Craft Night(s): One of my new social activities

When Brian and I were in Utah, one of the highlights of our trip had nothing to do with our outdoor adventures, but instead entailed connecting with other people over crafts. There was one day that Brian went mountain biking and I opted to stay in Moab to explore the town on my own. I got breakfast at great local cafe, visited the co-op, went to the public library, and checked out an amazing yarn shop called Desert Thread.
Of all the places I went that day, I spent the most time at Desert Thread. I went in completely intrigued by the selection of yarns, and by the time I got to the collection of buttons, I began chatting with one of the owners, Cathy. This of course turned into a much longer conversation during which the owner invited me to their weekly Stitch Night.
With our adventure schedule and trying to work around the weather, I wasn't able to attend until the very last week we would be staying in Moab. Just as Cathy had advertised, there was a friendly group of ladies, lots of chocolate, and lots of cookies. It wasn't surprising that I was the youngest woman there, but it was really nice to be surrounded by such warm people.
We talked about knitting projects and techniques, but we also shared stories about our lives, interests, life plans, and plenty of other subjects. By the time the night was over, they were asking if and when I would move to Moab, and I felt like I was completely welcomed into their little social group. I don't even remember most of their names, but I still feel connected to a sense of community with these ladies simply for the fact that we crafted for a few hours together one evening. 
Once I got back to California, I spent a good deal of time with my sister, as per usual. Grace is quite a talented seamstress and sews for her own local business, making different accessories and clothing for children and adults. I told her about my stitch night experience in Moab, and she was immediately on board with organizing a craft night of our own.
Several of our relatives sew, embroider, and crochet occasionally, and we knew they would likely enjoy an evening to casually do those things with good company and good food. We sent out a few invitations to those we thought would be interested and a week later almost everyone who was invited was chatting, eating, and crafting in Grace's living room.
It was really nice to be able to connect again with many of the women who have already had a large role in my life. Even though I won't be home again for a several months, I would love to make this happen again when I return, and am thrilled with the idea of making craft nights a regular part of my social life no matter where I am.

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