Why Be A Craftsperson?
There is a joke that goes the rounds amongst craftspeople about the Craftsman who won the lottery and decided he would carry on doing Craft fairs until the money ran out.
This is s truism that strikes a cord with any genuine Craftsman or woman. Why do we do it?
We have the need to create something in whatever medium that strikes us as appropriate. This is not done for financial returns. If you are very fortunate it is possible to make a living from the production of Crafts but you are unlikely to make a fortune or ever make the sort of salary that say The Apprentice will earn.
Craftspeople have the need to create. They need to make something out of raw materials that enhances them something which is new design led and hopefully beautiful. As to why they attend Craft Fairs well they might sell something and then there is that ego trip thing. If people actually put their money where their mouth is then you are assured that what you have created is wanted demanded and could even be treasured. What greater accolade!
You may well wonder what the buying public get. It could be a stream of new ideas. New ways of looking at everyday objects and perhaps some extraordinary objects and possibly future heirlooms. Crafts are at the front of modern fashion trends in homes and elsewhere. From Easter to Christmas Craft Fairs can be found in every part of the British isles and are not unknown in the rest of the world! An extraordinary number of unique objects are produced some to arise once and never to be seen again others the forerunners of whole new industries. Some ideas are immediately apparent as brilliant others require a deal of work some sink without trace but might be the germ of ideas for the future who can tell. All you can say is that the creation of crafts fulfils a need in both the maker and the recipient and between them creativity can blossom.
About the writer: Runs a lively Craft Shop at The Craft Company exhibits silk at Catprint and is often seen at craft fairs around the country!
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