This year, as I chart my way into new waters, in search of my ikigai, I decided to pursue my passion by finding like-minded friends and start a craft club for adults. My goal was to find people who are open to learning and/or sharing creative outlets.
I truly believe we all have a creative side that needs an outlet. I've explored mine throughout my life in different ways: teaching, hosting my daughters' friends for different projects, and of course my own creative pursuits.
Hosting craft nights for my daughters and their friends is a cherished memory. Now, my daughters have their own craft nights with friends. When they send me pictures it makes my heart happy and it makes me wonder, do we ever really outgrow crafting with friends? The answer is NO!
When I ask people if they have hobbies they always say no or they are quick to say they aren't creative. But what I have discovered is we are all creative in our own way. I think the true challenge is finding what we enjoy. Personally I have a lifetime obsession with fabrics. I have always enjoyed textiles, I have a small obsession. It was only recently that I finally have a room dedicated to my fabric, paper, washi-tape, clothes to be upcycled, notions, sewing gadgets and everything you can imagine for just about any homemade project you can think about.
I knew there were like-minded people out there because of a successful Staff Sewcial I hosted last year. Last year I volunteered to teach students at my school to sew afters school. Teachers frequently commented that they wished they knew how to sew, so I decided I would open up my classroom after school for teachers. Teachers enjoyed sewing as a way to relax and focus on something different from their stressful jobs. We made zippered pouches and cloth book covers. They asked for extra time, special accommodations and more opportunities to hone their skill. I wouldn't have expected anything less from a group of teachers.
Encouraged by this experience, I reached out to my coworkers at the start of the new school year to see if they were interested in a craft club. To my surprise, many were. I created a Facebook page and invited my coworkers. Alas, the birth of Crafternoons on Tateishi-machi. That sounds fancier than it is. It is just the name of my street and we meet on Saturday afternoons.
I planned four meeting dates and shared possible craft ideas. I asked for RSVPs and what dish they would bring to share. My motto is to never assume, just ask. And it worked!
Our first Crafternoon was a hit. We made vision boards, of course I had everything needed at home for this craft. It was a fun and engaging activity. What a great way to set goals for the new school year.
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| My almost finished 2024-25 Vision Board |
The second meeting saw the group grow to 8 attendees. We had a great time making fabric pumpkins. The group grew to include members from different schools and backgrounds. Living in a small military community overseas a lot of our friendships overlap. Our last meetup included English, Spanish and local Japanese speakers.
Since I have a lot of crafting supplies, I provide them with the materials needed for the projects. I love that I can provide this space and resources to this special group of friends. The meetups are planned for 2 hours but I have put aside the entire day. I spend the morning preparing the materials for the craft and cooking my shared dish. So far we have exceeded the designated time, and it's okay. Time goes by so fast when you are having fun.
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| Basic supplies |
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| A space to create, nothing fancy |
The women in the group are so engaged it makes my heart happy to see them enjoying themselves and the smiles as they hold their finished products. I don't think people realize how relaxing crafting can be. It's also a great mindfulness practice. It's a way to release our creative energy while recharging our minds. I love that I can provide the space and experience to my friends.
If you have ever wanted to be in an adult craft club, why wait, create your own. It doesn't have to be complicated. All it takes is one person to get it started-that one person can be you! There are so many resources out there. All you have to do to start is put the question out there: JUST ASK!
My Basic Plan:
Crafternoons on Tateishi-machi started with a Facebook invite. I planned a few crafts that I felt comfortable sharing and set up a calendar that met my schedule. I figured if I put a few dates out there, people could plan ahead. Because I have the space at my house, I invited everyone to my house. Although I enjoy providing snacks, I thought it would be fun to ask people to bring a little snack to share. We are half way through the school year and its time to plan for the next few months!
There are so many ways to start, but here is a simple plan:
- Invite friends to join.
- Set up a calendar.
- Plan crafts. Decide if you want to provide the supplies, or send out a supply list. In my case, I live in rural Japan and can't run out to Michael’s to buy supplies. So I have selected crafts that I can provide supplies for.
- Select a venue: I set up my dining room for my Crafternoon.
- Provide snacks or ask your attendees to bring something to share.
- Have fun!
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| A space for food |
I'm so enjoying your blog. For me, crafting includes sewing and English paper piecing, and embroidery. I'd it weren't for my crafting hobbies, I would be bored out of my mind. I wish I had a group of friends I could craft with!
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