“Threaded Through Time” is a blog series that invites you on a nostalgic and insightful journey into the world of crafts. Each post will aim to unravel the threads of creativity that have woven through my life. Connecting the crafts from my past to those I feel drawn to in my present. I aim to uncover the origin of my maker’s instincts and to inspire a newfound appreciation for handcrafted treasures.
I often sit and wonder what makes someone want to create. What is that feeling and how do we know what it means? Where does it come from? Nature? Nurture? I think it is a bit of both.
As far back as I remember all I wanted to do was ‘solve (my) problems’ by making something. I wanted my Barbie to go from being a banker, to a high school student with a locker. NO problem, I needed to create a Barbie locker like the one I had seen on TV. So I would sit with old cereal boxes and other toys I already was lucky enough to have and I would recreate what I wanted my Barbie to have. The need wasn’t only limited to barbies, it ranged to tree houses or lemonade stands. There was always a problem to solve and I loved being resourceful. Seeing a single button and thinking of all the possibilities that it could become.
My awe for all items and products handmade was really nurtured from a young age. Growing up in a small town we had a yearly arts festival, which of course was the highlight of the year. There was always so much excitement around that time. Artists and patrons would come from far and wide to be part of the festival and to see parts of it. All arts and crafts were celebrated, from handmade bags, pottery, and furniture pieces to magic shows, dramas, and one-man shows. Musicians were also celebrated, whether part of an orchestra or the singular artist playing around the food area. This was a huge part of my life and something that made my imagination soar. I always remember feeling inspired (and full of sugar) after getting back home after each day we would go. My parents would often do volunteer work at a charity store so I would have daily unlimited access to all the vendors and to see all the crafts.
It really was a time to be alive, they had whole shops dedicated to fairy figurines and dragons or handmade Barbie clothes that you would not believe. In so many ways this nurtured me without me ever realizing it until recently. Being exposed to a space where so many varieties of handmade items were celebrated really was where my admiration for handmade and unique items started.
I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with my grandparents when I was young. My gran was an incredible seamstress before she had a stroke. I grew up mostly only having clothes that she made for me and I remember being so excited by all the trinkets and all the different types of fabrics. I was always particularly drawn to her big box of buttons collected over the years, there was always some new treasure I would find in there and then be able to call it my own.
I think I always saw ‘little treasures’ in the details and the elements used in sewing, knitting, or other crafts. The small details and stitches that some people do not see, the love and time put into one item that holds so much sentimental value. I think that the sentimental value of ‘handmade’ specifically is what I attach myself to, the stories of the people who made that item give it so much more life and energy.
Recently after speaking to another friend, who is also very creative in so many forms. I asked where she thought her creativity and want to sing, draw and paint came from. Her answer was “This is such a cool question and it really got me thinking”. Her dad is an artist, so she was always encouraged to express herself and hone her natural talents. She said that ultimately for her she uses it as a release of emotions and she thinks that there is nothing better than music to do that.
If you have made it here, I really would love to know what does your maker’s instinct feel like? How do you know what to do with it and which form of creativity are you mostly drawn to?
Kerryn believes that any craft should be celebrated, and the knowledge shared, so through ThreadBear she hopes to inspire and showcase how crafts and trades are an important part of life!
