When you were little, did you make things?
I did.
I made up songs. Ditties and jingles that I’d perform for my grandparents.
I made flowers out of Kleenex, and then I tried to sell them to family friends for ten cents apiece. (I can’t remember whether they bought them or not.)
I made up dances to Ace of Base, with my ponytail scrunchied high atop my head.
I made little people shapes out of floral wire.
I made itty bitty fruit out of clay, and gave it to my mom for Mother’s Day.
I made intricate dioramas in school, depicting scenes from my favorite books.
I made braided friendship bracelets, and wore them proudly on my summer-browned ankles until they wore thin and fell off in the lake. (The bracelets, not my ankles. That would be alarming.)
I made toast covered with peanut butter and chocolate sprinkles, and tried to feed the treat to my poor mother.
Somewhere along the line, I forgot about the joy of making things just for the sake of making them. And all the excitement and color and accomplishment that comes along with that.
And also, the really cool side effect of self-proudness intrinsic to just makin’ some stuff, with no pretense or hope that it’ll garner you fame or fortune.
Because really, what’s cooler than knowing that you’re allowed to make something just because it feels good, and it’s fun? It doesn’t need to get noticed by anybody else, and it doesn’t need to get paid for. It’s just for you. You!
It’s like giving yourself a present.
And who doesn’t like presents?
12 Comments
You make me want to pick up my camera again.
Jenn: Yay! Do it do it!
Oh, when we left Florida, the local craft store went out of business a month later. I’m sure I wasn’t single handedly supporting them, but it was where all my spending money went.
Now, when I make things, they have a purpose. Sweaters, supper, infoproducts. This deserves some real though. Perhaps I’ll sit with it as my question after I do my shivanata.
Also, it’s looking like I’ll be on the East coast in October. #stillworkingonitthough
Didn’t everyone make flowers from Kleenex? Awesome post (and blog), just what I needed today. (Thanks Kathryn for pointing me here.)
YES. Today I went to a workshop and we had to write out our core values and “making” was one of mine. Actually, it didn’t make it to the top two, but it was #3. Anyhow, I think you know I completely believe in making things for the sake of making them, and I LOVE that you devoted a blog post to this. I never thought about why I do it, though. I don’t think I have the option not to, but one reason is that little pride you get to wear around. Are you going to be in Seattle at all in the coming months? If so we should CRAFT! OK, I need to write you an email about this workshop that I went to, because it was SO YOU, and there might be a book that you could read.
Kathryn: Coincidence? I think not… I generally try to keep my stuff to a minimum, so I guess the stuff I make just for the sake of making it often becomes gifts for people. Most of my friends and family tend to love something handmade even more than something purchased, so it works out well. OCTOBER?!?!?! Yes, do keep me updated on that. I would LOVE to show you around the city.
Sheree: Thanks, Sherree! Glad you found your way over here, Fellow Kleenex Artist.
Louise: Um, this workshop sounds right up my alley. I’d love to hear more about it. I’ve done values exercises quite a bit, and it never occurred to me for “making” to be a value. It absolutely makes sense that it would be for you, though. I’ll be in Seattle in September, and I’d be totally up for a crafty date. Yay crafts!
I made up poems for birthday cards. Though it is a very loose use of the word poem. I still remember some of the funniest ones (like the one that started with: “Once I tasted an exotic fruit, the flavor was simply superb ..” lol.
Elizabeth: I’d have been honored to be the recipient of one of your hand-crafted poems. So sweet! ;o)
It would be nice to have a tweet this button (plugin)
Amy: Good point! And thank you for the reminder. I’m currently redesigning the site, so when I relaunch in a couple weeks, it’ll be much easier to share things through social media. Thanks to you, I added this to my Redesign List to make sure I don’t forget. Gracias.
Thank you for this wonderful reminder of the essence of creativity.
Marsha: Aw, you are so very welcome.