Willow is one of the many high school students we've had the honor of employing over the past decade. Willow attends CRLS and juggles extra curricular activities while also working part-time at gather here. Willow is an avid crocheter who loves to make things for her friends and family.
When did you start making things?
I’ve been making things since I can remember. I’ve always found joy in creating using what I find around me, a love I think may have emerged from my constant watching of home renovation reality tv shows with my mom when I was younger.
What's your favorite thing to make?
I really love to crochet cross body bags. I made my first one around when Covid first hit and I was just beginning to learn how to crochet. I love that they can be so simple but made really exciting and personal through fun little details like beads, buttons, and different textures.
What is the thing you have enjoyed the most about joining the gather here team?
I love hearing about everyone’s different creations and ideas. I think it’s really cool to be able to look at a skein of yarn with an idea for a project, and for another person to look at the exact same material with a whole other vision.
What's your favorite tool?
I don’t think there’s one specific tool I find to be my favorite, but I also think that may be because I have a lot more exploring to do. Until I find that tool I’d say my hands are my favorite.
What do you want to learn to make?
I’m really fascinated by needle felting and would love to make some little sculptures. While I know little about it, I love watching stop motion animations and think it’d be fun to experiment with needle felting to use as little characters in a mini-film.
What do you do when you aren't making things?
When I’m not making things, I love exploring music and playing piano, I’ve been taking lessons for about seven years.
A source of joy for me during the pandemic has been getting to spend more time with my family and exploring new crafts. My sister and I learned to crochet together early on in the pandemic, and getting to spend time together making scarfs and bags and all sorts of things with her has been really special and fun.