A couple weeks ago I mentioned I’d be sharing a new series, Craft Commitment. This is probably the biggest endeavor to date. The most important and intimidating one too. Starting a blog has been a great way for me to reconnect with my craft roots. It’s provided me an outlet to express myself and to also make myself accountable by setting public goals. On the flip-side, one of the challenges with trying to build a successful blog is that the blog itself becomes the primary objective, not the projects.
I’ve been so focused on improving my content, photography, analytics and everything else that goes into a blog, that I’ve lost sight of why I started it in the first place – to make stuff. Not just any stuff but stuff I want to display proudly in my home, give as gifts, and with any luck pass down to the next generation of crafters. It’s not to diminish the projects I’ve done to date, I’ve enjoyed them immensely and I think many of them have turned out quite nice. The difference between those projects and the ones I’ll take on with this series is time. This series is about the slow craft. Ones that require more skills, more planning, more experimentation, and ultimately more time to complete.
Every month I’ll check in with you to share my progress. Rather than focusing on the outcome, I’ll be sharing the journey. That might mean one month I share a class I’ve taken or a book I’ve read and the next month I share my first attempt at a new technique. The series will evolve with the projects, which is the exciting part because it means I’m giving myself permission to take time to figure things out. It also means that after years of placing these projects in a dark corner, I am finally, finally, giving them a chance to come out into the light and thrive.
I hope you’ll join me on the ride – it may be bumpy at times but it’s sure to be an adventure!
My craft commitment
I pledge myself to the slow craft. To take time to learn new skills, make mistakes, and try again until it’s right.
The projects
In no particular order, these are projects I endeavor to learn/create and some inspiration to guide me.
Laser-cutting
Not only do I want to learn how to use a laser cutter, I want to learn how to create original designs too. I’m thinking ornaments, jewelry, tabletop tchotchkes…the possibilities are endless.
Inspiration: Laser-cut animals from Fawn & Forest.
Braided rug
I love the handmade quality of braided rugs. They can make any room feel more homey and special. Finding the right fabric and colors as well as pefecting my techique are going to be the challenges with this project.
Inspiration: Braided rug by My Poppet
Macramé
I never paid much attention to macramé but with the advent of Pinterest, I’ve found myself gravitating toward the modern update to this hippy dippy technique 😉
Inspiration: Hanging planters by HRUSKAA
Block printing
Another technique with endless possibilities. I can see block printed pillows, curtains, bags and napkins in my future.
Inspiration: Block print fabric via Apartment Therapy
Coiled bowl
These coiled bowls are just one of the many projects I covet from the book, Made by Hand, by Lena Corwin.
Inspiration: Coiled bowls by Lena Corwin via Design Sponge
Electronics
Using electronics to add motion or light to a project is intimidating but the potential is too cool to resist.
Inspiration: Night light by MoutonCerise
Sketching
Sorely neglected, I definitely need to work on my sketching. How else will I be able to plan and imagine all these other projects?
Inspiration: Sketches by Lisa Congdon via Design Sponge
Felt ornaments
This is a big one. I’ve had this project in my vault for over a decade. My grandmother made many felt ornaments, inspired by childhood stories, for her children. I have several now and I’ve always wanted to learn how to make my own.
Inspiration: In addition to my grandmother’s ornaments, this bunny by TextilePlatypus
Memory boxes
Now this is by far the biggest of them all. I have many, many, many years worth of souvenirs and tokens from my life all jumbled together in boxes waiting to be put into proper order. I have stalled and delayed and lamented this project because it’s huge and daunting. I also have a very particular solution in mind but I’ve never found the exact idea anywhere. So it’s up to me to figure it out and make it happen. I want stackable boxes that have a tray for small bits and a larger compartment for photos and ephemera. I also want to make many of these so I can finally organize all those memories and put them out where I can enjoy them. Phew! This one might take me a while!
Inspiration: Sort of by not quite like this proof box by Cypress Albums
That’s the list – it’s not insurmountable but it is a doozy. It may take me a year or three but with monthly check-ins and slow, steady progress it’ll get done. New projects will probably be added along the way but at least they’ll be joining a moving train and not one stalled on the tracks.
