I’m in the mood to stir up trouble! Not sure why, I woke up in a feisty mood this morning! I’m pondering something tho. As I posted the other day I had a good surf around the net, being in complete awe of some of the art/craft that people do. Amazing.
However, in running Helping Handmade, I’m also made aware that there are a LOT of very very tacky crafts out there. Quite a few of these are done in the name of reusing recyclables, but frankly are they really the sort of things that you will have around your house for years? Does that matter?
What defines “ticky tacky” and where’s the line between that and art and craft. Obviously by my link the picture above, I don’t consider this box to be “high art”. I’m sure it could have a purpose, but it also is akin to things that you are given and in a year or so (when it’s safe) they are donated to charity or put in a garage sale. We have a good friend who’s mother makes doll tops for air fresheners – some might scoff, but she lovingly puts detail into them and my daughter adored it!
I know the angst of crafters who lovingly make afghans and quilts tho and those end up in garage sales or in someone’s basement too. So, how do we increase appreciation, but also draw the line. I hate being compared to a crafter who uses glue and tacky elements to create something….however, I have seen amazing creativity with just a bottle of glue and some paper.
Obviously my mind is not made up on this, but I thought it would be great fuel for discussion. What do you have that might end up in a garage sale and do you think people are gaining any awareness for the work that goes into a lot of craft items?
