Crafting for Change

Some of my all-time favorite days at Oberlin are the much anticipated craft fairs. I love the semester-long build up of anticipation for the Maker’s Market and the treasure trove of necklaces I am sure to find there. However, being the craft connoisseur I am, it was only a matter of time until I tried my hand(s) at jewelry-making. 

Luckily for me, one of my favorite jewelry makers also happens to live just down the hall from me at Baldwin Cottage (shoutout Blythe!). Towards the end of fall semester, we had a cat-time/jewelry-making session where they taught me the basics. I forgot all about it until after finals, but I entered winter break armed with a box of wire and beads, excessive enthusiasm, plus some newfound freedom from coursework. Much of my January was spent playing with new ideas in front of old Gilmore Girls episodes. 

I returned to campus with an absurd amount of necklaces and earrings, and absolutely no idea what to do with them-- but wait! Small campus serendipity strikes again--  I received a mysterious email from the one and only Nova Gomez (certified campus celebrity and awesome person, whom I know from The World is Only Magic). The email was about Crafting Change, a student-run craft fair where part of all proceeds would go to the TransOhio emergency fund.

The day of the event was overcast and chilly, but Obies still pulled up to Wilder Bowl (which, who wouldn’t, for a craft event?), where rows of tables were set up. Throughout the event, trans artists and musicians performed and read poetry in front of Wilder Hall. Students milled about and shopped, and it was a lovely time-- the perfect way to celebrate the queer community on a beautiful spring day. I met a ton of new people and sold out of everything in no time. It was another of those quintessential Oberlin experiences that I adore so much. I’m now eagerly anticipating this spring’s Maker’s Market, which will be April 28th-- perhaps I'll see you there!