The Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores in Taylor, Ypsilanti and Canton have a really great program that’s not available in our Monroe store or the northwest Ohio stores: Creative University. This program features classes in a variety of crafting techniques such as cake design, basic sewing and basic crochet.

Now some of you live close enough to those stores to make it worth the trip for a class. They are generally held in one to four sessions. I took a class in spring 2006 and made a summer skirt so I could re-learn how to use a sewing machine.

Here’s a tip for those of you who have to factor in the gas money (no matter how close you live): Sign up during Class Preview Days.

There’s a flier in the Monroe store this weekend that gives you an idea of what’s available in the metro areas … along with this information.

Class Preview Day for the June, July and August classes at the Creative University Jo-Ann stores will be from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday May 31. That’s when you can meet the instructors and see the class projects.

If you sign up during Class Tuition Discount Weeks (May 25-June 7 for the upcoming session) you can get 25 percent off most class fees and 20 percent off most supplies for that class. (Yes I did take advantage of that offer when I took my class.)