My thoughts exactly

This is an quick little article that I enjoyed reading: http://makeandmeaning.com/2010/01/15/nan-ironic/

It's hardly an article, more just a couple of paragraphs that pose some interesting questions. Read it first, and then read this:

MY OPINION. (just my opinion.)

I do feel like people are going a bit overboard these days with their craft irony. It feels to me like everyone tries too hard to be witty/unique/clever/individualistic/etc. that they are lost in the crowd once again. And yes, sometimes it is funny to see a profanity cross stitched on a pillow case, but really. Do you like it that much? Or are you just so proud of how witty/unique/clever/individualistic/etc. you are that you don't mind if it doesn't appeal to your true taste.

I personally don't think there's anything wrong with the way women have been crafting for hundreds of years. Like the article points out, what's wrong with our Nana's crochet, cross stitch, or quilting?

Speaking of quilting, I think that is the perfect example of what I'm referring to. I have a few old quilts, and one that was made by my Mom, who is a fantastic quilter. I love that the one she made really respects the talent, precision, and beauty of quilts in the past. Quilting is not just throwing together as many bright colored fabrics as you can find in some ski-whompity pattern that you made up. It's precise. It's well thought out and planned, its sewn, quilted, and bound with care and exactness, and it's beauty lasts for generations. I don't quilt because I don't know how yet. I think it's an art that needs to be learned the right way. That's my personal opinion.

Now, we all have to start somewhere, and I'm not at all saying that there isn't a whole lot of room for personal expression in our crafting. There totally is. That's what makes it so fun. I love how this big crafting movement has modernized the way we think about doing crafts, and the importance of it. I also love that we don't have to make things out of necessity any more, so if it is a little frivolous, so be it. Whatever floats your boat.

I'm just saying that I don't think we all need to try so very hard to be witty/unique/clever/individualistic/etc., we just need to do what we like. And if we take inspiration from our grandmothers, then props to us. If we take inspiration, and then make it our own, bigger props. I think it matters way more that we like and appreciate our work, rather than if someone else on flickr, etsy, or reading your blog likes and appreciates it.

You know?

What do you think?

P.S. Here is a really great quilt blog. I think this lady does an amazing job of merging old tecniques with beautiful modern fabrics. http://aquiltisnice.blogspot.com/