Daniel Rush displays some of the pieces he has made during the second meeting of the Toys and Textiles Wednesday night in the Memorial Union. Jon Coffey/ The Bulletin

The Toys and Textiles club is a new Recognized Student Organization (RSO) this semester. Senior biology major and club president Daniel Rush said the club will help members learn helpful life skills.

“(The club) will help people become just more creative in general… it will help to make campus a more creative place. Part of our mission is practical problem-solving skills and it will also help with multiculturalism, as part of the club is to learn about other cultures,” Rush said.

The club will consist of constructing stuffed animals, hats, costumes and other sewing and textile-based toys. The club meets once a week in the Memorial Union to discuss current and future projects each member is working on.

The club originated partly because Rush saw there was not a club of this nature on campus.

“I knew there were a number of clubs on campus, but none of them seemed to be orientated at the arts other than movie clubs and anime clubs. (There was) no cooking club, no sewing club nothing like that, so I figured, why not?” he said.

Rush first started sewing when he was a kid, but picked the skill up again when he wanted to make a hat for winter. He also made a stuffed animal as a birthday present for a girlfriend. He started sewing more frequently and decided to start the club to find others who were interested in textiles as well.

The club started in early September and Bethany Bailey, freshman English major and group treasurer, was excited about the club.

“I joined because it seemed like an interesting club. I like working with fabrics and textiles, anything to keep my hands busy,” she said.

Matthew Simmons, freshman English major and vice president of the club, expressed similar excitement for it.

“(I joined) because it sounded like fun. I have made a couple stuffed animals and I wanted to do more with textiles,” he said.

Rush said the club does not have any events planned currently, but hopes to plan a Halloween party including homemade costumes. The group also wants to celebrate what Rush called “geek” holidays, such as Talk Like a Pirate Day, Hawaiian Shirt Day and Mask Day. Rush hopes these holidays will provide the opportunity for the club to showcase their homemade costumes and props.

Eric Hemphill