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News

  • 2020-03-18 7:54 PM | Anonymous

    Ideas for at Home

    We’ve made quite the list of activities, so skip right down to your areas of interest!

    Education for Kids

    Keeping up with the kids, work, and home is a challenge, here are a few ideas to help keep them busy with learning!

    Maker Ideas

    3 Weeks of Making Ideas:

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T4CZCt8hJqYLVT5ZVYpR7SgHLWDWaaUO/view?fbclid=IwAR2FFtyXTUfwctZlA2K1vIslDOaD74vucbhFcdUe_A503NG5kZUjkU6TuU4

    STEM Activities

    http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/

    Virtual Tours

    Over 30 Virtual Field Trips including zoos, farms, the Louvre and more    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SvIdgTx9djKO6SjyvPDsoGlkgE3iExmi3qh2KRRku_w/edit?fbclid=IwAR2GIMwveZXD0Fd5M4sEXy4zIU2gsyupr9bIvBlMANbA13-FIzyf_SrBWGg

    Coding

    Hour of Code:

    https://code.org/learn

    List of online coding programs:

    https://mommypoppins.com/coding-kids-free-websites-teach-learn-programming

    For the Future at Cruces Creatives:

    Events: STEAM Team (new registration opens in the fall)

    Events: Summer Youth Maker Days (details to be released at a later date)

    Events: Disassembly Days


    Garden and Plants

    This is a great time to start some seedlings, plant trees, and begin planning for a garden. Did you know if you have some old tomatoes you can try sprouting some of the seeds? Growing some food and getting sunshine can be awesome.

    Vegetable Gardening for Beginners

    https://www.almanac.com/vegetable-gardening-for-beginners

    New Mexico State University Horticulture Publications

    https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/

    For the Future at Cruces Creatives:

    Events: Plant Share

    Events: Seed Share

    Tools: Build window boxes, container gardens and more in our Wood Shop


    Sewing & Knitting Projects

    A little extra quiet time might be just what you need to get going. If you have extra supplies at home, this could be a wonderful moment to start a blanket for an upcoming grandchild, or a loved one far away—or, if you’re waiting till Cruces Creatives re-opens to access machines, it can be a great time to do research to decide what projects you’ll want to do next.

    150 Easy Sewing Projects

    https://www.sewmyplace.com/project/150-sewing-projects

    Free Patterns and Tutorials for Sewing

    https://www.allfreesewing.com/

    Free Knitting Patterns

    https://www.allfreeknitting.com/

    For the Future at Cruces Creatives:

    Events: Fiber Arts Fridays

    Events: Charitable Crafting

    Tools: Use our Textile Room, filled with over a dozen different textile machines and lots of available fabric, to make your projects.


    Wood Shop Projects

    Likely, you’ll be waiting till Cruces Creatives re-opens to start building, but this is a great time to decide on ideas and make your plan. Is there a space in the house where you’ve always wanted a custom piece of furniture? Take your measurements now, plan out your material list, and come ready to build!

    Planning         

    How to Make a Cut List like a Pro

    https://www.woodcraft.com/blog_entries/a-pro-s-guide-to-cut-lists

    Bill of Materials and Cut List

    https://www.woodbin.com/ref/project-design-and-planning/bill-of-materials/

    Plan of Procedure

    http://www.woodbin.com/ref/project-design-and-planning/plan-of-procedure/

    Wood Shop Ideas

    31 Indoor Woodworking Projects:

    https://www.familyhandyman.com/woodworking/projects/31-indoor-woodworking-projects-to-do-this-winter/

    Rockler Free Woodworking Plans

    https://www.rockler.com/free-woodworking-plans

    For the Future at Cruces Creatives:

    Events: Basic Wood Shop Safety Training

    Tools: Use our full wood shop, along with a hefty supply of spare wood, to make your projects.


    Starting a New Business

    With less commuting time and more time at home, maybe this is just the push you’ve needed to start that new business. If you’re making a product-based business you might need to hold off on building stock if you need one of our tools, but in the meantime, you can start your business plan and run financial numbers to make sure everything adds up.

    For NMSU students and recent graduates

    Studio G, Business Accelerator program (including online education resources)

    https://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/program/studio-g/

    Write a Business Plan

    https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan

    Steps for starting a business in New Mexico

    https://financenewmexico.org/steps-to-starting-a-business/

    For the Future at Cruces Creatives: 

    Tools: The entire makerspace has opportunities for your ideas. The laser cutter, wood shop, and textile room may be good places to start.

    Tools: Our multi-purpose rooms make a great place to work

    Tools: Use our photography studio to take great photos of your product

    Tools: Use our audio recording equipment to make marketing materials

    Tools: Use our vinyl cutters to make custom stickers

    Tools: Use our Textile Room and Wood Shop to make custom displays

    Tools: Use our Electronics room to laser cut custom signage and light it up with our soldering equipment.


  • 2020-03-18 7:53 PM | Anonymous

    Cruces Creatives Temporarily Closing

    Thank you so much for being a part of Cruces Creatives and our wider Cruces community. 

    To keep the safety of our community a first-most priority, and to follow Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham safety order, Cruces Creatives has decided to temporarily close. We will be monitoring the situation and tentatively reopening April 11th, 2020. 

    If you need special access to the facility (for example, to retrieve project materials), please send an email to support@crucescreatives.org or post a message on Slack. We will accommodate such requests as needed.

    Please heed the advice of national and local health authorities and be safe. 

    Thank you again for being a part of our Cruces Creatives community.

    Very best,

    Lea Wise-Surguy, Executive Director

    The Cruces Creatives Board

    The Admin Team

    ----

    Community Resource List

    A short list of resources from our awesome and giving community

    Food

    Multiple Sites

    Las Cruces Sun News 

    Free Breakfasts and Lunches for Students

    Las Cruces Public Schools in conjunction with Families and Youth, Inc.

    Desayunos y Almuerzos Gratis para Estudiantes

    Escuelas Públicas con el apoyo de Families and Youth, Inc.

    All Families and Youth, Inc. Food Locations

    Food locations

    Casa de Peregrinos – pick up food or donate food

    Pick up or donate

    Hotline for Seniors and Disabled Adults who cannot access groceries

    Grocery Hotline

    NMSU Students

    Aggie Cupboard



    Health

    Student Health Services

    LCPS

    Servicios de Salud para Estudiantes

    LCPS

    Free Surface Disinfecting for Seniors and Disabled in Las Cruces area

    Magic Maid Possible, LLC, 575-642-5206

    CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice and Guidelines

    CDC

    New Mexico Department of Health Advice and Guidance

    NM Health



    Financial Support and Business Resources

    Support for Freelance Artists

    List of Options

    Economic Injury Disaster Loans for Small Businesses

    Because of the current economic situation, small businesses can apply for an Economic Injury and Disaster Loan. Small businesses not eligible for credit elsewhere are looking at interest rates of 3.75% and non-profits at 2.75%. Apply online at: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

    Unemployment Benefits

    Apply online        

    Information and Resources for Businesses

    Recent presentation

                

               

    Additional Resources

    NewMexico.gov

    NewMexico.gov

    NewMexico.gov en español

    NewMexico.gov

    Helping the Needy in the Community

    The Game and Dickersons Catering are committed to keeping their employees even with most events being cancelled. They are sending their employees out to help the needy instead. If you think you could use help or know someone who could, fill out an application below.

    http://revolution120.org/grant-applications/

    Travel – RoadRUNNER Transit and Dial-a-Ride

    Free fares and rides. For more info call 541-2500


  • 2020-03-13 7:50 PM | Anonymous

    Thank you so much for being a part of Cruces Creatives. 

    To keep the safety of our community a first-most priority, Cruces Creatives has decided to close, starting March 14th. We will be monitoring the situation and tentatively reopening March 31, 2020. 

    If you need special access to the facility (for example, to retrieve project materials), please send an email to support@crucescreatives.org or post a message on Slack. We will accommodate such requests as needed.

    Please heed the advice of national and local health authorities and be safe. 

    Thank you again for being a part of our Cruces Creatives community. 


    Very best,

    Lea Wise-Surguy, Executive Director

    The Cruces Creatives Board

    The Admin Team


  • 2020-03-05 7:06 PM | Anonymous

    Welcome to the March 5 issue of the Cruces Creatives weekly newsletter. This is a place where you can keep up-to-date with big news at the makerspace, and learn about cool projects that your community members make.


    News 

    Cruces Creatives Hires 2nd Full-Time Employee!

    Thanks to generous support from the McCune Charitable Foundation, the Thornburg Foundation, and New Mexico Workforce Connections, Cruces Creatives has hired its second full-time employee! Starting March 9, long-time volunteer grant writer Patrick DeSimio will have a full-time paid position writing grant proposals for the makerspace and coordinating the Seeding Regenerative Agriculture Project.

    Full Class Schedule for Youth Makers Days Posted

    Over spring break—from March 24 to March 27—there will be 25 creative workshops for kids and their adults at Cruces Creatives! For the full schedule or to register, visit http://www.crucescreatives.org/SpringBreak2020. Thanks to support from the New Mexico STEM Outreach Center, several workshops are free!


  • 2020-02-28 1:13 PM | Anonymous

     Welcome to the February 28 issue of the Cruces Creatives weekly newsletter. This is a place where you can keep up-to-date with big news at the makerspace, and learn about cool projects that your community members make.

    News 

    Precious Plastics Recycling Machines Under Construction!

    With funding from the MESA Project, Cruces Creatives is building two Precious Plastics machines—an injection molder and a compression molder! Precious Plastics machines are open-source technologies that function like small-scale recycling and manufacturing centers, making it possible to recycle plastics like water bottles, milk jugs, etc., into almost anything: chair seats, art, replacement parts, toys, you name it. They’ll be mighty helpful tools at the makerspace, and they also offer a hands-on education in recycling!

    Prototype Cloud-Connected Soil Temperature Sensors Operational and Out for Field Testing

    Cruces Creatives has completed a full working prototype for open-source, cloud-connected soil temperature sensors that can help farmers and gardeners know when to plant different crops! The prototype is currently undergoing field testing, and the results will help refine and improve the next iteration of the design. Thanks to the Thornburg Foundation and the McCune Charitable Foundation for funding, and congratulations to Jon Simmons and John Miller for all of the hard work behind the designs!

  • 2020-02-27 4:57 PM | Anonymous

    Welcome to the February 20 issue of the Cruces Creatives weekly newsletter. This is a place where you can see a calendar of upcoming events, keep up-to-date with big news at the makerspace, and learn about cool projects that your community members make.

    The newsletter is published each Thursday. If you have makerspace news or announcements that you’d like to submit for the weekly newsletter, please email Pat DeSimio (p.desimio@crucescreatives.org) by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.


    News 

    Registration Opens for Youth Maker Days

    Make spring break a time for making! From March 24 to 27, K-12 students and their families can participate in over 35 classes on subjects ranging from armor making to book making to hot air balloons. Several of the classes are free thanks to support from the NM STEM Outreach Center! Registration is now open, and for more information or to sign up, you can visit the Cruces Creatives Event Calendar at www.crucescreatives.org/events and look for classes whose titles start with “YMD” (Youth Maker Days).

    Free Model Rocketry Classes Starting at Cruces Creatives!

    Starting this month, the Fellowship of Las Cruces Area Rocketry Enthusiasts (FLARE) will be offering four free model rocketry classes each year at Cruces Creatives! The first class is on Saturday, February 29, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. For more information or to register, visit http://www.crucescreatives.org/event-3759605.

    Call for Plastics for the STEAM Team and Youth Maker Days

    Do you have clean bottle caps, transparent plastic (colored is especially good), or translucent plastic? Think water bottle caps, milk jug lids, peanut butter jar lids, 2-liter soda bottles, baby shampoo bottles, etc. All of these materials would be helpful for the STEAM Team and Youth Maker Days! Donations are welcomed at the Cruces Creatives kids’ classroom during open hours.

  • 2020-02-14 1:09 PM | Anonymous

    Welcome to the February 13 issue of the Cruces Creatives weekly newsletter. This is a place where you can keep up-to-date with big news at the makerspace, and learn about cool projects that your community members make.


    News 

    Free Learning Activities for Kids: Disassembly Days

    Next Friday and Saturday, February 21 and 22, there will be free disassembly activities for K-12 students. Participants will take apart broken machinery and learn new ways to build and create. More information and registration links are available at http://www.crucescreatives.org/event-3740774 and http://www.crucescreatives.org/event-3740776.


    Reminder: You Can Teach a Workshop at Cruces Creatives! 

    Do you have a making-related skill that you’d be willing to share? We’re looking to expand class and workshop offerings this year, and all sorts of creative projects are welcome. To propose a class/workshop, complete the event proposal form at http://www.crucescreatives.org/Propose-a-Program, and a volunteer will be in touch.


    First EP Album from the Cruces Creatives Recording Studio 

    Local musician Adrian Bautista just recorded an all-original EP in the Cruces Creatives A/V Studio, and it’s fantastic: jamming, lyrical alt-pop with a touch of Caribbean beat. You can check out the songs for free on Soundcloud to hear some great music and get a sense of what’s possible right now in the makerspace studio!




  • 2020-02-11 1:07 PM | Anonymous

    Welcome to the February 8th issue of the Cruces Creatives Internal Newsletter. This is a place where you can see new things being planned, and a place to find facility updates and information about special activities.


    In the Works (a peak into Admin)

    As usual administrative work has been busy keeping up with all the amazing activities y'all have been leading while setting the path for new programs, activities, Job Shops, and partnerships. Here are a few plans in the works:


    Administrative:

    • Reimbursement Forms - The extra time focused this past week on reimbursement forms has helped fill the backlog. This upcoming week Lea will be doing a bit of the same to finish the previous month and to get ahead for the rest of the program year. 
    • Been Out Sick - Lindsey has been out sick most of this past week, and we're excited that she is starting to feel better. 
    • Data and Financial Manual - Lea has also been working on one other large project recently, a step-by-step with pictures manual for handling data and financial entry to Wild Apricot. A good portion has already been complete, but once the reimbursement forms are finished expect Lea to hunker down again to push through the rest of the manual. 


    Programs in Progress:

    • STEAM - Instructors Brittany Ontiveros and Sandy Smith finished their first semester last December and have officially launched their second semester! The students are launching into new projects and new learning objectives. Expect to see volunteer opportunities by the front desk when they need a little extra help preparing. 


    Facility Updates and Special Activities

    Cruces Creatives is constantly changing, growing, and becoming a better place because of the great work you're doing. Here are a few updates to know about:


    Facility Updates:

    • Photo Printer - Cruces Creatives received a generous donation of a Epson P7000 24" large-format photo printer from Mark Clune. Additionally, The Doña Photography Club, one of our monthly groups, purchased the needed ink and now the printer is almost ready to go! If you've had photos you've wanted to print, it's almost time! 

    Weekly Gratitude

    Thanks for the incredible giving and work you do to make Cruces Creatives an amazing space for learning, making, and community.


    This week we'd like to thank Misha Bryan for her dedicated volunteering and community work. Misha has been a long-time volunteer with Cruces Creatives, and she opens every Tuesday and Thursday. Additionally, she is an active member of the Charitable Crafting group and has made many a beautiful item that has gone out to the community. 


    Seen at our front desk welcoming members and guests alike

    Wearing one of her custom designed dresses that she made

    Being an awesome Mom, and building shelves with her daughter for Cruces Creatives



  • 2020-02-07 12:38 PM | Anonymous

    Welcome to the February 6 issue of the Cruces Creatives weekly newsletter. This is a place where you can keep up-to-date with big news at the makerspace, and learn about cool projects that your community members make.

    News 

    Love of Art Show / First Friday Art Ramble

    This month’s first Friday art ramble features a multi-artist exhibit for “Love of Art” month, hosted in partnership with the Artists Association of New Mexico. After visiting the gallery opening, stick around for the all-original open mic, which showcases the incredible music, poetry, and storytelling coming out of Las Cruces.

    Cruces Creatives 2019 Activities Report Released 

    Want to catch up with what Cruces Creatives accomplished in 2019? Check out the 2019 Activities Report—there’s some great stuff in there!



  • 2020-02-01 1:20 PM | Anonymous

    Welcome to the February 1st issue of the Cruces Creatives Internal Newsletter. This is a place where you can see new things being planned, a place to find facility updates and information about special activities.


    In the Works (a peak into Admin)

    The admin team has been getting back to the regular swing of things as the Holidays and New Year have passed, and have been working hard to get caught up on messages, projects, and normal to-do items.


    Job Shop:

    • Several small and medium Job Shop projects are underway right now. A big thanks to Lindsey McDonald for all her hard work coordinating Job Shop! 


    Administrative Help:

    • New Volunteer - Julianne Lackey, has been helping identify new grants and is looking into possible field trip options for Cruces Creatives. If you have ideas for a field trip program reach out to Julianne or Lea. 
    • Paperwork - Lea is catching up on some hard core financing paperwork, so expect to see her either with her head in a 3" inch binder, or out of the office a little more as she catches up. Emailing ahead of time for appointments is recommended. 


    Grants:

    • Seeding Regenerative Agriculture - This program has been renewed for another 2 years thanks to the support of the McCune and Thornburg Foundations! Patrick DeSimio has been leading this project, and we're excited to see his progress with sustainable / renewable agriculture! To read more about the project, see Pat's write up here


    Facility Updates and Special Activities

    Cruces Creatives is constantly changing, growing, and becoming a better place because of the great work you're doing. Here are a few updates to know about:


    Facility Updates:

    • Disassembly Area - The disassembly area (the area on the far wall of the Main Room by the art supplies) is going through a cleaning as the STEAM instructors plan for upcoming disassembly activities with their kiddos. Steve Colletti is teaching Lindsey McDonald how to best recycle our extra materials, and there should be some opportunities for monitors to help with our recycling efforts soon!


    Special Activities:

    • Art Show - February is the Love of Art Month and annually we host the Artforms Artists Association of New Mexico in our classroom / conference room. Couple of dates to be aware of: 
    • This Sunday and Tuesday - artists will be dropping off their work
    • Tuesday afternoon - judges will be coming to decide the winners of the art show
    • Wednesday - they will be hanging the show
    • Friday - is First Friday and their art opening! Hope you can attend! 




    Weekly Gratitude

    Thanks for the incredible giving and work you do to make Cruces Creatives an amazing space for learning, making, and community.

    This week we'd like to recognize Richard Hausmann who has been a constant volunteer since we've begun. Richard has incredible talents and skills relating to understanding machinery and being able to fix them. He has been throughout the entire makerspace fixing and improving tools. Our makerspace runs better, and has more tools available because of Richard. Thank you Richard! 



    Deep in concentration from one end of the building to the other. Thanks for all the tools you've fixed, and all the projects you've built Richard! Deep in concentration from one end of the building to the other. Thanks for all the tools you've fixed, and all the projects you've built Richard! 


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