Modern Crafts

Modern crafts, depending on what is perceived as modern, can be as old as time. Many crafts that have been around for hundreds of years can be considered as "modern" depending on the method used. Jewelry making has been around since the beginning, but today much jewelry pieces made by hand are made with modern tools. Paper has been around since they used papyrus to write on, but today’s paper is made from wood pulp by modern means and has thousands of uses in crafts. Scrapbooking has evolved into a modern craft and is more than just gluing pictures in a book.

Hundreds of years ago, lace was made by tying string together; today we use hooks and needles and shuttles to make lace. Some methods are obscure to say the least, but some are rejuvenating the process into a modern craft. Art has come full circle with the types of paint and methods used. This is not necessarily modern art and instead is just modern methods to make modern crafts.

Stamping seems to be a modern craft for many who are artistically challenged. Years ago it was called linoleum block printing. This craft is becoming more popular than ever. Remember that there’s also soap carving for the talented carver. This may be revived in the future as many old crafts have gone by the wayside but are being made modern through modern means. It may take just one person researching old crafts to bring them to modern times. Hopi jewelry making has been around since the beginning of the Hopi people, but is being resurrected by the modern Hopi civilization with modern means.