Local makerspace partners with the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

LAS CRUCES, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018-- The Cruces Creatives makerspace is proud to announce that it has formally become listed as a vendor with the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (NMDVR). With this listing, people receiving services from NMDVR can have an annual membership to the makerspace included as part of their work plan.

Micah Pearson, Cruces Creatives volunteer team member and community mental health advocate spoke about the partnership. “From the outset our mission has been to connect our members with the necessary tools, skills, training, and community to turn their ideas into reality. Realizing this synergized with the goals of [NMDVR], we reached out and quickly found that both of our organizations, and more importantly the community at-large, would benefit from our collaboration.”

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a State and Federally funded program designed to help eligible individuals with documented disabilities find suitable employment. VR is a voluntary program, and services persons who want to work. With a long history of success and proven methodology for making the best fits, time and again, NMDVR is committed to helping their clients succeed. As of 2017 8,821 New Mexicans received vocational rehabilitation services including: medical treatment, guidance and counseling, training and job seeking skills and received an average 210% wage increase after successful rehabilitation. (Source: 2017 NMDVR annual report http://www.dvr.state.nm.us/uploads/FileLinks/48fe3884b4b04d5c9942fc99ddaf9bd1/2017AnnualReport.pdf)

If you or someone you know are already receiving or could benefit from the services of NMDVR and feel that they could also benefit from the wide variety of skills training and tools available at the makerspace, call the Las Cruces DVR office at (575) 437-6550 ask about adding a Cruces Creatives Membership to your work plan today.

News 

Partnership with Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Cruces Creatives is now listed as a vendor with the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (NMDVR), a State and Federally funded program designed to help eligible individuals with documented disabilities find suitable employment. With Cruces Creatives now registered as a vendor, people receiving services from NMDVR can have an annual membership to the makerspace included as part of their work plan. Click here for more info.

Cruces Creatives T-Shirts for Fundraising

If you’d like a Cruces Creatives t-shirt, you can place an order until October 15 at https://crucescreatives.org/event-3078934. The t-shirts were designed by local artists at NMCO Media and will be screenprinted in Las Cruces by Chris Shelton of Reviver Printing. The shirts will shipped or available for pickup at Cruces Creatives starting on November 16.

Recently the Velo Bicycle Hub, located in Cruces Creatives, was featured on News 22. 

Check out the video. 

The Hub is featured between 6:00 - 8:15. 

Congrats Velo!

From member: Dina Honeycutt

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2018

Fall is officially in the air, with the Autumnal Equinox. Time to get crafting for Christmas!

not the last things in the cut-out pile, but definitely falling out of season...

The first crafting project of making kids clothes for school is winding down. Yes I finished a couple more pairs of shorts, and there are a few other garments to collect, and donate, but it is time to look forward to the next project.

So, let me tell you about our next project! We are making tote bags, and then filling them for Jardin de los Ninos to give away to the families they serve. Jardin de los Ninos is an early childhood education center that serves homeless, and nearly homeless children and their families, here in Las Cruces. Every year they give some gifts to the children in their programs, and their siblings. This year they predict they will need gifts for about 50 children. Charitable Crafting is teaming up with Cruces Creatives Makerspace to provide those 50 children with gifts.

First step, tote bags. A cloth tote bag is a useful item for nearly anyone, and easy and fun to make.

pretty tote bags, already in progress

Like last time, the project has inspired someone to take flight. Sarah Jones has been working on a pattern, that she will post on the Cruces Creatives web site, for anyone interested in making (and hopefully donating) a tote bag to our efforts. Of course we won't require all totes to be the same size, but we are looking at 13" wide x 15" tall x 4" deep, or there about. We are also - if you can tell - not concentrating on Christmas-y totes, as we want our recipients to be able to use them year round. If you aren't sure how to make a tote, Sarah is also working on a beginner sewing class and the project will be, you guessed it, a tote bag. It's a great beginner project, really!

Sarah's latest tote, Love the floral!

Once the bags are made, we hope to fill them with a toy (preferably made by someone at Cruces Creatives, or the Charitable Crafting group), a book, and some socks, underwear and pajamas. For that Christmas touch, a Christmas Ornament will also be included. The bike shop got busy on ornaments for us, and on October 10th, this is happening...

Bike Chain Holiday Ornaments with VeloCruces

October 10th is also our next meeting. So I hope you can join us cutting out tote bags, or sewing one up! Did I say our goal was 50? It is! Do you need more inspiration? How about this bag made of linen and cute Winnie the Pooh fabric!

The cuteness!

From the blog Createlivity, written by Dina Honeycutt

CRUCES CREATIVES·FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

Local makerspace spotlights community artists and creatives.

LAS CRUCES, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 --The Cruces Creatives makerspace is proud to announce that it has begun production on a new documentary web series, “Maker Docs,” which highlights local artisans and creators. The episodes will be released over the course of the next year.

While the series will feature members of the makerspace, it will not be limited to them. Lea Wise-Surguy, Executive Director of Cruces Creatives and a Producer on the project spoke about the series. “Making things is a fascinating and intrinsic part of the human condition and we’re excited to share the stories of the talented and skilled creators in our community.”

The team at the Makerspace has tapped Micah Pearson, a local author, artist, and community advocate to write and direct the series in his directorial debut. The pilot has completed principal photography and is currently in post production with additional episodes to be filmed in the coming weeks. The first four episodes will be released online on a regular schedule to be announced at a later date, with the following episodes to be released as they are completed.

The film series is a part of a larger initiative by the makerspace called “Meet the Makers.” The goal of the program is to raise awareness around the skilled and creative talents living within Las Cruces and its surrounding territories through promotional materials and events such as their inaugural Heritage Festival held earlier in the year.

More information regarding the makerspace, their “Meet the Makers” initiative, and their numerous educational programs can be found on their website (https://crucescreatives.org) or their social media pages (https://facebook.com/crucescreatives, https://instagram.com/crucescreatives).

From member: Dina Honeycutt

August, 25th, 2018

The first part of July saw a new makerspace in Las Cruces, called Cruces Creatives. Of course I was intrigued and excited to check it out. The space is large and full of possibilities, with areas for computer creation and 3D printing, audio and video production, a woodworking space, and a bicycle shop space. Most important - at least for me - is that there is also a textile space. If you've read my blog at all (and I won't feel bad if you haven't...) you know that I enjoy social crafting. You know, getting together with friends, or people who are becoming friends, to craft. What's not to like about a makerspace?!?! I joined up, of course.

Well, part of the thing about a makerspace is that they are looking for projects to occur in the space. So, when I passed the Gospel Rescue Mission Thrift Store, blackened and closed with boards over the windows, and read about the fire in the newspaper, and how the fire had damaged the clothing and school supplies that they had been collecting to distribute for the upcoming school year, I found inspiration. I went and pitched my project to the makerspace and they got excited. I wrote up a proposal for Charitable Crafting and set some dates in July for sewing kid's clothes, and asked for donations. Cruces Creatives put it on their calendar, and on Facebook. We even got a mention in the newspaper. Donations of fabrics and supplies started coming in. I was and continue to be pleasantly surprised (floored) by the generous response.

There were two crafting days in July, a Saturday morning, and a Wednesday evening, and we had 6 people at the first one, and about that many (although not all the same people) at the second meeting. We got busy sewing up what I had cut out in preparation, and then cutting out some other items as fabric inspired. I was able to donate at least 10 outfits before Gospel Rescue Mission had their before school starts distribution day.

Cutting and sewing at Cruces Creatives

  

Ironing as well (I think that may be my good side...)

 
It was a small start, but it was definitely a start. Cruces Creatives were excited. Did I want to make the project a continuing event? Well, I could tell, that although the sewing turn-out was light, that people were interested. And we had successfully donated some kid's clothes to a good cause. If we had regular times and dates, who knows how our efforts could grow? So, we set some regular times. 2nd Wednesday, from 5-9 PM and 4th Saturday, from 9AM-1PM, in case you are interested, and want to come help out.

Some of our first group of finished garments donated. Cat not included...

My friend, Cynthia Smith got inspired to create several outfits that made the first donation, and then she REALLY got busy, putting together kits of a t-shirt with some embellishment, and either shorts, capris, or a skirt. She approached the Las Colcheras Quilt Guild to see if they were interested in helping put together the kits. She handed out 30 kits! Some of the Las Colcheras Quilt Guild members stopped by on our most recent (today's) crafting day, and dropped of finished outfits and/or stayed to help sew!

That's a super cute jumper!

At this point we have 28 more outfits ready to donate, and even more that are in the works, still. I've had the pleasure and privilege to work with fine crafters, new and experienced. I've helped inspire, and in turn, I've been inspired. The community has given so that we could give to the community. Do I call this a win? YOU BET I DO!!

Ready for donation!

From the blog Createlivity, written by Dina Honeycutt

Cruces Creatives is open!

The final inspections and permits for the makerspace are completed, and Cruces Creatives officially opened on Tuesday, 6/26!

Hours are:

Tuesdays-Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Let’s start learning, making, and connecting together! Over the next few weeks, look for a blossoming of events and workshops, and, come on by the makerspace—it’ll be open to all members and for tours!

Founding memberships—which offer a permanent discount to thank you for being with us from the very beginning—are still available for the first 100 members. You can get your founding membership for access to the space and tools during all open hours, free introductory safety and skills classes, and 10% off all additional classes and workshops.

We look forward to seeing you in classes, workshops, or around the makerspace as a member!

Cheers,

The Cruces Creatives Team

Cruces Creatives will be opening soon in Las Cruces. Subscribe to this site to be notified when this occurs.

In preparation for opening, we are holding a volunteer event as a first get together. You can see details here.

Check back for updates.