Columbia River Sewing - Portland, Oregon chapter of ASG

CRS Annual Picnic Aug. 29, 11:30am-1:30am

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The countdown is on — our annual picnic is getting closer, and we can’t wait to see everyone there!

Mark your calendars for August 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the North Clackamas Park, located at 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Drive in Milwaukie.

Back by popular demand are the Free Table and Accessory Tables — always a favorite and always full of surprises. You never know what treasures might appear! This year we’re also adding a brand-new Puzzle Table, so if you’ve got puzzles collecting dust at home, bring them along and swap for a new challenge.

And that’s not all! Teresa will host the much-anticipated Zipper Pouch Palooza Exchange for the first time this year. More details at the end of this post.  Watch for updates on our groups.io forum:  https://asg-portland-crs.groups.io/g/main/topics

Please remember this is a bring-your-own-lunch picnic. The committee is still hard at work debating the very serious issue of dessert possibilities. (Research is ongoing.)

If you haven’t already done so, now is the perfect time to clean out your stash, drawers, closets, craft room, garage, or that mysterious corner where “someday projects” go to live. Bring your extras to share — and enjoy the wonderful feeling of all that new space at home afterward!

We’re looking forward to a wonderful afternoon of fun, laughter, swapping, and visiting with friends. See you at the picnic!

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Zipper Pouch Palooza Exchange:

Join us for a fun, creative, and very cute activity at the 2026 CRS Summer Picnic — the Zipper Pouch Palooza Exchange! Whether you’re an experienced bag and pouch-maker or just zipper-curious, this is a relaxed, no-pressure way to sew something fun, share your work, and go home with a handmade surprise from another member.  If you’ve been curious about bag making, this is a great excuse to try it. We hope you’ll join in — it’s all about creativity, connection, and celebrating what we love to make.

How to Participate

    • Sew a handmade zipper pouch and bring it with you to the CRS Summer Picnic
    • No pre-registration required — just show up with your pouch
    • What Counts as a “Pouch”?  Guidelines:
      • Your pouch must be sewn by you
      • Minimum of one zipper.  More zippers are welcome.
      • Any pattern (free, purchased, or self-drafted) is welcome
      • Big or small, simple or fancy.  
      • Pouches, totes, purses, project bags, storage bags… make a nice one and have fun with it—maybe learn some new skills!
      • Fabric, vinyl, waxed canvas, leather, cork, recycled materials, decorated or plain — all welcome
      • Add charms, zipper pulls, or keep it clean and simple — your style is perfect!
      • Theme requirement: Cute
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At the Picnic: 

Due to the tight timing for the CRS picnic activities, there is a change to the plan for the Pouch Palooza Exchange, as follows:

1. Upon arrival to the picnic, please take your Pouch Palooza Exchange Pouch to the designated Pouch Palooza Display Table, and sign it in, and put your name in the hat for the Exchange.
2. Have a paper pinned firmly to your pouch with the following information:

a) Your name, phone number or email
b) The description of your pouch: the pattern design, fabric, why you chose this pattern, information about why your pouch is the cutest pouch! The pouches and their descriptions will then be on display for attendees to read and will save us time during in the actual exchange process.

3. When the time comes, retrieve your own pouch from the display table, and take it to where the actual Exchange will occur.

4. The Name Drawing and Exchange will be the last event of the picnic.

        • At the exchange activity , we will line everyone up who participated, and after everyone describes their CUTE pouch, the first name will be drawn by one pouch-maker.
        • The first pouch-maker will give her pouch to the person who’s name she drew.
        • Then, that person draws the next name. Each person drawing will give their pouch to the person whose name they draw.
        • If you draw your own name, or two people draw each other, simply put the name back and redraw another name.