- Learn - Make - Connect -
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
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/
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/
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
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/
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.
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.
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
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Community Resource List
A short list of resources from our awesome and giving community
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
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 en español
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/
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
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
Administrative:
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
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!
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.
Administrative Help:
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.
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!
Special Activities:
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!
