Church of Craft Houston

sunday wrap up

2009-03-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterdays Craft On! was at Inversion Coffee Shop, our first attempt at meeting in a public space. There were 9 ladies total, including myself which proved to be the perfect number for a crowded coffee shop. Everyone worked on different embroidery projects as Holly led us in discussion. There were some really great insights along with lots of laughter. Some of the questions such as "What do you consider your best feature?" and "Do you have any nicknames and do you like them?" certainly had some great answers!

Sarah, Brooke, Anne, Jenny (in the stripes!) and Holly

Sara and Lynn stitching away

Sara, Lynn, Sarah, Brooke, Anne, Jenny, Holly

Patty working on her first ever embroidery project! (it turned out really nice!)

Next month we will be meeting at Lynn's house, If you would like to join us, please e-mail me at churchofcrafthouston@gmail.com for directions!

As always, everyone is welcome!

Next meeting: April 12th, 2008

Time: 5pm-7pm

Details coming soon!

create. reflect. give back.

-Melissa

Church of Craft Houston

sunday! march 8th...

2009-03-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

OK y'all, its that time again! This months Church of Craft meeting is this Sunday. We are meeting in a public space, so be sure to being a project that you can do in a coffee shop! We also invite you to join in on our featured project: Embroidered Self Portraits. We will have some supplies on hand (needles, floss, fabric, scissors) but feel free to bring your own.

create. reflect. give back.

-Melissa

Church of Craft Houston

craft on!

2009-02-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

Hello!

Its that time again, second Sunday of the month! We are excited to be having a slightly less structured meeting this time around. We are ready to just sit, craft and enjoy some lovely conversation!

We are focusing on our knitting skills this month! We will have patterns, books, and some yard on hand, but feel free to bring your own. We would also love some tips and techniques, so if you can share those, that would be great too!

The amazing Jenny will be hosting the meeting at her house, so if you can come (and we want you to come!), please e-mail me for directions: churchofcrafthouston [at] gmail.com As usual the meeting will be formm 5pm-7pm, and snacks are welcome but not necessary.

See you soon!

create. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston

Melissa

come all ye crafters...

2009-01-10T10:27:00.000-08:00

Hello!

Its that time again... 2nd meeting of the Church of Craft. This month we will be working on making Snuggles! What is a Snuggle you ask? It is a blanket made especially for animals in shelters. It gives them a little comfort and warmth. We are very proud this month to be working with Brooke of Friends for Life. All of the blankets made will be donated locally!

Possible Donations this month:
-thread
-fabric
-fabric scraps
-flannel (for the inner layer, keeps pets warm!)

Read more about the project here: snugglesproject.org

Have a project that you are working on? Bring that too! Meet other people that love to make things too.

We will be bringing snacks to share, so if you have a favorite recipe you are welcome to bring it along.

And if you just want to come hang out, thats OK too!

See you soon!

create. reflect. give back.
-Church of Craft Houston
Melissa

the kick off

2008-12-08T19:35:00.001-08:00

Last night we had our first Craft On. I was so proud of the ladies for making as many caps as we did. (final count coming soon!) We also had the opportunity for connection, sharing and lots of laughs. This is the beginning of a lot of new friendships and crafty hours.

(left to right) Holly, our Flock Leader. Jenny our Workshop Leader. Renee, Heights mom and craft enthusiast. Melissa, Craft Leader. Sarah, Sew Crafty owner. Brooke, founder of Its Cool to Care.

There were SO many tasty things to eat!

Thank you for all who participated! And a special thank-you to Sarah, for inviting us into her studio.

Next Meeting: Sunday January 11th

*details to come!

create. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston

1st ever Houston Craft On!

2008-12-03T21:50:00.000-08:00

We are so very excited to provide you with the details for Church of Craft Houston's first ever Craft On and Workshop!

We will be meeting the 1st Sunday of every month. This month we will meet on December 7th, at 6:00pm. Each month we will be meeting at a different location. This months super special crafty location is Sew Crafty, in the Heights. Sarah, owner and craft extraordinaire, has very warmly invited us to use the studio.

Crafting for a Cause Workshop: Caps to Cap Haiti

Tutorial by Jenny

Bring: T-shirts to turn into caps.

Donations: thread

Craft On Project: "12 days of Christmas Felt Advent Calendars"

Tutorial by Melissa

Bring: felt, embroidery floss, needle, embellishments.

*Kits are also available with all supplies included for a $2 donation.

Please feel free to bring food & drink to share (casual potluck style encouraged, but definitely not required!).

We also encourage you to bring your own projects to work on! Have holiday projects and presents to work? Now is the time to finish them up. Come meet other crafters, artists, musicians, community leaders, photographers and neighbors.

Remember that ALL are welcome, so bring friends!

If you have any questions email me at churchofcrafthouston [at] gmail.com

See you soon!

create. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston

Melissa

kits are ready!

2008-12-03T20:49:00.000-08:00

This months Craft On project will be:

"12 days of Christmas Mini Felt Advent Calendars"

Yes, thats a mouth full, but they are quite nice. Kits include: 12 felt pockets, 1 felt background (different shapes), embroidery floss in 2 colors and a needle. Please feel free to bring embellishments: buttons, extra felt colors, faux flowers, beads, baubles.

Hang from a fireplace, on a door or in the hallway. Don't forget to fill the pockets with treats, sweet notes and anything else tiny and amazing.

*Note: Remember to start enjoying your calendar on Dec 14th. Your last surprise will be on the 25th!

Kits are available for a $2 donation. All are welcome to bring their own supplies, tutorials and embroidery lessons are FREE!

create. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston

making caps

2008-11-25T19:38:00.000-08:00

I just completed my first round of cap making. This is only my second experience working with jersey/knit fabric, but it was much easier than I anticipated.

1. I started with two clean, soft baseball tees. I turned them inside out and pinned down the pattern. I found then even on a small womens tee, I could cut for two caps.

2. Once the pattern was cut, I repinned all the pieces. The tutorial says to cut on the bottom hem, I found that it was tricky to get it even on both sides. But in the end it didn't make a difference.

3. I sewed 5/8" seam on all sides. I trimmed the seam, turned the caps right side out and finished my tying a knot at the top.

Jenny will be teaching a workshop on how to make the caps at our workshop on December 7th. If you are unable to join us, we encourage you to try the project at home! Caps can be sent directly to:

Mama to Mama
c/o SouleMama
PO Box 8190
Portland, ME 04104
USA

We want to thank you in advance for all your support!

creat. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston

a bit of history

2008-11-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

For those of you completely new to the concept of Church of Craft, here is a great video and some interviews, all featuring the creator of COC, Callie Janoff.

Interviews: by Oliver Irwin for Knit Knit

also by Liz Zitron for Ready Made

and by Kirsten Hudson for 10x10 magazine

create. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston

crafting for a cause

2008-11-20T08:14:00.000-08:00

December Workshop

Caps to Cap Haitian Project

Mama to Mama has teamed up with Konbit Sante to gather infant caps to include in their Safe Birthing Kits. We loved the idea so much we decided to help too! As part of Church of Craft this month we will provide a tutorial on how to make the caps.

About Konbit Sante:

Konbit Sante is a Maine-based volunteer partnership working to save lives and improve health care in northern Haiti. In Haitian Creole, a konbit is a traditional method of working together to till your friends' and neighbors fields as well as your own - a cooperative effort. Sante means health. The name defines their committment to address the staggering health problems in northern Haiti where most lack basic care and live without running water.

One aspect of their work involves OB/GYN care . Konbit Sante is working to assemble Safe Birthing Kits to be distributed by traditional birth attendants in the desperately poor Fort St. Michel area of Cap-Haitien. These kits - consisting of plastic sheeting, hand sanitizer, a sterile piece of string and razor blade, and these newborn baby caps - have the potential to reduce infant and maternal mortality, and give babies a safer, healthier start.

Some heart felt thoughts about the project from Sew Liberated.

Donations for this Workshop: t-shirts, thread, time!

create. reflect. give back.

- Church of Craft Houston

calendar

2008-11-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

Midtown Spirituality Center
FALL 2008
Saturday 11/22 - We'll be back at the MIDTOWN FARMERS MARKET with our friends at Its Cool 2 Care. We'll have music to share and sewing goods from our friends in Bolivia to sell.

Sunday November 23 - IN HOME GATHERING & COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING - 5 to 7 - at Holly's (click here to request directions)

DECEMBER 2008
Sunday Dec 7 - Craft for a Cause - Sew Crafty 6:30pm

Sunday Dec 14 - In home gathering at Holly's

Sunday Dec 21 - Mic'd Dissent - Open Mic Night in the Heights

Coming in WINTER 2009
CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE - starting Thursdays in January

create. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston

Hello!

2008-11-14T09:21:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to be able to bring the Church of Craft to Houston! So who are we?

Melissa Ireta, Craft Leader and Co-Founder Houston Chapter

Tanto Craft Studio, Owner

Melissa grew up with a super crafty mom and all about recycling dad. She has been creating and upcycling since she was a tiny tot. Her mom taught her to sew, crochet, make paper, decoupage, embroider. Along the way Melissa has learned to gocoo, needle felt, screen print, make jewelry and is always learning new things. She started tanto as a way to share her creations, although parting with them is difficult sometimes!

Melissa also works part-time at Sew Crafty, teaching craft classes, leading Mother-Daughter craft night and manning the desk on the weekends. She loves to teach and to inspire creativity.

Holly Ebel, Flock Leader and Co-Founder Houston Chapter

Director of Midtown Spirituality Center

Holly is a United Methodist minister who understands herself as an urban missionary.
She grew up in the United Methodist Church in Brenham, TX.
As a young adult, she grew disillusioned with 'the church'
While her faith in God never dissipated, her tolerance for organized religion did.

During her phase of disillusionment, Holly began the study and practice of other faith traditions. Eventually, this study led her back to Christianity and 'the church'.
She realized the teachings of Jesus Christ were impeccable.
As she returned to the church, Holly began to dream of ways to make the teachings of Christ and the Christian tradition accessible to others who were "turned off" by organized religion.

Holly received her Master's of Divinity Degree at Perkins School of Theology
at Southern Methodist University.
Here she received academic awards for adventurous and creative learning
as well as for preaching.

Holly is committed to the teachings of Christ, United Methodist theology and the way of John Wesley.

Her vision is to create a spiritual community that embodies the teachings of Christ in a bold new way.

create. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston