182Sophomores Emily Hale Jacob Hale Wesley Hall Jaxon Hardy Delaney Harrington Caleb Hartzell Jordan Hatman William Heavin Timothy Henry CRAFTING ACROSS Generations Sophomore Amelia Slater creates new pieces from passed-down materials. Sophomore Amelia Slater, shared her love for crafting because of how it connected generations in her family. She grew up crafting after learning from her mother and grandmother, who taught her sewing, crocheting and other crafting skills. It wasn’t until high school that she began to advance her crafting techniques. One of her most cherished creations was a dress made from a quilt that had been passed down through generations of her family. “Amelia comes from a line of women who love to craft,” sophomore Randi Tubbs said. “She has been given fabrics, quilts, crochet and knit pieces from generations down. She takes those pieces and creates something new out of them with the craft skills she has.” Slater frequently wore the pieces that she made. This allowed other students to remark at her capabilities. “I can see her talent through her style,” junior Addie Lawyer said. “[When I saw] her crochet vests and her quilt dress, I was so impressed with her crafting skills.” Part of the appeal of these craft styles was the recyclable quality. Slater spoke about a dress that she made out of recycled fabric. “Something I made that was like a multigenerational moment was the patchwork dress,” Slater said. “We were going through old bins, and we found an old quilt top, which is just like the fabric sewn together. There’s no stuffing in it yet. It was one of my great-great-grandma’s hand-sewn pieces.” Slater’s Instagram account, @ameliascrafting, showcased all of her creations. She wanted to have a place where she could easily display her work. She often crocheted gifts for special events in her friends’ lives. The act of gifting was preferable to selling her crafts for profit. “I think it’s so much more meaningful if I crochet you something for your birthday, and then you have this piece of art that I made you that connects us,” Slater said. “Whenever you see it, you’re like, ‘Oh, Amelia made that for me, and that is a metaphor for our friendship.’” For Slater, crafting was more than just a hobby; it was a means of expressing her love for her friends and family. Through her multigenerational crafts, she found a way to connect with her family’s past and create lasting memories for the future. These pieces would continue to be passed down, telling stories for generations to come. Slater encouraged everyone to try their hand at crafting and believed that it allowed individuals to express their creativity and connect with others. “It’s so life-giving, so relaxing,” Slater said. “It’s really cool to make something with your hands. Even if you make something ugly, it’s still something you made, and that’s a beautiful thing.” Written by Alyson Voigt
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