NEW Crafting Group in the East Bay area?

[mellyp]

I know there have been some posts for this in the past, but the most recent ones I found were from September. I am dying to meet some other crafters like myself - none of my friends here craft at all (how can that be?!?)
I live in El Cerrito but I am a few blocks from Albany and just a mile or two from Berkeley. I have a small house and can host a craft night, I'd love to start up a weekly rotating group.
My name is Melissa, I'm 27 - I don't descriminate against any crafts and right now I am working on handmade christmas presents. I have found too many great ideas on this site and I am trying to whittle down the idea list!
Or...if there is already a group in my area please let me know!
Thanks!

[Jerome]

Hi Melissa, my name is Jen, 30 years old and live in Oakland.  I've been looking for some groups as well... I mostly knit and am starting to sew as well.  Primarly I'm into making things I can wear or decorate my house with.  I can also host meeting as well. 

I have found a few stich n' bitch type groups that meet on Wed. nights.  There is also a yahoo group called SFCraftyVixens.  I joined it very recently but haven't looked at the calendar yet to see if there are any events/meetings I want to go to.  Here is the link - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SFCraftyVixens

Hopefully some other locals will chime in.  I'm definitely more interested in East Bay groups vs. the greater bay area. 

[mellyp]

Jen - Thanks so much for your reply! I am excited about the prospect of starting up a group and meeting some new people.
It is a lot easier for me to get around the EC/Berkeley/Oakland area than to drive to the city, especially after work - I know there must be more people looking for a group like this too.
How often are you free to do something like this? What kind of frequency are you interested in? I would love to get together weekly, most evenings are fine for me but I am pretty flexible on schedule.
Thanks for the link - I'm going to check it out.

[flyinpurplemunkiez]

Well if you group gets more interested ppl and my group continues to get none then I'd be happy to join your group

[mellyp]

You'd be more than welcome flyinpurplemunkiez  We will keep this thread going for all interested parties and see what happens!

[portobello]

HI, my name is andrea and I live in Berkeley, I am a student here and would be interested in meeting people into crafting. I'm mostly into knitting right now, but I have been known to sew, bead, and improvise various crafty methods in the past.

However, I just discovered this forum and I don't know how often I'll be here, so if you plan to get together please email me at:

ananda at tentacle dot net

Thanks,
I look forward to meeting like-minded people!

[sewgeeky]

I live in Oakland but work in the south bay (why, yes, I DO love my commute!), so I'd be available for weekend activities in the east bay.  I could even host, if your standards are seriously low and numbers are not to large!  There's a good cafe up the street from me if it got out of control.

I'm definitely thinking post-Christmas, though, because I think my brain is done for December.

[mellyp]

sewgeeky - great! i think after christmas would be best too, there seems to be more and more happening in the next few weeks and not enough time to do it all. i will put you down on the list of interested people and i'll contact everyone after the holidays and we'll go from there. thanks for your response!

[mahogany413]

I'm in San Francisco, but visit my parents house in Oakland often. I'd be willing to meet whenever you guys meet.

[leslieduckie]

Heylo, my name is Leslie and I'm 24 and live in Oakland. I'm down to host at my house in Oakland too. I usually play around with acrylic felt to make flowers and chains and such but I'm starting to get into sculpting plastic and felting/fulling. Let me know when you all meet up in, January is it?