Why do you enjoy crafting? (no advertising)

Dear users, dear authors,
I’d love to know what you find most fun about crafting.
Let me know.

For me, crafting is a very meditative activity—it helps me relax so beautifully.
And I find working with stiff paper (in my case, photo cardstock) particularly fascinating—it doesn’t bend or fold easily, so I always have to figure out exactly where to make the folds and how precisely to bend this or that basic shape so that my idea works.
It’s a little challenge every time, and such a joy when everything turns out just as I planned. With three-dimensional objects, there’s also the fascination of creating something three-dimensional out of something flat—something that holds its shape and doesn’t collapse. For me, crafting is a very creative endeavor that gives me a sense of accomplishment and brings me moments of happiness time and time again :-).

Crafting is just fun. I’m still working on the dollhouse I’m building myself. Now I just need to add some lighting. The lamps are hanging nicely. I just need to run the wires to the transformer. My husband will have to do that.

Crafting is just so versatile! You can work with paper (though I’m not very good at that), modeling clay, wood, natural materials, or “scraps” (upcycling).
I love crafting with children and for children the most. That way, the kids learn how simple little things can be turned into something new that no one else has. I’ve made crafts for my own children (many of which still exist today), and now it’s my grandchildren’s turn.

Here are two examples:
My grandson had seen a “piadina clock” in Italy and really wanted one, but couldn’t find it anywhere. So we made one ourselves out of salt dough.
Puppets—all handmade, from modeling and painting the heads to sewing the clothes and creating hairstyles and headwear. The kids were able to help with many of the steps.

Wow, those are beautiful things—especially the Punch and Judy puppets are something truly special. There is so much love, diligence, and creativity in them. The result is ultimately important, of course, but the creative process brings even more joy.

First there is the idea, then your thoughts circle around how it could be made. Then it becomes clearer and clearer in your imagination. Then you think about which materials you can use, how it should be made. You draw sketches and tinker. Then it gets even more exciting: it’s time to really try it out. First drafts and samples are created. In this phase you immerse yourself in the work; eating and drinking become secondary—you simply don’t want to be disturbed. It’s like being in a creative high. You are truly fully immersed in this creative process.

You try things out and change them, ponder, tinker, try again ... .and then it’s finished! You hold something handmade, one-of-a-kind in your hands. You know every weak spot and know exactly which parts were especially tricky. In every piece you make, there is a piece of that love and enthusiasm in it. Even when you give it away, something handmade is never just the material and the workmanship; there is always a lot of feeling in it too. Very sensitive people even notice that (my friend Andrea, for example—she is always so touched; it is never a “soulless” gift, but always one with heart ... she says). 

I “practiced” that even as a child. In our family we did a lot of crafts. Maybe one or two of you remember: windmills made of matches, rocking chairs and mirrors made of clothespins, embroidered cushions and wall hangings, bowls and vases made of raffia, and so on. I rummaged around and found an old black-and-white photo from about 40 years ago: In the photo I am proudly presenting little dolls for which I sewed dresses out of foam dishwashing pads. They didn’t serve any practical purpose; you put them in the glass cabinet and enjoyed looking at them—that was just how it was at that time.



You also have to remember that 40 years ago you didn’t have craft patterns from the internet; there was no YouTube and no craft forums on Facebook. In the GDR there were also few magazines where you could find anything about it. So you thought everything up yourself and gave your creativity free rein. You had to draw from within yourself, so to speak. Those are my roots. That creativity from back then is still my source today. Today I really only make things “in yarn,” but the crafting side in me always plays along too. It’s not about just crocheting or knitting anything; no, the things often have this “craft touch” too (e.g. the handicraft bucket).

Crafting and needlework are more than just a pastime; they bring joy—to yourself and to others. In this spirit, I wish you continued joy with DIY.

Warm regards from Ina 

@Ina, you described that really well—that’s exactly what crafting is like :-)
@Ruth, your Kasper puppets look fantastic—and there are so many of them!
@Gabi, how big is the house overall?