Local creative Jody Parmann will bring a new makerspace to Port Huron this October, filled with crafty gadgets that will inspire creativity.

Opening this October, Port Huron will have a new makerspace for people of all stripes to unleash their creativity, thanks to two inventive friends, Owner of Foundry Carol Brooks and local creative and graphic designer Jody Parmann.

The Forge, located inside the Foundry, will allow patrons to make whatever craft projects they can dream up using the machines available in the space, which include 3D printers, a laser cutter, a sewing machine, a paper cutter, a CNC machine, a Cricut Machine, and a T-shirt press. 

“It’s a benefit for the community in that anytime we engage creativity, we have the ability to grow and develop,” Parmann says. “There are a lot of people with a lot of great ideas, but they don’t know how to bring them into the world, and a space like this gives them options.”

Examples of possible craft projects are scattered throughout the space – a wooden “Blue Water-opoly” board game, which features the same board as the traditional Monopoly, but with properties and game spaces that reference common Blue Water Area motifs. Parmann’s son, Judah, crafted tiny monsters, gargoyles, and elves – common figurines used in the popular Dungeons and Dragons – using the 3D printing machines. 

Small business owners and local companies can create branding materials in the space, such as flyers, 3D-printed materials, and printed apparel, Parmann says. Children and young adults can utilize the machines to acquire technical skills that are highly valued by employers.

She adds, there are plans to hold classes to learn how to use machines, tools, and design software. She will likely offer drop-in hours for anyone to use the space, as well as subscriptions or sponsorships for local businesses and individuals to purchase. 

Parmann was inspired to create the space after attending a creative convention with Brooks. After seeing all the inventions other creators made for escape rooms, haunted houses, Christmas productions, theater productions, and other attractions that featured public art, they realized they could create a space so that others could make their own inventions. 

New inside the Foundry is also The Art Bar, a part-creative studio, part-bar, that opened just last month. When patrons walk in, they choose a beverage from the menu, a project, and a “flavor” or a color palette. Patrons can choose from several budget-friendly “well” projects or higher-priced “premium” projects, which include watercolor and acrylic paintings, jewelry-making, mosaics, ceramics, and collages.

The Forge will hold a grand opening for the public to explore the space on October 11 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 1219 Military St., Port Huron.

Editor’s note: This story was edited to better reflect the ownership of The Forge, which is owned by Jody Parmann, and is housed in The Foundry, owned by Carol Brooks.