A few months ago, I was lamenting the fact that life was so busy that I rarely had good, heartfelt, child-free social time with my best girlfriends, not to mention a lack of time to craft simple but gorgeous projects for my home and life.
And sadly, my husbands erratic work schedule meant I also couldn't commit to joining a weekly group or regular class.
Perhaps, I thought, there are other busy mama's in the same boat, wishing for the same..
In a moment of inspiration after reading a favourite magazine, a lightbulb switched on.
Whilst I (and surely, many of my friends too?) were too busy working or running our children around or fitting in the housework, or balancing the chequebook, we might be able to find a few hours once a month for a little purposeful time out.
The seed of the idea of a 'Crafternoon' was born!
As I contemplated, these thoughts popped into mind:
*the workload of organising an afternoon should be shared
*the workload should be as small as physically possible
(we definitely don't need any more work,
but a little fun in the creative planning process is more than ok!)
*Crafternoons need to be inclusive, and open to as many new friends as possible!
*ideally, there should be at least 3 free weekends in between each Crafternoon date
*the commitment of hosting and attending crafternoons should be finite,
and limited to no more than six parties over 6 months
(but could be less too, if six months sounded too long or arduous...)
So, this is what we did.
And you can do too!!
Firstly, someone has to start the ball rolling.
The first job is to decide on a set number of hosts (and therefore, monthly parties) that your group of friends can probably commit to.
(This might be a decision made by the head organiser. Is that you??)
It is this person's job to go out and find their hosts.
Of course, you might set your goal at "6 Crafternoons", but be stumped by finding 6 hosts.
You can always adjust your goal as you go. Why not begin with finding four Crafternoon hosts?
I decided to try for six hosts- that is, me and 5 others.
I figured that it wouldn't be too difficult to find five other people who had some kind of crafty or creative skill to share, the ability to cook or buy afternoon tea for 8-12 people, and who also wanted an excuse for a girly time out too!
(I was right. It wasn't difficult at all!!)
The amount of hosts you choose can also figure into the final number of guests for each 'Crafternoon'.
I like an even number of 12.
For our group of six hosts, this means that each of us can invite one guest each time.
12 is a lovely number that is not too big, or too small, and gives everyone at the do a chance to find someone they will connect with. And most potential hosts can manage catering for 12 on a relatively small budget, and organising seating and table space is not out of the question either. Perfect.
But, if you live in apartments or share houses, or a tiny cottage, 12 might be too many.
Find your perfect number.
With 12 in mind, these were the next steps:
1. Find 6 willing hosts. I counted as one, so I had to find 5 other friends willing to step up to the task.
I checked through the calendar and wrote a list of suggestions for Crafternoon dates. Each host can then lock in their date and time, one per month. As a group, we made an executive decision that Saturday afternoon from 2 - 4.30pm was the perfect time for mama's to pop out, as Dad or Grandparents were often home and able to help out with minding the little ones, and most sporty or dance commitments were usually over by lunchtime. We decided to try and stick to it as much as possible.
2. Each potential host needs to be asked if they are willing and able to commit to hosting ONE of the Crafternoon soirees, providing both a small craft activity, the venue (inside or outside, at home or elsewhere) AND the catering of afternoon tea for all the guests, at their own expense. I think most people could do this for less than $50, and if you are like me with a stash of crafty supplies, the only outlay is the food so it could be even less.
The only other requirement is that the host is brave enough to share their skills and talents with people they don't know. Not all of your friends will be. Asking this question up front gives your friends the opportunity to share their nervousness and gently slide out of the hosting game with grace before they are committed.
Here is the best bit.
In exchange for their work of hosting ONE party,
each host is entitled to attend the other five Crafternoons FOR FREE!!!
Don't you just think that is a marvellous exchange?
3. Each Host is also given the opportunity to invite one guest per Crafternoon. As my host friends are immersed alongside me in our creatively crafty community, we decided to make a commitment to each asking a new guest each month. This was to help us include as many of our 'crafty' or 'aspiring crafty' or 'non-crafty but whom might enjoy a refreshing afternoon with a gorgeous bunch of inspiring women' friends as possible. We also stipulate that we will try to refrain from having repeat guests, to avoid putting anyone's nose out of joint as much as trying to spread the crafty love. You see, one of the biggest challenges with a Crafternoon is that once a guest comes once, many of them would love to come every time too!
4. If any host is unable to find an available guest, another host can step in with a suggestion of a friend to invite. Our goal is to fill the guest list to 12 for every Crafternoon, rather than have a vacant space.
5. Formal invitations (via email or letter or phone) are to be issued at least three weeks in advance so that all hosts are given enough time to lock in their invited guests.
6. On the day of the Crafternoon, the only person with a job to do is the selected monthly Host.
All other hosts and guests do not need to bring anything, or bake anything, or provide anything AT ALL! All they need to do is dress up and show up on time.
7. Afternoon tea is to be provided by the host- nothing fancy, just an assortment of tea, coffee and perhaps a selection of cold drinks and some delectable snacks to nibble on.
8. The host can choose a surprise theme or a context to bind their Crafternoon preparations. Why not host a Christmas in July or a spring blossoming? Halloween is coming up soon and cupcake carnivals are always fun! But the choice is with the host.
9. And the most important thing: the craft. There are three guidelines for the craft.
The first is that the craft can be finished in a 90 minute time-frame.
We don't want anymore 'UFO's' (UnFinished Objects) flying around taking up space in our homes.
The second is that the craft could be completed by a beginner, as well as a capable crafter.
The third is that the host supplies all materials, and prepares the craft (the templates, the materials etc) as much as possible to help all the guests feel comfortable.
Your hosts do not need to be an 'expert' in their field,
rather they are to share something they feel comfortable teaching.
What we want most is for the host to share a crafty or creative thing they love doing!
It can be absolutely anything at all:
showing guests how to decoratively ice home-baked cookies, how to crochet a simple flower, how to paint a wee doll like storybook characters or dance a scottish highland fling, how to make a felt brooch or sing in a round, how to weave a candle mat or sew christmas tree decorations or draw an oil pastel mandala or give really good Indian head massages....
Perhaps you know people who love to sculpt, to paint, to bake, to sew, to knit, to embroider, to draw, to sing, to dance or to massage. These people would make great hosts!!!
So, do you want to join us?
YOU CAN!!!
Simply right click on this button and save it to your computer desktop or in iPhoto on Mac.
Then add it to your blog as a picture gadget by linking to this code.
http://www.mamamoontime.com/2011/09/host-mamamoontime-inspired-crafternoon.html
(If you are unsure how to do this, send me an email to amber.greene@hotmail.com and I'll send you instructions for blogger)
That will bring all your hosts and guests to this page,
giving them all the instructions on what they need to do too!
You are most welcome to share this adventure around with your friends and family of all ages too...
And most importantly,
I want to know what you all do at your Crafternoons!
(and I'm sure MamaMoontime readers do too!!)
So be sure to leave me your links in the comment box attached to this button at the left hand top of the page
when you blog about your girly gathering....
(ps: gentlemen are most welcome too, of course!)
I'm excited just thinking about all these groovy gatherings that will manifest in the coming months and year... I wish I could be a fly on your wall. But photos and a story will be a good start...
Ohh, total glee !!
Let the Crafternoon's begin!
Are you going to join in?
