January 2026 Roundup: Cozy Craftivism

​"We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right."

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

We can’t ignore the state of the world around us, but we can’t be overcome by it. Beyond being a means of expression, art is a vehicle for connection and for change. This month, we hold space for the heaviness many of us are carrying. We also hold to an essential truth: art has the power to bring us together and create real change.

In our cozy craftivism podcast, the Hominy Creek Comfort Makers remind us how creatives can join together to care for their community. In our zine pieces, we share community resources to help you get your voice out there, along with reflections on the power of handmade in a world of AI.

These stories honor both uncertainty and possibility, suggesting that when the world feels overwhelming, making something—stitch by stitch, page by page—can be a quiet, powerful antidote. We hope you draw some inspiration from the voices of creatives making a difference here in Western North Carolina. Scroll to the bottom to see how you can make a difference, too.

Long Live Print: 7 Resources for Regional Zine-Makers

Western North Carolina's zine-makers have a surprising array of resources keeping their presses rolling, from Pack Memorial Library's basement archive to Print House AVL's eco-friendly studios, where anyone can rent professional equipment by the hour. Local bookshops like Firestorm and Downtown Books and News champion independent publishers, while indie press Drum Machine Editions helps creators level up from hand-stapled zines to full art books. At the center of it all is Asheville Zine Fest, which has been connecting the region's DIY publishing community every fall since 2016.

Read the story here.

Where Does Human Creativity Need To Go That AI Can't Follow?

We asked four Western North Carolina zine-makers where human creativity needs to go that AI can't follow, and their answers cut straight to what makes art irreplaceable. From the joy of making something for no logical reason to the vulnerability of sharing intimate stories in hand-stapled pages, these creators say AI can fake the output but never the experience—the in-person exchanges, the artisanal flaws, the quiet moments between reader and maker. Their message: disengage from the internet's attention economy and invest in real-world connections that machines simply can't replicate.

Read the interview here.

Hominy Creek Comfort Makers: The Library-Based Volunteer Group Stitching Kindness Into Action

We sat down with the Hominy Creek Comfort Makers—a volunteer group that meets monthly at Enka-Candler Library to stitch pillows, quilts, and shawls for people facing illness and grief. In just four and a half years, they've donated over 6,000 handmade comfort items to local cancer centers and families in need, proving that activism can look like a room full of people with fabric, thread, and willing hearts. No sewing skills required—just show up on the third Thursday of the month and bring your kindness.

Listen to the conversation here.

News + Notes From Asheville and Beyond.

Here’s where we share quick craft bites for busy hands and hungry minds. This month, we’re focusing on how you can make a difference in the community.

Get Involved

• Seeking Volunteers: ArtsvilleUSA is seeking volunteers and donors. An interest survey is available here.
• Urban Forest Master Plan Virtual Public Meeting: The City of Asheville hosts a virtual meeting on the Urban Forest Master Plan on Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 6 to 7 p.m. Registration is required.
• WNC Repair Cafe Volunteers Needed: WNC Repair Cafe seeks volunteers to mend at events on Feb. 5 at the Asheville Tool Library and February 19 at the Fairview Public Library. Find more information here.
• ReMix It Fundraiser: Participants can help create Asheville's longest fabric snake and support the city's first creative reuse store on Saturday, Feb. 7, at The RAD Brew Co. Find more information here.

Find Creative Community

• Life Drawing: Trackside Studios hosts an untutored life drawing session on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 375 Depot Street in Asheville’s River Arts District. The adults-only session features a live model and is open to all drawing and painting media. Find out more here.
• Community Art Supply Swap: Leicester Library hosts a community art supply swap on Friday, Jan. 31, from 1 to 4 p.m. More Information here.
• Sketchbook Club: Spencer Beals hosts a recurring Sketchbook Club on the first and third Mondays of each month at 12 Baskets Cafe in West Asheville. Cost is $10. Follow Spencer on Instagram for updates.
• ArtFolk Craft Club: ArtFolk's Craft Club meets on the third Tuesday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. The next meeting is Feb. 17; location to be determined. Suggested donation is $10. Details here.

Support Artists

• ArtFolk Mural: A community-created mural (pictured), courtesy of ArtFolk WNC, is on display at the Ferguson Family YMCA in Candler through Jan. 31. The installation, measuring over 7 feet wide, is ArtsvilleUSA’s largest to date.
• Art Earth and Soul Kollective: The YMI Cultural Center hosts Art Earth and Soul Kollective, a multidisciplinary exhibition examining how race, space, faith, and imagination shape belonging in American life. The exhibition opens Jan. 31 and runs through March 20. More information here.
• The Little Crafty Community Day: On Feb. 8, the NC Arboretum, The Big Crafty, and ArtsAVL present The Little Crafty, an intimate craft market celebrating regional artists, nature-inspired making, and the creative spirit of Western North Carolina. Details here.

Special Thanks to Our Partners

All images published with permission of the artist(s). Featured image/graphic: Kate Spratt.