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QUICK REMINDER: Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2 A.M.
March is National Craft Month, WOW, just in time for the March Luncheon’s Encore HAS Talent Chinese Auction! Check out the Newsletter for details on how YOU can participate either as a provider or a “Patron of Encore’s Art”. The proceeds all go to the Estero Encore Scholarship Fund.
“When you create something, you leave a
part of yourself in it.” – Unknown
part of yourself in it.” – Unknown
You may ask: What is Craft Month? When did it originate? How do we celebrate it?
National Craft Day is March 14th but it’s really impossible to limit crafting to one day, hence National Craft Month. This month celebrates creations made with all types of mediums, paper, wood, metal, fabric, yarn, beads to name a few, honoring the creativity and inspiration of all. The beauty of crafting is the endless possibilities for creativity, and for stepping outside your comfort zone even making friends if joining a group. Not a “professional” knitter, embroiderer, painter, card maker, etc.? Don’t worry your talent improves as you practice your craft. Remember, there is no shame in purchasing a readymade kit to start your journey. It is practical to decide without a huge outlay of money if you enjoy that type of craft!
Craft month was started in 1994 by the Craft & Hobby Association (Association For Creative Industries [AFCI]) to help people rediscover and/or learn the benefits of crafting. During Covid to ease isolation, there was an upswing in crafting. Crafting has remained extremely popular since then. (Anyone notice the football players on the sidelines crafting?)
Expressing one's creativity provides stress relief and can lower blood pressure with positive reinforcement from learning a new skill. Crafting is good for the brain by stimulating the imagination and for the body by maintaining good eye-hand coordination. Again, it is a way to increase social interaction and new avenues of friendship! Just Note: Crafters blossom when others express their appreciation for their work and talent!
Everyone can celebrate National Craft Month by: showing off your creations; sharing your skills and teaching your craft; taking a class to learn a new craft or skill; attending a craft fair; supporting businesses selling handmade crafts.
“Crafting is a way to express your soul without words.” –
Unknown
Unknown
The Naples Art District (phone: 239-249-1977) provides information on over 70 professional crafters with studios and galleries. It has a wonderful web site that provides an Interactive-Map to locate the shops, an Interactive Event Calendar, and an Online Catalog of all the featured talent.
So, Embrace your creativity and work on a new or revive an old craft. Dig out those UFOs, UnFinished Objects and enjoy some relaxation alone or with a friend or two. Join Yarn and Chat the first Monday of each month and make new friends who will share their talent with you too.