When I put together the Crafting Resolutions, I really didn’t think this one would fly. But like I said, it’s good to dream. Why don’t I think it is possible? There are many reasons, and here are some.
Crafting is a creative pursuit, and the things you work on are to a certain extent dictated by how you are feeling at the time, and you can’t simply force yourself to only work on things for which you have all the components already. If you really want to make that bag made out of recycled denim that you saw on Pinterest, you will not be happy making the baby bibs for which you already have everything you need. In fact, you won’t be happy until you’ve been to the charity shop, sourced those denim jeans, then been to the craft shop to get the matching thread, and while you are at it, bought some bling to jazz up the bag, and added to your collection of buttons with some that called to you while you were looking for the bling.
Made with leftover wool scraps |
Another reason I think the “nothing new” resolution won’t work is because there are new things coming out all the time, and if you only buy to replace things used, you will never get a chance to try these new things. Taking this to the extreme, if we only ever replaced existing, we would all be sewing by hand as we wouldn’t have sewing machines! Yes, that is way too extreme. But everyone knows that trying new things is essential for our mental health, and we would all be bored, doing the same old thing.
If I only ever bought to replace, I would never have discovered the pleasure and meditation of doing cross-stitch. I would never have learned that I really don’t like scrapbooking. And I wouldn’t have the choices I do now to satisfy my crafting cravings – what do I feel like doing today?
My current “lust after” item |
I can live with that. Can you?