Craft party

Last fall, a group of girls at work decided we should all get together and share our quirky hobbies. At first, it started as a sewing group - many of us sewed, others were interested, others could care less but were interested in any kind of social gathering. We decided to meet the third Saturday of every month for a few hours before some of us went to work and others went about their weekends. At the first meeting, a lot of people suggested other crafts they like or were interested in - beading, knitting, scrapbooking, etc. We take turns hosting the gathering, and the food is usually just as anticipated as the craft. Lisa, one of the craftiest people I know, and I basically organize where and when each meeting will be held. After that, the group members take turns suggesting and leading crafts. We've had great success when there is no designated craft and the meeting is just a laidback afternoon to catch up on a current craft and silly stories. I love to just catch up on cross-stitching or watch other people knit. Yes, I am cool like that.

In November, we missed a meeting because the third Saturday of the month was our wedding and no one else really organized the gathering. In December, we canceled the meeting because Lisa's father unexpectedly passed away days before the meeting. But in January, we were back, and we had started to get members from outside of the paper. I tried a new paper craft (above) and LOVE it - I just used a butterfly paper punch, scrapbooking paper I had already and some three-dimensional doublesided dots. I finished what could easily be a nursery decoration (not for me yet, sillies!) or just unique hanging in less than three hours. And it was easy and fairly cheap (total cost of supplies was around $12, including the frame).

In February, we tried a baking craft. Mallary, one of our newest members, suggested these
and hosted. They. Are. So. Good. Essentially, you take a baked cake, mix it with a tub of frosting, roll that in to a ball and dip the ball in to melted chocolate. Then, to ensure a diabetic coma, you dip the ball in sprinkles. Here are some of the finished cakeballs (they did NOT last long).

At this month's gathering - I call them "parties" - we're going to discuss entering a few craft fairs around the holidays - we figure if we start now, we can make enough stuff to sell by November or December. And if we all chip in to reserve a booth or table, we won't lose a bunch of money, and we'll have company.

And we'll probably HAVE to eat cakeballs.