Yesterday my husband and I hosted a social for the Northwest Designer Craftsman organization. I’ve been a member for a couple of years but haven’t been able to give much to it. I was happy to contribute my house for the gathering and it gave me a boost to get some long overdue cleaning done, too.

It was a loud, convivial, and crowded event with many of the local luminaries of craft. They are a graying group, but very welcoming to those of us new members whose hair hasn’t completely changed color. It was an honor to host people who I admire for their depth of work in craft.

I would love to see some kind of mentoring program within the organization, or even just an informal way to share information with those who have so much more experience. I had great, but short, conversations with some women whose work I really admire in basketry, Jan Hopkins, Danielle Bodine, and Jill Nordfors-Clark, and Dona Anderson. I still feel a little nervous around people who have shown more and have had more success than I have. And yet, each of them were so friendly and approachable, and many said how much they admired my work. What do you know? Part of the reason I joined NWDC was to get these conversations across media, especially since I’m still trying to figure out where I fit, or even if it really matters.

The organization is coming to a turning point. Many of the members are elders, and there is a need for new energy to reinvigorate it. There are a few people who have taken on leadership roles with the idea of change. After yesterday’s event, I feel there is something there, something worth investing time and energy into to help it survive. I’d like to help, but I have to take baby steps otherwise it’s so easy to over commit. To be continued . . .