Sunday, September 20, 2009

Crafty?



When I was at the Doctor last week for a check up, she said something that really bothered me. I should clarify here that I LOVE my Doctor. She saved my life. (After a year and a half of going to other doctors and useless tests and still being sick, I paid one visit to my gynecologist and she knew what was wrong with me, and sent me to the neurologist for treatment. Problem solved. Lesson learned - don't skip your gynecologist appointments - ever!)
But I digress. she was telling me about these cool key lanyards that some other doctor friends had, and I commented that making a lanyard for her keys would be easy! Matter of minutes! Piece of cake! And she said, "oh you're one of those crafty people!"
Crafty? Me? This from a woman who took a sledgehammer to a closet to do a little room remodel?
I don't know why I was miffed but I was. I guess the term "crafty" bothers me. I've made my share of quilts and decorations along with clothes and home dec. Maybe I shouldn't have been offended. Maybe we need to take back the term craft and
make it mean something special again. Like the old term craftperson. (I am NOT making little trees with gumdrops - ever. Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
Has anyone ever said something about your sewing that bothered you? Would it bother you if someone called you "crafty"?

5 comments:

NancyDaQ said...

Yep, that would bother me. The term brings to mind hot glue and tackiness. I don't think the doc meant anything by it, particularly but I think I know where you're coming from.

Crystal said...

I am called "crafty" all the time. While I definitely wouldn't use that to describe myself, because it conjures images like you posted, I don't get offended. I don't think people mean it as a negative. Although, sometimes with the accompanying tone I sense jealousy or misunderstanding of who I am and why I do what I do. That bothers me more because we were all made different, and lets celebrate that!

Karen said...

I would probably consider taking MY sledgehammer to someone who called me "crafty." I also bristle at sewing as a "hobby."

I'm sure she didn't mean it as an insult (she's probably not "crafty" or creative at all and thinks it's a good thing), but I'd still be thinking sledgehammer.

Toby Wollin said...

I always bristle at 'home sewing' - where else am I supposed to sew? Out in the garage? Out in the barn with the chickens? Am I supposed to rent a room in town to sew in? Would that somehow make my sewing better? Sheesh.

gwensews said...

That is an interesting question. What IS what we do? Is it art? Is it craft? Sewing deserves a term, a description that belongs to it and it alone. Anyone know a good term for it?