Why Do you Create?

Alison Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 3:44 PM

I like to create because it’s fun. It makes me smile and I like to share what I’ve created in the hope it will make others smile

Iris Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 3:47 PM

I create because I have a passion for it. Art makes life more interesting.
I’m having an illustration exhibition now, you can take a look here on
my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Iris-Biran-Illustrator/105037726193230

My blog http://irisbiran.blogspot.com/

My website: http://www.irisbiran.com

Isobel Morrell Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 4:00 PM

I create (and increasingly, renovate) plush fur toys because it gives me a break from caring for my disabled husband. It also helps to keep my increasingly arthritic fingers moving. But, principally, because I get a real buzz from seeing what appears after I’ve cut out the pattern pieces and put them together, while imagining who they will ultimately become their BEST FRIEND.

Melinda Martin Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 1:02 AM

Isobel rocks! She is 70 years old and is burning up the megabytes. She is fearless in her online endeavor. My vote is for Isobel!

http://insideetsy.blogspot.com/2011/04/coldham-cuddlies.html

Creative_Accidents Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 4:00 PM

Because well the world would be so grey and dull if we didn’t get all that joy from creating things! At first I created just in my free time but now I’m really making free time to create things and that’s what makes the difference. You get more satisfaction from it when you can finish a piece at once =) and I also love the face of people who are so grateful because they get a handmade gift.

my shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/birgitvankeer

Sara Prior Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 4:00 PM

I’m not able to be as creative as I would like at my workplace, so to let my fun, free and funkiness come alive I make jewelry and gifts.

I just love seeing one of my designs hanging around someone else’s neck or from their ears. Jewelry making is good for the mind, body and soul. Basically, I create because it’s good for my health!

Sara P~
FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Prior-To-This/169321823127572

etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/PriorToThis?ref=pr_shop

Michelle Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 4:08 PM

I worked as an engineer in the past but the work depressed me a lot. After a while, I decided to quit my job and do something I liked. I now spend most of my time making clutch purse but I enjoy it so much!I feel I have truly found my calling!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/misala.purse
Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/michellechan1010

Shelley Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 4:24 PM

My main reason for craeting is stress relief. i am a stay at home mom and homeschooler, so I need something to distract my mind.
The other reason is color. I love all colors, some more than others. Color inspires me and can put me in a good mood almost instantly. All of my hobbies are ones that I can make colorful projects. From knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, sewing, and digital scrapbooking, I love lots of color!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/shellebelle216?ref=si_shop

Betty Atkins Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 4:30 PM

Because I have to! I remember weaving grass for a mat before I started school. (for my dolls) I made my own paper dolls and later designed and made my real doll’s dresses. I can’t remember not creating. If I don’t create something every day I get antsy. Does this mean I am compulsive?

Kristina Chadwick Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 4:35 PM

I have a very left-brain job and I like to exercise my right brain. Creating allows me to relax and pounding out clay is a great stress reliever!

Sharee Johnson Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 5:36 PM

I guess it started for me when I was really little and my dad would say, “A guy ought to be able to make something out of that.” My favorite creation of my dad’s was when he took two old Chevy car hoods, welded them together and then flipped it over and added seats to use as a boat. We fished the river from that boat all summer.

I create because I am extremely kinesthetic. I almost can’t help touching everything I come across (that’s a problem in museums). When I get new fabric I don’t even cut it for a while. I have it sitting near me so that I can touch it. It’s almost like tasting something that is rich and luxurious and melting in your mouth. (Wait! Maybe that’s why I like to cook so much, too.) I also love color. Colors move and give light to the textures I’m feeling.

I came into selling my craft only because it gives me room to make more. I’m actually a little sad every time one of those things sells because they’ve become a part of me from the very beginning – from that beginning of sitting near me and making me smile as I touch.

Chrissy M. Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 10:18 AM

I too can relate to the touching thing! My husband always yells at me cause I literally walk through a store and poke… touch… caress anything that catches my eye. My computer screen is even covered with finger print! YEA TOUCH SCREEN GADGETS!

Sharee Johnson Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 5:37 PM

Oops, I forgot to give you links. Check my blog at http://www.aShareeDesign.blogspot.com and my etsy shop at http://www.aShareeDesign.etsy.com.

Jayne Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 6:27 PM

Love reading why others create. I can so relate to Sharee’s post about needing to touch everything.
I create because it is a part of who I am. I grew up in a creative home, and we always made things for Christmas and birthday gifts. I was the youngest in a family of 6 kids so economics played a part as well. I am always my best self when surrounded by my family, my animals, art and creating.
For a few years when my daughter was small, I lived on a remote island – Dutch Harbor, AK. Art supplies, or craft supplies were nil there. Even so I learned to weave grass baskets, (not well, I might add), make Aleut dolls, and made our Christmas ornaments from cooked salt and flour dough. Supplies were scarce but I still had to find a way to create.
I know that the one constant that will always be a part of me is creating.

samsstuff Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 8:35 PM

I create to tell stories, whether those stories are in writing, in pictures, woven in jewelry, embroidered into a piece, sewn or crocheted. I love to tell stories. The mediums differ, the stories differ, but each piece has one & all are unified in that I’m the one telling the tale. I love to create stories…

maril Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 8:36 PM

just makes me fly…..

Zodiaque Bath Products Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 8:55 PM

I create to share health and a natural way to relax, and heal the body and mind! I love to help those around me, and this is my way of sharing peace and wellness with (hopefully someday….) the world!

VISIT our blog: http://zodiaquebathproducts.blogspot.com/
FOLLOW on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ZodiaqueBath
LIKE us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZodiaqueBath
ENTER our store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Zodiaque

Kathy Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 8:56 PM

I have always loved to create things! It is a passion of mine.
I love how it makes a person smile when they receive and handmade item.
I always give handmade gifts either from me or from someone who makes items too.

Patricia Royal Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 9:04 PM

I like to create because it’s in my DNA and nothing can stop it. =)

Holly Louen Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 9:05 PM

Every creative endeavor requires some sort of inspiration to fuel the process, and it can arrive at any time and in any form-a person, nature, music, a favorite place or a new place. The road between an idea and a finished piece is a winding one that starts and stops, changes direction, and may not even resemble the original thought at the end. But it’s really about the journey.
Creating for me is meditative. It frees my mind and opens it to inspiration. When you create, there are no boundaries.
http://tuscanroad.etsy.com
http://tuscanroad.blogspot.com

Glass Dragonfly Reply 27. Jun, 2011 at 10:05 PM

Similar to Isobel Morrell, I make things in part to keep my hands moving. I don’t have arthritis, but I do have a chronic and probably degenerative nerve condition in both hands. It’s a case of “use it or lose it”, and as I like my fine motor skills, I find things to do that allows me to maximize my hand use.

In the past, creative efforts have been all over the map, from mixed media and photography to jewelry-making. I fell into making hair accessories when a friend asked me to make a fascinator for her wedding and everyone else I knew started asking for them. So this gives me the best of both worlds, right now – physical therapy for my hands, and getting everyone to shut up about “oh you should open an Etsy shop.”

But as the basement in my parents house, not to mention my walls and closets, will attest, all the hand issue has done is focus my creative outlet. I’d still do it – although probably in a less focused manner – because I don’t know how not to.

Rosie Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 3:54 AM

I have a passion that I need to express and it satisfies my desire to make art as often as possible when I create! It’s also a brilliant way to make friends and family’s gifts. I offer my items for sale on Etsy because I am over-creative and overstocked!!!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dianic
Plus, I blog about my creative processes and the recycling element to my art…
http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com

whyte Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 4:52 AM

I really don’t know why I create, for me it’s like a genetic anomaly. I can’t remember not creating, building, experimenting……and experimenting is a huge part of the satisfaction I feel while creating. The finished product is almost a let down, it’s the process that gives me the high, watching a transformation evolve utilizing any medium, from yarn to paint. “Building a better mousetrap”.

Upcycling and repurposing have been incredibly rewarding: using found objects to create art. It satisfies the muse while redefining the object, sometimes avoiding some of pollution and waste shamefully delivered to this earth that we can take for granted.

http://www.whyte.etsy.com
http://www.whytestuffs.etsy.com
http://www.whytehook.esty.com

Pearl (Pearl @ Play) Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 5:38 AM

I create because it allows me to connect with the inventive and child in me, where dreams have no boundaries, and also escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

murmur fremo Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 6:08 AM

Creation is a natural part of who I am. There really isn’t a ‘why’, it just is, and has been that way from a very young age. When I started crafting full time I was afraid that I would lose the pleasure of it, but instead that feeling has grown. Everyday I feel the need to create more strongly and the ideas just flow. It’s awesome!

blog: http://www.murmurfremo.com
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Murmur-Fremo/156103657788724

Jim Arnold Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 6:18 AM

Why do I create?

When I first answered this question I wrote all the crap about allowing me self expression, and using my brain, about how I started to draw when I was a kid, blah, blah, blah. I looked at my response and it was a load of road apples (road apples is horse manure for you folks not familiar with the term). I erased it and replaced it with the truth.

I create because it puts food on the table and it keeps the power on, it puts gas in the truck, pays my bills and keeps me from having a mindless, boring job that I would have otherwise spent 30+ years of my life on. I create because it allows me the freedom to do what I want, when I want to do it. I use materials that are around me, on my land. I grow my own trees to use in my wood creations. I create because it allows me to work with, grow, and be a part of nature. I create because my artwork has allowed me to be self sufficient with a miniscule footprint. What I create provides others with heirloom pieces that brings their family and friends together. They’re used as birthday gifts, Anniversary gifts, Wedding gifts, Christmas gifts, retirement gifts. They are used to mark some of the biggest occasions in people’s lives and then they provide a stage for memories and lessons that last a lifetime.

I create because its who I am and what I do, its been my life and will be my life until I’m done here.

Thanks for asking!

Jim

Dianna Reply 30. Jun, 2011 at 8:14 AM

I have seen your creations, they are some of the most amazing work I have ever the pleasure of viewing. Your Chess pieces are almost life like. The talent and love that goes into your work is astounding!

Babamoon Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 6:49 AM

I create because it reminds me that no matter what’s going on, I can create beautiful things inspired by the things that mean the most to me in my life, my children and the beauty of nature, and helps me to feel good inside about what i have achieved

For me my children have rekindled the artist in me that once upon a time was a big part of my life before my motivation for it had waned. I was an avid still life and life painter and sketch artist as well as a macrame crafter before loosing the love I had for creating due to systematic approaches got the better of me. When my son was born I had already started finding a passion for knitting, and picked up where i left off with digitally altered art, and then when my daughter was born I suddenly found myself brimming with ideas for childrens garments. I continue to be reminded every day that all things beautiful come straight from the heart

http://babamoon.etsy.com
http://moonangelnay.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/moonangelnayphotographyonetsy
http://www.twitter.com/moonangelnay

maro Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 7:59 AM

If I don’t, I’ll end up in a local hospital.It’s addictive. Simple as that …

http://blendbymaro.blogspot.com/
http://crearescreer.blogspot.com/2011/06/interviewing-maro-from-sandstar-jewelry.html
http://sandstarbymaro.wordpress.com/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001308594237
http://sandstarbymaro.tumblr.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/sandstarbymaro

Artsy Clay Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 8:44 AM

I create because it is a necessary part of my life like eating and breathing. I really think I would wither and die if I couldn’t create.

I am a writer and photographer at my day job which I love, but it’s such a joy to be able to come home at night and make something new. It relieves the stress of the day to let my “inner child” come out and play! It feels so good to mush my clay and mix colors and shape something for fun. I never know what’s going to come out and I am delighted with the wonderful surprises.

I grew up with an artistic mom and cousins. We were always making things, and it’s been gratifying my whole life to create handmade gifts and cards. People are so touched and appreciative when you have taken the time to make something beautiful and unique for them instead of buying it at a store.

I also have found it gratifying to grow, improve and evolve over time. My close friends tell me there is a world of difference between what I made when I started working with clay and what I make now. I am grateful for others’ encouragement and their delight in wearing what I make. I never dreamed of the happiness I would find in working with clay, and am grateful every day for the gifts I have received.

Kim Berger Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 9:43 AM

I don’t choose to create-it just happens!

JudyAGoddard Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 10:51 AM

I create because it give me joy! But to create is not enough. If I only created, then I would have no room to turn around! I would have whole storage facilities FILLED with my creations!

So, of equal joy is finding folks who love what I create and making them joyfull! But then I would be broke! It’s still amazing to me that folks will purchase what I make and then tell me how happy my creation makes them!

TeresaR Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 11:38 AM

I think everyone, deep down, has the same reason for creating: we can’t help ourselves! Some may end up doing it for nobler reasons, but, really, in the end, it’s because we’re compelled to.

samsstuff Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 11:55 AM

I forgot to add my links

Random Stuff by SAM (blog) http://samsstuff-samsstuff.blogspot.com
samsstuff Etsy http://samsstuff.etsy.com
shellseye Etsy http://shellseye.etsy.com

My blog links to Twitter @samsstuff & my FaceBook fan pages

I hope you can stop by!

(My first comment on why I create is further up towards the beginning)

rawqueen Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 12:22 PM

I create because it hurts if I don’t… My passion to create manifests in adornment primarily yet is limitless and meanders to the mixed media corner of my studio often. My creativity is similar to an addiction, sometimes down right manic and suffers greatly if I don’t nourish and feed the need, daily. For as long as I can remember I’ve been willing to drop everything to make stuff. Have hands will craft!

Callie Hamblin Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 12:44 PM

Wow, so many beautiful expressions of why. I even like Jim Arnold’s honesty.

I create because it’s who I am. I grew up as almost an only child in the country, just me and my parents. My mom had a stash of material and I loved to play in it. We never bought clothes, we made everything. By the age of 13, I made all of my own clothes because I’m a perfectionist and she wasn’t. She also taught me the fundamentals of crochet and knitting. Some of my favorite memories are of playing under a quilt she was working on (when quilt frames took up a whole room).

I didn’t realize until recently just how much I need to have something in my hands. I went out of town for a few days and didn’t take anything because I wanted to finish reading a book. I soon found myself at Walmart buying yarn and a crochet hook so my hands could keep busy while I visited with my mother-in-law.

Yes, I create because I’m compelled to, and I have an Etsy shop because I’m hoping to help with my kids college and LDS mission expenses instead of having to get a real job.

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/calliescraftcottage
Blog(still under construction): http://calliescraftcottage.blogspot.com/
Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CalliesCraftCottage

Mary Beth Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 1:23 PM

I create because… I love the process of selecting materials, designing the pattern, and tweaking it along the way. It has become an escape from the day to day routine. I never make the same exact item twice. Also the thought of a child wearing something that I made and loving it makes me smile.

I have to say that Isobel (top of comment page) sounds like an amazing woman. She deserves a feature!

Carolyn Cochrane Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 2:42 PM

I create because it’s my greatest passion in life. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve felt the urge inside to express myself in creative ways. Being creative soothes me and makes me feel like my most authentic self. It’s a way for me to express deep emotions and feelings that I have a hard time putting into words. Being creative on a daily basis brings me great joy and is the best form of therapy I could ever ask for. I create because I have to, I create because I want to, I create because it’s who I am.

I’m a photographer with a passion for nature and love expressing myself through color. You can find me here…

web site: http://www.carolyncochrane.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CarolynCochraneFineArt
twitter: http://twitter.com/CarolynCochrane
blog: http://www.carolyncochrane.com/fine-art-photography-blog

Jaynemarie Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 3:27 PM

I’ve always created as far back as I remember. My first “creation” was trying to embroider my shorts when I was 3. Not a success.

For me, I always had the urge to design and make things, anything almost. As many have already said, it’s a compulsion. For many years, I was an Electrical Engineer and loved it. I continued to make many clothes and jewelry for myself as well.

In fact, being creative via sewing and jewelry making, kept me sane growing up because girls weren’t supposed to do anything like play with erector sets or electrical kits, like my brother could.

Now, again, creating is my salvation. I have Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia, and only when I am in the midst of making a new design, do I forget my constant pain.

No matter how little energy I have in a day, I spend time “playing around” with gemstones, pearls, crystals, etc. and try to come up with something new. I’ve come to realize that being creative makes me happy and so I’ll always continue to create!!

My shop: http://www.jewelrybyjaynemarie.etsy.com
My Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jewelry-By-Jaynemarie
My Blog: http://www.jewelrybyjaynemarie.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JewlryJaynmarie

Diane Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 8:14 PM

Because I must. I do not feel like myself when I am not creating. Creating art is one of my greatest joys!

Dawn Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 8:52 PM

I create to please others. There is just nothing like the way a person’s eyes light up or reading their thank you comments when they receive the item made just for them. : )
Dawn
Sunshine INdustries/SINjewelry
http://www.sunshineindustries.ca
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sunshine-INdustries-essential-bling/200036631152?ref=ts

Kim Falat Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 9:00 PM

I’m very creative and have dabbled in all sorts of arts and crafts since I was a kid. I need to do it, or else it will sit stagnant in my brain. I love to have my ideas manifest into something tangible. I love seeing that finished work of art, whether it’s photography, painting, sculpting, scrapbooking, jewelry, poetry, music or whatever… that final product is something I created, a little piece of me.

Plus it feels really good when other people show how much they appreciate what I have created by spending their hard-earned money on something I made.

carol w Reply 28. Jun, 2011 at 10:46 PM

I create because I now have the time and the mental ability. I worked in the medical profession for 40 years, which is very left brained and linear. My mother taught me to knit as a child and for Christmas one year I made everyone sweaters that actually turned out. But once I started working, I found myself putting aside the pleasure I got from working with fibers. I became a single mother of 2 girls and worked long hours to give them the best life I could. This is not a “poor me” scenario, just truth. Along the way I was diagnosed with clinical depression. A really weird thing happened when I started treatment. My world opened up. I saw colors for the first time as they were meant to be, I saw fibers as they were meant to be, I saw the beauty of metal and the joy at making my first necklace, I found myself thinking outside the box. But most of all I discovered I could believe in myself. Now I can’t stop!

Peggy Dlugos Reply 29. Jun, 2011 at 4:57 PM

The reason I create is very simple—because it makes me feel right with the world.

Reyes Reply 30. Jun, 2011 at 8:24 AM

I create because I can’t conceive a life without creativity.

My etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReyesRobledo

My personal blog
http://reyes-azulblue.blogspot.com/

Joy Reply 02. Jul, 2011 at 12:16 AM

I create jewelry as a means to release my creative side, it’s wonderful to think that this piece of jewelry in my hands will be treasured by somebody i don’t even know and hopefully passed around a bit for a long time to come. It may sound cliche but i like to send little pieces of myself out into the world.

Marge Abas Reply 02. Jul, 2011 at 10:10 PM

Because it’s a wonderful opportunity to present your art in an everyday basis. I strongly believe that wearing handmade is a privilege.

Pam Reply 03. Jul, 2011 at 9:28 PM

As an elementary art teacher, I need to set a standard for my kids. They need to see that it takes practice to make perfect. I have small sayings like-practice makes perfect and make a masterpiece from a mistake!

They see me set up craft shows and see the work that I do outside of school when I am teaching them.

It’s extremely important for me to show them that I am a life long learner of the arts!

Thank you for letting me share my story!

Shanna Reply 06. Jul, 2011 at 1:55 AM

Why do I create?

I create for my children! Especially my 3 year old daughter. She inspires me on a daily basis. She’s a diva and a tomboy. She loves to dress up like a princess AND climb trees. She loves pageants and playing in the dirt.

I know that it sounds cheesy and silly, but there is no better feeling in the world than when someone compliments my little princess on something she’s wearing…a bow, a dress, whatever and she promptly responds “Momma made it!” With a giant smile on her face and a beautiful twinkle in her baby blue eyes! I remember at THAT time why I started creating in the first place…
Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bloomandbling
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bloom-and-Bling-Accessories/142162869153947
Blog:
http://bloomandbling.blogspot.com/
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/bloomandbling

David Robertson Reply 06. Jul, 2011 at 9:02 AM

I am an artist blacksmith http://www.artistblacksmith.com and I have to echo the many statements above to the effect that it is an addiction for me. When I have been away from the workshop for a while I get “twitchy”. I need to be working on some thing and for me hot metal is the answer.

I am always thrilled at taking basic raw materials, bars or steel, and with a bit of heat and some hammering I can turn it into interesting and useful things. There is also a joy when I create the perfect piece for a customer and they are excited when they receive it.

I find the creative process goes in cycles for me. Intense creative work and design followed by a period of exhaustion. Then something sparks my inspiration and it takes off again.

In short I create because it is an integral part of who I am. It is less a need to express myself (although that does crop up) but more to a need to discover what the material can and can’t do under my hand.

Great comments!

Kristen Mowell Reply 10. Jul, 2011 at 4:53 PM

To stay sane! I constantly have these thoughts and ideas going through my head. Whether it is late at night or while I’m right in the middle of giving immunizations to a child in the pediatricians office that I work at. I would feel guilty if I did not create. I have to stay true to who I am! I’ve been crafting, designing, creating since I was very young. When my children came along, I wanted them to be unique and hated the ‘branding’ that seemed to be so popular in the schools. So, I started designing their clothes and other accessories. It was only natural that Halloween costumes, special occasion dresses and suits/ties would follow suit. My oldest is 19 and she still loves to wear things that I have designed for her to wear, or items that she has designed and will bring to me and say..’mom can you make this for me?’ It doesn’t get much better than that.

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stitchin-In-The-South/10150095233040198

Etsy:http://www.etsy.com/shop/lakiesplace

berrybluecreations Reply 10. Jul, 2011 at 6:49 PM

Creating things is therapeutic, cathartic, and fun. The whole process from the light bulb moment of inspiration to the meanderings of processes to make that imagining a reality. The Joy of Finishing a project…

Lynn Reply 10. Jul, 2011 at 7:17 PM

I love to create new uses for old things like wool sweaters, jeans, vintage fabrics and buttons. I find it thrilling to treasure hunt for materials at thrift stores, estate & yard sales and combine them into a one-of-a-kind accessories.

Lynn
Lynn Minney Designs
store: etsy.com/shop/LynnMinneyDesigns
blog: LynnMinneyDesign.wordpress.c

Jenny Reply 10. Jul, 2011 at 11:47 PM

I create things because I don’t have a choice. I get too restless when I stop. Here’s a recent blog post I wrote on why I create the things I do:

http://abirdinthehandart.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-birds.html

thesybilsgems Reply 10. Jul, 2011 at 11:59 PM

I create to clear my head, to meditate. I am disabled and the realities of living with that can be rather harsh. But making something that I enjoy and that is beautiful (even if its only to my 11 year old) , reminds me of my own special beauty despite any flaws I may have. It gives my ever active mind a place to rest and be at peace for a while.
I hunt and peck amongst my gems and lovelies for just the right thing. Like a
hummingbird going from flower to flower. In those creative moments any problems give way to joy !

Helen (HJM Art Gallery) Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 1:20 AM

I create because I am an artist…. I am not a practical realist, but romantic idealist in spite of many turns and twists in my life…. My art helps me to look at the world from a positive, happy and romantic perspective and put aside negative and painful aspects of life. Many people commented that my art makes them smile and that is one of the biggest compliments I could ever hope to receive. I feel honored to be able to make someone happy even if for a moment. ☺

[HJM Art Gallery]: http://hjmart.etsy.com
[twitter]: http://twitter.com/hjmart
[blog]: http://hjmart.blogspot.com
[facebook] http://www.facebook.com/hjmart

Mietjie Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 3:06 AM

It’s always been a part of me, to create. I’ve always been creative, but only after I had my little son, the juices started to flow in earnest! I make the cutest range of plush toys, the range called BOO!beloobie, which is one of my son’s pet names, and I paint in acrylics and watercolours. I love thinking up a new little critter, or painting an individual painting, something someone might just fall in love with. I do commission work as well, but creating a unique piece with the freedom it requires makes making something all worth while, and me being able to do it while I look after my son is all the more priceless! Here’s all my links, I hope you like!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mietjie
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MIE-Art-Crafts-deur-Wilmarie-Viljoen/137809002935511
http://mieartandcrafts.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/MieArtandCrafts

Happy days

Mietjie (Wilmarie Viljoen)

Jacqueline Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 5:06 AM

For me, starting the act of creation is akin to climbing an unclimbed mountain or journeying into previously unexplored regions. I am not driven by technique – what techniques I have acquired I have picked up along the way rather than at the start. I have not prepared for this journey, as such preparation would influence the free nature of the decisions I can make along the way.

So, why do I create original work? – because I am driven to do it. How do I create original work? – by mapping new territory, and exploring new combinations of novel features, acquiring appropriate skills and techniques as I go. Does anybody care? – To take that question seriously would interfere with my artistic freedom. Luckily I have enjoyed the support of a small number of helpful friends along the way who give me hope and cause to continue.

Beaver WoodWright Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 5:18 AM

I think everyone has something to offer this big blue marble that we live on. It’s the want or need to make something that separates us. some call it drive or passion, I call it a need. Who among us doesn’t like to hear someone that sees a picture that we create or picks up an item that we spent countless hours thinking about, refining and then finally creating, say how lovely or special that item may be. I think all of us deep down love that moment.

As some may have already said, it’s also therapeutic, the actual creation process for me takes me far and away from the daily problems and grind, It’s my drug and there isn’t any 12 step program that will make it go away. Those of us that create, have to create it’s engrained or shall I say hardwired in.

Website: http://www.beaverwoodwright.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Beaver-WoodWright/100002487981230
Store: http://www.beaverwoodwright.etsy.com
Store: http://www.khpens.etsy.com

eleni Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 8:09 AM

I create because if I didn’t I feel empty!

lynnie Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 8:42 AM

Why do I create? Why do I wake up each morning? When I go a day without going to my studio, I feel empty. I need to create something, even just a small item. I think that we who create are born with the need and desire in us. Even as a child I was always creating plays, doll clothes, making my own paper dolls and designing their clothing. So, I knew I would be creating all my life.

Terry Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 11:03 AM

I think in the beginning for me it was an urge that slowly grew. Busy with home and family and work, I couldn’t find much time for it. Now that I have retired, I feel driven, trying to create everything I can think of. What fun!

Jenny Hoople Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 12:19 PM

An art professor of mine once told us that we’d start creating again when the pain of NOT creating exceeded the pain of creating.

That’s it in a nutshell. I create because I have to.

elizabeth Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 12:24 PM

Sometimes, when the images won’t come and I can’t focus, even when I have a deadline, I ask myself this question. Why do you create?
Over the years I have found several answers,
but I must admit, it keeps changing. One, obvious reason, I’m a Leo. I crave the spotlight and I have the audacity to believe I am an artist, meaning I have the talent, therefore, you, the consumer
will buy my ideas. Secondly, and most importantly, when I am in tune with my creativity, it must be expressed. It’s
like I want to share the beauty I see in nature, and I have chosen gemstones and metals to be my voice. It is a gift and I
feel we should share with others. It is the best way to share who we are.

Lea Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 1:02 PM

Why do I create? Because I must! Nothing gives me more pleasure than sitting in front of my torch melting glass….other than opening up the kiln the next day to see what the kiln fairies have left me.

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lajewelrydesign
etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LAJewelryDesigns
artfire: http://www.artfire.com/users/LAJewelryDesigns
blog: http://www.lajewelrydesign.blogspot.com
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lajewelrydesign

janet kemp Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 2:13 PM

I create to express my deepest self. I love having my Delirium Designs Jewelry creations in my Etsy shop, which is http//www.janetkemp88.etsy.com to exhibit my one of a kind designs, which are handmade by me. I enjoy learning new creative processes. I have studied jewelry metals fabrication, lost-wax casting and found object composition, ceramics, precious metal clay and beadweaving, sewing, cooking…Hey! I spend my life creating. Since many of my pieces incorporate found objects along with beads, fibers…you name it! I had a ball searching for vintage and antique bits and pieces of jewelry and brass hardware in France where I lived for four years. While there, I enjoyed off loom bead weaving, bead embroidery, wire wrapping, and was influenced by the culture and beautiful couture designs, beadwork and the generations of lacemaking. I collected beads and findings from other parts of Europe as well and taught classes in beading in France and held an expo of my works in my home there. I enjoyed scouring antique shops and flea markets in Paris and villages throughout the French countryside for beautiful elements, vintage and antique. Most of the Venetian beads in my designs were purchased at the source in Murano, Florence and Venice.
In Venice I was invited to observe lampwork bead artists at work creating gorgeous beads from blobs of glass. The artisans adhere to a centuries old tradition of glass making… Often rare and beautiful beads or unique objet s d’art from another time, country or culture find a special place within my designs. How much fun can a girl have? I love creating. It is a song inside of me. Sometimes it expresses as a tender, romantic melody and other times it’s 76 Trombones that begs to be sung. I enjoy it ALL from conception to completion! The passion, the hunt and the process. Creating keeps my blood pumping with excitement! Wherever I may be.

Skrynka Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 4:04 PM

As a child I loved to make things with my hands. When I would see an interesting piece of clothing, a bag, or a scarf, my first thought would be “can I make it myself?” So I learned to crochet, sew, knit, bead… but when I tried to do embroidery it became my true passion. I just can’t stop! It’s like a meditation. My hands are stitching, my mind is out there…
You can see my works here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/skrynka
http://skrynka.blogspot.com

Susanne Reply 11. Jul, 2011 at 11:49 PM

Cuz I can!
it’s in my blood, and I love to! really really love to. Creating puts that sparkle in my eye – and hopefully someone else’s too!

Nancy J Ingvalson Reply 12. Jul, 2011 at 10:28 AM

I love to create because of the joy in peoples faces when they receive my gift. I’m 76 years old and have been doing this since I was 10 when my mother taught me to knit and I was making hats and mittens for
my friends.Come visit me on Needles1.on Etsy.

Cari Reply 13. Jul, 2011 at 8:45 PM

A few weeks ago I received a message from a client requesting a pair of simple earrings to match the bracelet she purchased. Without hesitation, I agreed to make a pair for her and she knew I did not offer earrings in my shop, nor was it my specialty.

Later that same day, I sent her an email letting her know I shipped her bracelet, along with a few picture of the earrings. She liked them, they were exactly the length she was looking for and she couldn’t wait until her package arrived.

The next week the same customer sent me an email, stating how she loved her bracelet, and the earrings. She has received all kinds of compliments, which made her feel terrific and she was very pleased with everything.

The question was… ‘Why do you create?” I create my bracelets, to share the joy, excitement and hopefully to put smile on someone’s face. Not for a day or a week… but for years to come. Even now I think about how excited she was and I begin to smile.

Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/crochethooked
Website: http://www.crochethooked.com
FB Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/Braidlets
Twitter: twitter.com/crochethooked

Lindsay Reply 14. Jul, 2011 at 5:38 AM

I create because I don’t know how not to. It’s in my blood; it’s in my nature; it’s in my spirit. My hands would create minus my brain. My body would create minus my hands. My brain would create minus a body. It’s inevitable. I cannot fight it. That’s why I create.

The poetry of conception to creation is a dance that entices and ensnares. It’s a lover that never leaves. A God that never forsakes you. Every mark on paper, every word we utter is creation. Denying this innate ability isn’t an option. To create is human. To create is devine.

DeannePace Reply 20. Jul, 2011 at 11:49 AM

I would go insane if I didn’t

Elizabeth Reply 21. Jul, 2011 at 1:30 PM

We have a fun guest blogging series for American Craft called Why I Make. Archives are here: http://bit.ly/whyimake. We’d love new submissions if anyone is interested! Send to eryan [at] craftcouncil [dot] org if you’re interested in submitting a post!

Ankita Reply 26. Aug, 2011 at 10:03 PM

I don’t do drugs, I do not do alcohol, I CREATE. It’s a high like no other.

Shannon Chomanczuk Reply 26. Aug, 2011 at 10:37 PM

I have always created. When I was younger I would make clothes for our Barbie dolls out of socks and glitter paint. In high school I loved oil pastels, in college it was photography and graphic design. I am a nail technician so I get to create beautiful art on my clients nails but found jewelry making about 7 years ago and have loved it ever since. My style has evolved and I fall in love with new materials and techniques almost daily.
I was forced to take a year off from jewelry making due to a difficult pregnancy. After my beautiful daughter was born I became even more filled with inspiration and a desire to share my jewelry with others. Each piece I make is inspired and I love when a piece speaks to someone. To see their face light up is a blessing.
I create because for me it is an outward expression of my inner feelings and to bring these feelings of love, light and inspiration to other women is truly a blessing and gift.

sarah Reply 26. Aug, 2011 at 10:38 PM

Creating has always been a part of who I am. From sewing, painting, sculpting, It’s the notion of having a visual idea and making it a reality all your own. Without creating I would be lost with what to do. I always have the urge to create and design things. It’s a journey in itself.

shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/yinsteadofi
facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Y-instead-of-i/187026221321168#!/

Meret Reply 27. Aug, 2011 at 2:31 AM

I am addicted to it. I just have to do something otherwise I get angry and sick… not nice for my family ;o))

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Butzeria/112724378773161

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Butzeria

Peggy Reply 27. Aug, 2011 at 2:57 AM

I create so that I can live. By that I mean, if I create I am at peace and when I am at peace I can be a better person. And when I am a better person then I can create…more.

It isn’t something that can be taught … a creative soul is born within you. It can however, be shared and that’s what I take pleasure in … sharing my creations.

And if I can create a smile on someone’s face or a small footprint in this chaotic world of ours then I am happy AND at peace.
Can’t ask for more than that.

xo

Katy Reply 29. Aug, 2011 at 1:18 PM

Everybody creates. It’s just that some people are more aware of what they’re creating than others are. Cooking dinner is creating. Writing a resume is creating. There are lots of mundane things that can be creative processes if we choose to think of them that way.

But for some of us, creating is a way to express who we are and what we believe in. For me, as a maker of cards and stationery, creating is about encouraging people to communicate with each other.

Most of us can’t change the world in a big way. But we can take one tiny corner of it and make it more beautiful. I try to do that with my cards, and the thought that people are sending them out into the world makes me smile. Just like Peggy, above.

I’ve been a school teacher, a fruit farmer, and an architect. All those platforms are launching pads for making a difference in the world. Now I’m working all by myself to do that in a way that more directly connects to who I am and what I love.

What I love is kindness, grace, and elegance of line and texture. I try to show that in every card I make.

Here are some links:
http://www.farflungcards.com
http://www.farflungcards.etsy.com

Misha Reply 29. Aug, 2011 at 3:48 PM

I create because its an obsession. My brain is filled with ideas. I dream ideas.I see an object and immediately I start thinking in my mind “what would this look like if?”. I make things out of anything, reuse,repurpose, recycle. On my way to an art show in Arizona, we stopped and behold, there was a mesquite tree surrounded by seed pods. Well to make a long story short, I used those mesquite beans to decorate a clay sculpture that is presently on exhibit at the Las Cruces Museum of Art. I spent 95% of my time creating new and wonderful things because I need to create. Everything inspires me. What else can I say?

Megan Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 12:23 AM

I create because it makes me happy. It’s very relaxing to just be able to focus my energy on making something beautiful. It’s icing on the cake when I get to see my customers happy and excited to wear my jewelry. http://www.facebook.com/GingersnapsGems

Scrollwork Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 1:06 AM

In my dream new identity, I am a derelict clothing designer, upending mediocrity in women’s apparel and thumbing my nose at cubicle convention. I offer slices of delicious escape to women weary of conforming. I aim to dress fellow misfits who want to make peace with their weirdness.

Alix of Bigbluebed Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 3:17 AM

For many reasons -Because I get itchy fingers if I don’t! But also to make unique gifts for my family. As it gives me a greater depth , and I am more than the surface person who other people may see. Because I can.

madebymada - handmade designs Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 6:34 AM

I’ve been creating smth from my early years. But few years ago I droped it.. Trying to have an ordinary life with my day job etc. And then my brother got really sick.My reality was so terrifying and with not much hope.. then I needed to have smth beautiful around me (but i had no money) so I started to make some of it then start to make smth that I can have arround me all the time. So I started to make jewelry. And here is where I am now.
SHOP: http://www.madebymada.etsy.com
BLOG: http://craftsbymada.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/madebymada
Btw my brother is just recovering after marrow transplantation

Jacqueline Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 6:43 AM

I create because It just flows out of me. I create jewelry to sell, but that’s not really the reason I do it. It makes me feel peaceful and active at the same time. I create objects out of paper mache for the fun of it. I create dinner for sustenance. I write because it lets me express my feelings.

http://chelsearainbow.com
http://chelsearainbows.blogspot.com

Heleen Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 6:59 AM

Because it is just so nice to see a lovely result after working hard.

Karynlee Berstecher Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 7:54 AM

Everything communicates. Images, scents, textures….all sensory experience speaks to the soul in ways that have the potential to soothe, comfort and inspire. I create because my soul longs to communicate those connections…that wisdom…with another soul. Sometimes, I am just the messenger and it fills my heart with great joy to see the connection in someone’s eyes when a piece communicates to them. Photography, quilts, jewelry, carving….all of it communicates and connects. Growing in the depth of those connections….honing my ability to listen….this is why I create.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50469490/anasazi-quilt

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82357760/fractured-truth-surreal-matted-fine-art

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53527162/standing-together-turquoise-howlite

Lisa Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 10:36 AM

I didn’t come out of the box creating. It built up slowly, after many years of searching for what I was good at. I felt a need to make stuff – but didn’t know what that stuff was. When I became pregnant, I found what that stuff was.. yarn and knitting needles. I’m a bit of a pack rat, so I still had my size 7 needles that my mom gave me when I was 7 or 8, and all the yarn too! I also had a stitch dictionary and that is how I taught myself. Sure, I had problems with purling and binding off, but I never gave up and was able to make a few sweaters for my boys. They became my reasons for creating, and it was a little heartbreaking that they couldn’t fit into their tiny suits, but then I realized that I didn’t have to stop. I love to make products for my boys and myself, (and my man when I’ve got the time, lol) and sharing them with the world is a bonus.

Lisa Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 10:39 AM

Forgot links!

http://petitetuques.com
http://petitetuques.etsy.com
http://facebook.com/petitetuques
http://twitter.com/petitetuques

Rachel Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 10:49 AM

I grew up on a ranch where the vast acreage was our shopping mall. We didn’t have the money to shop but we could create beautiful bouquets of wild flowers and grasses using old found bottles as our vases. Old barnwood became a birdhouse,etc…
I still can’t resist picking up something that was discarded with visions of turning it into something beautiful.

Rosemarie Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 11:03 AM

I create because it fascinates me. I can take some THING and make it into another THING. How amazing is that?
My current medium is molten glass (I make obsessively matched beads) and I am still mesmerized by the melting of the glass – it’s hard – it’s soft – it’s hard again.
Shop links:
http://spawnofflame.etsy.com
http://spawnofflame.artfire.com

Cynthia Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 11:37 AM

Wow! This is a deep question. Why do I create…? Well, creating is what we were all created to do. We all create in one way or another, whether it be through our spoken words, written words, drawings, paintings, paper crafts, etc. Our minds are always creating and reaching for more understanding of the unknown and unearthed. This is what makes us amazing creatures of vast positive possibilities.

When I create my paper crafts and write my prayers and sentiments, I am striving to create an emotion of love, joy, courage, hope, or assurance, to name a few. I want my audience to feel what I felt as I created my piece.

My art expresses my innermost feelings-the core of who I am…who I am striving to become…an evolution of my true self…the universal connectedness of all people…the power of truth and acceptance.

I create because my soul longs to touch the souls of others. This is why I MUST create….

Angela Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 11:43 AM

I create because I can’t not create. I must be creative or my soul withers and dries up. Dancing, painting, writing, my button bouquets, hair styling, make up artist – all creative expressions that I employ. Creativity pours out of me; it always has.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/angel9

http://angelasartistic.blogspot.com/

Jeanie Frias Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 12:17 PM

“Why I Make Art” on my blog mayknart.blogspot.com

Back then, in those preteen years of mine, my fingers used to wiggle. Sometimes my arms moved around simultaneous to the finger wiggle. Draw anything and the wiggle would stop: A chair in the restaurant, a pant leg (with or without shoe), a couch in a living room, or weeds growing outside the window. Whatever it was, people liked it. They told me I had a secret; that I possessed the miracle of art making that they could appreciate but not understand. I could pretend I was self-conscious, making a fuss about not wanting to show my sketches. That way I could reinforce their belief that I held a secret. And if I did finally allow the sketchbook to be opened by them, they were suitably awe struck and did not try to pry the miraculous secret from me.

And I, to play my part, was suitably silent and humble.

When my mother was dying of brain cancer, for the last four months of her life, I cared for her day and night. People would tell me how wonderful, how brave I was. They thought I was being so completely unselfish. I must hold some kind of secret, because they thought they wouldn’t be able to do that sort of thing. But I moved into my parents’ house, bathed, coaxed sips of water into, changed the diaper of, held the hand of, and tried desperately to understand the mumbled mixed up words of my dying mother for completely selfish reasons.

I wanted to be like God. I wanted to understand everything. I wanted to be omniscient. I wanted to make instant connections between life and death, and have it all make sense. I wanted to know everything and hold it all in my hands. I wanted to hold my mother’s pain and her inability speak, her jumbled, mumbled words, even my dad’s false teeth or the dead skin that peels off my feet, my mom’s diseased cells multiplying as a cancerous tumor, her dog that never left her side, the scar on her head, the one on her neck, and her missing ovary. I wanted to care for it all.

But all I could do was care for my dying mother, and make art. I made vessels so I could try to hold that cancer and pain.

Now, I’m older. I no longer want to be like God. The vessel stage has passed (sort of). My fingers no longer wiggle and I’m happy to shove my art work in front of anyone feigning interest.

There are no more secrets. Even if there ever was one, it was only ever this simple: This is what I do.

Direct link to this entry: http://mayknart.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-i-make-art.html

Etsy shop: mayknart.etsy.com

lori cohn Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 1:44 PM

Like so many others, I create because I must create, it is a vital part of who I am. I’ve always had a passion for design and the desire to create. It has taken many forms throughout the years and now this desire has evolved into a career that I am absolutely, completely in love with.

Designing jewelry began as way to stay positive during a very long illness. Selling my jewelry was the next logical step. Every sale I make still excites me like the first sale did. There is no better feeling than knowing that someone out there is wearing something I created, something that is now part of who they are.

My links:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/charmeddesign1012

http://twitter.com/#!/charmed1012

https://www.facebook.com/charmeddesign1012

Belle Reply 28. Sep, 2011 at 5:06 PM

I create….
because it is my voice
because it is my passion
because I whither away if I do not
because I must

Like so many others, it is as a much a part of me as breathing.

Shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeljaysFeltnArt
Blog
http://www.beljaysfelt.com
Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/beljaysfelt
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beljays-Felt/114781401961865

Lynn Reply 03. Oct, 2011 at 12:20 PM

I started creating to fill idle time. I continue to create because I love the look on someone’s face, in someone’s eyes, asking me… “Really? You made this? You made it from what?” Besides the love of my children, that has to be one of the greatest feelings in the world.

Mary Reply 07. Nov, 2011 at 11:42 AM

Art has been a passion of mine from a very young age. My father would tell me to enter contests but I never thought that I was good enough. Then I realized that art is an expression of how you perceive things and there is no right or wrong.

I have experimented with many different mediums from paint and clay to embroidery and jewelry making, and now giclée print on a reclaimed vintage book pages.

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/pagesofages

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/maFODB

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PagesOfAges

Studio Struin Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 2:40 AM

When you create, you are who you really are! It makes you happy, you will shine so others will shine!

Creating is why we humans are made. Each in our own way. Dare to shine!

dave Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 3:30 AM

I create simply because if i didn’t have an outlet for my ideas i think i’d go completely mad. My father used to make and invent but his employers never rewarded him for all the time saving ideas and devices he made and his personal ideas and creativity was always shelved. I don’t want to do that. I want to create the things i enjoy, and to help others, but not to solve problems for a company too tight to reward those endeavours. I do it for me…

MariyaArts Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 3:34 AM

I create because it is my destiny!
I want to make the world more beautiful, and people are more happy !
When I succeed to do this, that makes me happy.

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MariyaArts?ref=si_shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mariya4woodcarving?ref=si_shop

MegExpressions Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 3:52 AM

Creating is a very peaceful process for me, I don’t know why I’ve settled on mostly working with fabrics, but somehow crafts and working with my hands has always been a pleasurable past time for me. I also love to bake, probably for the same reasons; that it’s working with my hands. The creative process is a little contemplative, I love listening to audio books or podcasts and then being able to reflect on what I’ve listened to while sewing.

Stephanie Wheeler Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 5:05 AM

I create because the vintage and reclaimed materials I use inspire me to make jewellery that is new and different. Also because the texts – poetry, song lyrics and so on that appear in my work have an energy of their own that add to the heart and soul of the pieces.
This month is National Poetry Month …
http://www.naturallyheartfelt.com/2012/04/poetry-for-soul-national-poetry-month.html

mouna Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 5:14 AM

Because is my second nature , if i do’nt create , i feel like i’m not in life .
Creating is a part of meditation moments , i feel like i’m away from this world !
facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MOUNA.MARINI
shop : http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadsofaquarius?ref=si_shop

Raquel Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 7:05 AM

I need to create because without it my life wouldn’t be MY life. It runs in my blood probably since the day I was born, and I have no control about it! And the best: it gives me peace of mind, even in the hardest times, and feeling the joy of the owners of my creations it’s simple indescribable <3

Happy Easter to all of you!

Raquel

Blog:
http://notonbyraquel.blogspot.com

Shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/NOTONbyRaquel

Shop:
http://en.dawanda.com/shop/NOTON

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/notomcerto

Jema Watts Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 7:54 AM

Couple reasons why I love to create.

First, as a child I watched my grandmother quilt beautiful pieces of art. She tried to teach me this art many times but I have yet to figure it out. My mother was a seamstress too and I used to love watching her take a piece of fabric and make it into a beautiful piece of clothing.

Many years later my husband, Mike, an art major at Hanover College, started to grow a few gourds to keep the deer out of our vegetable garden. Well the first year he had a bumper crop of gourds. He couldn’t figure out what to do with all the gourds. So I suggested to him to turn them into pieces of art, and that he did. You can see some of his designs at http://www.chairmanofthegourd.com (catchy name huh).

He went to a local art fair and started selling his pieces on Etsy (gourdchairman), started spending a lot of time creating his pieces.

I’m not one who just likes to sit and do nothing so I had to figure out something to do alongside Mike that was creative as well. I started out making jewelry, which was fun. Then I turned to Polymer clay – anyone who makes beads or anything else out of Polymer clay I consider to be very patient and creative. Not an easy art to master.

Loving all the fabrics that I used to see my grandmother and mother work with I explored some ideas with fabric. After weeks and months of research I decided on fabric covered buttons. I started with the magnets first and grew it from there. The rest is history.

I’ve invested in a sewing machine and I’m not going to give up learning how to sew/quilt.

Being creative is so rewarding and Etsy gives me a way to share my love for fabric with the world.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jejeweled
http://www.cargoh.com/store/jejeweled
http://www.facebook.com/jejeweled
http://www.pinterest.com/jejeweled
http://www.twitter.com/jemawatts

Chrissy M. Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 10:29 AM

I think I create because I’m curious. I’m a builder and kind of a tinkerer. I enjoy the process of building something. Anything from my Needle Felted Sculptures to even the challenge of putting together a piece of Ikea furniture!

I work as a sculptor for the entertainment industry (movies, theme park rides, stage shows, etc) and even though they aren’t my personally amazing concepts, it’s just the fact that I’m creating something big & bold to share with the world.

http://www.feltedchicken.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/FeltedChicken
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Felted-Chicken/107622423664
http://twitter.com/#!/FeltedChicken
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprush13/

Bunny Hipps Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 10:35 AM

I’ve always been a creator, starting as a little girl when I made paper dolls and drew comic books. I even played with beads backs then although I never actually made anything with them until I was grown. After dabbling in fiber arts, I became obsessed with beautiful beads and stones and started making jewelry for myself, which led to making it for others – hoping to create that one piece that speaks to them personally.
http://www.mimosamornings.etsy.com

Jacqueline Mukweto Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 11:06 AM

I started creating when I had about $20 to my name 4 children to get milk and diapers for winter hats to buy and needed gas for my car. The babies had to be warm but also fed. So I walked to the Micheals near my house got some yarn and a hook (used every coupon I could find) spent about $5. called a friend and said my babies need hats I NEED you to teach me how to crochet. So I learned on a Thursday and my babies had hats by Sunday. I also got milk and diapers in case your wondering.
Now I create to generate extra income, provide for my family, gifts and for relaxation.
http://www.mukweto.blogspot.com
@mukweto on twitter

Pam McKnight Reply 06. Apr, 2012 at 8:17 PM

Just like many of the others on here, I create because I enjoy it, and have always done it. My earliest memories are of scribbling at preschool and swearing it looked like a penguin and wanting my mom to enter it in a contest. Then when I did my first finger painting I knew I wanted to be an artist- in Kindergarten! So I am pretty lucky. I was an art teacher for 25 years and now I say that “I get to play”. I make found object assemblages combining my passions of collecting and painting.

Crissy Conner Reply 07. Apr, 2012 at 7:06 AM

I create mostly because I enjoy it, but also I feel like creating something for people is rewarding. In my other job, I am a recruiter and people are so disappointed if a job doesn’t work out, so many things are simply out of my hands or control. When I create products for my customers they are satisfied and happy with their purchase, they get what they want and if it ends up not being what they wanted, I can fix it, replace it or do whatever it takes to keep the happy and satisfied. I also enjoy the customer interaction, enjoy seeing how some of my mistakes can even turn out to be successes, to provide for my family and to create also is a means of stress relief for me as well.

http://www.livelovedew.com
http://www.facebook.com/livelovedew
http://www.twitter.com/livelovedew
http://www.pinterest.com/livelovedew

Hannah Reply 07. Apr, 2012 at 11:56 AM

Because I LOVE it! Because it is fun. Because it makes me feel unique. Because it helps me provide for my family. Because of the joy it brings to others.

Helen Reply 07. Apr, 2012 at 12:35 PM

Why do I create?…because it’s in my blood.
As a kiddie I was surrounded by fabric. My mum made my clothes and her mum had what is now a beautiful antique Singer sewing machine complete with wooden table and foot pedal. I marvelled at that contraption, it was the oldest thing I’d ever seen. My other grandma worked in a fabric store and on a Saturday I’d go with her. I have memories of a store with wooden shelves covered in roll after roll of fabric. There was a huge wooden cutting table and an old fashioned cash register. All this fabric must have absorbed its way through my skin over the years because eventually in high school I began fabric printing. I went to study textile design at university, worked in fiber research and then in the design room of clothing company. I left my designing behind for a while but after an accident a few years back when I feared I may loose the use of my hand I made a list of all the things I would do when I recovered. Getting back to my creative roots was top of the list. So it’s no surprise that I find myself embarking on this journey to start my own fabric printing and home decor business.
Helen

Sandi Levy Reply 07. Apr, 2012 at 6:58 PM

I create because I’m driven to do so. Creating seems to give my life dimension… rather than just existing, there are all of these pieces of me! It’s an extension of who I am.

Gina snyder Reply 09. Apr, 2012 at 2:33 AM

I can’t remember not crafting. I started very young sewing clothing for my Barbie and Midge dolls. Not with a sewing machine, but just needle and thread!

For Christmas I always asked for craft projects. I can remember getting a Raggedy Ann needlepoint kit, a macramé purse kit with beads to match and several paint kits.

I’m so glad to have sewing and needlecrafts to be a part of my life!

Hugs,
Gina

Http://www.fabricsilove.com

Melanie Reply 09. Apr, 2012 at 7:29 PM

I CREATE BECAUSE I SIMPLY HAVE TO! It is as much a part of me as breathing, eating or sleeping. Being creative comes from my soul and feeds my existence. I have created since I was a child. If my mom/wife duties keep me away from it for too long I get blue, itchy and downright GRUMPY!!!

Linda K Sienkiewicz Reply 10. Apr, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Creating is in my blood. My father had the most wonderful basement workshop filled with gears, springs, knobs, gizmos and whatnots. It was my rainy day playground. My mother also sketched and sewed, and she taught me to sew on her treadle Singer machine. So I grew up appreciating innovation and creativity. I like the joy and immediate gratification of making something I can hold in my hand and say “I created this.” I like seeing other people’s eyes light up when I have made something for them.

I’m also a visual artist and a writer. Making purses from vintage album covers and books is satisfying, and also a release from the intense concentration I put into my writing.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rokkihandbags
https://www.facebook.com/RokkiHandbags

Nidhi Jain Reply 11. Apr, 2012 at 3:05 AM

I create because ‘Creating’ is like breathing and feeling alive! There is so much beauty to capture & instill into my creations that a day of 24 hours seems too less!
I create because ‘Creating’ is like shaping up a new baby every single day – pampering it with materials you love, crafting it out with stitches or brush strokes and finally marveling at its final look! The adrenaline rush I get from creating a beautiful piece of art or craft work is indescribable…
And finally , I create because in this ‘one’ life, I wish to enliven all those lovely thoughts & ideas that flood my mind & heart! <3

Diane Reply 11. Apr, 2012 at 12:18 PM

When you give flow to your creative ideas, they seem to go viral! It’s wonderful! It’s narcotic! You HAVE to have more of that feeling! I am creative because I’m addicted! LOL!

Fredda from The Magnificent Magnet Reply 18. Mar, 2013 at 8:56 AM

I love to know that people all over the world are laughing, smiling, and remembering happy times!

We make magnets…been doing so for over 20 years now. Humorous sayings, beautiful quotes, souvenir mementos, Save the Date, Wedding Favors…to name some of the magnets we produce.

I’ve watched people…at our shows, in stores, museums and wineries that we sell to, at weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs…people’s smiles, their laughter, their tears…all because of a little magnet that I make.

It’s amazing to think that these small statements are on refrigerators all over the world! I’ve even translated quotes for people in Sweden, Japan, and Portugal who wrote the saying on a piece of paper at a craft show for me to copy. Now, on , Etsy, Meylah, HandmadeologyMarket, and Wholesalecrafts.com we are shipping our magnets around the world and it is so exciting!

Fredda from The Magnificent Magnet

http://www.themagnificentmagnet.com
http://www.themagnificentmagnet.etsy.com
http://www.handmadeologymarket.meylah.com/magnificentmagnets
http://www.meylah.com/magnificentmagnets