Happy Sunday!

Did y'all make anything this weekend? I've been working on my Let the Light In quilt as well as a sweet baby clothes quilt for a customer. It's been slower going on both than I had hoped for a variety of reasons, but it's almost a new week, and I'm ready to bring my hustle!

Today, I wanted to talk about my hometown. More specifically, I want to talk TO my hometown-- it's government and its residents-- of Duluth, Georgia, USA. I love Duluth. I grew up here, and Hubster and I moved back the moment we had half a chance. I love Food Truck Friday and taking the boys to the Fountain and Duluth Celebrates America and the Fall Festival. I am passionate about Duluth's love of its citizens, its families, and its artists (If you're in the area, 2 Smith Art Gallery is the place for oil painting lessons, gorgeous art, and I hope someday, String and Story Quilts!). So when I heard about The Maker Spot in Texas, I thought to myself, "Duluth is planning a new library, and Duluth loves artists-- WE NEED A MAKER SPOT!"

Duluth, GA City Hall

The Maker Spot in Texas is part of the local library. It's funded by the city and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. It has an open work area for Sewing, Longarm Quilting, A/V Production, Electronics, Robotics, and Woodworking, as well as a classroom for teaching. For library card holders, use of the equipment is free, and only small fees are applied for consumable materials. The Maker Spot allows individuals to learn new skills on equipment that may be cost prohibitive or hard to access otherwise and also creates a place for artistic collaboration.

Did I mention that DULUTH NEEDS A MAKER SPOT?! I would love to be a key player in making this happen, in executing the idea and opening the doors, but I don't have the right connections and influence. So if you live in Duluth, if you're an artist, if you know artists, if you think this a cool idea, if you know people (any or all of the above)-- please, please, please read my vision below and share this blog across social media (be sure to tag @cityofduluthga on Twitter, @city_of_duluth on Instagram, @cityofduluth on Facebook, and #duluthmakerspot everywhere!). Let's create a buzz and get the ball rolling!

The Chocolaterie Mural on W. Lawrenceville Street

DULUTH MAKER SPOT :: Bringing creatives together for collaboration, growth, and encouragement.

Membership is free for Duluth Library Cardholders, registration and an introductory tour allows access. Some equipment may require an introductory class or a demonstration of skills prior to independent use. Each member will be required to volunteer 24 hours/year in minding the space, cleaning up, teaching, helping with events and fundraisers, etc. A limited selection of supplies will be available for purchase within the space.

Features:

SEWING: 2 sewing machines, embroidery machine, long arm quilting machine, cutting table, design wall, sharing scraps bin (think "give a penny, take a penny)
FIBER: 4 table top looms, 2 spinning wheels, 12 hand spindles, sitting area for knitting, crochet, and needle work
CLAY: preparation space, two wheels, kiln, glazing area, cooling rack, sinks for cleaning up
PAINTING/DRAWING: drawing table, painting table (watercolors), 3 easels, shared sinks with the clay area
LIBRARY: Easy access to the arts section of the new Duluth Library, home of the arts section for the Duluth Library, or its own library
CLASSROOMS: 2 classrooms where classes in each of the supported arts can offer
GALLERY: An open gallery space where member work can be displayed and sold and where fundraising auctions can be held.
PLAYSPACE: Small, contained playspace for children of makers. Local Red Cross Certified teens hired as sitters. Additional childcare fee and weekly hourly limit apply.

So, please, please, PLEASE help me spread this idea around and help it gain momentum. I can and will show up. I can teach. I want to work with other local artists. But a project of this magnitude and awesomeness is going to need a whole team supporting it-- will you join?

Stay up to date on my work and hopefully on this #duluthmakerspot project, too, on Instagram @stringandstory.

XO,

HollyAnne