Squamish's Angela Woods is a creative and crafty person—she sees a pretty book cover in a napkin, for example, or a pendant in a broken piece of china—but she wants locals of all ages to know they can craft too.
Woods has launched the Squamish Craft Club, with workshops at the Squamish Legion.
The group's mission statement speaks to her wish to build community and democratize crafting.
"This group is an invitation to bring your creativity, or the desire to explore your creativity, together in community," the statement reads.
"There will be artistic workshops that are curated once a month, allowing attendees to gather and be creative in a safe space.
"Think community-minded crafting for creative bonding. We’ll be learning new skills, working with different mediums, sharing project ideas and skills, all while forming new friendships."
Between workshops, the Squamish Craft Club's social media pages encourage crafts made from everyday items or easily found materials.
How it started
Woods is a self-taught silversmith who primarily creates items for other people, rather than for herself.
Her work as a special needs support worker led her to wonder if she could teach her passion of crafting in a different capacity, "and then bring people together in community."
Out of this musing, the Squamish Craft Club was born.
As a kid, Woods said she was always looking at things and trying to see what else she could create from them.
"[I was] always building, always doing, taking things apart, rebuilding them. Like, taking the radio apart ... melting metal, and making it into something different, taking pop cans and melting those and pouring them into ice, pouring it into the sand and seeing what it would do," she said.
Crafting is for everyone
Woods particularly likes using items in her classes that people might come across in their daily lives, like stones, sea glass, shells or cool-shaped pieces of wood.
"I want you to learn it at the class, and then you can teach other people," she said.
She believes everyone can create something beautiful with crafting.
"People say, 'I'm not artsy.' But you can be. You can create something pretty."
So far, there have been three Squamish Craft Club sessions at the Legion.
The cost per class is about $50, supplies, a drink ticket and snacks included.
Each participant brings home an item they created.
The next workshop is for Cinco De Mayo on Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at the Legion at 40194 Glenalder Pl., Garibaldi Highlands.
Woods will be showing participants how to make mandala dot art by "decorating on your own candle tin—inspired by Cinco de Mayo colours and designs.”
To register, email [email protected].
E-transfer $55 to the same email to secure your spot.
Find out more on the Squamish Craft Club Facebook or Instagram Page or on the Legion's page.
