Tastes and Crafts Change

I was thinking about the type of crafts I did as a young girl. Making things in hobby class in school (clay ashtrays with my hand print, shell earrings), crocheting lace at home after my DM taught me, embroidering pillow cases. Then I moved on to what I did as a young woman (afghans, scarves, gloves), then as an adult (some of everything, eager to try it all), and now in my senior years (settled into the comfort of old favorites). There have been many changes. Some of the materials I worked with have changed a lot; some are still the same.

Through it all, there is still the pleasure of seeing something “turn out right.” I admire people who can do the types of crafts that I cannot do; I admire people who do my favorite crafts better than I can do them. Mostly, I admire anyone who takes raw materials and forms and shapes them into something entirely different. That act itself is more important to me than my tastes. I may have liked feminine and frilly things at one stage of my life; simple and elegantly tailored at another stage. But I always loved the fact that folks made the things I admired.

I’m now into the quick-and-easy projects, but they must look good and serve a purpose (well, for the most part). Yes, times change, tastes change, materials change. The pleasure of crafting does not change, except to get more pleasurable.

Thank you, Dear Lord, for blessing me with these skills and the desire to use them.