Ok. This is how it all started. A friend of mine asked if I wanted to attend a newly formed crafting group her and her friend organized at our local Arts Station. The idea is for us mamas to get together and work on existing projects, swap tutorials and inspire one another. Then I had the "brilliant idea" of starting a blog of this experience and hopefully spreading the word of craft to others who have a sense that crafting nowadays isn't just the gentile crafts of yesteryears. In my search to concenptualize "alternative crafts" I found this book review of
"Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book", that illustrates this new trend through simple clever projects that provide a jumping off point for a fast growing trend of alternative crafts. The review very accurately describes my relationship with crafting, a necessary learning and honing of age old traditional crafts that can be done in a contemporary, relevant way.
Utilising both traditional craft materials and thrifty finds Making Stuff gathers together over 50 projects from established members of the craft scene that will undoubtedly inspire you to get your craft on. A section at the beginning lays out the basic skills you need to make something out of nothing: knitting, sewing, crochet, felting and appliqué. The book simultaneously rejects and embraces these traditionally old-fashioned activities, whilst the skills remain the same the results have a modern edge: an eclectic mix of the useful, the hip, the beautiful and the downright weird. (Blackdog Publishing, London, UK, 2009)
Then, as I revisited some of my favorite blogs and websites I realized that this modern crafting involves more activism that could only emerge in such a time when so many of us are concerned about our environment. Terms such as "repurposing" and "upcycling" are used interchangeably as people are taking DIY to a level where virtually anything can be made into something useful and reflect the quirky and adventurous personality of the maker.
ReadyMade magazine is a testament to this wildfire art of DIY. The blog
Craftivism enlightens readers to the concept of DIY and the impact on community development by profiling people who create despite social challenges. The young people of Fernie have embraced this concept of activism through crafting with their annual fashion show
"Flashy but Trashy" that fuses fashion with items that half of us throw out and half of us ban to the blue box.
Then there are us SAHM (for those who don't know..STAY AT HOME MOMS) or partial stay at home moms (like me!) that have taken craft to a level that both simplifies and enriches family life. Amanda Soule of
Soulemama.com shows readers a kinder, gentler way of living where family is key and craft is her way of showing appreciation and love for the family unit they all have created. Her book "Handmade Home" profiles great ideas that the whole famiy can do and reminds us all of what can happen when we slow down and create. Amanda and others like her, have taken their craft to a higher level by embracing the simplicity of handmade items that can be used everyday.
On a personal note, I live in a town ripe with posibilty in terms of adventurous, quirky people who love to create. I hope this blog helps people discover and learn new ways of being with creativity in mind. So everyone come on out and craft with us! Discover what can be done with fabric, fibre, paper, junk, wood, whatever!! Get your craft on!
