CraftyPod #94: Why Do You Make Things?

I listened to this twice. Once, with my mouth open in awe and delight. The second time because I could have sworn you interviewed me for this, but I wasn't anywhere. There was the one keening noise that sounded like me, but apparently, it was just someone rubbing a balloon.

Why do I make things? It seems fun at the time. Then I accumulate a bunch of things, and my wife makes me put them out on the lawn. So I ask people if they want them, and they say, I would love them, but my cat is deathly allergic.

I think I continue making things in the face of this opposition because the universe does not seem quite perfect, somehow, and in order for it to become perfect, it must be ordered in a heretofore unimagined way. Take my paper placemats, which were theretofore unimagined. They improve life. It's like the mysteries of the rain forest. It isn't apparent right away why my paper placemats improve the lives of the poisonous cane toad from madagascar, but they do. Why do you think the cane toad is doing so well right now? I bear a great weight of this responsibility for making things to improve the lives of tiny deadly creatures. As do we all. So let us hope to whoever's in charge that we continue making things.

Speaking of who's responsible, I have a paper cut.

well...?

I make because I have to be creating something. I also really like the way that it gives me a place to play, to investigate who I am as a person, to try new things, to problem solve, and to soothe myself when I'm feeling stressed. I do different crafts at different times. Crochet is good for letting go of stress and it keeps me busy during the tv commericals. I sew quilts, some as wall art and some for sleeping under. I love the tactile quality of objects and crafting is a way to explore through touch. Since I've made a bunch of different things to decorate my home I have color around me and each object reminds me of when I made it, so crafting is a way of memory keeping too. At the moment I'm creating a collaged deck of cards that represent aspects of myself (inspired by the book Soul Collage) and also working on several different quilt projects. The nice thing about crafting is that there are so many things to do, I don't get bored. When I tire of one project, I can always switch to something I'm more in the mood for.

The last couple of years my crafting has taken a decided turn towards home decor. I just love walking through my house and seeing a piece of art on the wall that I made or a candle holder or a crocheted afghan! (Even the crocheted washcloths that I wash my dishes with :-) They are beautiful, unique and mine and they make my house feel like "home!"

I am so impressed that you managed to do this in all the activity of Maker Faire!
As a child I made things because it was an activity at school, at camp, or something my grandmother made me do to keep me from messing up her garden. As a teen I picked the skills back up because it was a way for me to do things on the cheap. I didn't have a lot of money but I could sew a beautiful dress or fix up unique furniture for my bedroom. Now I make things because I can make them exactly the way I want. Not only that, but I can choose environmentally friendly materials, keep chemicals out of my home and make something that will last. There is so much to be said for craftsmanship and for knowing exactly what something is made of. Plus it's just really, really fun!

I craft because I feel compelled to. I have a very basic need to create!!!

* self-esteem boost, that feeling of pride, accomplishment
* to keep busy, entertaining, relaxing, pure enjoyment
* wanting something different or can't find what I want, so I make my own
* to be a bit of a show off! LOL
* to socialize with others (Quilt Guild)
* to donate to others (hospital, shelters, Quilts for Valour)

I used to make things because there was a need for the thing I made - a quilted bedspread, draperies, clothing, embroidered wall art, needlepoint pillows, macramé plant hangers....

NOW I make things to make my heart happy.

Thank you Diane for teaching me new ways to express myself artistically and thank you Heidi for teaching me I do NOT have to color inside the lines.

I craft to keep my mind together. I am a stay at home mom who can't drive. So a lot of my time is spent here and walking around. crafting keeps me sane.