In the late 19th century a design reform and social movement “The Arts and Crafts movement” was coined. These activities are called crafts because originally many of them were professions under the guild system. The Industrial Revolution and the increasing mechanisation of production processes gradually reduced or eliminated many of the roles professional craftspeople played, and today ‘crafts’ are most commonly seen as a form of hobby or art. They look hard but they are actually an easy craft project to make.

Some crafts have been practised for centuries, while others are modern inventions, or popularisations of crafts which were originally practised in a very small geographic area. These activities are called crafts because originally many of them were professions under the guild system. Most crafts require a combination of skill, speed, and patience, but they can also be learnt on a more basic level by virtually anyone.

Anything that uses a needle for construction can be called needlework. Needlework is a term applied to two classes of handcraft involving fabrics. Embroidery was being done long before its name was derived, by way of medieval French from the Anglo-Saxon word for “edge. The first, embroidery, is the embellishment of a fabric by designs worked in thread with a needle. Some embroidery techniques produce a basically flat surface; others produce designs in relief.

Antique crochet has enormous character which is displayed in various forms and styles and so antique patterns are sought after by those looking to recreate classic items from a past era. Fortunately there were a lot of books, magazines and patterns published between 1850 and 1950 that have preserved the diversity of crochet creations that represent the peak period of this craft.

Tapestry art was even thought to have covered the walls of the Parthenon. Tapestry crochet is relatively easy and inexpensive; a perfect vehicle to the introduction of fiber art. Tapestry crochet is the art of crocheting with different colored strands of yarn while carrying the yarn, produces woven-like results. Fine Art Great works of art are sometimes reproduced as wall tapestries. These beautiful tapestries have a distinct and extraordinary quality.

Have you ever wondered what Tatting was? Tatting is a form of lace making made up of knots, which are done over a carrier thread. Tatting is a type of knotted lace. Tatting is made up of knotted rings and chains. Two shuttles are used in tatting when the little rings are not to be connected together at the bottom by a thread, when you want to hide the passage of the thread to another group of knots and when threads of several colours are used. Today antique tatting shuttles are highly collectible, as are old patterns and bits of lace.

Handmade pottery is one of the oldest crafts known to man with the earliest artistic pottery dating back to 25,000 B.C. give or take a few centuries. The first Pottery crafted for functional purposes, handmade pottery vessels, were used to hold water. All of the ancient pottery dating back before about 3,000 to 4,000 B.C. would have been hand carved pottery, meaning that it was formed or molded all by hand in a stationary manner. We know this because the first Pottery Wheel was not invented until about this time. The invention of the first Pottery wheel significantly changed how pottery was created and the new process know as ‘hand thrown’ created new pottery forms in many round, symmetrical and interesting shapes. Vases, bowls and cups for drinking could now be created more easily and in a more uniformed manner. Archaeologist have unearthed enough antique pottery to be able to understand the technology and skill level possessed by ancient potters.

The act of hand crafting pottery continues to be practiced today by hundreds of thousands of potters across the globe. Handmade Pottery is made for both functional purposes and for artistic expression. There are hundreds of styles and techniques available to modern day potters but they all follow the same general steps of handcrafted and hand thrown pottery. And of course because some pottery, such as Polish Pottery or Polish Stoneware, is hand painted even uniformed pottery of similar shapes and sizes can have a unique appearance. Though some modern day potters may use an electric pottery wheel as opposed to a kick wheel or manual potter’s wheel the basic steps of how to make pottery have not changed in hundreds of years.

Pottery is first thrown on the wheel (or hand shaped), then fired at extremely high temperatures exceeding 1,500 degrees. The first firing removes water and makes the piece retain its shape, the color of the pottery at this time is dependent on the clay and the kiln temperature. The second firing incorporates a glaze that is usually unique and often a closely guarded secret of the particular potter. Most pottery that is painted is done so between the 2 firings. The truly unique and beautiful colors of many handmade pottery pieces are dependent on many factors including the type of clay used which is often tied to a geographic area. Polish pottery and stoneware from the Bolshevik city of Poland for instance is famous for its white clay. Atlanta in the US is known for its vibrant red clay. The source Clay and the types of glazes and methods for applying and also other substances used in the firing process such as sawdust, sand, etc., help to determine the uniqueness of handcrafted pottery.