Monday, June 27, 2011

Launching Jack's Crafts!

I've scheduled the Launch Party!

I thought our first meeting would be a great opportunity to get to know one another, exchange our favorite resources (so I can add them to the blog), and learn about each others' interests. Location will depend on the number of RSVPs, which is why it is TBD at the moment. Because I want Jack's Crafts to be educational, we'll do a quick workshop on taking better product photography, too. So, bring your digital camera for one-on-one assistance. After this meetup, you'll be able to take fabulous product photos in any location or situation.

Hope to see you there!

Welcome to Jack's Crafts!

My goal in starting this group is to fill a gap for crafters who can’t or won’t stick to just one craft. I hope we’ll learn from each other while enriching our creative lives and making new friends. Jack’s Crafts will be a place where participants can relax, learn new techniques or new uses for old techniques, and most importantly--have fun, all through monthly workshops run by members just like you.

Workshop ideas include (but are by no means limited to): paper crafts--cards, stamping, intro to scrapbooking, leather stamping, beading, wire wrapping, metal stamping, book binding, gardening, cooking, stained glass, sewing basics, microscope slide jewelry, photography, chain mail, embroidery, crochet, knitting, modifying books, felting, painting, ATCs (artist trading cards), glass etching... you name it!

We all know that it can be advantageous to share supplies, especially before someone has committed to a craft. Supplies are too often the biggest roadblock in learning a new crafting technique. Some supplies (scissors, glue, soldering irons) may be shared without any real cost to the organizer, while others (needle nose pliers, jump rings, beads, or specialty paper) will need to be brought by the participant. With supplies that are more expensive, that each participant does not need to own individually (like solder and flux), the workshop organizer will provide the bulk item and there will be a charge for attending the workshop. (We're all friends here, so these charges will be fair.) RSVPs will be REQUIRED when there is a charge for a workshop. We can’t bring enough supplies if we don’t know how many people will be attending. Workshops will be planned at least a month in advance, and a supply list and prototype will be presented at the meeting before.

So follow along on the blog, suggest meetups (or, better yet--offer to organize a workshop!), and most importantly, come out and meet new, crafty people!