5 Ways Crafts Have Enriched My Life

I've been crafting in one way or another for as long as I can remember. When I was a child, I often spent weekends with my grandmother, mother and older sister working on sewing and other projects, either for our house or to give as gifts to assorted relatives. One of my favorite childhood pastimes besides writing was drawing and as I grew older that evolved into painting as well. In addition to sewing, writing and drawing, there were attempts with varying levels of success at latch hook, embroidery, needle punch, cross stitch and even rock sculpture. After I became an adult, I finally tackled learning the yarn arts. Here are just a few ways these skills have made my world better.

Gifts Obviously, making gifts for people was one of the first perks I noticed about making crafts. Homemade gifts are often portrayed as tacky or ugly in movies, but when they are made by those who truly care about pleasing the recipient, they may still be inexpensive, yes, but more importantly they are more personal than most cheap store bought items, and can be really fun for the giver and receiver.

Toys When I was a child, growing up in a less than prosperous home, I didn't have to go without toys. Puppets, dolls, pet rocks, and clothes for my dolls were never in short supply because they could be made at a low cost and with relatively little effort.

Clothes & Home Improvement If there is a small clothing or accessory item that I lack, be it a belt, hat, purse, hair scrunchie or just a piece of strong rope, I don't have to do without just because there is no money in the budget for it. Since I always have craft supplies like yarn, fabric and assorted other things lying around, I can just make my own, generally in whatever color I need. And if I need a simple device around the house, my craft know-how often gives me the insight and supplies I need for making it myself.

Boredom Once a few years ago, I took a friend to a medical center for outpatient surgery. The procedure took quite a bit longer than expected, but I had long since finished my book and a drive home was out of the question. However, once it occurred to me that I had two pencils in the console and an errant ball of yarn in my trunk, I no longer lacked for amusement and started making my friend a get well bookmark while I waited. As long as I have string, and something pointed, or just a pencil and paper, I never have to waste my time reading out of date magazines on subjects that don't interest me.