Each Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m., the Crafter’s Circle meets in the Winer Family Community Room at the San Carlos Branch Library. Around the long table, crafters of all sorts cheer the soul, a much-needed salve after a long absence perpetrated by fears of COVID-19.

Judi Walden has been designated the current leader for the last couple of years, filling in for the founder and former leader, Ruth George. When she had first retired several years ago, Walden used the time planting, growing and caring for her succulent plants, “until it got to be 100 degrees in the shade,” she said.

Then Walden pulled out all of her old crochet and knitting supplies, making a few things such as baby blankets and scarves for friends and co-workers. In 2017, she read an article about the Crafter’s Circle. So she came in one day and met the crafters.

“Everyone was so nice and welcoming. I have looked forward to it every week since then. I have made such wonderful friends,” said Walden.

Joy Szeuzuk feels the same. “This is the best knitting [and crafting] group I’ve ever been in. Everyone is so kind to each other,” she said, as she worked on a hat of red worsted yarn edged with blue fun fur yarn.

In fact, this making of crafts—and of friends—go hand-in-hand to the group.

After months of having sheltered in place in 2020, Walden explained, a few of the crafters gathered together outside to continue crafting. They met in various places, and when Grossmont Center Mall opened back up, they met outside, socially distanced and wearing masks.

“Aging experts say in order to keep up ‘brain fitness,’ one needs socialization, exercise and trying new things. This group checks off a few of those boxes,” Walden said.

On the long table in the library’s community room, crystals and beads sparkle in front of Keiko Jensen as she puts together earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Each week, Jensen dons a different creation on her own wrist and neck, yet she does not create bangles and baubles just for herself. She welcomes each new visitor to the Crafter’s Circle with one of her pretty pieces of jewelry. She also donates her work to the House of Ukraine and Just in Time for Foster Youth.

“It’s a good feeling that something you created can make other people smile,” said Jensen.

Linda Williams agreed. “It’s a great service to see what joy each of us can bring to others with what we make,” said Williams, who joins in with others to crochet and knit hats and scarves during the holidays for Just in Time.

Another regular at the Crafter’s Circle since she retired, Linda Newton had noticed a flyer at the library announcing the group. “I knew I had to attend. I couldn’t just remain idle. Retirement was a shock to me. I’d been so busy, and then all of a sudden, I had all this free time,” Newton said.

Newton’s most recently completed her project of a 67” x 85” afghan (pictured), a wedding gift for her son and his fiancée.

“They could hardly believe it. I think they were overwhelmed,” said Newton, grinning big.

David Ege, the current San Carlos Library branch manager, has sat in on the group himself, especially in its early years. “When I was doing my own art, I’d sit down and draw while listening to others talk about their interests. I learned a lot about the people in the community while doing so. The great aspect of this group is that people are practicing and passing on a lot of skills. It reminds me of a quote from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451:

“It doesn’t matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that’s like you after you take your hands away.”

New members to Crafter’s Circle are always welcome.

Just show up at 2 o’clock on Thursday afternoons in the Winer Family Community Room at the San Carlos Library. It could change your life.

— Cynthia G. Robertson has been an award-winning local freelance writer and photographer for more than 30 years. She is also the author of a novel, ‘Where You See Forever.’ Her website is cynthiarobertson.com.