Parker Silver

Parker Silver is a talented multimedia artist and performer who strives to use art to bring people together and create joy and healing. Since becoming a member two years ago, they’ve been creating gothic artwork for their small business on the laser cutter, and also actively building community at Generator. Now they’re launching their own community arts nonprofit that also incorporates creativity, experimentation, and connection.

We hope you enjoy reading Parker’s story about building “Third Spaces” that foster creativity and inclusivity.

My name is Parker Silver, and I wear many hats – business owner, artist, performer – and a member of Generator. This makerspace community has supported my creative exploration, and has also played an important role in my growth as an artist and entrepreneur.

As a multidisciplinary artist, I work with acrylic paint, digital design, resin, and wood cutting to make pieces inspired by gothic and art nouveau aesthetics, and anatomy and nature. Access to Generator’s tools and space has been instrumental in developing my artistic practice. The rapid prototyping tools at Generator have allowed me to make pieces more quickly and with a wider variety of materials.

I made use of these tools when I was previously operating Hi Ho Silver, my small business selling art, apparel, and stickers – many of which were made using Generator’s laser and vinyl cutters. I am also a contemporary performance artist, working in spoken word, burlesque, and as an emcee since 2018.

Recently, my focus has shifted to Grimm’s Domain, a community arts event nonprofit that I lead. Our mission is to create spaces and events where people can connect, express themselves authentically, and celebrate diverse voices from the QTPOC and Disabled community.

Grimm’s Domain offers free and paid programming that spans vaudeville, drag, and pole dance performances; and community events focused on somatic wellness, self-expression, and intergenerational connections. In the next year we are hoping to launch free movie and karaoke nights, tabletop role-playing game meetups, and an inclusive DIY fashion show event. We aim to provide inclusive environments, epitomizing the concept of a “third space” where people can connect beyond work or home.

I see Generator as another example of a thriving third space in Vermont. My favorite thing about this community is that the professional equipment and expertise is paired with a sense of play. People aren’t limiting themselves to projects for a specific goal or job – they are experimenting because they love to learn and create.

The greatest benefit Generator offers, in my opinion, is the access to a network of support. The community’s unwavering support means that even if there’s a glitch with a machine, there are always people to help you troubleshoot or find alternate solutions, ensuring that you are still able to create.

Please join me in supporting Generator this spring to ensure our community always has a place to connect, play, experiment, and explore!

—Parker

Well said Parker!

As a nonprofit Generator relies on community support to continue to offer our impactful programs and resources to makers like Parker. Will you give today to support Generator?

We currently have a fundraising goal to raise $20,000 in community donations to unlock an additional $20,000 match from our generous sponsors – which means your gift can go twice as far!

Special thanks to our sponsors:

May 17, 2024
Member Spotlight: Rob Rock & Pitchfork Farm

Rob Rock was one of Generator’s first members and a pivotal part of launching our makerspace back in 2014. Rob is a talented maker, artist and inventor, but also has the unique experience of applying his skills to his other passion – farming. As the co-owner of Pitchfork Farm he’s customized, built, and invented many agricultural machines to assist with farm work. We’ve been wanting to share his maker story for years, and Rob was kind enough to take time out of the busy spring planting season recently to write up his history of making at Generator.

We hope you enjoy reading Rob’s story in his own words.

I’m Rob Rock, the co-owner of Pitchfork Farm and a Generator member. Pitchfork Farm is a diverse 22 acre vegetable farm located in Burlington’s Intervale, and Generator has been integral to the operation of our farm and to my exploration of designing and building agricultural machinery.

I’ve been a part of the Generator community since its founding days, and as soon as I became familiar with the tools I began applying them to farming. I quickly started customizing farm equipment and prototyping new agricultural tools. I used 3D-printed parts to create a high-density seeding tool for small-scale farming. I then began building tractor-drawn implements in the metal shop, as well as an electric motor driven prone weeding platform that allows farmers to comfortably lie flat for hand weeding or transplanting while increasing efficiency.

Rob transplanting onions using his prone weeding platform.

At this point I was itching to start a company after seeing so many early Generator members launch businesses. I started Upstream Ag and began building next generation machinery for small farms. The tool that really took off was our FlameWeeder, which was a tractor-mounted propane torch that quickly killed weeds without the use of pesticides. I sold about 50-60 FlameWeeders (before it became a little too hectic running a farm and a manufacturing business), and fabricated most of them at Generator. I relied on the plasma cutter to make custom parts, and hired Generator members to help with production since they were the most highly skilled workers in town.

Rob testing out a prototype of the FlameWeeder.

Most recently I have been making use of the Generator tools to design, adapt, and repair equipment for Pitchfork Farm. Recently I repaired a vintage carrot harvesting machine built sometime in the 80s for which parts are no longer readily available. When the lift arm mechanism broke I was able to fabricate a new mount using the milling machine at Generator. For a small farm, this is a big win that allows us to save money and extend the life of unique equipment that fits our scale of production.

The laser cutter and 3D printers have helped me to develop a ‘speed seeder’ which allows us to manually seed a 144 plug greenhouse flat with lettuce seed in a little under one second – it’s a pretty good result for now but I’m thinking maybe I can automate it!

The carrot harvester in action on the farm.

Generator is a treasure trove for anyone working in a physical medium – whether that’s the arts, trades, or agriculture. The tools and community at Generator were vital in helping me through the early years at Pitchfork Farm and in realizing projects that would otherwise have been impossible to make, and I remain excited to keep the projects flowing as I look to the future.

Generator has made a huge impact for me, and I want to make sure other makers continue to have access to their resources.

– Rob

Thank you Rob!

As a nonprofit makerspace, support from our community is what allows Generator to offer a wide variety of programs and provide access to resources that makers like Rob find valuable. Might you be willing to contribute today?

We are currently in the middle of our spring fundraiser. Thanks to some generous sponsors we have the opportunity to unlock a $20,000 matching gift if we can raise $20,000 in community donations by Sunday, June 16th, 2024. If you contribute today, you gift will go twice as far!

Thank you in advance for your support!

Special thanks to our sponsors:

May 9, 2024
Member Spotlight: Dan Rabinovitch

A month or so ago I reached out to our membership through the forum asking if anyone had a project or story they’d be willing to share. One of the people that replied was Dan Rabinovitch. Dan had recently taken our MIG welding and CNC Plasma trainings, and wanted to share a short video documenting a cool mini-firepit he had made as a way to practice his new skills. Dan appeared to be having a great time learning and experimenting, and a couple of weeks later we were able to connect in person so I could chase Dan around our metal and wood shops with my camera. After spending time with Dan I was even more curious, so I sent Dan a selection of questions about where he’s from, what he does outside of Generator, asking about his history as a maker, and his experience here at Generator. Below is the result.

So please enjoy this short piece of writing courtesy of Dan himself!

Name: Dan Rabinovitch
Current Location: Stowe, VT
Birthplace: IsraelBusiness: Aromatic Designs
Website: www.aromaticdesigns.org

I was born and raised in Israel. At age 13, my family relocated to New Jersey.

I spent the majority of my life living in urban settings, mostly New York City. Around my mid-thirties, I started undergoing an existential process that, only in hindsight, I can recognize as a mid-life crisis. There is of course, far too much depth to this history than can be summed up in a few sentences, but suffice it to say that this was the point I realized that to preserve my sanity, I needed to live in a place where there is more earth than pavement, and make more art.

It took several more years of plotting, exploring, and untethering, but I finally managed to make the (timely) move from NYC to the greater Stowe area in 2019. Around this time I had started working on some ideas for interactive large scale installations, the manifestation of which would require dusting off and expanding my scope and skills. To that end I began to seek out a makerspace/community in the area, and it wasn’t very long before I discovered Generator!

I have not been very disciplined about coming to generator regularly at a specific time, but since joining I’ve taken quite a few tool trainings and tried my hand at several small projects, from home projects like a simple plywood dolly for my stereo system, to custom speaker shelves, to signs and award plaques, to a portable mini-firepit. In almost every case, I’ve benefited from the advice and guidance of generator members and staff, both in person and on the online forum. Thanks generator community!

With a background in graphic design, I naturally gravitate towards using the ever-satisfying CNC tools like the laguna router, the cnc plasma cutter, and the laser cutters. I feel most comfortable in the metal shop at this point, but I’m getting more confident in the wood shop as well. It feels very rewarding to complete small projects, but they are really stepping stones towards a bigger plan for an interactive, kinetic art installation – a human powered, life size music sequencer. As I’ve been honing my fabrication chops and developing a tabletop scale model, I’ve also been refining the simplicity and practical feasibility of the design, and I hope to enlist the considerable knowledge and skill of some of generator’s finest to scale up from a tabletop model to human size, starting this spring.

More info here https://aromaticdesigns.org/loop/

I feel art is very important, perhaps more so in our time than ever before. Art holds the influential potential, not only to connect hearts and minds to fresh moods and perspectives, but in addition, to ignite a sense of curiosity and wonder. Such an attitude is too often hushed or brushed aside by social influences towards increasing reliance on digital technology, hyper-specialization, and an education system rooted deeply in “the authority of the already established,” at the expense of experimentation and creativity.

Curiosity is a skeleton key to the doors of intuition and imagination.

Thank you to Dan for sharing!

You can find out more about Dan and his work via his website at: www.aromaticdesigns.org.

April 5, 2024
Meet Kristen McCole, Founder of Compliment Coins

Meet Kristen

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Kristen McCole began making what are now known as Compliment Coins about four years ago, as a very small endeavor. Now, with help from Generator’s laser cutter, Kristen has expanded her unique business to sell at Burlington’s Thirty-Odd gift shop and other local markets.

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Path to Generator

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Kristen began her creative journey at Generator about a year and a half ago, when she began to seek ways to speed up her coin-making process. Kristen’s compliments coins are wooden tokens engraved on each side with an adorable animal character and a heart-warming compliment. “When I was first making the coins, I was hand burning each individual one, which was taking a very long time to do,” she says. Looking to expand her business, Kristen was suggested to try out a laser cutter. Not long after, Kristen became a Generator member. “I had a mind-blown moment where I realized that I could really take what I was making to the next level. And it has worked out that way, which is very exciting.”

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Kristen is now a studio member, and often comes to Generator early in the morning to work on one of our three Epilog lasers.

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Inspiration and Human Connection

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Kristen enjoys finding beauty in many different places. “The thing that I hold most dear is the art of connecting people – with each other and even with themselves, says Kristen. “I think that the true creative moment is when somebody finds a piece that they want to give to somebody and it feels perfect for them, or I’ve had people buy a coin and put it in their pocket for themselves.” Kristen draws inspiration from cute and quirky pieces of art, such as Richard Scarry. She also appreciates the whimsy of children’s books.

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Advice to Makers

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In addition to Compliment Coins, Kristen is excited to explore other Generator workshops, such as the jewelry studio. “I think sometimes just exposing yourself to different mediums can unlock something that you didn’t know you had inside of you, which is something that makes the Generator so wonderful,” she says. “If you’re a member, you can tinker around with all these different possibilities.”

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Kristen’s advice to new members? “I would say don’t pigeonhole yourself into only one thing. I’ve had people come up to me and say ‘ I love what you make, but I would love to do something like this.I am just not creative’ My advice is to try different things and see if anything really resonates with you.”

August 23, 2023
Meet Marcus Bretto, Violin Luthier

Meet Marcus

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Marcus Bretto is a violin luthier, blacksmith, and artist. In his Generator studio, he crafts beautiful violins by drawing inspiration all over the makerspace – from the work of his knifemaker studiomate to the filament assemblies on the 3D printers.

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Path to Generator

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Marcus grew up in Hingham, Massachusetts and started making things from a very young age. Inspired by his musician father, Marcus remembers making cardboard guitars with rubber band strings as a child. He enjoyed playing instruments too – he learned to play the violin in sixth grade and soon picked up the drums and the keyboard.

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In high school, Marcus realized he could pursue making instruments as a career. He went on to attend North Bennet Street School in Boston, where he trained one-on-one with a professional violin luthier for three years.

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Marcus moved to Burlington in 2018. Looking for a studio space to continue his violin-making practice, he found Generator. “I had always been looking for a space where I could share ideas with other people and artists and have access to all these neat tools,” he says. “I was on the lookout when I moved here, and that’s when I just popped in. I was like ‘What!? I didn’t know this kind of space actually existed. This is amazing!’ I got a membership as soon as possible after that.”

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Inspiration and Experimentation in the Makerspace

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The collaboration and inspiration at Generator has been especially exciting for Marcus. He shares a studio with one of his best friends, professional knife maker Mats Thureson. The two started blacksmithing together, partially for fun, and partially to help Marcus gain a better understanding of metalworking. Marcus believes this collaboration has helped elevate his craft. He also credits inspiration to his studio neighbor, Leslie McCurdy, a fellow luthier who makes electric bass guitars. “Leslie is in the studio right next to me, and I get to peer over the wall and see what he does over there all the time, he says. “I’m like, ‘Oh, this is pretty cool. He’s got the cool stuff.’”

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Marcus also appreciates the creative exploration that Generator allows. “Almost every single time I make an instrument for myself, there is some experimentation going on, even if they’re just small adjustments in the process of making templates or, you know, how would I make this little section easier?” Watching other makers create in other shops helps Marcus think outside the box. “There’s almost always some sort of example that’s coming from around here completely unrelated. I’m like, ‘Oh, I saw some way that somebody assembled something in the 3D printing area or like how people are doing laminations with the vinyl. I think ‘Okay, I can take ideas from this and make little adjustments to my process in that way.” The experimental and collaborative atmosphere at Generator help make Marcus’ violins unique.

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Advice to New Makers

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To new makers, Marcus says, “Don’t judge where you are in the process too early. I see so many people get discouraged about these grand ideas where they think they’re supposed to be. There’s so much that’s in front of you already, so much that you’ve made progress on and improved upon, and it might speak to people in ways that you don’t expect. Somebody will find something to like about your work. And what you do is just keep doing it.”

August 23, 2023
Meet Krista Jones, Owner of Whimsically You

Meet Krista

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Krista Jones is the founder of Whimsically You, a local wedding experience company. Krista is an artisan of many talents who has experience on a wide range of equipment at Generator. She spends the most time working with our laser cutters and in the woodshop; though, she is also well versed in the electronic studio and with the 3D printers.

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From a Veterinarian to a Maker

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Krista is originally from Concord, Massachusetts and comes from a scientific background. Her journey as a maker began with her work as an ecologist and veterinarian. Throughout her career, Krista specialized in a range of areas from wildlife health and behavior to exotic pets and veterinary medicine. “I would have to craft radio-collars or jerry rig little parts to make things work out in the field,” she says. Krista’s need to make and repurpose equipment expanded her creative thinking and sharpened her problem-solving abilities. She continued to develop these important skills as she worked all around the world, spending time in California, Louisiana, Vermont, Norway, and Australia. Though she didn’t know it at the time, these endeavors as a scientist and budding maker helped prepare her to create Whimsically You.

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Path to Generator

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Whimsically You was born from Krista’s experience planning her own wedding. “When we first started, I knew that there were a lot of things that we wanted to be very personalized and unique. I liked the idea of making things myself and having that as part of the wedding,” she says. Krista began searching for local makerspaces. That’s when she found Generator. “I was really impressed,” she says. “As someone coming in with basically no experience, and as a woman in what we sometimes think of as a male-dominated space, I was really happy with how welcoming it was here. Everyone is always happy to help. I always feel super comfortable and supported. It was just a really nice environment off the bat.” By the time her wedding rolled around, she knew she wanted to continue this work. “When we finished that process, I realized how much I loved it and also how much there was a gap in the market. That’s when we decided to launch Whimsically You.”

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JumpStart

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After deciding to launch the business, Krista applied for JumpStart – Generator’s 12-week entrepreneurial program that pairs group learning and one-on-one support to guide new entrepreneurs through the process. Krista especially appreciates the community she found through Jumpstart. “We get this cohort of other new entrepreneurs who are local, who we can have that connection with for support and for bouncing ideas off of. Even though JumpStart ended back in May, our cohort is still meeting every two weeks to continue to support each other and talk through stuff. That’s been fantastic.” Krista is also grateful to have presented her work at the program’s culmination, JumpStart Expo Night. “We got some business out of that night, as well as just getting some word of mouth out there, which at the beginning is so important.” Krista encourages anyone who is thinking about starting a business to apply for JumpStart.

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Advice to New Makers

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For new makers, Krista emphasized the importance of experimentation and flexibility. “The biggest thing I would say is to just go try and play around. Be prepared for the fact that a lot of things aren’t going to work, she says. “You’re going to need a lot more materials than you think to begin with because things will mess up.” Krista recommends Reddit and YouTube to help new makers learn. You can get support and information, ask questions, and get tips and answers,” she says. More specific to Generator, she recommended, “Come and take the tool trainings here! That will get you everything you need to just get started. From there, it’s really just up to you to figure out what you want to make and try and make it. It’s a fun process, and I encourage people just to give it a try.”

August 23, 2023