Sometimes it’s overwhelming to think how potentially, as well as literally, that every move we make effects others. Some in ways we are aware of, but in so many more that we’re oblivious of. Catching a glimpse of ellen allien’s 2011 Summer collection yesterday, I was struck by this particular t-shirt, along with what she said about her collection’s concept:

…A life without effects? Whether you’re modifying a sound, altering an image or changing your life, effects help to shape who we are.

The spring summer collection 2011 from ellen allien fashion is inspired by the potency of effects: the echoes of a printed image; the trail left by the silhouette of a dancing hand; a vision through a curtain of smoke; the transportive power of an unfettered mind – does every effect have an OFF switch?

Craftivism may not be so much about fashion per se, but it is about consciousness. It’s about being aware of the world around you and your place in it. And that’s not always easy to do when you’re zipping through your errands or running late to work or on the treadmill. How much do we really think about the effects that we cause?

How do our causes effect others? Does what we say to others matter? Does it matter if we get a visible reaction, or are we really okay with just knowing that we shared our views? Do we need validation? Understanding? A hug? Ok, yes. It IS really nice to know that something you made/did/wrote effected others, not because you feel well chuffed with yourself, but because you know you might just be on the right track. But when you get all the squeeing out of your system what are left with? You and your thoughts, creation, writing. Again.

But does your “effect have an OFF switch?” No. Like ripples in a pond once you throw a stone in, it reverberates farther than you ever imagined. Not because of your strength, but because you dared to throw the stone. And it’s in this way that I best envision craft and craftivism… make the stitch, type the word, share the lecture, but remember that there is no “off switch” to your actions. They may stop and stand still and go no further, but they may also spread, grow and change.


Also: Inspired to make something of your very own this weekend? Go learn how to fashion these sweet needlepoint pumps over at Dollar Store Crafts.