Community: Advent Conspiracy DIY Event

Isn’t this Advent Conspiracy concept amazing? I love the idea of giving relationally. It’s such a great refocusing time for me: a breath of fresh air amid all the media-hyped materialistic focus of the season. It’s a chance to really think about those I care for, and genuinely celebrate the Ultimate Christmas Gift – the birth of our Savior! And yet, when it comes time to make gifts or plan what I’m going to give to folks, sometimes it seems so much easier to do some traditional last-minute shopping.

That’s one reason I love going to Imago Dei’s DIY Event. I must confess, however, that I’ve gone in years past and I’ve loved all the ideas and concepts being suggested, but when I go home I’m not really sure what to do next. Should I really spend all that money to buy all those supplies? I only need a little bit of that bottle of Mod Podge or a few pieces of glass for that framed photo magnet idea – what am I going to do with 100? Or, once I get the supplies I look at the instructions, I really just want someone there talking me though it.


To remedy this problem, this year we thought it would be fun to offer people a few different opportunities. We are excited to offer short workshops where someone with a great idea will walk you through the process step-by-step so that you will make and (hopefully) complete your own project. We’re also very excited to give folks a chance to purchase kits with just the right amount of supplies they need to complete their project. These kits can be offered in the workshops or at our last option, the inspiration tables, which are places where folks might display an idea (and instructions) but not necessarily talk you through it.

We’re also working to make this year’s DIY inviting to everyone, whether they are the crafty sort or not. We want to inspire people with a wide variety of ideas, so we are working to include things ranging from building a compost or worm bin to writing meaningful letters to your family to assembling terrariums. Not only do we want to include all sorts of ideas, we also would love to include all sorts of people. We would like men, women and children to find projects and ideas that intrigue them at the DIY Event.

There are a lot of people excited about this day already, but we still need folks to fill all these roles to offer workshops, to put ideas on the inspiration tables, to make treats for folks to snack on, to fill the rooms with musical goodness, or to read Christmas stories to the kids. If you would like to be involved, let me know.

~Sarah Budd

The details: 
What it is: Advent Conspiracy DIY Event 
Where to go: Evangel campus – lower level, 2830 N.E. Flanders, Portland, OR 97232 
When to show up: between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Various workshops will occur throughout the day. For starting times, be sure to check out our table on Sunday morning or find out when you arrive at the DIY event. 
Contact: Sarah Budd, homeofthebudds@gmail.com