I found the most beautiful fat quarters (quilting terminology for 18x21" squares of fabulous print fabric for those not in the know) at Michael's on clearance recently. Pink, beige, green, black, mod, with ovals and rings and little pink retro kitties - not all on the same fabric, of course. It got me thinking about the rules of design, the art of the handmade, and the resurgence of traditional crafting methods in contemporary culture.
One of the best sources of info on this topic right now is the documentary Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY Art, Craft, and Design, by Faythe Levine. The blog devoted to it is right here on Blogger. Levine traveled across the country with companions, documenting the sewing circles/terrorist societies (kidding) and "craft mafias" started by groups of indie crafters in their local areas. These groups have turned into forces of cultural change, reintroducing the art of the handmade, taking pledges on their web sites and blogs to buy nothing artificially manufactured whenever possible, and creating entire online and in-person communities - with accompanying craft shows that draw spectators and participants from across the country - around various revamped crafts like embroidery (now embodied by portraits of Iggy Pop by Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching), knitting, collage, and more.
The topic's been done of course, but I never tire of discovering new crafters on etsy, finding new patterns on craftster.org, looking up new methods of creative re-use, or seeing what lines have next been blurred in the age-old art/craft debate. I'll post more on this topic later, because there's always more to say. In the meantime, if you're into the DIY thing, check out two of my favorite books on the subject: PAD: The Guide to Ultra-Living and Craftivity. Make your own decor to fully express yourself in your living space. Try the Barbarella TV cabinet (PAD). It's super fuzzy.
