why do we make stuff?

[Mickey]

So necessity may have been the mother, but the huge reward of making somebody happy was the important part.

You got that right, sir. Knowing that somebody truly appreciates what you created is a feeling that can't be beat. It is essentially why I am basically a non-profit enterprise at this point. I'd rather make people happy in exchange for barter (secret fishing hole tip, craftwork that I cannot do, etc) than a cash payout that I am worth, but cannot in good conscience, justify charging these days.

I just like making stuff.

[xman]

Humans are natural creative animals. It is an evolutionary advantage that we have developed to gain advantage over our environment. All people are so. Those who deny this primal trait are denying themselves their own humanity.

"We do not do this thing because it is permitted. We do it because we have to. We do it because we are compelled". Rorschach - Watchmen ~ Allan Moore

[bonnie heather]

Wow, indeed! This a wonderful thread!! It's fascinating to read what you all have said.

All of my life I've loved making things, including artwork.

My dad was a professional artist, illustrator and cartoonist and most of his friends were artists, too. He was the first artist to draw The Shadow comic books and he also did "Maggie and Jiggs" for the daily newspapers. He worked at home, drawing pictures everyday and I thought that was a normal way of life. I remember sitting in his studio and drawing, too, when I was a little child.

When I was a teenager I lived in Japan for 2 years and went to a Japanese art school, learning Nihonga. When I came back I went to the Art Students League, doing oil painting and drawing everyday. I used to sketch people on the NYC subways and there were so many interesting faces. Also I spent days and days in the galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with oil paints, canvas and easel, copying master paintings by Vermeer, Renoir and Sir Thomas Lawrence. It was a great way to absorb and learn techniques of the artists that I admired so much.

Later I joined a painting group and we got together every week to paint and draw. We did group shows and that led to getting portrait commissions.
I love starting with a blank piece of paper or canvas and bringing it to life with a pencil or a brush and some colors
I really like doing art work, but it's almost impossible to make a steady living at it.
So, I thought I could do art part time and something more practical the other half of my time....

What to do?? I've always enjoyed sewing and related crafts, like needlepoint, embroidery, cross-stitch samplers, knitting, crochet, doll making, etc.
Actually, I enjoy making things with my hands so much, that I can hardly endure sitting still without a project to work on. To this day, I still have scary dreams about being on a long plane trip without my sewing project bag. The horror! The anxiety! The trembling, empty hands without the comfort and pleasure of my sewing things.
My name is Bonnie and I'm an addict. Ha-ha.

But now for the past six years I have the happiness and satisfaction of making kilts. Yay! And to my surprise and delight, there's never an empty work table or lack of kilts to be made or altered. And... there are things to make that are related to kilts...like flashes, or fly plaids, or vests, or rosettes, or sashes. And there are more things to learn how to make. It's a good thing.
Now, I just need to carve out some time to keep doing artwork, as well.

[tyger]

Wow, indeed! This a wonderful thread!! It's fascinating to read what you all have said.

All of my life I've loved making things, including artwork.

But now for the past six years I have the happiness and satisfaction of making kilts. .

Thanks Bonnie. Lots of art in your path. I think the art of creation is special. Anybody can buy and sell. Hawk and gawk and gripe. And the come-ons: free this, free that. Jeesh. Deliver me!

[Alan H]

Wonderful post, Bonnie....loved that.

---------

It's funny, I feel like I don't have a drop of "art" in me. My mother drew and painted, and I sort of tried, but never got anywhere with it. Music was my thing. I've since spent some time with Photography, and that's fun but somehow to me it's not the same. Others may disagree, and I absolutely agree that skill and art in the darkroom completely qualifies, but I never got that far with it.

However, I like building stuff. The transition from building stuff out of 2 x 4's and plywood or metal, to sewing was no big deal. I think this is why my approach to kilts is different from many people here. I don't sew them. I build them.

One of my favorite boatbuilding books is by a guy named George Buehler. George really does NOT fit into the usual "Naval Architect" mold. One of the things that George just hates is the "Wooden Boat School Guys". These are the guys who have to dovetail every joint to 1/1,000 inch perfection and every single surface must be covered by nine layers of immaculate varnish. George is of the "bolt it together with some glue and paint it" school. The thing is, his boats sail just fine.

Quote from George's book...."It's a BOAT, not a SHRINE".

My adaption? "It's a KILT, not a SHRINE"

[Elf]

It's the curse of a creative mind. I look at something and I like this part but maybe not that part so much. I think of how I would do it then of course no one out there is going to have a mass produced item that matches my ruminations. I have to make it myself or it's not going to happen.

Then of course my freinds learn what I can do and rib me for giving in to mass production if I do buy ready made. In re-enacting I have several checked shirts and of course the plaid has to match or else I'll hear it no end from my associates. I've been contemplating making a kilt box pleated to nothing, but fear this very comment from them. The fabric has sat for three years now. Must admit however that I've trapped myself.

I also came to this forum through reasearch for DIY projects. Good luck to all the creative types out there.

[Teufel Hunden]

I've always had a creative streak. As a kid, I wrote stories and drew pictures all the time. My art was.... ok... for a kid of that age, but all the adults in my life couldn't stop going on about my stories. I eventually got to a point where I was writing comic books and creating super heroes and all sorts of stuff. Beyond the creative writing, little else interested me, and I sort of isolated myself from most other experiences.

I can't really explain the transition, or why it happened, but one day I decided I wanted to experience more. I wanted to experience so much, there wasn't enough time in the day for all the things I wanted to do. It became an insatiable drive to learn and do everything I could. Perhaps making up for lost time that some of my travels in the Marine Corps had shown me I missed... who knows.

Basically, I went from someone who had written a few stories and could make a mean quesadilla at home to someone who must have everything custom made. I started learning how to cook different dishes from around the world. I even went so far as to start making all my own ingredients for cooking. Making my own pizza sauce from fresh tomatoes, and making my own cheese from fresh milk.

I'm in the midst of creating all my own home decorations:






I even make my own alcohol.




It still goes deeper than that. More than just creating things, I want to learn as much as I can, and DO as much of it as possible. 5 years ago, I had zero interest in dancing. Now, here's my wife and I during our first dance, a Viennese Waltz:




WHY is the most difficult thing to put into words. It's like I spent all that time as a kid purposefully keeping a somewhat narrow view to only the things that interested me. Then one day I opened my eyes and saw just how amazing the world really is... Now I want to see and touch and create as much as I can.

[Kilted Rogue]

I make bread cause its a passion. i did it professional for 10 yrs and now I enjoy it even more at home. I havent bought bread for the past 3 yrs and I tought my wife and 3 yr old son to make it too. thats the satisfaction i get from making things. Taking raw, simple materials and Creating from them. Pure Joy