definition

“Freight Train, Freight Train, Run So Fast.”

| Betsy

After writing about craft since 2003, I’ve found my interests shift dramatically as of late. The crafty cozies and tutes I used to care about, I’m now just “meh” about. To be quite honest, I was really upset about it…as in, What the crap am I going to do NOW? Seeing that it’s been my focus for 6 years, what’s my next step? I’ve been exploring the boundaries and theories and kissing cousins of what I used to love, which has taken me deeper into the reasons why we create what we do, and what bothers us to even pick up a pencil when we could just turn on the tv and stare at it. I’m excited to continue on with this journey with new projects on the go, and looking forward to what new things there are to discover and jump into. This space of exploration is cozy and warm and full of surprises.

Part of this new exploration means making some sense out of the past, so I’ve added a craftivism definition page to things, which I’m hoping may shed more light on this little -ism that’s grown so mighty!

The pictures in this post have been two more of the touchstones I mentioned last week. One of life in early London with the sweaters, the ropes, the boats, the wood upon the Thames. All handmade, all beautiful. And the other a glossary which was included in Harry Gibson’s 1944 album, Boogie Woogie in Blue How words are diffused and scattered into our lexicon, like “hipsters: characters who like hot jazz.” How words evoke a timeline of our histories.

Lately:
*The work of Morwenna Catt
*Top tips from Africa’s entrepreneurs
*The mixed media work of Lauren Porter
*Phillip Toledano’s “America the Gift Shop”
*The loveliness of Elizabeth Cotten’s voice (especially Freight Train)
*Photos from the upcoming Frou Frou exhibition in Weston-super-Mare curated by the lovely and talented Camilla Stacey

Crafting A Word.

| Betsy

Craftivism.

Just a little, silly word that was made up once upon a long time ago at a knitting circle. A silly little word with a meaning behind it.

In taking two culturally stereotyped words “craft” and “activism,” I wanted to show how they could be used in conjunction and for good.

Just like “craft” doesn’t just mean one particular thing, “activism” doesn’t just mean the Black Bloc throwing bricks or people destroying things. Activism is also about people making positive things that are building people up, not knocking things down. Want some examples? There are some excellent examples over here on what craftivism can be.

Now, there is discussion about what it means, as can be seen here and here.

Yes, it is often associated with liberalism, but what if I started writing about it from a conservative point of view in 2002?

Craftivism is not mine. It’s yours. All I ask is that you read about the tenets I believe in first. Don’t agree? That’s fine. Make up your own words and concepts, show the world how you feel, just please don’t take my words and twist them. Take them and grow from them and with them.

I just ask that you respect a concept that I’ve written about and coddled from a baby seedling to something larger.

Need a definition? See here, here and here.

But HEY, enough of that tuff guy stuff… What’s that new link on the main page?

It’s something NEW, that’s in the beginning stages. Like baby stages. It’s out of order on purpose right now, to show the breadth and width of the term. It’s something that’s been in my head for ages now, and after finally finding an online gallery I like, I’m making it available to everyone!

It’s documenting.craftivism.com, where I’m putting my photos and other people’s photos up of craftivist works and projects.

So send me those photos, ok?