The Bell Crafts Club celebrated its 50th anniversary during its annual spring luncheon March 14 at Bell Recreation Center.

The club is a conglomeration of 20 individual craft clubs at Bell Recreation Center. It was formed in April 1974 as an extension of the candles, knitting and crocheting and copper and enamel clubs, but has since grown to include all Bell clubs. There are currently 180 members.

“This is the biggest and most well attended luncheon we have,” said Gail Nason, club president.

There are even still a few members who were present when the club was formed, she said.

Linda Wilson, who has been a member since 1998, said the club was “an amazing group. We socialize a lot.”

Membership in the individual clubs tends to ebb and flow with the popularity of the crafts, she said, but the Bell Crafts Club is always growing.

Classes and workshops are offered and many are free to members. It offers a variety of classes taught by experienced crafters and fellow members who may provide one-on-one instruction to help learn new techniques and improve skills. Workshops offer members the ability to come to the club and work on their favorite craft without formal instruction.

Some of the classes offered include bead weaving, diamond dot painting, candle making, copper enameling, knitting and crocheting, macrame, miniatures, pergamano, and polymer clay. There are also classes to make greeting cards, which includes card embroidery and rubber stamping.

Additionally, members with expertise in a particular craft have the opportunity to introduce and teach it to others to further enhance the schedule of classes.