Howdy!! I would like to ask you if you knew one of the Unique Holidays: March 2022: National Craft Month is happening now? I don’t know about you, but I am not a crafter and don’t think I ever will be. Although, both Charlie and David can paint and draw. As well as creating wooden art projects. If you would like to see something they’ve made ask them.
National Craft Month
In March, it’s the end of Winter and a great time to blossom outward into National Crafting Month to show what you’ve been making by hand during the cold days.
Admittedly, the word “crafting” covers a whole lot of territory. At one time, the word “craft” was synonymous with “trade,” meaning skilled labor in a particular area, from weaving, engine repair, and carpentry. It was not uncommon for guilds to be founded based upon a shared set of skills in these and other areas of production. But in current times we’ve come to understand that “crafting” refers to those skills practiced more creatively and with a vision unique to each Artisan. Examples are knitting and crocheting, jewelry making, and anything created by hand that has an artistic aspect to it but is not strictly “fine art.”
If you’ve been too busy to focus on your favorite craft, set aside time and energy see what you can come up with. You may even want to devote a number of hours to dabbling in a craft other than your favorite.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CRAFTING MONTH
There is no question that healthy people’s lives include creative outlets, which is a way to express themselves constructively so there’s less danger of anxiety and stress “speaking” from within, in negative ways. That was a big part of the reason the Craft & Hobby Association now the Association for Creative Industries [AFCI]) established National Crafting Month back in 1994. The awareness-raising was meant to help individuals discover their hidden creativity and introduce Americans to outlets they hadn’t tried before. Ranging from embroidery to candle-making. Over the years since, National Crafting Month has also come to signify a time for practiced crafters to start on a new project.
Today, crafting is not only a worthwhile, relaxing pursuit for anyone and everyone, but crafting has also become big business. For example, the AFCI sponsors a yearly mega-convention for companies that fall under the heading, “creative industries.” An event where the leaders in crafting domestically and worldwide trade knowledge, experience and economic strategies. The good news for a typical at-home crafter? In this case, the “trickle-down” theory really works well, spreading the word about new tricks of the trade, cutting-edge materials, and more.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL CRAFTING MONTH
If you’re a painter, try scrapbooking. If you’re a knitter, try sculpting. The beauty of crafting is there are endless possibilities for creating, and for stepping outside your creative comfort zone. Which could lead to innovation on your part.
Show off your work because everything’s better when it’s shared with those you care about. Whether it’s showing in an Arts Exhibition, giving your creations as gifts, be sure to take this opportunity to share your art with the world.
Old schoolers may be familiar with the phrase, a monochrome life which means a drab, repetitive day-to-day existence, but it can be taken a little more literally, too. You’re crafting up to this point may show a distinct preference for one or two favorite colors. During National Crafting Month, branch out into the bright colors, or neon colors, or even the blackest of the blacks.
FIVE AMAZING FACTS ABOUT THE CRAFT OF SCRIMSHAW
- “Scrimshaw, the craft of meticulous line carving on the surface of bone or ivory with the impression filled in with pigment for visibility was originally done by Seamen on Whaling Vessels, who not only did not want to waste any part of the whale including the Baleen but also needed a way to pass the time on extended Sea Voyages.
- Modern-day Scrimshaw Artists use tools that are finer and offer better control than the traditional sailors’ needles, many of said tools being borrowed from the broad inventory of dental drills and picks.
- As you can imagine, 20th-Century laws protecting Whales and another old-time popular source of Scrimshaw Ivory, Elephants, force much of the craft’s existing samples into the realm of contraband.
- Since Ivory Teeth are prone to drying out, Scrimshander Gary Kiracofe of Nantucket has long advised collectors to fill a dry tooth’s hollow part with baby oil and let it sit to absorb into the microscopic pores, from the inside.
- Today’s Scrimshanders often use technology that makes their pieces more easily mass-produced, going against the philosophy of many purist crafters who feel that a Scrimshaw piece’s uniqueness is one of its main draws.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL CRAFTING MONTH
- Having the freedom to create without boundaries stimulates the imagination and the spirit. We may even gain the confidence to think outside the box in other realms of our lives, including education and relationships. Who knows, channeling those creative energies into one of your hobbies could even turn into a side career!
- Whether it’s creating something with your kids or throwing a casual crafting dinner party, sharing one’s imagination and creativity with others is a key reason why humans create. Not only are there another person or people to appreciate your work, but you can spend quality time with friends.
- Home-crafted gifts are one of a kind. Nothing tells your friend or relative how much they mean to you more than receiving something you’ve made. On top of all that, homemade gifts are fun to make and can save you a few bucks!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
