| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | projects as soon as you feel an urge, cut-n-paste, |
| Diana discovered the joy of pottery after suffering a | | | | candle-making, ceramics, or pottery may be a better |
| terrible divorce. Taking a seat at the wheel with a | | | | fit. |
| lump of clay, she felt an immediate release. Her mind | | | | 4. Space available |
| cleared and her heart rate slowed down. She was | | | | Do you affectionately call your apartment a |
| able to relax in a way she hadn’t for weeks. | | | | cupboard? If you need an activity that takes up little |
| “Better than therapy—and | | | | space or can be cleaned up in a jiffy, yarn and |
| medication!” she happily reported to her | | | | needlecrafts can be tucked away in a basket or a |
| doctor after her first day at a community education | | | | drawer. Baking and cake decorating use what you |
| class, where she went on to make friends with | | | | probably already have in your kitchen, and jewelry |
| fellow potters, further enriching her life. | | | | only needs a modest tackle-box with little |
| For Kris it was counted cross-stitch. The repetitive | | | | compartments for beads and tools. But perhaps you |
| motion of the needle passing up and down through | | | | have a room or a whole basement where a hobby |
| crisp cloth put her in a near-meditative state, the | | | | could take up a permanent residence? Pottery is such |
| way yoga does for some. In this state Kris was able | | | | a hobby. If you quilt by hand you will need a room |
| to work out solutions to her daily challenges. | | | | where a fairly large frame can be set up (unless you |
| “It was like the ideas dropped into my mind | | | | only want to do baby quilts). A table for laying out |
| out of the sky,” she told a close friend. | | | | and cutting patterns is required for sewing, and most |
| Shawn found furniture restoration to be wonderfully | | | | people don’t appreciate having to lug out the |
| soothing after a stressful day at the office. The raw | | | | machine every time you want to work on a project. |
| scent of wood loosened him up, and he was | | | | (However, it can be done.) Lotions-n-potions, and |
| surprised how satisfying it was to sit down at a table | | | | candle and soap making can be done in the kitchen |
| he had restored himself. | | | | as long as precautions are taken, but ideally they |
| Such is the world of DIY. Discovering the right craft | | | | need a separate space, since you are using |
| for your personality and temperament can be a | | | | dangerous chemicals that you don’t want to |
| reward that transforms your life. | | | | accidentally mix with food. Gardening is ideal if you |
| The crafting world is as wide and diverse as a | | | | have a nice-sized yard, but many green-thumbed |
| tropical rainforest. Each crafting activity has unique | | | | apartment dwellers find cultivating the space around |
| benefits and challenges. You could spend your entire | | | | their windows, on their patio, or even potted indoor |
| life just trying out different crafts. While this may be | | | | plants a satisfying diversion. Don’t lose heart |
| fun, it can be expensive and frustrating. Should you | | | | if you don’t have space for an activity that |
| desire to narrow your search down, this article will | | | | interests you—just sign up for a community |
| act as your guide by investigating the world of crafts | | | | class! |
| as they fit into five spectrums. If one activity | | | | 5. Available funds for expenses |
| doesn’t suit you, take heart. Crafting is for | | | | Each craft has a range of what you could pay for |
| everyone—you are bound to find that perfect | | | | the activity, depending on your taste and willingness. |
| match. | | | | If you are picky about using only hand-dyed, |
| 1. Short-term projects vs. long-term projects. | | | | organically grown 100% wool yarn, you are going to |
| Do you have a need for immediate gratification? If | | | | pay a lot more than someone who works with an |
| you do, you might prefer cake decorating, ceramics, | | | | acrylic yarn available at the closest |
| candle-making, lotions-n-potions, or cut-n-paste | | | | Woolworth’s. It is a good idea when just |
| projects (scrapbooking, collage, and decoupage), | | | | starting out to borrow someone else’s |
| which deliver results relatively quickly. Conversely, if | | | | equipment, or use inexpensive supplies until you know |
| you are known to possess the patience of Job, | | | | it is an activity you are going to stick with. Then you |
| needlecrafts and quilting may be your thing. (Although | | | | can slowly replace your supplies with quality items |
| quilting by machine cuts down the time dramatically). | | | | that you appreciate. On average, pottery and sewing |
| If you like long-term projects, pottery and gardening | | | | require more expensive equipment to begin, while |
| are also excellent choices, since they involve several | | | | you can garden, cross-stitch, or cut-n-paste on a |
| steps. | | | | shoestring budget. Yarn crafts are the cheapest |
| 2. Fastidiousness vs. playfulness/ looseness | | | | activities to try, since they don’t require a lot |
| Needlecrafts, baking, and jewelry-making require a | | | | of expensive equipment to start. Again, a class might |
| meticulous and careful eye, whereas cooking, | | | | be the best investment for the more expensive |
| gardening and cut-n-paste projects are more | | | | hobbies. |
| appropriate for the playful type. Keep in mind that | | | | If you still aren't sure which craft is right for you, talk |
| many activities can go either way or are best for | | | | to other crafters about why they enjoy their craft. |
| those who can balance a bit of each quality. | | | | Ask if you can join them one day to see if it is |
| 3. Planner by nature vs. spontaneous to the core | | | | something that appeals to you. Be patient with |
| If you don’t mind doing a little math, counted | | | | yourself as you begin each new activity--nothing kills |
| cross-stitch, knitting, and crochet are great activities. | | | | the excitement of trying something new more than |
| Needlecrafts, quilting and sewing also require planning | | | | impossibly high expectations. Don't worry--as you |
| and pattern-reading. If all this sounds too boring or | | | | continue, your skills will improve. You will also know |
| frustrating and you prefer to jump headlong into | | | | better which activities suit you best. |