Today I welcome in a new Craftivism correspondent for the next 4 Fridays! Hurrah! Graciously agreeing to write some on living life fiercely, independently, creatively and full of love is Shannon from Five Gallon Bucket, who I am thanking my lucky stars I’ve been introduced to as she is amazing! And in case you’re wondering about the picture below, Shannon noted it “was the only that came out of the garden. Passionflower vine taking over my trailer porch.” Thank you Shannon!

Today I am thinking about art, craft, and home economy. I was talking to a friend about the folk artists who create amazing works of art in their spare time, often in the moments between other tasks or the few hours after work and on weekends. The people who paint small pictures all over the outside of their homes. The people who assemble mosaics out of broken toys and used up pens and sacks of concrete brought home from work. The people who build gigantic sculptures with driftwood and garbage on the mudflats outside of the City. The people who transform the contents of their rag bags into quilts that bring color to into a difficult world. This art is not just art or craft or personal hobby, it goes way beyond that. It is a gift to everyone who stumbles across it. It is consumable but it is never used up. It is priceless and it is entirely free.

Much has been made of the unpaid nature of what is traditionally known as women’s work. When we consider the value of this work, it is usually from the perspective of how much the labor is worth. What I wonder is how much it is worth when it is full of spirit. If I live an artful life, should not the value of my achievements be comparable to the value of artworks that we see for sale in galleries, rather than simply paying me the equivalent of what a laborer would earn?

The truth is, I find that my craft combines with activism much more readily when I am not going to ask a price for the finished project. Activism is largely Intention and if my intention is to make money from what passes through my hands, than I find my creations to be less likely to be paradigm-shifting in their nature. Somehow, the commercialization of my produce robs some of the essence from it, and it just doesn’t sit well with me. I want everything I make to be magical!

Today was a really productive day here at my house. I unschool my oldest daughter, Alice, who is 12. She is of the age that kids used to be when they would leave home and go out to learn a trade. It is only recently that she made that shift and she has become much more receptive to learning skills and understanding Big Picture concepts in a rational way. It is a very exciting time to be her teacher! Together, we made a batch of pickles, worked on some erosion control in the barnyard, discussed the connections between anarchy, veganism, and the personal politics of power while we collectively cooked a meal and cleaned the kitchen. Then while she read and did her own stuff, I worked on a special project I am making for a swap, did some darning, hauled manure for the kale beds and did a passel of other gardening in the rain. It was lovely time spent.

I just try to live my life as if it were a piece of folk art, designed by my heart and hands, and hopefully humble. Every day brings a new discovery, usually more than one; every day I attempt to create something that will feed my spirit, and hopefully the spirits of the people I live with. I know I am not even close to doing it well, but that knowledge doesn’t stop me from trying!