Fall Crafternoons: Coming Soon from a Library Near You!

The Durham Tech Library is thrilled to announce our Crafternoon schedule for the Fall 2023 semester. 

Crafternoons are co-sponsored by the Durham Tech Library and a generous grant from the Eichholz Foundation.

Planners and Notebooks

OCC: Tuesday, August 29, 11:00-1:00 in the OCC Lobby

Main Campus: Wednesday, August 30, 1:00-3:00 in the Main Campus Library Downstairs Group Study Area (MC05-105A)

All materials will be provided for students, faculty, and staff to decorate their own 12-month agenda or notebook with a design of their choice, including creating their own vision board design for the upcoming academic year! 

Granulated Wax Candles

OCC: Tuesday, September 19, 11:00-1:00 in the OCC Lobby

Main Campus: Wednesday, September 20, 1:00-3:00 in the Main Campus Library Downstairs Group Study Area (MC05-105A)

All materials will be provided for students, faculty, and staff to create their own granulated wax candle! Choose and pour to layer your colors into your own design that you can burn at home. Think: meltable sand art!

Bag & Apparel Painting

OCC: Tuesday, October 24, 11:00-1:00 in the OCC Lobby

Main Campus: Wednesday, October 25, 1:00-3:00 in the Main Campus Library Downstairs Group Study Area (MC05-105A)

Art supplies will be provided for students, faculty, and staff to either paint a provided canvas bag (tote or mini) or their own apparel to decorate (shoes, shirts, jackets, jeans, etc.--bring your own!).

Buttons & Beaded Bracelets

OCC: Tuesday, November 14, 11:00-1:00 in the OCC Lobby

Main Campus: Wednesday, November 15, 1:00-3:00 in the Main Campus Library Downstairs Group Study Area (MC05-105A)

All supplies will be provided for students, faculty, and staff to design or make their own buttons or keychains with our super awesome button maker AND design and string their own beaded word/phrase friendship bracelet. 

Images coming soon. Have some cool spare beads hanging out at your home? Drop them by the Library for this craft!

Whoa, wait. I'm new here or haven't heard of Crafternoons before. Can you tell me a little more? Sure. Keep reading for a little FAQ.

What are Crafternoons?

Great question!

Crafternoons are monthly-ish events held during the fall and spring semesters on the Main and Orange County Campus that provide supplies for students, faculty, and staff to take a moment to be creative and create a small art project.

We regularly do scrapbook/collage-type activities, have done paper stars, wool felting, cyanotypes, acrylic pouring, string art, and a variety of other crafts through the years. 

Do I have to be art-y or craft-y to participate?

No pre-existing skills are necessary. Bring yourself and a willingness to try. That's it! 

Do I have to pay to participate?

Nope, all basic supplies are free for students, faculty, and staff to participate during the event. We don't do take-and-make kits (i.e. things you can grab and do at home) and for one event--the apparel painting event--you have the option of bringing something from home, but you can really just show up and create!

Aren't crafts just for kids? Isn't this a waste of time?

There are many benefits to crafting for both kids and folks of all ages. In addition to having a time where you can relax and have a low-stakes opportunity to explore a new skill, crafting has been show to decrease stress, increase overall well-being, and improve mood AND fine motor skills AND self-confidence. We also see value in providing an opportunity for folks across the College to come together and build community outside of their own contexts. 

But if crafting is not for you, that's okay. Let people try new things and like things you don't. It's okay.