As the seasons change, temperatures fall, and daylight shortens, our friends in the animal kingdom prepare to face the cold by drawing on an impressive range of survival adaptations. Those not designed for an enviable migration to warmer climates or hibernation in a cozy den must embrace the third option: go about their lives using the special skills with which nature has blessed them. We marvel at their resilience and their ability to adjust their habits and bodies to ensure their safety and warmth. Their indomitable spirit and their innate understanding of the value of working together inspire us, so we have chosen winter animals as the visual theme of our 2019 Holiday Handmade Cavalcade.

Like the animals who stick around, we are also busy getting ready for the season using our own specialized skills. Our members are so talented and resourceful, but one challenge we as New Yorkers, and especially makers, regularly face is limited access to space, funding, and large or expensive equipment. That’s why we’re so thrilled to share with you the offerings of NYDesigns, joining us as a first-time sponsor for this year’s Cavalcade.

NYDesigns is a hardware and design incubator and makerspace in Long Island City, Queens. Since launching in 2006, it has helped more than 100 startup companies raise over $120 million (!). Its 5,000-square-foot FabLab gives artists, inventors, and designers access to the tools they need to bring their ideas to life, including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, and a full woodworking shop. Its facilities are open to the community through memberships and workshops designed for makers of all levels – from beginners just getting started on their projects to seasoned professionals.

If you’d got a great design idea but would rather leave the making to someone else, you’re in luck! The FabLab also offers custom fabrication services; just submit a design and NYDesigns can manufacture it for you. As part of LaGuardia Community College, NYDesigns reflects that institution’s commitment to enhancing communities across New York City through job creation and innovation. That’s absolutely something the NY Handmade Collective wants to celebrate, and we’re so glad to welcome them aboard the Cavalcade!