FORT LARAMIE – Women from the far-reaching corners of western Goshen County, including rural Lingle and Pine Ridge, step out of their oft-isolated lifestyles twice a month to gather, socialize and create at the Fort Laramie Community Center.
The Crafty Crew, as they call themselves, began meeting in October 2018. On the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., about 10 to 12 local crafters, quilters, beaders, knitters, crocheters, and more, participate in an assigned potluck nestled in the library at the refurbished Fort Laramie-Lingle Middle School.
“We just needed a place to meet and do whatever crafts we wanted to work on and socialize,” Linda Gosselin, who helped establish the group, explained. “It just gives us a chance to sit and visit and do some things we enjoy doing. We always do show-and-tell – if you get something done – it’s just like kindergarten. We like to see everybody else’s work.
“And it helps us know what’s going on in the community,” Gosselin continued. “With some of us living way out – it’s a good way to touch base and know what’s going on.”
Beaders Catherine Taylor and Brenda VanBuskirk, both of Pine Ridge Ranch (outside of Fort Laramie), agreed.
“Normally when I’m doing my beadwork, I’m alone,” Taylor, who has won awards for her bead embroidery, said. “This gives me an avenue to see and meet other people that are also creatives. It’s group bonding.”
“It’s a social thing,” 30-year beading veteran VanBuskirk added. “Especially when you live out in the middle of nowhere where there’s nobody.”
Each member of the group pays $1 at every meeting, which goes toward supplies, including tea, coffee, and utensils.
“There’s good lighting, enough plug-ins,” Gosselin said of the library. “The town has been very, very gracious to us – they come in and turn on the heat, fix light fixtures for us.”
This summer, Gosselin said she plans to work on a project for the town in return – one in which she’ll document information about a quilt identifying different landmarks in Fort Laramie dating back to the 1950’s or 60’s.
“We hope to put it on display here, so we’re trying to do something for the community, as well.”
