the first rule of craft club

The first rule of craft club: you do not talk about craft club. Okay, okay, so maybe that’s not one of the rules, but we do have some guidelines. And on the contrary, I’m happy to talk about the craft club I’m launching. Perhaps it will spark other artists and DIYers to do the same.

My reason for starting it is simple. Tired of so many works in progress filling the corners and closets of my house as well as one-day-soon projects overloading my Pinterest boards, I need some motivation and discipline to actually COMPLETE them. What better way than a monthly dose of inspiration from some fellow artists?

Today, at our inaugural meeting, I suggested we use the word “guild” over club, because it sounds more sophisticated. I didn’t want our new venture to conjure images of matronly ladies in elastic topped slacks sitting around comparing crocheted toilet paper dolls. NOT US. We will be avant-garde, fashioning cutting-edge designs from upcycled sundries, meeting in hipster coffee shops, while wearing J. Crew cardigans and Chuck Taylor sneakers. So there we were, in a funky little bike shop/bistro called Velocity Bike & Beans, sipping skinny lattes and chai teas, and it occurred to me that our quest for artistic inspiration from like-minded souls who revel in the satisfaction that comes from building, sewing, painting, CREATING… that this really isn’t so different from our grandmother’s quilting bees at all. There’s something timeless about the camaraderie of women, about the basic joy that comes from turning ideas into things. However, I still maintain there’s nothing at all timeless about elastic waisted pants.

In case you’re interested in launching your own club, here are the guidelines and structure we used:

• Select a club name.
• A different person each month is responsible for planning the meeting: the location & the subject (a hands-on craft, tutorial, or event)
• It is up to the host to decide if she will provide the craft supplies or if members are responsible for bringing all or some of them.
• A second person is responsible for assigning a craft challenge for the coming month. It will be fun to see members’ unique interpretations of the assignment when they showcase their finished projects at the next meeting.
• New member prospects must be discussed within the group before an invitation is made. This is to preserve the artistic integrity & desired expertise level of the guild.
• Here are some categories/ideas for monthly craft challenges. You are free to select from this list or to come up with your own. The more original, the better! (finish a project you already have on the back burner, something made from recycled items, something functional for the home, a “signature” item (has to involve a letter of the alphabet), unusual Christmas tree skirt, wreath or other item made from things you already have in your home (cannot purchase anything new), your idea of the perfect evening or daytime clutch, yarn craft, paper craft)
• Determine a set day of the month for the meeting. Keeping it standard makes it easy for planning.
• Proposed schedule: March – planning session, Wendy assigns HW (homework); April – Wendy hosts, Robin assigns HW; May: Robin hosts, Carolyn assigns HW; etc.
• Challenge members to work on a Grand Showcase project to reveal at the end of 6 or 12 months. The member with the most impressive entry is treated to a dinner out with the group!

And here is our first month’s craft challenge… (we’ll showcase our finished projects next month!)