Whether you’re the crafty type or just always wanted to be, the Waccamaw Library is where you’ll want to be this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4.
The branch is hosting its first ever Making and Crafting Fair, with a full slate of events scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. There are activities for all age groups and skill levels, and plenty of opportunities for crafters to show off their own creations and pick up a new hobby or 10 all in the same place.
“This is a great event for people who are enthusiastic about the idea of crafting and making, whether or not they’ve actually engaged in it before,” said Donald Dennis, the organizer for the event, who is also the Games, Technology and Teen Services Librarian at the Waccamaw Branch. “We’re hoping to attract people who are excited and interested in crafting and who want to do more with it.”
The schedule includes crafting show and tells; a dungeon building competition; cosplay crafting demonstrations; lasercutting and engraving; moldmaking and casting; modelling activities; needle felting; holiday card making; button and pin making; micro soldering; rocketry; sewing demonstrations; and an introduction to 3D printing, among other activities. View the complete schedule.
Dennis said he’s hoping the event will become an annual tradition, giving the library another way to put some of its resources to use in the community. That was the driving force behind introducing the event.
“We’ve got a lot of maker resources here at the library and a variety of crafting experience,” Dennis said. “We also know there are quite a few handcrafters here in the area – we’ve got a knitting club that meets at the library and other folks like that. So, we thought it would be neat if we could sort of showcase what we have and help other crafters and makers connect. Plus, we’ve got this laser here and we want people to know about it.”
A lasercutter, vacuum forming machines, foam cutters and a 3D printer are just some of the equipment library staff will be teaching people to use during the fair.
“These are very versatile tools and we want to get as much use out of them as possible,” he said.
The library is located at 41 St. Paul Place, Pawleys Island. There is no cost to attend or participate in the fair.