| "Oh, I'm not very creative," is the | | | | and other articles made sewing virtually |
| complaint of many individuals when | | | | obsolete. |
| approached about starting up a craft. | | | | Crafting Today |
| The truth is that everyone is creative. | | | | Today is a new movement, present even |
| Some of us just got the notion in third | | | | among the very educated, wealthy, and |
| grade that since we weren't the best | | | | politically progressive. Betsy Greer |
| artist in the class that we weren't "the | | | | coined the term craftivism, a call to |
| creative type." The Creative Type: a | | | | shrug off the plague of mass produced |
| mysterious individual with messy hair | | | | goods available, in turn for an |
| and outrageous attire who frequents | | | | appreciation of all things unique and |
| museums and the theatre and mutters | | | | handmade. |
| tirelessly to him/ herself when in | | | | Many still ask why, when it is cheaper, |
| public. As legendary as Santa Claus-and | | | | faster, and more convenient to pick up |
| just as fictional. Real creativity | | | | this or that dust catcher at your |
| manifests itself in a myriad of | | | | neighborhood Wal-Mart, why would anyone |
| different ways. Creativity is that urge | | | | pick up a needle? The answer is |
| that makes you want to move the | | | | manifold. |
| furniture around, for the third time | | | | Some craft because the activity creates |
| this week. Creativity is the calm that | | | | satisfaction and gratification in a way |
| comes over you as you chop vegetables | | | | that few other forms of entertainment |
| for tonight's dinner. Creativity is the | | | | today do. They enjoy both the process of |
| tickle of excitement you get when you | | | | creating as well as the finished |
| find a new scenic route to work. As | | | | product. There is a certain amount of |
| humans, we have a basic need to express | | | | pride and confidence felt when using |
| ourselves, and how we express ourselves | | | | something made with one's own |
| is creativity. | | | | hands-whether it is a bookshelf or a |
| A Short History of Crafts | | | | crocheted dishcloth. And then there are |
| Crafting has gone in and out of fashion | | | | the crafters who do what they do for no |
| over the last few decades. In the 1940s | | | | other reason than that crafts are fun. |
| crafting was done out of necessity. | | | | Perhaps others craft for their |
| Because of WWII, making do and using up | | | | health-although they may not realize it. |
| what you had was a respected form of | | | | Crafting has a very positive impact on |
| patriotism. Middleclass women made | | | | one's mental health, as it engages the |
| quilts from their family's old clothes, | | | | mind in creative and imaginative problem |
| and their children used catalogues or | | | | solving, as well as the hands. |
| ads to make paper valentines or | | | | Psychologists and therapists have taken |
| Christmas cards. Worn out sheets were | | | | note, and many nursing homes and |
| made into pillowcases, then into | | | | psychiatric hospitals offer craft |
| handkerchiefs, and eventually used as | | | | classes as a potent form of recreational |
| rags. There were not the malls open in | | | | therapy. |
| the evening as there are today, nor were | | | | Crafting has also created its own |
| there the myriad forms of entertainment | | | | community, which is a huge draw in our |
| to be had, so people stayed home and | | | | isolated society. Whether you scrapbook |
| worked needlecraft or baked. | | | | or throw pots, there is likely an |
| This mentality continued throughout the | | | | association in your city where you can |
| forties and fifties, but as the war | | | | join with other like-minded individuals |
| generation aged crafting changed. Crafts | | | | to craft regularly. This feeling of |
| were something you made in your leisure | | | | community extends even within one's own |
| time. Since crafting was traditionally a | | | | family. Many parents now schedule a |
| women's activity, it was tied to | | | | regular arts and crafts time with their |
| domesticity and subordination. As the | | | | children. This is time well |
| women's liberation movement entered the | | | | spent-crafting with children builds |
| scene, crafting was looked down on as | | | | important practical skills as well as |
| anti-progressive. Mass produced clothing | | | | interpersonal bonds. |