We have all heard of comfort food, something you crave when life is stressful or sad.
I have my favorites: chocolate, fettuccine alfredo or cream of mushroom soup.
I also find comfort in simple crafts or sewing projects.
Sometimes when I’ve had a rough day, I long for a quiet night on the sofa with a pile of magazines and scissors.
Clipping anything that catches my eye and stacking them in a shoebox. I’m not sure if it’s the crisp sound the scissors make cutting through the shiny paper or the satisfaction I get from cutting the image out as artfully as I can without getting too close that calms me, but I always feel better after a few snips.
As far back as I can remember sorting through cigar boxes of ribbon or jars of buttons has always brought me comfort. My mother is an artist herself and I remember as a little girl she drew paper dolls and clothes for me to cut out and play with. We lived in the Bahamas in the sixties and there were no toy stores. Just my mother’s creative hands and my imagination. They both have served me well!
Nowadays when I walk into my studio, the cups of colored pencils and the bolts of patterned fabric call out for me to pick them up. Sometimes I just sit there and take in the view with no project in mind. It’s like a sanctuary, my safe place. I hope that inviting my son to join me in my work will enable him to find his sanctuary in art or any creative venture when he is an adult.
What comfort craft do you turn to? What art projects fuel your soul?
May 17, 2008
Comfort Crafting
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7 comments:
all of them, anything i can do. photography, drawing, writing, painting, and i'm just learning how to quilt, which i've been thoroughly enjoying. i love using my hands, and i, like you, love looking at the different things you can create with. I used to have a huge bag full of buttons that I loved to go through, I never did anything with them, but loved looking at the differences in each button. I could spend all day crafting, and sometimes I do. there's just so much to learn and so much to do, it almost seems as if there aren't enough hours in the day! :)
I do the same thing! I can't just watch tv without doing something else. I love to cut up magazines and old books!
My favorite will always be reading, which doesn't qualify as a craft.
Your story boxes are wonderful, btw.
I looooooooooooved paper dolls as a kid (is it my imagination or are they making a retro resurgence?!??!)
My comfort craft is probably creating new textile prints. Even tho it's my job and my mainstay, I don't find I have enough time to do all the ideas I like, so when I do have time, I like to settle in at the computer, take my time and create.
There is something very peaceful about creating. Very happy feeling, especially if what you are working out, looks good.
You know that food you enjoy, mine too..enjoy everyone of them.
Amazing how many crafters are of like mind!
Paper dolls, so fun this post brings me back a few... My comfort is in drawing.
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