Are you sitting comfortably? Because this week, we’re taking a closer look at how the Hominy Creek Comfort Makers and their Enka-Candler Library partners are combining craft and community service. Host Elise Wilson cozies up with founder Pat White, along with local library legends Kate Spratt (branch manager) and Theresa Wallace (librarian and program master), for a conversation about how a group of crafters is comforting their community, one stitch at a time.

Why the Enka-Candler Library? The Comfort Makers needed a home base, a place to gather, create, and store their ever-growing stash of materials and handmade goods. Like most regional libraries, the Enka-Candler branch has become much more than a place to pick up books. Under the guidance of Kate and Theresa, the library now serves as a monthly meeting ground for this unstoppable volunteer group. It’s a creative hub where anyone can drop in, find connection, and take part, no sewing skills required.

Episode Credits

Host: Elise Wilson

Guests: Pat White, Kate Spratt, Theresa Wallace

Produced by: ArtsvilleUSA

Special Thanks: The Friends of the Enka-Candler Library, Buncombe County Public Libraries, and everyone who’s stuffed, stitched, or crocheted alongside this crew.

Subscribe to the ArtsvilleUSA Newsletter for more stories and updates on the arts and crafts scene in Western North Carolina.

Divisiveness, instability, violence, unrest.

We are daily inundated with negativity, fear, and a feeling of powerlessness.

It's natural to feel overwhelmed and uncertain in response.

But some have found an antidote in connection and the creative community.

Today we're talking to a group of organizers about the way they're using their art to make a difference across western North Carolina and how you can get involved too.

Carolina.

That's where you'll find us amazing artists and designers.

Artsville From Asheville.

This episode is called Cozy the Art of Making a Difference.

I'm your host, Elyse Wilson, executive director of Artsville usa, whose mission is to promote the art and artists of western North Carolina.

Joining us today are the Hominy Creek Comfort Makers, who are working as an arm of the nonprofit Friends of Ingka Candler Library.

This library is a branch of the Buncombe County Library system that also serves Asheville, just beyond the old bank vault, which reveals the library's past life.

We meet in the community room.

Let's begin with some introductions.

Pat White, founder of Homdy Creek Comfort Makers.

Teresa Wallace, librarian at the Anka Candler Library and originally liaison to the group.

Kate Sprott, branch manager at Ingka Candler Library.

Thank you.

All right, so we're talking today about cozy craftivism or how to make a difference in your community with crafts.

Pat is the founder of Hominy Creek Comfort Makers.

Pat, will you tell us what your background is in creating?

Well, I've, I've always liked to sew.

I like hand work, and I worked on a public job until retirement age, but I still found time to feed my creativity, I guess you could say.

And.

But after I retired, you know, I really cranked up.

That's what I wanted to do.

I just sew and quilt and do lots of things.

Do you feel like this is a social outlet, or do you get more of the enjoyment from having a finished object?

What does it mean to you both?

I like the social aspect.

We've got such a great group, such a great group of ladies, but seeing all the completed items and then whenever we deliver them and the response, and then whenever we occasionally get a thank you, it's just so heartwarming.

And Teresa, can you give us the list of the items that Hominy Creek Comfort Makers makes?

So we make neck support pillows.

We make seat belt or port pillows, butterfly pillows.

Those are the three pillows that we make.

Some of our members knit or crochet, beanies, shawls, afghans, and then we have a group of Ladies that like to quilt.

So they make quilts.

And we have made pillowcases on occasion, baby items.

And did I miss any?

Just some miscellaneous things thrown in occasion.

Oh, the miscellaneous, right.

Like socks, gloves, fingerless gloves.

People have made scarves.

So a whole variety of things.

And they all do get delivered to various cancer centers.

Not only just cancer centers, but sometimes they go to the sheriff's department.

The Daystay Hominy Baptist Church has a program there that some things have gotten delivered to the bear closet.

We've donated a lot of children's quilts to some of the social services.

Haywood County Social Services has been a recipient of quite a few of our children's quilts.

And you used to work in social services?

I did.

I worked for Buckham County.

How do you feel like that informs the work that you're doing now?

Did you see a need?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, definitely.

I worked with foster children and adopted children, and so I was sort of.

I didn't work directly with them.

I handled their Medicaid and some other benefits.

But I worked closely with the social workers, so.

So I knew a lot of the background and I knew what was going on.

It sounds like you found a way to continue your work in a way that is really fulfilling.

Yeah, that's true.

So who would be the right person to come and join the Hominy Creek Comfort Makers?

Someone who has.

Who likes to sew or crochet and knit or maybe just needs companionship.

Maybe just needs a.

An outlet.

Someone who sewed for years and.

And got all the stuff they need and they.

They still want to pursue their hobby, but they could give it to someone else.

Now, do you have to have a specific skill set?

No.

So we have people that just come and stuff our pillows.

Like our pillow forms are sewn.

Somebody says that, and then they just come and stuff them.

And then we hand sew them or machine sew them.

So you really don't have to have any experience, a willing heart to come and serve.

And if somebody just wants to come and hang out.

And hang out, we're up with it, too.

So this is how to give back.

If you're interested in being creative and getting together with community, you can also give those items back.

Pat, can you tell us how you got involved with the library to start with?

And then we'll get into where it's gone from there?

Well, I've had a library card for years and years and would just periodically come and get a book and get it at.

But then I wouldn't wouldn't come back for a while.

But again, whenever we were looking for a location to host the Comfort Makers, I was just racking my brain and library popped into my brain.

I didn't even know this room was here, didn't even know what was available.

So it just something guided me here and it was the right thing to do.

And you meet monthly now?

We do.

When is the meeting?

The third Thursday of each month.

Unless the library has a conflict.

It's very casual.

Drop in, leave your stuff.

If you don't have time to stay, drop in.

So say hello, drop in, pick up some yarn, just come and stay the whole time.

And so how did the library then take it and run with it from being two women who wanted to make comfort objects to becoming a real library program?

Oh, good question.

So.

So that coincided with the four year anniversary of the Comfort Makers and Teresa and I in my new role and working with Teresa, we were working on adult programs together.

So we decided that, you know, this is such an important group and a great group, and I was lucky to be able to come and hang out and meet everybody.

And so we decided that we wanted to make it a official library sponsored program.

And that also gives us a little bit more freedom for what kind of resources we can provide for the group.

So whether that is stuffing or yarn or, you know, miscellaneous supplies.

And we just wanted to make sure that the group keeps going because I think that, you know, being volunteer led sometimes can be really taxing on the people who run the group.

So Teresa and I wrote a proposal to our Friends of the Inka Candler Library Group, which is a nonprofit that supports the library who they are Excellent.

And they do so much for us and they approved it and we've been able to move forward in this new capacity.

So I think that's really exciting because, you know, I feel like it just gives us more of a future to look forward to.

So let's say there's someone who's super excited about getting involved, loves the work that you're doing, but can't make it to the meetings.

What are other ways that they can donate or make a difference to the cause?

Well, we always accept any donations.

Fabric, yarn, thread, fiber, fill, which is the polyfill, the stuffing, quilt, batting, anything sort of crafty.

And if it's something that we can't Use I always try to find a worthy source.

And that's one thing about this group.

We have a couple of ladies in here besides myself, and we can always figure out somewhere that it can go.

So there's a lot of swapping around and moving from one car to the next at the meetings.

And it works.

It works.

And then where should those items be brought?

If they can be brought into the library, they can be given to me or anybody really at the desk because they'll know who to give them to.

And that's what I was going to say.

You know, if you can't make the meetings, you can pick things up.

You can pick kits up at the library.

You can get yarn.

We have the usually have a container of yarn for somebody if they need some yarn.

So you can come into the library.

Now that the library, now that's a sponsored library program.

The donations go through the Friends of the Inka Candler Library.

So we also have that information if anyone would like to reach out directly to them too.

And you're referring to monetary donations also.

Also monetary donations, if anyone wants to give monetarily, which we have.

That question has been asked many times that can go directly to Friends of the Inka Candler Library.

And we have a treasurer who maintains that.

So.

And that email is incalibrary f o l like friendsoflibrarymail.com Now, Pat, you said.

That you've been a crafter most of your life.

Yes.

And specifically with fiber and hand work.

Yeah.

Yes.

I imagine that keeps you going, having that creative outlet.

But can you describe the feeling of getting to drop these items off?

I imagine that's also very motivating.

Oh, it is, it is.

The last time we dropped something off at Massino, the lady was just.

It was just the lady at the desk.

That's usually who we see.

And she was just overjoyed.

And she said, she opened up a little door in her desk thing and she said, I've got some right here.

She said, we just keep them.

She said, people just love these.

So it's just.

It makes you feel good.

Teresa, you've been going on these drop offs now too.

Do you have any stories that come to mind or specific moments that stand out to you?

I think the one thing that was surprising to me was to find out that we were the only group that supported them with items.

And that just honed into me how important the group is when you know that to be able to provide the ne, you know, these comfort items for people who are either going through chemo or just going through a hard time.

And it's a, you know, it's a quilt that they need or, you know, are given or whatever the item is.

It's just my heart's desire to just do as much as I can for the group.

One other thing I'd like to add, we do have one group now that calls and says, we're out or we're nearly out, and we really.

We really need some.

Do you think you could get us some?

And at first, I didn't hardly know how to think about that, but now, you know, I'm just thinking, well, I guess it's great.

It's great that they.

I guess they're depending on it.

And it's.

It's the group that they do a lot of mastectomies, and so it's.

They give the ladies the pillows as they're leaving their surgery, and it's mostly.

They want the butterfly pillows.

Yes.

I'd like to add that we don't just give items to these groups.

So we have given out numerous items to just acquaintance my family, my sister, my daughter, just acquaintance.

If anybody knows, and I've tried to remember and tell the group, I don't think I remind them often enough.

But if, you know, if you have a family member or a friend or know of someone that's going through this and they need a port pillow or you think it would help them to have a quilt, please, please let us know.

Please let us know.

And because that's.

And we want to serve.

We want to serve our community.

I have to say, the butterfly pillows, I mean, that's meaningful to me.

I know I've told you all this, but my mom had breast cancer a few years ago and had a mastectomy and was.

And she received as a gift a butterfly pillow that was handmade by a group like this.

And it just meant so much to her to have that for the ride home from the hospital with the seatbelt, you know, like to use when she was sitting.

I mean, it's such a change in life to have to go through something like that.

And she's doing great, thankfully.

But, you know, having an object like that that just was given as a gift and she was able to use it just to literally bring comfort, you know, to her, everyday movements and motions and just sitting and, you know, like, having to go through life and recovery and.

And then, you know, when I learned the stats that you've done over 6,000 of these items and just how much comfort and meaning that has Brought to people, not just in our community, but my mom lives in East Tennessee, so, I mean, you've spread out until, like, all over the place.

So I.

It's really.

It's a little emotional, but it's just really amazing.

Very emotional.

And it.

It.

I just feel a lot of gratitude toward you.

Well, so the best way to find you is on Facebook.

Yeah.

The best way to find out about how many Crete Comfort Makers would be to contact Inka Candler Library direct.

Yeah.

And our.

We have our own email address, which is inca.libraryluncomenc.gov or you can see the Facebook page and the Instagram page.

Both post about the meetings and upcoming programs that we have going on with Hominy Creek Comfort Makers.

And we'll put all of the emails and how to contact in the description of the podcast.

Okay.

We'll be able to reach out to you if they want.

Pat, I think I have one last question for you, which is, do you feel like an activist?

I really don't know how to answer that, because I think of an activist as being like, the Vietnam War, and I feel like I'm just helping my community.

So, no, I don't.

I love that question.

Do you see yourself as an activist?

And I loved your answer because I. I realized in that moment that, like, I guess it's implicit bias, but I had the same image of activist as, like, someone else yelling with signage.

And, like, I, like, this is.

I have a negative.

A negative.

It's a negative.

That word makes me think of neg, you know, being negative.

And I'm thinking, well, I don't think I am.

So I don't know.

But, like, look how much, you know, activism you do as through this group.

Quietly.

I feel like we're, like, we're not in people's faces all the time.

We're just kind of behind the scenes, just kind of doing a. Yeah.

So it was, like, good.

It's interesting to see activists framed in different ways.

I mean, you know, it's just a nice group of people coming together to do.

Yeah, it's kind of just like, welcoming and shared interest.

Shared interest.

You're right.

For, like, a common mission.

For a common mission.

And people.

I think a lot of people want to be a part of doing good.

For others, you know, especially when there's so much.

And that's creativity in the world.

Like, that's something that gives me hope, is that, you know, on this grassroots level, we can all work together.

So, like, you know, we are.

Yeah.

Libraries all over the place are making a difference and making an impact.

And people who don't want to see libraries make a difference and make an impact are trying to get in the way of some of those programs.

Can you talk a little bit about a library's place in the community and in activism and making a difference?

Wow.

That is a great question.

I feel really lucky that I work for Buncombe County Public Libraries because our admin team has been so supportive of this branch and of all 12 branches.

And I feel like that we.

I mean, Teresa, you might agree with me that we get a lot of support to do the programs that we think are serving the people in our community.

And I feel like whenever we create a new program, it's exactly like what Pat mentioned, that, you know, a group might come to us and ask if they can use the space, and then it turns into something, you know, even more than we thought it would be.

Or maybe it's a patron with a young child who'd like to see something specifically, you know, that would serve them and their family.

So.

So we really like to listen to the people in our community, and we like to just keep adding more resources and programs or books or, you know, things that people would like to see, because we're really here to reflect, you know, what the needs are to serve the community.

To serve the community.

And I feel like we're lucky here at Ingka Candler Library.

And also I have to speak for all the different branches.

Cause I worked at four different branches, and I know a lot of the staff in general, this.

This library system is just full of really great people who truly love doing this job and doing this work.

So we're always wanting to interact with the people around us, whether it's our co workers or if it's people who are using the library or if it's an amazing nonprofit group that comes to us.

So I think that we've been lucky that we are able to do the programs that we think are meaningful.

And we have the support from Jason Hyatt and Jamie McDowell and Aaron Parcells and our admin team.

And I know it's been a struggle, you know, for a lot of libraries across the country.

But here in Buncombe County, I just feel like, again, really thankful that we are moving forward, we're forging ahead, and we are still able to do what we feel is meaningful.

You know, we see a bright future, and we're just going to work as hard as we can to make that happen.

That's awesome, Pat.

If there's someone who's listening who says, you know, this is interesting to me.

I want to get involved.

Do you have any encouragement for them?

Sure, you should get involved.

It'll, it'll really make you feel good.

About yourself and feel good about your community.

We'd love to have anyone that wants.

To join and all abilities, you know, like, you don't have to be a sewer.

You can just come and take talk, you know, get to know your community.

You can stuff pillows so you really don't have to have like any sewing.

We can teach people to sew.

We can teach.

People have been taught to crochet and knit.

So, you know, if that's something you want to learn there, I'm sure there's somebody who will be willing to teach you.

The group is currently comprised only of women.

And hand sewing and handwork in general have a long history of being women's work, women's hobbies, where you can sort of feel more connected to the people that came before you.

But this isn't just a women's group.

Anybody can come.

Oh, sure, absolutely.

We have had a man, a man as long as, if I can remember correctly, who has helped in the past.

And I would never have gotten where I am without the support of my husband.

He's been a backbone.

I mean, he made all the labels for years.

He's a big help, big support.

He's also a cancer patient, so he's a big support and very empathetic of the mission.

So.

And that's a good way to give back if you've been affected by cancer or you need something to do just while you're sitting around watching TV at night.

You can take home a project or work on something and bring it back in.

He sat in his recliner with a little desk in his lap before and stamped labels while watching TV at night.

So yes, it is.

I want to say a big thank you to Pat and to Teresa and to you, Elise.

Thank you for thinking of us and doing this with us.

I mean, it's so wonderful to talk with you today and to promote this group that I really like, like believe in 100%.

So thank you all.

Come check us out.

Yeah, it's open to everybody.

Come and check it out.

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