What is Handicraft?

Posted on 16 apr 2008

The evolution of craft

When our grandmothers were just Mothers, and Mothers were young girls, almost every woman knew the grounds of handicrafts. The skill to sew and knit was a necessity rather than a hobby, in fact, it was difficult to get anything from ready-made clothes and be different from the others.

After a wide variety of products appeared on the counters many old craftsmen neglected their handcrafted skills as the handicraft ceased to be a necessity. Financial opportunities of population grew up and free time appeared. Little by little the interest to creativity itself began to wake up. The shops began to sell special materials and tools for different kinds of handicrafts, people began to learn about different techniques via the Internet. Thanks to new materials and technologies, the process of creative work has simplified significantly. Now it is not necessary to have a professional degree, professional equipment and private studio to make something interesting.

Plastic material

Plastic is a relatively new material, also known as polymerous clay. It recalls Plasticine by properties of the substance – it is soft, flexible, it can be of different colors – but after charring it becomes hard like clay, just at a lower temperature (about 130%), which allows easily to work with it at home, using a usual kitchen oven.

Now there are many different techniques to work with plastic. Besides amusing figurines of animals, wonderful dolls are modeled from it; it is used for design elements. But more often adornments are created, for which almost all the elements, except for accessories can be made by hand. This gives a great freedom in terms of design – all necessary materials (stone, wood, leather, glass), can be imitated from the same plastic material.

Painting on glass

Painting on glass is very popular now. The effect of a genuine stained-glass can be achieved with the help of modern paints on glass! If earlier a small quantity of people dealt with stained glass, now each may try himself in this field.

The decoupage technique is widely spread nowadays. It is sticking of a thin tissue or paper napkin with drawing using special glue – varnish on different types of surfaces. As a result the person who never has held the brush in hands can create an unusual designer handmade thing using painting on glass and wood.