This past Friday I attended the 2nd Chicago Craft Social. I can’t tell you how excited I was to find a group of people who wanted to gather to celebrate crafting in all its forms. Knitting, stamping, stitching, folding paper airplanes, scrapbooking, glass etching… the list just keeps going. It was nice to be in a space that was just for us – nobody staring at you like you are an alien or some weirdo trying to channel their inner old person. 
After arriving, I walked around the tables that had been set up for different crafts. Each table had a craft leader to help you learn said craft. One table caught my eye right away. The table place card simple said “DINNER NAPKINS” and was being led by the super sweet and even more super talented Erin. She provided us with fancy napkins, clear stamps, StazOn inkpads and her expertise. After choosing our stamps (which she designed!!!!!!!), we got to stamping. I chose to make napkins for our formal table, something to celebrate our new home. I’m not finished with these yet, either. As you can see in the picture below, Erin also showed how to embellish the stamped product with some simple embroidery. She’s a great teacher, as most of the ladies that sat down at the table had never stitched before - and in time they were working lazy daisies, french knots and simple backstitching. I am working some simple little details, and will have a finished product to show off in a couple of days.
I met some great ladies. Erin, Amy, Jess, Chelsea (fresh from South Africa!), Charisse, and Cindy. Truth be told, I was a nervous blob of goo. It’s really weird: when I am faced with meeting new people, I either become a silent-hide in the corner lump, or I get super jittery and turn into a babbling blob of goo. This evening I was jittery – but I am fairly certain I didn’t do or say anything stupid! Either way, I hope I didn’t scare off the locals! Over on the right I have started a blogroll called Local Talent, and as I meet more locals I will add them there. I hope to be able to keep in contact with there great ladies.
The only thing that would have made the night better would have been wine, better lighting and more crafts! I think next time I’ll bring some snacks for the snack table too. Something savory, as there was lots and lots of sweets, but I was craving real food for once!