February 03, 2010

Craft Shop offers variety of workshops, activities

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A new semester at Southern Illinois University Carbondale means lots of things to do at the Craft Shop located in the Student Center.

Students, faculty, staff, family members and the community at large are welcome to attend the workshops, use the facilities, utilize the services and expend their creative energies there, according to Ron Dunkel, Craft Shop coordinator.

The spring workshop schedule includes a wide assortment of things to craft, do or cook. You can learn to make stained glass, fused glass, ceramics, glass beads, crocheted items or cut mats for picture framing. Or, try your hand at silversmithing, woodworking, henna body art application, sewing, making a hula-hoop or a kite or creating personalized stamped Valentine cards. You can also learn to make pierogies, sushi or tofu and even repair your bicycle or sharpen your knives.

In addition to workshops, the Craft Shop offers an extensive variety of walk-in crafting activities for nominal charges. You can paint, tie-dye or create beaded jewelry or make mosaic candleholders, cards or even clay pottery.

Check out http://www.siucstudentcenter.org/craftshop/ for the complete workshop schedule and costs as well as details on walk-in activities and more, including private lessons.

The Craft Shop also offers a variety of services to the community, including Saluki crafts, low-cost archival matting, framing, laminating, bike repair kits and other options. The shop is also available for birthday parties, field trips, youth or adult group activities and other events.

The shop is on the lower level of the Student Center. For more information about the many possibilities and opportunities, e-mailcraftshp@siu.edu or call 618/453-3636.