Make your holiday table one-of-a-kind with decorations made by your children's loving hands.
On Wednesday, November 21, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.at the Pittsfield Branch we will be making table
decorations of all kinds.
There will be turkey centerpieces, colorful placemats, and napkin rings. Kids will also be
able to make a scarecrow centerpiece.
This is for preschoolers through fifth grade.
All supplies will be provided.

For more decorating ideas, click here.

Tuesday, November 6 | 4 - 5pm | Traverwood | Grades K - 5

Create your very own mini-book(s) and illustrate with markers, stickers, stamps, and more! Learn some helpful tips for writing fiction and non-fiction mini-books and share story ideas with others.

Can't make the event? Want to brush up your writing skills before the event? Check out these books from the AADL with tips for writers!

Saturday November 3, 2012: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

If you have basic crochet skills, then you can learn how to make a unique mobius scarf. The concept is just like the mobius strip: a surface with only one side and only one boundary component. Supplies provided!

What’s all the hoopla about?! Hoopla: The Unexpected Art of Embroidery is a new favorite craft book. Leanne Prain, one of the authors of Yarn Bombing, has a new book filled more with more subversive stitchery to suit your fancy. We’re talking about modern embroidery designs that are quirky and delightfully over the top. The book features wonderful project ideas and illustrations with so much inspiration! It also talks about the evolution of embroidery and interviews some top stitchers. Really interesting crafty reading.

See here for more books on modern embroidery.

Tuesday, October 23 | 6:30-8:30pm | Malletts Creek | Grade 6th-Adult

Come take a stab at hand sewing and jazz up your ipod, MP3 player or phone. Using colorful felt, embellishment items, and embroidery thread, you’ll create a one-of-a-kind cozy to keep your ipod or MP3 player protected with a handmade case for it. All supplies are provided, and we’ll have patterns and samples to get you going. Feel free to bring your device if you want to test out your design and make sure it fits.

To keep the craft going, check out some books on hand sewing or felt fun. See you there!

Sunday October 14, 2012: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Learn the basics of the Japanese art of paper folding and make animals and geometric shapes. Experienced paper folders are encouraged to join us to share your skills, too!

This event is for adults, teens and pre-teens (grade 4 and up).

Saturday October 13, 2012: 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Make your own felt ball using wool, your hands, some soapy water and patience. Your completed project can be a gift, a pet toy or just a fun baby ball!

This event is for grade K to adult.

This Saturday, October 6 is Star Wars Reads Day! It's a national event and AADL is participating. To gear up for it, why not make some Star Wars crafts? If you're ready to rock your empire, The Star Wars Craft Book as you covered.

The book has projects for the home including magnets, a Jabba the Hutt body pillow, and an Ewok flower vase. There are also science and nature crafts, playtime crafts like a Yoda doll and a General Grievous finger puppet, and of course there are holiday crafts like a Hanukkah Droidel and a Star Wars snow globe. With full color illustrations and instructions, it's time to grab the glue gun and get crafting.

Monday, September 24 | 7-8pm | Pittsfield Branch | Grades 6-Adult

During this hands-on workshop you'll get a chance to screen print onto paper or cloth, using ready-made screens and designs. You’ll have a choice between printing an adorable animal design onto a tote or tea towel we supply (or on a cloth item that you bring in), OR you can print an AADL dinosaur design onto cardstock. That’s right, we’ll have two snazzy designs and two screen printing stations set up, ready for you to DIY.

To learn more about screen printing, check out these books as a resource. This DIY event is for Grades 6- Adult, and takes place at Pittsfield on Monday, September 24, from 7-8:00pm. See you there!

With television shows such as American Pickers becoming increasingly popular, people across the country are realizing that the old saying is still true, "one man's junk is another man's treasure!" From flea markets to garage sales, thrifting culture is now more popular than ever, and America is on the hunt!

Once every blue moon, it is known that some folks over in Ann Arbor's neighboring city of Ypsilanti throw together a community event - "The Ypsi Flea" - that combines local vendors featuring everything from used clothing and records to crafty things and live music.

The Ypsi Flea will be happening this Sunday, September 23rd from 12pm-8pm, and will be held at Woodruff's at 36 East Cross Street in Ypsilanti.

Come out and hunt for some treasures of your own, or just to enjoy some live local music; either way, the event is free, all ages and held in the name of fun and community expansion!