I am a maker, with lots of projects underway. While I make useful things like quilts and socks, I also make sweaters for dinosaurs. It can be easy to question this practice.
The practical part of our society often declares art and crafts as unnecessary, wasting time and materials to make frivolous and even useless things. A miniaturist who makes enchanting quilts for doll houses (ltwminiatures) has an Instagram reel about negative comments she’s received. People have asked her what the point is and why she bothers. Others have told her to grow up. Fortunately, she keeps making tiny quilts anyway.
And why not? If it make us happy and isn’t hurting anyone, then what’s the problem? Things that make us happy often make other people happy, too, and the world needs more happy!
This weekend, I came across a comment made by T-Nu of Craftastrophe and Craft Pod 13. The reason he crafts is to work on his patience. Things take time and don’t always work out how or when you’d like. Crafting teaches you that.
Re-discovering this idea was timely. It added to my list of reasons to keep making stuff even if others don’t see the point, but it also helped me to appreciate all the problems I had working on my miniature Princess and the Pea project this week.
I intended to paint the bed frame, and added more details instead. About half my time was spent rejecting or removing the things I had just tried. I made so little visible progress that it would be easy to feel like I’d wasted my time. But I learned a lot about trial and error and listening to my gut.
Artists have been addressing the criticism that there is no point to our making forever. I’ve even written about it before. The world constantly demands us to justify our choices, our endeavors, our existence.
The real waste of time is responding to the naysayers. Better to ignore those who don’t understand and get busy making things we love. Creating something from scratch is a chance to learn valuable lessons as well as spread joy.
What could be better?
What would you say to people who question the value of making art and crafts?
!!! Don’t get me started !!! I’ve had so many snide, cutting and insensitive comments that it makes my head spin. BUT I have had to put them in perspective and remember the positives outweigh the negatives. Things that hurt us seem to percolate to the top. We need to cover them up. I recommend homemade whipped cream! 😜
I’m so sorry to hear this. I don’t understand why people feel like they need to say nasty things… surely they can just move on without dumping their judgment first. It sounds like you have the right attitude though. Get out the whipped cream and get on with the fun! Hugs!
I think it’s good for your brain to create things and to feel good about the results of being productive.
Creativity does feel good… When it works! 😉 There is great satisfaction in solving problems along the way, too.