Penn State’s College of Education offered students a chance to trade textbooks for paintbrushes on Friday during its first Maker Day of the year at the Krause Pedagogical Innovation Lab (KPIL).

I’ve attended several Maker Days over the past year, including Halloween jar painting, Christmas ornament painting, and Valentine’s Day flower rolling. So when the first event of the new school year came around, I already knew it was worth stopping by.

This time, attendees could paint a ceramic pot, slate coaster, or river stone, with a limited supply of plants available for the pots. At Maker Days like this one, all supplies are provided, so there’s no need to buy your own.

I started with a small ceramic pot. After looking online for some inspiration, I found an American flag design I liked and decided to give it a shot.

With paint in front of me and a completely blank pot, I got to work.

The design slowly came together, with the stars and stripes wrapping around the pot. I also grabbed a stone and painted a simple Penn State design in blue and white, making sure to add the year as a small reminder of when I made it.

Although it may be hard to believe, I never really enjoyed or took up art before Krause. I never considered myself good at painting, drawing, or pretty much anything that requires artistic ability, and art class was always one of my least favorite parts of school.

That’s a huge part of why I keep coming back to Maker Days. The space makes creating something feel less like an assignment and more like a chance to relax, try something new, and make something that I’ll actually enjoy keeping afterward.

There’s no pressure for it to be perfect (which, as the above photos clearly demonstrate, is probably for the best). For me, that freedom to just make something and enjoy the process is what makes these events worth returning to.

After finishing my designs, I placed them on the drying table alongside plenty of other projects from the day.

The space is home to LDT 110, Making With Art and Learning Technologies, a class regularly held in Krause. The course combines art, technology, and learning with a focus on improving education.

Beyond coursework, the lab serves as a collaborative space for the entire campus community.

“It’s an open creative space. If people need a space to work on or start a project, they’re more than welcome to drop in and hang out,” said Clayton Gardner, KPIL director, who is entering his third year running the space.

The lab offers open hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, when students are encouraged to bring their own supplies, work on a project, or simply spend time in the space.

Krause has much more to explore than paint and flower pots. The studio houses 3-D printers, Cricut machines, sewing machines, hand tools, basic crafting supplies, and Gardner’s personal favorite: the laser engraver.

For Gardner, the goal is for more students to see Krause not only as a classroom but as a place where they can experiment, create, and spend time.

By the end of my visit, my little pot had dried and was ready for its final addition: soil and a plant.

Whether you already have a project in mind or just want to see what the space offers, Krause is worth a visit.

Between weekly open hours and numerous Maker Days throughout the academic year, there are plenty of opportunities to stop by, try something new, and leave with a creation of your own.

Folks looking to take advantage can find Maker Days on the second floor of the Chambers Building.