Susan Finch spent last weekend running what she calls Fleece Weekend, handing out $1,200 worth of donated fabric to Binky Patrol volunteers in ten- and fifteen-minute visits at her Beaverton home. In this episode, she reflects on what she noticed during those short visits and what it revealed about the difference between artists and crafters, knowing that the two merge quiet frequently. Artists, she says, tend to create alone - they get in their zone. Crafters crave, or thrive being part of a community, even when they finish a project on their own. Susan talks about feeling isolated during a normal work week and why gathering with other volunteers, even briefly, brings a different kind of joy than solitary creative work. She also shares why she believes people right now want a way to feel useful and connected, and how a single hour a month making blankets for kids in need can do exactly that.

Learn more at https://binkypatrol.org

Some "I dare yous":

• Reach out to Binky Patrol about volunteering, even if you can only give an hour a month
• Email Susan directly at sfinch@binkypatrol.org if you want to get involved or ask questions
• Visit binkypatrol.org to find a chapter near you
• If there's no chapter nearby, ask about starting one
• Try a small crafting project with a friend this week and notice how it feels different from crafting alone
• Listen to more episodes at binkypatrol.show