TCG’s Landmark Celebration

by Noella Noelophile®

(Graphic courtesy of Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild, and used with permission.)

Happy Anniversary to Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild!  2024 marks their 55th annual “Arts & Crafts Fall Faire”–and counting!

This one’s going to be special.

Which is saying something, given that TCG always comes up with three rooms, plus a patio, of talented creatives, showcasing their work.

Dichroic glass jewelry, handcrafted Christmas ornaments, handmade quilts, handcrafted greeting cards and tempting scented soaps are just some of the creations I’ve enjoyed seeing there in the past.

However, this year, according to an email from TCG President Heidi Bartlett, 75 percent of the Guild’s members will be there, exhibiting their work.

Or, 85 out of 113.  And it’s sure to be a great time.

While TCG hosts two shows annually, in autumn and in the spring, their community involvement extends far beyond these events.

Supporting the community

Every year, nonprofit Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild gives back, by crafting Christmas ornaments, year-round.  Then, they put up the “Ornament Tree”, in Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, during the Christmas season.

Each child in the children’s ward–and their siblings–will get to take an ornament home with them.

In addition, Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild members make stuffed toy bears, for donation to local women’s shelters.   Their guidelines, for members making the bears, warn that the toys will be “well-loved” and machine-washed, so they need to be crafted to be durable.

In other words, high-quality and made with love.

(Royalty-free image by Willfried Wende from Pixabay.)

And then, there are the scholarships.

Through their Meghan Newman Memorial Scholarship Program,  TCG awards scholarships to Torrance Unified high school seniors who are interested in arts and crafts.

Applications are available in January, with amounts varying between $250 and $1000 being awarded to the winners in May.

Graphic artists, woodworkers, ceramicists, needlecrafters, painters and more, in their senior year in the Torrance high schools, are eligible to apply.

Meanwhile, Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild invites you to mark your calendar, come celebrate with and support them–and who knows, maybe get much of your Christmas shopping done.

Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild’s 55th annual “Arts & Crafts Fall Faire” happens Saturday and Sunday, November 16th and 17th, from 10 am to 3 pm at Ken Miller Recreation Center, at Torrance Boulevard and Madrona.  Admission is free.