For my first article as a features content writer, I decided to more or less define and inform you, the reader about crafts.
Per the yahoo
dictionary, the word craft is defined as a skill in doing or making
something, as in the arts. Further, it says it is an occupation or trade
requiring manual dexterity or skilled artistry.
Many people
make crafts as a form of relaxation. Personally, I was led to crafts as a
way to keep my hands busy. I was taught repeatedly that idle hands are
the Devils tools.
For many years, I watched my Mother watch television while doing her sewing
and crocheting. I found it annoying that she wouldn't "see" something
for the split second it was on the screen, as a child. (Usually because
it was a toy that I wanted!)
And now as an adult, I do the same thing,
and annoy both my children and my husband! But, my hands are busy, I am
content and relaxing with my family, doing exactly what it is that I
love.
Crafts come in various shapes, sizes, styles and designs.
And more often then not, no two are exactly the same. You and I can sit
down and do the exact same craft, and it can turn out totally different.
This can be because I personally add a little pizzazz to my crafts, to
make them unique. Or it can be, because today my hands are hurting and I
am crocheting much looser then usual. For that matter, sometimes the
factor of just the hand we work with, can change how our things turn
out. I know this for a fact, because I am left handed. My crochet, is
backwards compared to most. I learned how to crochet by sitting backwards from a right handed person. It still turns out, and even holds together. But it is truly backwards!
A craft, as you most likely, know- is usually a hobby. Something most
do in their spare time. However, now of days, many do crafts from home
as a way to make a few extra bucks from time to time.
The sad thing, is
that the pricing of crafts, is not what it's cracked up to be. A lot of
time and labor go into the production of an item that is hand crafted.
And those that don't craft, or don't know crafts- will freak out at the
price and walk away.
They will assume you are over priced, and in all
actuality, more often then not, our prices for our hard work is usually a
lot cheaper then what we would like to see out of it. We personally
know just how long it took to crochet the afghan, or knit the scarf, and
we know how we may have had to pull out several mistakes.
An item that
we have spent so much time on, we aren't going to get every red cent out
of it. Calculate the skeins of yarn, and the time, and then put a price
on the afghan. Ten skeins of yarn at $2.50 each, that's $25.00. Then
the time it took to make it, which lets say it took three days to make.
Naturally you didn't crochet every hour of the day, so let's deduct a
day. Minimum wage is about $7 an hour. So let's do 48 hours and multiply
it by 7. Now its 336. Add the $25 for the yarn. There is no possible
way you are going to get $361.00 for the afghan! Now way! And I know a
person who sits down, and adds up the yarn cost, and an hourly wage for
themselves, and sometimes they actually get pretty close to what it is
they are asking for. Selling your crafts and being cut down, can in
itself cause you heart ache, trust me.
Crafting can be an
expensive hobby. Just ask my husband. I do all kinds of crafts, and I
change with the Seasons per say. One month I will be making jewelry, the
next an afghan, the next plastic canvas, the next embroidery. It's just
like a mood with me, a desire. It all depends. And it never fails, if I
was making jewelry
last month, and the month before I crocheted, the next month when I got
back to crocheting, all though I have a full bin of various colors of
yarn- I will need something I don't have. It never fails! But my husband
doesn't complain one bit. We go to the store and buy another skein.
I do try to sell what I make, but because of today's economy, people
would rather not spend their hard earned money on crafts, no matter how
awesome they are! But that doesn't stop me from making things. I don't
just do it for a sale. I do it because it relaxes me, and it is
something fun to do. And obviously, my hands are not idle, so I am not
doing the Devils bidding!
If you're ever bored....give crafting a try!
