Category Archives: Crafts

Updates on any arts and crafts activities or programs.

Comic Book Club

After the success of our Comic Book Workshop in January, we’re happy to be able to offer more comic-creation programming this summer! Join local artist James Vanderberg at the Library on Tuesdays, July 14, 21, & 28 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM for Comic Book Club!

During Comic Book Club sessions you’ll explore cartoon drawing, narrative storytelling, and autobiographical comic making, and work with simple tools and no-fail prompts to ignite your creativity, create your own characters, and tell your own stories. Whether you love reading graphic novels, making comics, or simply reading the Sunday funnies, you’re sure to find this program fun and engaging!

Comic Book Club is intended for ages 10 and up, but no previous artistic experience is needed. All supplies are provided. This is a drop in program – feel free to attend as many or as few sessions as you’d like! – but space is limited, so try to arrive as close to the starting time as possible.

Summer Open Sew

Saturdays | July 11, 18, & 25 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Join us on Saturday afternoons in July for our Summer Open Sew sessions, a chance to work on your latest needlework project – quilting, sewing, or mending! These drop-in “open studio” sessions are a chance to ask for pointers, show off your expertise, and enjoy shared interests and camaraderie. Sessions will be in the Community Room. The Library has invested in some beautiful sewing tools for everyone to use (special thanks to the Friends of the Library!), and this is a great option for anyone who works full-time. We hope to see you there!

Duct Tape Crafts!

We will be making duct tape crafts on Wednesdays in July, from 4:30 – 5:30 PM in the Teens & Tweens Maker Studio. We have the supplies to make wallets, clutches, and earrings – come join us and get creative! This is a drop-in activity for ages 12 and up.

Planting Seeds to Read!

6 Week Summer Reading Program – Thursdays, July 9 – August 13
Drop In 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Come join us as we dig into plant-themed books and crafts this summer!
Planting Seeds to Read is a follow-up to last summer’s wildly successful Fractured Fairy Tales program – this time matching the “Plant a Seed, Read” theme of the Summer Reading Program. Each session will include the reading of a book, and then an associated craft. This is a drop-in program for ages 12 and under, and will take place in the Children’s Room. Caregivers must remain in the Library for the duration of the program.

Summer Reading isn’t all the Library has going on this summer – after the Kickoff this Saturday, join us Thursday of next week for the return of LEGO Club!

The club will meet in the Children’s Room on Thursdays from 2:00 – 4:00 PM, June 18 to August 13. This is a drop in program open to all ages, but a caretaker must be present for participants ages 12 and under. Both LEGO and DUPLO blocks are available for free-building.

Rock Painting

As part of our Summer Reading Kickoff on Saturday, June 13, the Library will be hosting a Rock Painting activity starting at 2:00 PM where visitors will be able to paint custom rocks to add to Rocky the Rock Snake. There will be a table set up outside, to the right of the Library’s main entrance; Rocky is back on display in the garden to the left of the entrance, and after the Kickoff he’ll be bigger and better than ever!

While you’re outside, be sure to check out the Children’s Guide to the Founding Fathers Storywalk on the Library’s front lawn – then head inside to see the rest of our America 250 Celebration displays and sign up for one of the Summer Reading Programs!

The Library’s 2026 Summer Reading Program Kickoff is Saturday, June 13! Early sign-ups for our Summer Reading Programs start Tuesday, June 9, but we encourage you to stop by during the Kickoff even if you’ve signed up already, to take part in fun crafts and activities – and while you’re here, check out the displays we’re setting up as part of the state-wide America 250 Celebration as well!

There will be a special Rock Painting activity starting at 2:00 PM; visitors will be able to paint a custom rock to add to Rocky the Rock Snake, who is returning for the summer!

Summer Reading Programs:

  • Read & Bead: For children under 10. Create a custom necklace – earn a bead for every 20 minutes you read, and a charm for every 100 minutes. All participants will receive a necklace chain when they sign up, as well as a red, white, or blue starter bead.
  • Summer Reading Flowers: For children under 10. Help us grow our reading vine! Add a petal to your flower for every 20 min. you read, a ladybug or bee for every 200 min, and a butterfly for every 500 min!
  • Summer Reading Challenge: For children 10 and up. Start off with a Positive Pickle for inspiration – then hang a flower on our branch bouquet for every 30 min. you read, and pick another Pickle for every 90 min!Participants are automatically entered into a raffle – and everyone who completes the special Reading Challenge will be entered into an additional raffle sponsored by the Friends of the Library!
  • Summer Reading Raffle: For adults. We are once again encouraging adults to take part in Summer Reading by offering a raffle entry (online or in person at the Library) for every book read over the summer. One winner will be selected at the end of the summer to receive a special prize from the Friends of the Library!

America 250 Celebration Displays:

  • Revolutionary Reading book display (upstairs) and Celebrating 250 Years of American History book displays (upstairs and downstairs)
  • The Three Sisters Boundary Stone (upstairs)
  • Bethany 250th Quilt & Bethany Bicentennial Quilt (in the stairwell)
  • Arts@Clark!: Quilting with Friends exhibit (in the Community Room)
  • Children’s Guide to the Founding Fathers Storywalk (on the front lawn)

Spring has officially sprung! Stop by the Children’s Room for “April Showers” umbrellas and raincloud crafts; a “Let’s Fly A Kite” display with colorful ribbons made by patrons; and a brand new “Spring Into A New Book” display. Write the title of your favorite book on a colorful paper book spine and add it to the “shelves” – then check out what other patrons have added. You may discover a new favorite! Outside, our Frog and Toad Storywalk is back, featuring the short story “The Kite”. And finally, we have a Self-Serve Seed Station at the bottom of the main staircase – if you’re planning to plant a garden this year, grab some seeds to get started!

Mark your calendars for another Paint and Sip event organized by the Friends of the Library! Join local artist Zach Chernak on Saturday, April 11, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM; he will guide participants through the creation of a special spring painting, accompanied by wine and light refreshments. All materials will be provided, and no prior experience is necessary!

Space is limited and participants must sign up in advance; cost is $20.00 per person paid in advance. Call the Library at (203) 393-2103 to register, or for more information.

Sew It All on Creativebug

Watch ‘Sew It All’ on Creativebug!

The Library’s craft video-learning site Creativebug is collaborating with fellow craft service Sew Daily to make beloved PBS sewing series ‘Sew It All’ with Ellen March available to our patrons! Use your library card number to make an account or sign in at creativebug.com/lib/clarkmemorial to access this and thousands of other sewing, art, craft, and needle art classes.

Season 1 of ‘Sew It All’, which is all about creative reuse, playful experimentation, and clever sewing solutions, is available now; additional seasons will be launching throughout 2026. You’ll learn how to sew garments and home projects from start to finish, repurpose old clothes into something entirely new, apply elements of design to create one-of-a-kind pieces, and master beginner techniques and useful sewing tips.