Craft Swap Event Clears Closets, Gladdens Hearts

Crafters and former crafters wanting to unload supplies convened for the town’s first-ever Craft Swap last Saturday morning.

The event, co-sponsored by the and the Morton Grove Department of Senior and Family Services, was held at the . It allowed for the free exchange of crafting supplies between people in need of new stuff, and people in need of storage space. The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County also supported the event.

“People are thrilled to find new homes for their things,” said MGPL Coordinator of Programming and Public Relations Nancy Brothers as she surveyed the roomful of tables piled high with boxes of yarn, stacks of fabric, boxes of buttons, beads, stuffing, flower arrangement materials, unfinished cross-stitches and more.

“And for those who’ve been looking for something, the Craft Swap is a discovery, a treasure,” Brothers added.

The Craft Swap team included Civic Center Manager and Director of Senior and Family Services Jackie Walker O’Keefe, plus about 10 volunteers from around Morton Grove. The collection of craft supplies donated by crafters from the area filled about 25 large tables.

Attendees came to Saturday’s Craft Swap to collect or trade supplies for both volunteer and personal reasons.

When Renee Hansen learned about the Craft Swap, she realized it would be an ideal opportunity for a neighbor clearing out her house to donate boxes of craft items to people who could use them. In addition to facilitating the major donation, Hansen came to the swap on behalf of her church, the Edgebrook Lutheran Church in Chicago.

“Today I’m looking for yarn to use in our prayer shawl ministry,” said Hansen, spying a box of brown yarn and scooping it up.

Two other attendees, Phil and Jann Yandel of Rolling Meadows, were busy collecting boxes and bags of supplies.

“My wife is an avid crafter who does stitching, quilting, knitting and crochet,” Yandel said, his arms filled with boxes. When asked about the best find of the day, “we filled a whole box with buttons,” he added. “My wife collects them.”

In addition to would-be crafters, the swap included an actual artist demonstrating painting with supplies taken from the make-up cabinet and kitchen.

“Art supplies are expensive and can be intimidating for someone who may want to try painting but lacks the budget,” said Kristine Bougie, who drove in from Kettering, Ohio, to take part in the event.

Bougie’s palette from the make-up cabinet included old eye shadow, blush, eye liner, eye sparkle cream and tanning powders, applied and blended with cotton swabs and sponges. Her kitchen palette had dark-colored fruit (cherries, blueberries), tea, Worcestershire sauce and salt, to name a few.

“It may not last for hundreds of years, but it’s fun and inexpensive,” Bougie said.

The next Craft Swap is scheduled to take place in April 2012. Check back on Patch for more details on the event.

Did you attend the Craft Swap? Let us know on Facebook.