Life is hard. Crafting helps. And doing it in an inclusive, safe space, with nice people? Even better. That's the heartbeat of CraftNation, and to really get it, you have to go back to San Francisco in the early aughts, where Gabrielle and her closest friends were crowding into garages every week to craft, smoke cigarettes, and drink way too much wine.  There was also often spray cheese. 

Out of those gloriously chaotic nights grew a collective, called CraftNation. And out of that collective came Rock N Shops, a series of events around SF where live bands played and makers sold their handmade goods.

In 2008, Gabrielle said good-bye to CraftNation and Rock N Shop, and packed up and headed to Brooklyn. While there, she worked in fashion for several years, and earned her graduate degree in Public Policy. Then the pandemic happened, and as was the case for most of us, her life was abruptly turned upside down. Looking for something new, she landed in Philadelphia.

That something turned out to be "Crafternoons," her monthly gatherings where friends, spanning generations and walks of life, showed up for one reason: to make stuff together. If she met you, and you had even a mild interest in crafting, you were immediately invited. Friendships developed and a sense of community was formed. The vibe was infectious. The idea started to take shape in her head. What if this had a real home?

And now it does. In the heart of Port Richmond, Philadelphia, CraftNation was reborn. Gabrielle is a stained glass enthusiast with over 30 years of crafting under her belt, and she built CraftNation to be exactly the kind of place she always wished existed. Walk in, grab some supplies, and create. No class required, no experience needed, no pressure whatsoever. Or sign up for a class and learn something completely new. However you show up, the point is the same: make something with your hands and find your people while you're at it.

P.S. The other folks in the original CraftNation? They’re up to some pretty awe inspiring stuff! Leslie founded Wolf Craft School And Collective in Nevada City, CA. Maegan is a textile artist in the mountains of Upstate New York. And Tracey is an artist, maker, and ceramicist right here in Philly, who teaches the occasional class at CraftNation. And don’t worry. We no longer smoke cigarettes.