DIY & Crafting Club Meetup 03 Canada 
GTA Mississauga: Picnic Vibes | A Summer Build Experience
GTA Mississauga: Picnic Vibes | A Summer Build Experience
I finally had a moment to sit down and reflect on our DIY & Crafting Club Meetup 03 here in Mississauga, Canada, and honestly, my heart is so full 
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. On June 13, 2026, we gathered at Sheridan College Hazel McCallion Campus from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM for a summer-inspired building experience. This meetup was our biggest one yet, with 49 people in the room plus two very helpful doggies. Out of everyone who joined us, 33 attendees had never done a workshop before, which made this day feel extra special.
Our theme was Picnic Vibes: A Summer Build Experience. I kept the decorations more simple this time because the focus was really on making sure the space felt organized, welcoming, and calm for such a large group. The room had massive windows, beautiful sunny views, and these cool classroom tables that almost felt like little park tables. It gave us that outdoor summer feeling while still letting us escape the heat.
Although, let’s be honest, with that many people in one room, it definitely became summer indoors too! We had to ask building security to lower the temperature because the body heat was real. Summer was truly summering in there 
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.The Vibe
More than anything, I wanted people to walk in and feel welcomed. I know a big meetup can feel a little overwhelming, especially for new attendees, so I really wanted the room to feel warm, relaxed, and easy to settle into.
Throughout the workshop, I played some relaxing lo-fi music through the main audio system to help keep the room calm. There were people quietly chatting, building, laughing, asking questions, and helping each other, but there were also these beautiful quiet moments where everyone was just focused together.
That is one of my favourite things to witness. A room full of people, all working on tiny pieces, all pausing from the busyness of life for a few hours. It always reminds me how much this kind of experience can help people relax and unwind.
A lot of the feedback I received had the same feeling: relaxed, calming, welcoming, and a space to unwind.
Kits & Materials
For this meetup, we had so many kit options. I really wanted attendees to experience a wider range of what Robotime has to offer, from DIY Miniatures to Super Creator kits, Book Nooks, ROKR mechanical builds, and more.
Some of the kits included:
* Furry Friends
* Beverly’s Ice Cream Truck
* ROKR Justice Guard
* Holiday Garden House Book Nook
* Hong Kong Bites Café
* Super Creator kits
* DIY Miniature kits
* Book Nooks
* Mechanical builds
I felt like Oprah handing out kits, if I am being honest.
One thing I really loved was how excited people were to receive the kits they picked before the workshop. It created such a fun sense of anticipation and helped make sure people were happy with what they were building. There was also room for trading, which made it feel even more exciting and flexible.
The most popular kits this time were definitely the Holiday Garden House Book Nook TGB06 and Hong Kong Bites Café DW021. Both of these kits meant a lot to the individuals who received them, which made it even sweeter to see.
Workshop Highlights
One of my favourite parts of the day was watching people help each other.
Some attendees finished their Super Creator kits during the workshop since those are meant to be completed in a shorter time. But even then, one attendee mentioned that they were having so much fun that it took them longer because building with other people made the whole experience more enjoyable.
I loved that.
The people who finished early were so eager to help their neighbours with their kits. It really gave the room such a strong sense of community. People were not just sitting beside each other, they were building together, sharing tools, giving tips, and encouraging each other through tricky steps.
More Highlights
There were also so many little sounds and moments that made the day memorable. The baby hammer made its way around the room, and every now and then, all you could hear was the tiny knocking sound on different surfaces and materials. It was honestly so satisfying.
We also had beginners who jumped right into the more difficult kits, and I loved watching them glue, hammer, struggle a little, laugh, and still push through. Some of those 3-star builds can feel like a lot when you are new, especially if you are not used to slowing down, being patient, or pausing between steps. But seeing them feel so accomplished after getting over that challenge was really special.
There were friends laughing together, couples building on their little creative dates, strangers joining each other’s tables, and people forming these temporary little communities for the afternoon.
I also have to mention our tiny builder Adrian, who kept going back and forth to the snack table like he was sneaking some sweets for himself. Very cute. Very relatable.
And of course, the two service dogs who joined us were absolutely adorable and brought even more joy to the room.
A Growing Community
This meetup really showed me how much the community is growing.
We had 33 new people, but we also had familiar faces return. Two attendees have joined both of my previous meetups, and others had joined at least one before. Some attendees even brought two or three new people with them, which means this community is growing through real connection and word of mouth.
A special shoutout to @breebree for bringing three people to this workshop, and to @Kycso for her constant support in helping get people coming.
I also want to thank my friend Joanne, who was truly the MVP helper of the day. She helped with so much, including videos, support, and keeping things moving. And of course, thank you to my husband, who is always ready to help me carry the load, literally and emotionally, with all of my shenanigans.
Challenges and Wins
Behind the scenes, this was definitely a bigger event to organize. At the beginning, it was a little challenging getting everyone registered, settled, and seated because everyone was excited to get their kits. With that many people, things naturally take a bit longer. But we got through it with patience, a teacher voice, and a little bit of organization prowess.
I also came prepared with extra batteries, cords, magnifying lenses, and anything else I thought people might need. When you are hosting this many people, you really do have to have your game on.
What Our Makers Said
I collected surveys at the end of the workshop, and the feedback made me so happy. When asked what people were hoping to get out of the workshop, many shared that they wanted to make friends, build models, start a new hobby, have a fun afternoon with family, try something out of their comfort zone, take home a cute build, and meet people who enjoy the love of building too.
Some of the responses included: “Make friends, build models,” “Fun afternoon with aunt,” “Start a new hobby,” “The product <3 and experience,” “Fun with friends, meet people who enjoy the love of building, build out of my comfort zone,” “A cute build to take home,” and “Meet new people.”
When asked if there was anything else they wanted us to know about their experience, the responses were so sweet. People shared, “I will absolutely be buying more, we need a store in Ontario,” “One of my many best weekends so far,” “Would definitely attend again,” “We had an amazing host! She is amazing,” “I like the varieties of the kits,” “I am very happy of the workshop,” “I am really glad that I was able to join today’s workshop! I’m excited to join the next workshop,” “Loved the giveaway!” and “It was a friendly and helpful environment.”
More thoughts from attendees
A lot of people mentioned that they enjoyed the relaxed environment, the kits, the variety, and the feeling of being welcomed. Some also shared that the more detailed kits needed more time, more table space, or a little extra patience. The tiny pieces, mechanical parts, waxing gears, tighter connections, and instructions can feel challenging at first, but they are also so satisfying once they come together. And yes, everyone said they would come back.
Closing Thoughts
What I am most proud of is simply getting people together. Having this much energy and presence in one room was such a big thing to organize, but seeing it all come together made every bit of planning worth it. I am so glad it worked out, and I am even more excited that more people are already asking about the next one. Some people were hesitant to come at first, and now I am getting messages from people who have never attended before telling me how interested they are in joining next time. That means so much to me.
I also love that these workshops continue to bring together different age groups, different experience levels, and different kinds of makers. Whether you are brand new, building with family, coming with friends, going on a creative date, or just needing a place to pause and unwind, there is room for you here. I hope this workshop shows that building is possible for anyone with an open heart, kindness, patience, and maybe a little bit of audacity.
Thank you so much to everyone who came, helped, shared, tagged me in your finished builds, filled out surveys, joined interviews, brought friends, cleaned up, and made this meetup what it was. Thank you to @Robotime for continuing to support these community workshops and helping us bring makers together in real life.
Our next workshop will be in August, and if you have seen my latest post, you already know the theme, Passport to Miniatures: Vacation Around the World.
I wish I can be one of the participants. It looks so fun!
Btw, do you have time to attend the Rolife 9th anniversary event ?
I am gonna be there for September 9th! Super exciting to see some of the community members 
