And just like that, another Maker Faire has come and gone. It’s amazing the amount of effort that goes into one of these epic shindigs, both from all of those on the MAKE team and from the hundreds of other makers and presenters, the staff of The Henry Ford, our loyal sponsors, our local Detroit support community. We all spend many months charging up the giant Maker Faire capacitor and then we cackle like bug-eyed mad scientists for three days as the charged energy is released and we see where it all takes us. And for Detroit, 2011 — charged it was! To those of you who participated in the Faire, however you participated in the Faire, we can’t thank you enough. We hope you had as much fun as the MAKE/Maker Faire team did. And if you were watching from afar, we hope you had fun, too.

I can’t give the Maker Faire Daily team enough high-fives. Dale Dougherty, Mark Frauenfelder, Becky Stern, Matt Richardson, Bridgette Vanderlaan, Chris Connors, Steve Hobley, Michael Doyle, Bethany Shorb, Willow Brugh, Stuart Gannes — you all make a lovely sensor array.

Here are a few of today’s sights and impressions from our Maker Faire Daily blog team. There are lots more posts (and some video) on the Daily site, and more to come. –Gareth

Maker Faire, where dreams come true

This young man told me that, on the way to Maker Faire, he told his mother he hoped there would be a workshop where he could make his own guitar. His mother told him, “Dream on!” Maker Faire, where dreams come true. –Mark Frauenfelder

These aren’t the planks you’re looking for…

Planking reaches the Maker Faire. These Storm Troopers, from Garrison 501, were British, so that saved time explaining what planking is. (Google it, go on, you know you want to…) — Steve Hobley

Electronics lab trainer from 1984

Electronics prototyping of yesteryear. –Mark Frauenfelder

RoboCop…Jr!

This guy has one awesome RoboCop costume. And although you can’t see it in the picture, he’s got the walk down – 100% accurate. –Steve Hobley

TNNA has a Maker Faire Robot! For needlepoint or cross-stitch. This is cool. –Bridgette Vanderlaan

Matt learns to sew

I stopped by National Sewing Council‘s area, where Jessica showed me how to use a sewing machine to make my own dog collar. Admittedly, I didn’t think I’d be very good at it, but it was much easier than I ever thought it would be. Next stop, Project Runway! –Matt Richardson

Tornado chaser

This ride was made for Willow Brugh!

Breaking electronics

Check out these inquisitive kids at the MAKE Lab tent, where they’re taking apart computers, VCRs, and other electronics to figure out how they work. Breaking is part of making! –Becky Stern

Pint-sized air-propelled racer

Strapping your toddler into a gas powered leaf blower on wheels might not be the most politically-correct thing to do, but if I were in that seat, I’d be getting pop a “World’s Greatest Dad” mug, stat. –Michael Doyle

More:
See all of our Maker Faire Detroit coverage on Makezine.com
See the entire Maker Faire Daily feed