Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Have You Ever Thought About...

This hobby, this addiction, this compulsion? My friend Jenn Buck posed a question Monday on our Unity forum in SCS. She asked "Why?" I read every response, and boy, did I love the stories! So, let me go a little deeper (yes, Jimmi, just for you).

From the beginning, women have been the backbone of society (no male bashing, just facts). They stayed in their community, raised the kids, cooked the meals, cleaned, leaned on one another, passed on techniques and recipes, and shared all the work together. They also established most of the "polite" society rules. You can still see vestiges of that societal rule in the stay-at-home moms of the first half of the 1900s. Now, women yearn to be able to stay at home. We've grown more technological and machine dependent. The work of being a woman has changed dramatically.

So have the social constructs. Look around - do you see quilting bees? Days of outdoor canning sessions where everyone pitches in to put up the garden crops? Women who know the struggles of their neighbors for more than just gossip fodder? A place where a newlywed can ask a sensitive question about sex without being thought of as a harlot? Yet, each and every one of us acknowledge the most important aspect of this craft - connectivity.

When I first began teaching scrapbooking, I discovered this eroded female community. Our days sap our energies, our commutes and workloads fragment our home lives, and many of us don't know our neighbors names. I found, through the crops I hosted, that there was a dire hunger for a past-time that could be shared among the young and old alike. A chance to come together, share stories, conquer demons, pick each other up, solve bedwetting issues and the like. It was an Aha! moment for me.

I began a crusade...you are all living in my test lab and are wonderful examples - even you silent lurkers! I made it my passion to find and bring groups of ladies together. No, I don't really make that obvious, conscious effort, but I find this common thread running through us all. Even the silent lurkers crave the community of peers, the warm wishes of a friend, the knowledge that no one really has to be alone. Paper crafting solves that need to keep our hands busy and our hearts light. It is the "new" quilting bee.

And so, it is with great delight that I thank each and every one of you for touching my lives, for recognizing the true need for this hobby, the extra fulfillment it brings that goes beyond the tangible, and the deepest answer to the question "Why". We may build a paper house, but we touch the world. Sleep well my friends.

Peace be the journey... cool runnings.

Ta for now. ~ky

17 comments:

  1. Ky, that is so touching. I love everything your wrote! It's so true. Thanks girlie!

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  2. awww.....you worded that so perfectly!!! Luv you bunches my dear friend!!!

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  3. wonderful post Ky... u nailed it.

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  4. This is so much a reward from crafting, you and all the friends I have made in the crafting world...it has filled a void in me and I am grateful everyday there is somewhere to go to find quality people and be able to talk about everything! (I had the Cheers theme song running through my head!) Thank YOU ky for being an awesome friend and touching MY life! hugs!

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  5. I never thought about it this way, but I think I agree. Women feel a need to connect, and it has gotten harder to do as two-income homes become more prevalent. Thanks for a great thought!

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  6. awww sweetie what a fabulous post and so, so true. You girls have enriched my life so much and I thank you for your support, encouragement and friendship.

    Hugs!!

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  7. You are amazing Ky! I absolutely love this blog post!

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  8. You really know how to make a person cry, don't you? Love you, my friend!

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  9. I agree with Carole... you know how to make us cry Ky! But it was definitely happy tears. You are such an amazing women, and we are all so blessed to have you as our friend. Thank you. I love you hun! *hugs* :-)

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  10. So beautifully put. I've often thought about how we women come together to stamp, scrap, or just chat and pretend to be stamping or scrapping. It's a need that we have to just be together and connect. Thank you for this!

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  11. So very true Ky!!! And finding and creating the these communities makes such an impact on us....and one we can pass along to others!!! Thanks so much for being part of my community Ky!!! HUGS!!

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  12. So well said Ky!!
    Thanks for writing this!

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  13. This is such a sweet post, Ky! Love it! Thank you so much for sharing! Hugs!

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  14. Wow! You're dead on! Very well written!

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  15. Wow, you couldn't have said it better. It's like you looked into my heart and knew exactly what it was thinking. An amazing post.
    xoxo, Christine

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  16. Hi Ky... trying to bury this post. I'm on a covert operation... can you email me? stampindeva[ a t ]bellsouth[ d o t ]net.

    Thanks!

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Welcome to the Bunny Nest! I host rescued animals in a small in-home setting. Currently, I host 3 bunnies and 2 kitties. These animals will be socialized and housed for the entirety of their lives in my home. They inspire my crafts, and I use any proceeds to pay for their needs. Thanks for visiting!