Our Blog
Philosophy on the Organization of the Makerspace
Over the past two weeks, Make Santa Fe staff and volunteers completed one of the biggest upgrades our space has seen. In anticipation of turning 10, and largely out of necessity, we closed the doors and spent two weeks over the holidays upgrading and improving the space.
Making Skills Visible: How Make Santa Fe Supports Career Pathways
Recently, Make Santa Fe was featured on Job Hunt New Mexico to talk about a challenge we see every day: many people have the creativity, curiosity, and drive to build things but don’t always have access to the tools, training,… View Article
Creative Mornings @ Make Santa Fe
Last week, Make Santa Fe hosted Creative Mornings Santa Fe, and our executive director, James, shared a talk on why failure isn’t the problem—it’s the process. He explored the difference between “work mode” (producing) and “creative mode” (exploring), and offered five… View Article
2025 Annual Report
Letter for Executive Director Dear Makers & Community, As I’ve been compiling our 2025 annual report it’s become clear that MAKE Santa Fe is growing up. I’ve been amazed at the amount of work our small staff has been able… View ArticleAnnual Report: 2025 Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Makers & Community, As I’ve been compiling our 2025 annual report it’s become clear that MAKE Santa Fe is growing up. I’ve been amazed at the amount of work our small staff has been able to accomplish. In 2025… View Article
We Make Because
Every day at Make Santa Fe, I watch something remarkable happen: someone walks through our doors and makes something that didn’t exist. They exercise creativity, passion, grit, and determination to invent and make. They do this because they want to,… View Article
Looking Back Just Three Years Ago
What are we doing today that will define Make Santa Fe over the next 3 years? Recently, during a trip down memory lane, I looked back at some old photos from when I started as Executive Director just three years ago. Back then, programs like 24-hour access, monthly badge classes, and standardized teacher pay didn’t exist. Our Ceramics, Blacksmithing, Leatherworking, and CNC shops didn’t exist. We didn’t even have access to the whole building! So much has changed in 3 years, it’s hard to imagine the impact it’s had on Santa Fe and the creatives that utilize Make.
A Generous Gift: Bringing the Fadal VMC 15XT to Life at Make Santa Fe
This summer, Make Santa Fe received an extraordinary gift from Will Putnam: a Fadal VMC 15XT vertical machining center. This industrial-grade CNC mill represents a huge leap forward for our community’s capacity to prototype, fabricate, and create with precision. Will’s donation is not just a machine—it’s an investment in empowering makers across Santa Fe.
‘Maker nerd paradise’: MAKE Santa Fe celebrates community at Saturday race
Original Article: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/maker-nerd-paradise-make-santa-fe-celebrates-community-at-saturday-race/article_8d327af3-3b50-4087-b803-6974ad88b0cc.html Written by: André Salkin asalkin@sfnewmexican.com Jul 5, 2025 The miniature shopping cart, toting a plastic baby and various fake food items, screeched to a halt about halfway down the racetrack. The drag-racing cart dubbed “The Grocery Grabber”… View Article
How do I Make a Powertool Racer?!
Are you looking to build a power tool racer? Well, look no further. Here are some basic designs and plans to help get you started! Each racer has advantages and disadvantages. Components and techniques can be mixed and matched, and each can be modified to make it your own!
2024 Annual Report
Letter from the Executive Director Dear Makers, Wow, what a year it’s been! Reflecting on 2024, I’m struck by the incredible momentum we’ve generated for Make Santa Fe. This year, we broke records in membership, class attendance, donations, and community… View Article
Make Santa Fe officials hope to ‘open minds’ with new track courses
Original Article: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/business/make-santa-fe-officials-hope-to-open-minds-with-new-track-courses/article_fc6f01fe-d52c-11ef-a4e7-7b174ec78bee.html By Mike Easterling measterling@sfnewmexican.com – Jan 20, 2025 A Santa Fe enterprise that for nearly 10 years has helped local creators perfect and utilize their skills in various hands-on pursuits has launched a series of classes in… View Article
2025 is for Empowering Creators
Looking back on 2024 fills me with pride. It’s remarkable what the Make Santa Fe community has collectively achieved. We’ve created an industrial art space that welcomes everyone with open arms, is accessible to beginners and experts alike, and enables creators to pursue their… View ArticleWhat does it mean to “Fail Forward”?
Failure is a word laced with a heavy dose of negative connotations. We fear it, avoid it, and feel embarrassed by it. But what if failure wasn’t something to fear? What if failure was a stepping stone on the path… View Article
An innovative space provides inspiration and education for creation
Original Article by Kylie Garcia: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/an-innovative-space-provides-inspiration-and-education-for-creation/article_7343e4c4-66fc-11ef-b177-2b03ba6f519f.html Technology and art are two areas of life that are constantly evolving. This can be a hair-pulling challenge and a happy-dance-inducing benefit, all at once. This constant evolution, as well as the endless possibilities… View Article
Monoprinting
History of the Gelli Plate It turns out that the gel plate is not a new invention. The hectograph, gelatin duplicator or jellygraph is key to a printing process dating from the 1800s that involves transfer of an original, prepared… View Article
Make Santa Fe 2023 Annual Report
Mission Statement MAKE Santa Fe is a 501(c)3 non-profit community workspace where people can access tools, resources, and workshops to make, repair, invent or create anything they can dream. Impact Highlights Some Statistics All of this data is as of… View Article 2023 Annual Report: Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Makers, 2023 was an incredible year for Make Santa Fe. We added numerous studio spaces for ceramics, CNC milling, casting, mold making, blacksmithing, and others. We reorganized the facility, cleaned everything, and improved tool maintenance (in some cases, even… View ArticleMake Santa Fe has received a $5,000 sponsorship from the Santa Fe Office of Economic Development.
Santa Fe, NM December 6, 2024 – Make Santa Fe received a $5,000 sponsorship from the Office of Economic Development to support a new high-school student mentorship program. As part of the Make Santa Fe mentoring program, students will explore… View Article
Make Santa Fe has received a $5,000 grant for Meow Wolf Foundation!
James W. Johnson, executive director of Make Santa Fe, said the funds will support local creatives. Just like MeowWolf, Make Santa Fe stimulates artists and creative communities. Make Santa Fe uplifts local creatives by providing them access to high-end tools… View Article
We’re Prepping Advance Blacksmithing!
Make Santa Fe is prepping to launch advanced Blacksmithing classes! In these classes, students will get an introduction to our new Say-mak power hammer, donated to Make Santa Fe by renowned Santa Fe blacksmith Steve Dulfer! Keep an eye out… View Article