January 06, 2011
Craft Shop has answer for winter doldrums
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- You can chase the post-holiday, winter doldrums away by getting creative at one of the many one-time, multi-session or ongoing craft workshops or activities at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Student Center Craft Shop.
Perhaps you’ve got a woodworking project or something you’d like to fix. The Craft Shop has split its popular wood shop class into a series of weekly one-day wood working workshops beginning Feb. 1 and continuing each Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. through March 22, with the exception of spring break week.
The format makes it easy to attend whatever classes you find interesting and each session is just $5. The cost includes a one-day membership to the Wood Shop. Sign up for three workshops and get a semester pass. Participants must be age 18 or older and pre-registration is required.
The schedule for woodworking workshops is as follows:
• Table saw -- Feb. 1
• Joiner -- Feb. 8
• Radial arm saw -- Feb. 15
• Band saw -- Feb. 22
• Router -- March 1
• Lathe -- March 8
• Chip carving -- March 22
With a similar format, there are one-day sewing workshops on Wednesdays in February and March. Again the cost is $5 each and this includes a one-day membership to the Sewing Room. Sign up for three sessions and get a semester pass. Participants must be age 10 or older for the sewing machine instruction and the workshops; all meet 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. with pre-registration required.
The schedule for the one-day sewing workshops includes:
• Threading and bobbins -- Feb. 2 and 9
• Straight stitches and hems -- Feb. 16 and 23
• Working patterns and cutting -- March 2 and 9
• Patching and mending -- March 23 and 30
The Craft Shop also offers workshops giving you the chance to create original Valentine’s cards, pottery, potholders and more. Registration is even free for these workshops, although there are costs for supplies and kits as needed. You must pre-register though and the spots typically fill up fast. These workshops include:
• Knitting/crocheting -- Jan. 26, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Bring your own project to work on or use provided yarn to create squares for a community project.
• Valentine’s cards -- Feb. 10, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Make vintage or traditional cards.
• Pottery -- March 5, 1-2 p.m. Try throwing clay on the wheel or making a clay pot by hand.
• Patchwork potholder -- April 4, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sew your own potholder.
• Wax hands and Mother’s Day/graduation cards -- May 5, 1-2 p.m. Create a wax reproduction of your own hand or make special cards for Mother’s Day and/or graduation.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day the Craft Shop is offering special pricing and walk-in craft specials from noon to 8 p.m. on Feb. 14. Create a wax hand sculpture for your beloved for just $3 or make a plaster hand, so detailed it even has your finger print, for $6. Couples or singles can buy enough clay (a pound) for $1 to craft a bowl or cup at the pottery wheel. Or, make personalized Valentine’s cards at the Craft Shop at the south end of the Student Center for a buck or two. All ages are welcome to enjoy these activities.
Also during the spring semester, you can enjoy workshops for drawing, ceramics, fused glass, silverware wind chimes, stained glass stepping stones, bike repair, cake decorating, henna body art, raku pottery, Asian brush art and even making pierogi or sushi. Some are one-day events while others encompass several sessions. Find all of the dates, times, costs and other details online at http://www.siucstudentcenter.org/craft-shop.
Throughout the semester you can also do a variety of projects on your own, under the direction of staff. That includes backpack construction or repair, sewing, building a bike trailer, canvass stretching, birdhouses, and even a canjo banjo or a ukulele.
The possibilities and options are myriad. And, everyone is welcome. Students, faculty, staff and community members can participate.
To reserve a spot for any of the craft workshops or activities or for more information, contact the Craft Shop at 618/453-3636.