Arts & Crafts; A Love/Hate Relationship.
By Orlaigh McLay, Family Learning Worker
When you think of Arts & Crafts, what do you think of? Pritt sticks, cardmaking, plastic beads, pipe cleaners, lolly pop sticks, PVA glue, tissue paper? Did that list excite you or fill you with dread? Did you do any of the activities listed in our previous Family Learning blog? If so, have a think about how they made you feel. It’s what we experienced in school and it’s what our children know and (presumably) love. It keeps them busy and entertained, it encourages creativity, messy play and independence. However, I don’t think I’m alone when I say that as a parent, I find it quite overwhelming; the mess, the stickiness, the cut-up bits of paper all over the floor, the glue in hair and the glitter that can still be found 10 years later.
It’s ok to not love every second of it and it’s ok to dread the clean-up. For some, the cons outweigh the pros and Arts & Crafts isn’t something that features readily in their homes, and that’s ok. It’s good to acknowledge that you don’t enjoy something and if facilitating it for your child brings your resting heart rate up; there are other things you can do that the whole family will enjoy. The interests and passions in these homes may lie within imaginative play, dancing, discovering different types of music or instruments, cooking, baking, or exploring nature. Children find it easier to enjoy and explore topics that their parents show interest and/or confidence in.
As a parent, I will admit that the potential mess does bother me, but I try to remind myself that I don’t need to control the mess, and that everything is wipeable (wishful thinking?). I tell myself that everything can be tidied up after my child has enjoyed some card-making or painting and that her enjoyment is the priority. I try to be present and encouraging and try not to interfere or tidy while she is busy discovering textures, colours and shapes. My child loves being creative, and nothing makes her prouder than gifting her creations to her family and friends, or sticking something on the fridge. Nothing makes me prouder too!
This blog however isn’t about how to remove a Pritt stick from your child’s hair, or how to get a bead out of their nose (a very recent experience for us which ended up at Crosshouse Hospital), it’s about how you can bring Arts & Crafts into your life, as an adult. You don’t have to have an art degree, or a broad range of fancy paintbrushes or the best quality oil pastels. You just need time… Did you scoff reading that? Time is something I’m sure you feel you have very little of. Between preparing school lunches, working through piles of washing, keeping the house tidy, dealing with sickness bugs, catching up on Love Island, keeping the fridge stocked and paying your bills, you probably feel like you barely have enough time to wash your own hair or grab a cup of tea. But if you can, forget about the washing for half an hour. Ignore the pile of toys on the floor when your kids have gone to bed. Take a deep breath and have some time for yourself. Some people like going for a bath or reading a book, others like to see what’s new on Netflix or cook tomorrow’s dinner. It’s all some form of self-care, isn’t it? It’s all about taking some time to unwind.
For me, I do that with Arts & Crafts. Within my home (which is our second renovation project, I know – we must be mad), I love to paint murals, or just decorate (see photos). I like making things look nicer, and I love to inject colour. I take time to consider colour schemes, furniture, textiles, functionality, and budget (that’s a topic for another blog). When I’m not pretending that I’m an Interior Designer, I’m making something. I recently discovered cross stitch and have been working on a project for my sister’s wedding anniversary. It was supposed to be for her wedding last year but see paragraph about limited time above. I have picked up supplies in charity shops and have been lucky to be given a huge box of needles, thread, and fabric for free. That’s the joy of the Arts & Crafts community; when you tell someone you’re interested in something, they will no doubt give you things they don’t need or have valuable knowledge about where to buy or look for things.
I recently completed my first embroidery project, which was just a little beginners pack from the sale section in Wilko (see photo). I learned how to do all the stitches (with the help of YouTube of course) and loved seeing it come together. I found time to do this in the evenings, when the wee one was tucked up in bed. I would get comfy on the sofa with a cup of tea and just work at it for as long as I wanted to. Some nights my eyes were strained from a day on my laptop, or my head was sore after a noisy bath time with a toddler. Some nights, it felt impossible to thread the needle, which if I stabbed myself with, would be enough to make me want to launch the loop out of the window. So, I would pack it all away and come back to it another night. It’s not about pushing yourself to work at something constantly until it’s finished. It’s about focussing in on something that doesn’t require a huge amount of effort or concentration. At first it might, but then it becomes easier.
I’ve found that since trying to bring Arts & Crafts back into my life as an adult, I’m more relaxed and I have more patience. I’m productive and mindful and it must be good exercise for my brain (I’m sure that’s a thing). I don’t feel like my evenings have escaped me and I enjoy spending time making things I’m proud of, just like my little girl does.
Have a look at these ideas of Arts & Crafts that you could try:
“Be Happy” Embroidery Craft Kit
Botanical Embroidery Craft Kit
Orlaigh McLay
Family Learning Worker
