This fall, I hosted our first-ever Queer Craft Club: Junk Journaling Edition, a cozy creative gathering for 2SLGBTQIA+ community members in Richmond. Planning the event was both exciting and grounding. I started by collecting materials with a focus on reusing what already existed. Most of the paper goods came from old art books and magazines being given away for free at the library, which aligned perfectly with the spirit of junk journaling, turning what we already have into something meaningful. I also hunted for fun craft supplies like ribbons, fake moss, old film strips, and stamps. Preparing everything felt like its own creative process, envisioning what participants might create or what they would simply be excited to see on the table of materials.
Finding a venue was one of the most important steps. I connected with the team at the Richmond Cultural Centre Annex, a bright, welcoming, and accessible space I hadn’t visited before. It ended up being the perfect environment, calm enough for people to settle in and expressive enough for creativity to flourish.
I’m grateful for the support of my community page’s event team, who helped with photography, setting up, cleaning up, sharing materials, and assisting participants throughout the session. We worked really smoothly together, and it made the event far less stressful than doing it alone.
During the workshop, it was incredible to see everyone get into the zone. So many of us are busy with school, work, and day-to-day responsibilities that it becomes hard to try new creative activities or finally use the paper ephemera or “junk” we’ve been saving for years. Offering time, space, and a low-pressure environment for people to make something just for themselves felt really meaningful.
One of my favourite parts of the day was seeing how different each journal turned out. Every person’s style, memories, and personality came through in such unique ways. You can see photos from the workshop on our page, @hotmothertruckers, including some of the beautiful journals participants made.
If there’s one thing I learned from this project, it’s that people truly want and appreciate gatherings like this. When you put care and consideration into a space, from the materials to the environment to the community you’re holding it for, people feel it. And when they feel it, they feel comfortable creating and connecting with new people. Our team will be continuing this work with monthly events, and we really appreciate your support!
