Hand-Craft Clubs Are Blooming In Snohomish County -- Beginners Urged To Attend Meetings To Decide If Activity Is Really For Them

If you thought crafts were strictly for grade school and summer camp, guess again.

Hand crafts, from quilting to ceramics to the fiber arts, are alive and well in Snohomish County.

Several local clubs and groups offer support and a social setting for creative people interested in the crafts. Most take a break during the summer and resume meeting in September - just in time to prepare for holiday bazaars.

"We're a very active, productive group," said Helen Sandvig of Lynnwood, who's been a member of the Seaview Weavers Guild for a dozen years.

Sandvig's group is typical of Snohomish County crafts clubs, which accept new members and welcomes people who are trying to decide if a club is for them. She recommends that people interested in learning a craft like weaving attend one of the club's meetings.

"People new to it are welcome to come and decide for themselves," she said. "It wouldn't take them more than a couple of meetings to decide if this is something they're interested in."

Betty Casjens of the Stanwood Hobby and Craft Club agrees. In fact, her club would seemingly have wider appeal since it does not specialize and includes members who crochet, make teddy bears, knit, paint rocks, dry flowers and make candles.

Each year the Stanwood club holds a Christmas bazaar. The group also donates to a local food bank and the Boys & Girls Club.

Interested in learning more? Here are some clubs:

Busy Bee Quilters - Meets the third Thursday of the month, 6:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 1512 Pine St., Snohomish. Annette, 334-7391.

Camano Island Quilters - Meets the first Wednesday of the month, 10 a.m. at I.O.O.F. Hall, Camano Ridge Road. Mary, 629-2338.

Camano Island Quilters PM - Meets the first Thursday of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Stanwood Public Library, 9701 271st St. N.W. Sue, 387-9420.

Seaview Weavers Guild - Meets the second Tuesday of month, 10 a.m. at Maplewood Presbyterian Church, 19528 84th Ave. W., Edmonds. Helen, 743-9791.

Valley Spinners Guild - Meets the third Thursday of the month 6:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1305 Pine St., Snohomish. Kassie, 794-0691.

Stanwood Hobby and Craft Club - Meets the first Wednesday of the month, 12:30 p.m. in the PUD building, 9124 271st St. N.W., Stanwood. Betty, 629-2368.

Warm Beach Manor Hobby Club - Meets the third Monday of the month, 2 p.m. at Beachwood Lounge, Warm Beach Manor, 20420 Marine Drive N.W., Stanwood. Lydia, 652-6746.

If your handcrafting club isn't included please send your club's name, meeting date and time to The Seattle Times Snohomish County bureau, ATTN: calendar, 1211 164th St. S.W., Suite 101, Lynnwood, WA 98037.