March is here and crafting is in the air! Recently my friend Kathy suggested to several of us craft industry designers that we should celebrate National Craft Month by writing a post about why we craft.
Hmmm...so why do I love it so much? There are probably way more than ten reasons why I craft, but here goes, in no particular order...
Hmmm...so why do I love it so much? There are probably way more than ten reasons why I craft, but here goes, in no particular order...
- Crafters are my people
I have met so many awesome people in the greater crafting community, from home hobbyists to industry professionals. Everyone is so supportive and there's just this instant bond between us glitter-n-glue-n-paper-n-fabric-n-stamp-n-paint lovers. - So many crafts!
There is so much variety in crafting - really, there's something for everyone and there are lots of great how-to books, videos and webcasts to help me try something new and get my craft on. - Living a handmade life is cool
Whether I'm making things for myself, my home, my family or friends, it's so refreshing to get away from the malls and all the mass-produced crap and immerse myself in some quality DIY time. - Creativity makes me happy
I just feel better when I'm being creative, my right brain digs all the attention. I love, love, love to spend time imagining and designing - it does a great job of chasing away the blues, too. - Crafting relieves stress
Nothing melts away the troubles of my day like painting a box, playing with pretty papers and fabrics, doodling with fancy pens, or any number of repetitive crafts like kumihimo, needlefelting or embroidery. - There's no crying in crafting!
For reals, even when I screw it up, it's not the end of the world. A craft fail can be totally hilarious and tweetworthy. Plus it's true what they say, every mistake is a design opportunity. - Sharing is caring
Crafters are just so damn generous - from random acts of kindness to paying it forward, we share our stash, our ideas, our inspiration, our skills and our links to each other's work. - Table for one to one hundred
Crafting can be wonderfully communal as well as fun for flying solo. I love crafting in groups and classes just as much as working alone in my studio. - Those who can, craft. Those who craft, teach.
I love demonstrating and teaching, as do so many of my fellow crafters. I love it when someone gets excited about trying a product or technique I show them, and it's even better when they feel inspired enough to want to put their own spin on it. - Shortcuts and going rogue
I'm a huge shortcut queen, I have very little patience for perfection or following patterns to a tee. I tend to design as I go, cover up boo-boos with buttons and bling, and just run wild with a new technique - and those are all excellent qualities in crafting!