Makers in South Bend
When I was talking last month in Lexington, KY to the needlework guilds and the master clothing experts, I introduced the word “makers” to many of them for the first time. A recent wave of DIY enthusiasm have splashed across the country, but for some of the older women, who have been making for decades, this was a new word to call themselves. Some of them said, “Oh, so now I’m a maker?” Being a historian, I tend to use older words like artisan instead of maker and dressmaker instead of sewist. I just can’t help it. And being a historian, I realize that interest in creating with your own hands has come in waves. Check out any women’s magazine from the 1950s chock full of home and family projects from decorating dens to knitting baby gear or the books that came out in the 1970s when they did a lot of macrame.
In order to make it possible for people to try some making of their own, studio workshops have been set up across the country, including here in South Bend, where both kids and adults can take classes in everything from sewing to printing to metal work to creating bath bombs. Honestly, that is part of the range of classes offered here.
So, if you are interested in signing yourself up, taking an evening class with a friend, bringing your kids, or hosting a making party, search the web and find out if there is a local place where you can try your hand at making. Discover what else you can do with your hands.
For Make South Bend, go here: http://www.makesouthbend.com/
