my life as the AntiCraft - throwback post#2

#midlife blog crestingthehill.com.au

MY LACK OF CRAFTINESS

As a good Christian woman it is an embarrassment for me to have to confess that I loathe any type of craft. I can admire the dexterity and "creativity" of those who immerse themselves in the latest crafting fad, but I just cannot get inspired by padded tissue box covers, or scrap booking, or quilting, or any of the myriad of craft activities that others thrive on.

FAILING AT CRAFT 101

When I was a young mum the church craft group was a popular way to get together and use your time productively. Tissue box covers like the one above were churned out in all their technicolour glory, along with anything else that could be covered in fabric and lace and a ribbon or bow or two. Over the years it progressed to paper quilling - pretty but mind numbing, card making and stamping. Why would I spend hours and a considerable amount of money making a card when I can buy a beautiful one at the local store for $1? I know that crafters will tell me about the love and care invested in each card, but when you buy the card paper and the stamps and the glitter and the paint, it really isn't any more loving than standing at a card rack for 5 minutes choosing a card with a pretty picture and nice verse.

THE SCRAPBOOKING CRAZE

The next big craze that started when I was in my 40's was Scrapbooking. 

loathing scrapbooking!

Everyone went wild for the idea of digging out all those boxes of unsorted, unlabelled photos and doing something creative with them. The funny thing was that mine were already neatly placed in photo albums (those were the days when you used a camera and sent your photos off to be developed and you were lucky if you got 15 or so usable ones out of the 24 that you took) It didn't take me all that long to put 15 photos in an album and add the date. Obviously that wasn't enough for the women who had theirs in boxes just waiting for the revolution to come!

I went to one (and only one - never to go again) Scrapbooking workshop unaware of what transpired - cutting stencils, acid free paper, patterned paper, stickers, coloured pens, glue and glitter, and goodness knows what else - hours and hours and multitudes of dollars to end up with a pretty album of stickers and coloured paper, cut-outs and flowers and lace and........tucked away somewhere in the middle.........there might be a photograph. No thanks - I'll keep my nice tidy albums done with love and not much else - and I will never have to use a stencil cutter ever again!

AND THEN THERE'S QUILTING

Another friend of mine is heavily into quilting - why?? 

#midlife blog crestingthehill.com.au

I have great respect for the mothers of olden times who cut up whatever they could and sewed it together to make a quilt to keep their family warm. But now it's a totally different story - my friend goes off to craft fairs, buys fabric that costs a fortune, a pattern that is also ridiculously expensive and then thread etc, takes it home and cuts up the very expensive fabric into little pieces and sews it back together again and then hangs it on the wall or puts it in the cupboard because it's too nice to risk using on a bed. Crazy!

STANDING FIRM

So  I will admire those who spend hours upon hours creating "treasures" but I will also continue to take a stand for those who would rather read a good book or have a cup of coffee and buy their cards and quilts (on special). No more apologising for my lack of artiness - I will stand firm as the AntiCraft and be proud!

10 comments

  1. Well thank God we are not all alike or the world would be full of pink tissue boxes. So no need to feel out of it if you don't enjoy any of that, cause you are not made that way and a lot of others aren't either. Your OK and they that make the pretties are OK too. Thankfully we are all different. Some years back I gathered all the memories of my children from birth to their marriages and made them each a beautiful book. They were moved to tears when I gave the books to them. I made another book in honor of our child who passed away. I got so much pleasure and joy making those books. I will probably never do scrap-booking again, that is OK too. I could never get excited about craft groups either. It's all good :)
    Kathleen
    Fridays Blog Booster Party $16

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    1. Thanks Kathleen - my sister-in-law does a wedding album up for each of her children and that is lovely - ours did photo books online - quicker and easier but probably less of an heirloom!

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  2. I blame the scrapbooking craze for the fact that not a single one (none!) of my cartons of photos of my kids ever made it into an album!
    I was up-to-date with a similar system to yours (that worked really well!), until my daughter was born. Then, overcome by perfectionism and the inability to choose the correct album and method for archiving my kids precious childhood - I never got started ! (Fortunately, most are stored chonologically where they can be found - but it would be nicer if those photos were displayed in books!)

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    1. Photos are a blessing and a curse - I feel sorry for those mums that have hundreds on their phones that they have to do something with. At least the old fashioned cameras and film kept the number of photos to a reasonably manageable level. Maybe your photos will be your retirement project :)

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  3. I can't make scrapbooks because I rarely ever took any photos! I am trying to make up for it now. My mother made each of her grandchildren a wonderful scrapbook with photos,programs etc. They are truly treasured items. I think the creative outlet is good, but if you have other creative outlets like blogging that is good too!

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    1. I do wonder if my children will suffer from lack of heirlooms when they look back on life - I guess it's the drawback of a non-creative mother. Maybe they will be inspired to do something to make up for it - my daughter says she has 200 photos of their cat so she has somewhere to start!

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  4. I'm with you Leanne - here's to a cup of tea and a good book. I like a bit of sewing and craft here and there and yes Ive done me a bit of scrapbooking but there is always a point at which I say enough!! I've always had a "have a bit of fun and spend as little as possible" type of motto. I don't have the space or the will power to deal with doing anything obsessively. Loved your post - you summed it up so well - like your style!!

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    1. Thanks so much - I read some of your blog the other day - love finding Australian bloggers! I'm all for a little bit of craft - just not this obsession that has taken over some of my friends' lives :)

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  5. This made me laugh Leanne! I'm terrible at crafting - except scrapbooking, which I must admit I do love. I do draw the line at only putting one picture on the page though :)!

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  6. I envy craft people Lana but at the same time I think I'm a little bit glad that I've been spared all the fiddle diddle that goes with it!

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