Posts Tagged ‘craft’
Felt Craft
Sunday, September 18th, 2011
Craft Supplies that will Help Bring Out your Inner Artist
Most of us have had arts and crafts classes in school, when we were growing up. We remember building log cabins out of Popsicle sticks, making friendship bracelets, or funny insects and animals out of pipe cleaners. But few of us know the real history of this ancient practice.
Man is a naturally creative animal. He has been making things with his own two hands for tens of thousands of years. Some of the earliest examples of handicrafts were pieces of ornamental jewelry, vases and tapestries. People have always enjoyed decorating themselves and their home environments.
The popularity of crafts reached its zenith in Medieval Europe. Craftsmen studied and practiced for years to produce certain saleable goods. Whether jewelry, pots, shoes or pans, craftsmen made a good living producing items they had been making since childhood. All of that ended with the Industrial Revolution.
The mass production of goods with machines put an end to an era and gave consumers access to more affordable goods. But something important was lost in the process. Crafts were a way for young people to learn real world skills and to obtain a trade. In time, these young apprentices became master craftsmen and they produced goods that were both utilitarian and artistic, whereas a machine can only produce a replica.
Professional and rustic handicrafts more or less disappeared after the Industrial Revolution, until the Arts and Crafts Movement that flourished in England in the late 19th century. Inspired by the writings of artists and sociologists, the movement was a direct reaction to mass production. These intrepid souls believed that machine-made products had a deleterious effect on the decorative arts and that arts and crafts were essential to the development of future generations. The movement promoted a return to traditional craftsmanship using basic materials, simple styles and techniques of decoration.
While it is true that the Arts and Crafts Movement did lose the battle against anti-industrialization, it had lasting effects that can still be felt even today. Arts and crafts were incorporated into primary school education programs due in no small part to the movement. So where are we now?Most schools do not have a class called “Arts and Crafts” any longer. They simply call it plain old art, but crafts are an important part of the curriculum. Of course, you don’t have to be a child to enjoy arts and crafts. Millions of Americans knit and quilt and work with leather, wood and clay. Whether you label it an art or a craft, the result of most of this work is a handicraft.
Leatherwork, furniture making, jewelry, metalwork, woodwork, weaving, ceramics, embroidery, rug making and lace making are just a few of the most popular crafts that double as careers and hobbies.
Why do people still love arts and crafts?
In addition to helping people earn a living, crafts are fun and relaxing.Doctors often recommend hobbies to patients that desperately need to relieve stress. Studies have also shown that crafts give people a sense of purpose. The better they become as craftsmen, the more time and energy they will devote to their new hobby.
Parents and Crafts
We often hear that children are like sponges. They have inquisitive minds and they desperately want to learn about their world. Unfortunately, television and video games do not challenge them very much. Not only are they repetitive, but they only stimulate a few human senses. Arts and crafts are completely different.
There are no scores or laugh tracks to tell us how to react. A child is challenged to access his imagination and to create something on his own. Engaging in arts and crafts is a great way to bond with kids and help them develop self esteem. As important as positive reinforcement and compliments are, nothing can compare with actual accomplishments. Arts and crafts give a child the opportunity to make something with his own two hands, from start to finish. Instead of playing games during family time, try a simple craft project.
Parents often complain that their children are difficult to talk to. More often than not, they blame technology. But video games and cell phone are not the problem. Parents need to set aside some quality time for challenging activities with their children. A half an hour of arts and crafts can tell you an awful lot about your child. Most parents are surprised to learn that their kids have an imagination and a creative spirit that was just waiting to be released.
Fun Craft Ideas for Younger Kids
Noodle Art: A sheet of construction paper, some dry noodles, glue, and a few crayons. Sock Puppets: A sock, a pair of googly eyes, and a mouth made from red felt is all it takes to create a simple sock puppet. Colorful yarn and a few swatches of clothing can be used to make a more sophisticated sock creature.
Pipe Cleaner Art: No worry, no mess, no problem. Pipe cleaners are one of the cheapest and most affordable craft materials. Best of all, kids love them and can play with them for hours on end.
Play dough fun: Lay a piece of newspaper on the floor, give you kids a few jars of non-toxic play dough, and leave them to their own devices.
Finger Painting: Kids love messes, and finger paints on any kind of paper never gets old. Arts and crafts supplies are sold at discounts prices on the internet. Find some fun-making tools for your whole family now.
About the Author
Mike Smithy is a freelance writer who writes about hobbies and interests including products such as craft supplies.
Funky Felt Crafts (American Girl) Book- Tips & Review
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Wilton Food Writer Edible Color Markers $4.39 Food writer edible color markers fine tip .35oz 5/pkg-primary. Wilton-these edible color markers are great for all kinds of food! each marker is 0.35 ounces and features a fine tip. A fast fun way to add dazzle to fondant cakes and all kinds of food! us… |
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Cork Collection, 16/Pkg $1.52 Cork collection-16/pkg. Darice-cork. Corks can be used in hundreds of ways from home to school to the office! use them for crafts; to replace a lost bottle top; as a base in flower pots and much more! this package contains sixteen corks in assorted siz…… |
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QuicKutz Cookie Cutter Die Set, Pop-up Flowers $15.11 Quickutz Cookie Cutter Die – flowers #CC-SHAPE-6-017… |
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Felt Pen Fun (Art Lessons for Children, Vol. 4) [VHS] $25.00 … |
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Felt Alive Needle Felted Dolls with Kay Petal $24.33 This Video Workshop is the equivalent of an intensive 3-4 day live workshop except you work from the comfort of your own home at your convenience and leisure. Not to mention the fact that you can pause and rewind me anytime! And you get a bird’s eye view of my felting pad, no straining to see from across the room, no peeking over shoulders or feeling lost as the class moves along before you are re… |
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Floor Protectors Furniture Leg Pads Felt Craft $5.96 A pack of 76 beige round-shaped adhesive felt pads. Protects floors from scratches and marks. Instructions are provided on the back. Pack comes in a poly bag and header card with UPC. There are 16 large 1 1/8″ diameter pads, 24 medium 13/16″ diameter pads and 36 small 13/32″ diameter pads…. |
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Dremel 300-1/24 300 Series Variable-Speed Rotary Tool Kit $58.33 Perfect for the do-it-yourselfer or anyone who is new to rotary tools, the Dremel 300-1/24 Variable-Speed Rotary Kit helps you complete a wide range of household, fine art, and repair projects. The rotary tool itself features an updated design for optimum comfort and control, as well as variable-speed control that allows you to set the speed of the tool to match specific accessories or tasks. The … |
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OLFA 1057028 CMP-3 Rotary Circle Cutter $12.49 Olfa circle cutter-. Olfa-circle rotary cutter. This 18mm rotary circle cutter is designed for cutting circles on fabric; paper; vinyl; film; leather and more! cuts circles from 1-7/8in to 8-1/2in. Easy to use and no stabilizer required! cutter size is approximately 6×3-1/2in. Imported…. |
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Felt Alive Needle Felted Pups with Kay Petal $19.95 Felt along with me as I unleash the magic of sculptural needle felting! In my easy-to-follow video workshop you will learn how to make an adorable pup, dog, canine, mutt, pooch – whatever you want to call your new little buddy. As your needle felted pup comes to life you will learn to make a head with an expressive face that will connect with a fully jointed needle felted body using only wool … |
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Evercare Lint Pic-Up Washable Roller # 01104 … |
