On Jan. 30, approximately 30 people turned out for the first Cashless Craft Swap of the year. The Swap was held at the North Thompson Volunteer Centre, and happens four times a year - January, April, July and October.
The whole idea is to recycle unwanted crafting supplies. People bring items they no longer want, and usually pick up new (to them) items that they do want.
Some of the items that were brought this time included: material, unspun wool and cashmere (the cashmere was barely on the table for more that two minutes before three people shared it out between them), beads, knitting needles, assorted craft books and magazines, rubber stamps, a whole tin full of buttons, some miniature furniture (also barely on the table before it was snapped up by a happy browser for her granddaughter), and a pizza box full of scrapbooking paper that I happily absconded with (yay!). Oh, what fun!
It seemed every time I turned around something new was put on the table. People stayed and chatted, more people came in with items to add, and eventually they started to head out, arms just as full as when they came in, but with a whole lot of other items.
Of course, you don’t have to bring something to take part. Everyone is welcome to come out and browse for crafting supplies, regardless of whether or not they have anything to bring. The Swap is a perfect time to get some supplies for that craft you’ve been wanting to try.
And the beauty of it, is that if in a month or two you decide that it just isn’t the craft for you... bring the stuff back to the next swap.
Besides the items listed above, you can bring: cookbooks, cookie cutters, mason jars, paints, paint brushes, pencil crayons, colouring books, woodworking items, pottery items... basically anything that can conceivably be used in anything remotely resembling a craft (and yes, I consider cooking/baking/canning to be a craft).
Items not claimed at the end of the Swap are either kept for the next Swap, given to the After School Program, or given to the local Thrift Shop (usually some to all three).
The next Swap will be held in April, the exact date will be announced at the end of March, in the paper (both the Times and the Star/Journal) and on the radio (93.1 The Bear). For more information, contact me, Margaret Houben, at 250-672-9330.