Cohere Crafternoon
One of the primary benefits of belonging to a coworking space is the wide breadth of skills and experience available to members, and it isn’t confined to just business experience. The collaboration between members can enhance every aspect of our lives—career, family, social life, and mental health. Some might even say it can solve all your worldly problems.
Book a tour of Cohere Coworking, a friendship-based coworking community in Old Town Fort Collins
One of the many ways that Cohere makes collaboration easy for our members is by encouraging participation in member-led events. The range of information and entertainment that we are presented with when we let members take the helm is extraordinary.
We’ve had discussions over donuts covering the historical laws around liquor, prehistoric changes to the earth’s climate and surface, and how to keep your marketing more enticing. We’ve experienced delightful music recitals by members and their families during show and share sessions as well as learning how to make functional and fun upcycled rugs out of plastic grocery bags.
When Cohere member Julianna Kobs, who had recently shared with us her letterpress machine, mentioned the idea of getting Coherians together one afternoon to do crafts on the porch, another member, Tracey Kazimir-Cree of the Sunshine Factory said “Let’s do that!” and Cohere’s Crafternoon was born.
Crafting, while not strictly a business-related activity, has some major benefits for professionals. Crafting reduces anxiety and depression, conditions that plague many entrepreneurs and creative professionals. It also increases neuroplasticity by involving multiple parts of your brain, improving both problem-solving skills and creativity.
When done in a group crafting has additional benefits. Not only do participants give each other ideas on how to move forward in their projects—they get to know one another. Working together on our own individual projects increases confidence, enhances community, and improves communication.
I believe that everyone is creative. It may not be with a brush or a pen. It could be with the way one decorates their home or solves a difficult budgeting problem or shuffles around ingredients in the fridge for a last-minute dinner plan.—Tracey Kasimir-Cree
When and Where
At 4:30 p.m. on July 6th Coherians will have the opportunity to gather on our lovely outdoor deck and create something awesome. With Julianna’s skill at pulling things together and Tracey’s experience with Always be Creating—a crafting group that used to meet in Cohere’s large basement conference room—the event is sure to be an unqualified success.
It’s not a structured affair. Participants choose their own crafts and bring their own supplies. Knitting, scrapbooking, woodworking, or whatever. Anything within reason for crafting on a wooden porch (no chainsaw juggling). You can either use the time to finish up that craft that’s been left dangling or you can start something completely new. It’s entirely up to you. All you need is supplies and an idea.
Supplies
What was that? You don’t already have a stockpile of crafting supplies falling out of your closet? While you can replenish your supplies at big box stores like Jo-Ann’s Fabric, Target, or Michaels, both Julianna and Tracey recommended stopping by Jerry’s Artarama, a local art store with a great selection and friendly, knowledgeable service.***If you have any other favorite art stores near Fort Collins, please let us know in the comments!
Ideas
If you think crafting together outside on a lovely afternoon sounds delightful, but you don’t yet have an idea, don’t let that stop you. Gather whatever art supplies grab your attention, show up, and experiment. We are a friendly bunch here at Cohere who are always ready to offer a suggestion or a helping hand.
As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has, or ever will have, something inside that is unique to all time. It’s our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression.—Fred Rogers
Collaboration is not always about big business problems. Sometimes it’s about helping your coworker find the perfect sticker or paper doily for a handmade card. Sometimes, it’s about working together to produce peace of mind and foster creativity in others. Schedule tour of the building and craft with us—we like you just the way you are!
Are you a Coherian with an idea for a member-led event? Let us know on Slack or shoot us a quick email!
About the Author: Cohere member Penny Leigh Sebring is an experienced freelance writer, neophyte speculative fiction author, and a gatherer of information and imaginary friends.