Three generations of women passionate about art and literacy have come together to create the next big thing in the Islip community: the Crafty Crew. Started by high school English teacher and Islip mom of three, Katie Rosario created the Crafty Crew to host fun events for kids that bridge the gap between literacy and art.

“The idea originally came from my daughter. We are constantly reading, and she loves doing arts and crafts, so when we would read something, I would come up with ideas for crafts connected to books we were reading,” explained Rosario. “My mom started as an art teacher. I realized this is what we did growing up—birthday parties, play dates, anything just sitting around the dining room table reading and creating some type of art to go with it—so I thought, why not bring that back?”

Rosario began hosting the small group activities from her home studio in December. The attending children usually start with a craft based on the novel they will read together, read the book, have a snack, then finish the project. Most small group events cost about $20 to attend.

Since the start of Crafty Crew, age-appropriate activities have been offered for all different age ranges to stimulate creativity, encourage socialization, and promote literacy. During the very first Crafty Crew session, the children read one of Mo Willems’s famed novels and created a little pigeon in the bath. During a mommy-and-me session, the group read the classic children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. Kids made their own crowns that they got to wear and be king of the jungle, and also created puppet monsters reminiscent of the book’s creatures.

The Crafty Crew has recently expanded to include a new, exciting service: birthday parties. Rosario will come to your residence, set up the craft, instruct the group for about 90 minutes, before cleaning up and leaving. Instructing the birthday parties has continued the intimate feel of gathering around to craft something creative and let your imagination fly with a book. 

Rosario recently brought her Crafty Crew services to a birthday party for about 17 kindergarteners and first graders.

“I pre-stenciled each of their initials on canvas. I set up and clean up; I do all the work,” shared Rosario. “We read an alphabet book about being creative, accepting when you make a mistake, but turning it into something great, and then they all painted their letters, and they were so fantastic.”

Rosario offers birthday parties for all ages, and recently attended a Taylor Swift-themed birthday party for ninth-grade girls in which they painted her album covers.

To keep up with the Crafty Crew, see upcoming small group events, or to contact Rosario for a birthday party endeavor, check out the Crafty Crew’s Instagram @thecraftycrewstudio.

On Friday, March 29 from 10 to11 a.m., join The Crafty Crew for great stories about Easter and create adorable portrait bunnies, just in time to decorate for the holiday!

The April spring break schedule for under the sea-themed crafts and stories will be posted on Instagram.

This summer will include after-camp classes from 4 to 5 p.m. as well as mini art and literature camps Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The themed stories and projects will be Shark Week, Beach Week, Ice Cream Week, Lemonade Week and many others.  The summer schedule will be posted and sign up will begin the first week of April.  Mini camps are $45 per session, including a few crafts, snacks, storytime and outside fun!