Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    Crafting offers outlet for creative contributors

    Crafting offers outlet for creative contributors

    Photo By Cpl. Thomas Bricker | Leanah Alvarez, a library technician at McTureous Hall aboard Marine Corps Logistics...... read more read more

    BARSTOW, CA, UNITED STATES

    02.16.2012

    Story by Cpl. Thomas Bricker 

    Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

    MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. — They say idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Can the opposite be said for hands being put to use?

    The base library, McTureous Hall, now offers an outlet for members of the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow community to exercise their creative muscles with a club called “Crafting for a Cause.” The semimonthly get-together is open to everyone aboard MCLB Barstow and allows participants to create a variety of items with basic tools and a do-it-yourself ethic.

    The purpose of Crafting for a Cause is for individuals to create and share unique ways to craft new items from resources provided by the library. The crafts are normally paper-based or sewn and their uses are just as broad as the amount of choices the creators have to choose from.

    “We offer a variety of crafts to work on,” said Julie Bramman, the librarian aboard MCLB Barstow. “The items range from custom stationary created from old magazines or creating notepads from a roll of receipt paper and simple office supplies,” she added.

    The program was set up based on a similar one already in existence at other military bases.

    “I saw Luke [Air Force Base, Ariz.] had set up a program in which they could craft things or sew stuff and then donate the finished product to charity,” explained Bramman. “I was reading a librarian newsletter and it caught my attention so I thought it could be something we did here at our base,” she said.

    Despite having the same name as Luke AFB’s program, the finished products here aren’t donated afterward; instead participants gain the knowledge on how to create these items and get to take them home.

    “We don’t necessarily donate these crafts to charity but there are other programs on base that do so,” explained Myra Chael Kim, a spouse aboard MCLB Barstow. “It’s a good way for the people crafting to learn new ways to use the items and be more resourceful though,” she added.

    Kim has been going to the program since last year and enjoys the creativity she gets to express while there.

    “I love making things from scratch. It’s a great chance to be able to get in touch with my creative side,” Kim explained. “I like having do-it-yourself projects to work on,” the San Diego native added.

    The social aspect of Crafting for a Cause also helps serve as an environment for people to mingle and meet.

    “It’s good being able to meet other people who feel the same way about crafts,” said Kim. “I like having this as an event where I can get together and meet new people with similar interests.”

    The base library plans to use Crafting for a Cause as a way to help others learn new ways to use resources they may view as “extra” or “junk.”

    “I think this is a great way to show people how they can use up extra things laying around the house,” Bramman explained. “We provide the resources here for the initial project and if they like it, they then know how to do it for future references at home. It’s a great way to use up stuff lying around the house you would think was not useful anymore,” she added.

    For more information on future events or further information on Crafting for a Cause, please contact the base library at 577-6395.

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.16.2012
    Date Posted: 05.08.2012 18:12
    Story ID: 88117
    Location: BARSTOW, CA, US

    Web Views: 35
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN