born. Other crafters from around the United States, too surprising that face-to-face clubs are popular. Canada, United Kingdom, and Sweden have similar- And Rev. Taylor thinks she knows why there’s such ly been moved by the DIY spirit. There are currently a current interest in crafting groups. “I think the

11 churches with as many as 2,500 participants. depression we’re in has inspired it. Folks are broke, The good reverend blanches at the notion that the and, especially in San Francisco, the dot-com boom Church of Craft is a “club” or a “franchise.” To her, a happened and the majority of people in their 20s club implies membership requirements and a fran- were suddenly out of work. Lots of time and no chise is a commercial venture. In true ministerial money always brings us back to making things.” fashion, she assures us that each church operates Amen to that, sister. in the way that the spirit moves it and they are open to all. “No one is ever turned away.”

Gareth Branwyn is a regular contributor to CRAF T and MAKE

^{In this Web 2.0 world, where social networking} and writes widely about do-it-yourself technologies. He also and online collaboration are all the rage, it’s not runs the personal tech website Street Tech ( streettech.com).

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THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CRAFT

The following is an excerpt from a sermon given by Church of Craft cofounder Callie Janoff. Read the rest at churchofcraft.org.

Making things isn’t easy. Our lives conspire to keep us from acts of creation. We are very well-bred consumers; that is to say we have learned well how to consume our food, culture, knowledge, power.… We eat our lives and that makes us who we are. Consumption is passive, and we seek the path of least resistance. When we consume our identity, we are filled with self-doubt: what if someone finds out that we are not as cool as our shoes might lead one to believe? Our consumption plagues our quiet lives, filling it with broadcast noise and boxes of macaroni and cheese. But when we make something, we are filled with satisfaction — the kind you feel to your core. Consider the presents you give: the one you bought (I hope this will match her living room furniture) vs. the one you made (I hope she can tell by the way that I have made this how I feel about her). Which kind of gift would you rather give? We are not suggesting we should all move to Vermont and subsistence farm. Rather, we can all find moments of creation in our lives, and fill our hearts, minds, and bodies with the courage to see love and make love … And that is what the Church of Craft is for, to help us remember how to find moments of creation in our lives. We come together, and we make things, and we affirm the craft we see in each other. Then we go home inspired, confident, peaceful, and we live our lives with all the happiness and love we can.

THE COSA NOSTRA OF CRAFTS ON HOW TO JOIN LA FAMIGLIA

If you’d like to start your own Craft Mafia, you’re encouraged to do so (if one doesn’t already exist in your town). The Craft Mafia has a page of guidelines at craftmafia.com. Here’s their summary. If you’re interested, check out the full “Start Your Own” page:

1. Let us know you’d like to form a Craft Mafia; you have 30 days to get crackin’!

2. Start with a minimum of 3 members representing 3 different businesses.

3. Designate your city or town — not an entire region or state.

4. Create a website with your own logo. Use mytowncraftmafia.com ( or.net or .org) for the url.

5. Link back to both CraftMafia.com and AustinCraftMafia.com and join the Craft Mafia webring.

6. Link to each member’s website on your Craft Mafia website.

7. Tell people where you got the bright idea in any press you do!

8. Consider including “Member craftmafia.com” in any print ads (optional).

9. Once you’re approved as an official Craft Mafia, you are free to use your Craft Mafia name online and in print!