The Ugly Side of Crafting
November 22, 2009 10:13 AM Subscribe
Crafting can be great. But beware: crafting can also go spectacularly wrong. Fortunately for the benefit of those of us who might become so proud of having made something, anything, all by ourselves, that we are oblivious that the result is an aesthetic travesty, there are websites making a valiant attempt to document the legion of ways in which crafting can get totally out of hand. Before you pick up those needles or scissors or fire up the kiln or soldering iron, check out: Glitter Gone Bad; Handmade Gone Wrong; What Not To Craft, Homemade Hilarity; and Kraftomatic. The sturdy souls at CraftFail (previously) deserve special credit for documenting their own crafting mishaps, and Regretsy (also previously) and Etsy WTF will help you choose wisely from among Etsy’s hand-crafted wares.
I can’t begin to warn you about all crafting’s pitfalls, but I will give you a few pointers. Knitting your own toilet paper is extremely time-intensive and hard on your plumbing and municipal sewage system, so I recommend you don’t do it. For that matter, it’s probably best to avoid all toilet-related crafts, even the commemorative “I just potty trained my kid” craft. Think twice before you choose to let Edward Cullen leer at you while you’re peeing. And TMI is always TMI, no matter what the medium or how painstaking the needlework.
Much as I respect the skill and ingenuity that goes into food-related crafts, I’m always struck by their sheer pointlessness. But hey, not here to judge. If it makes you happy to dress up like a burger, go for it.
Do use consideration when making gifts for others. If you can kick your substance abuse problems through crafts, great, but I strongly advise against slyly replacing your loved ones’ drugs or cigarettes with homemade substitutes, however lovingly made or well intended.
And please do be extra careful about what crafts you inflict upon your children. This yarmulke will not make your son’s bar mitzvah “fun” and “edgy”, regardless of how good-humoured your Egyptian friends are. And if your child is used as billboard, expected to play with a Knitler, or an anthropomorphized vibrator, or even simply subjected to a sewing project gone wrong, the long-term consequences may be serious.
In general, the results of all your hard work may not be what you envisioned: your plastic bag jewelry may be less than elegant; your attempt to hide the cigarette burn in your scarf may make the scarf look worse; your significant other may never wear the sweater you made him or her; and your clown paintings may give people clown phobias. None of this is meant to discourage anyone from crafting, of course! It’s just a word to the wise, etc.
I can’t begin to warn you about all crafting’s pitfalls, but I will give you a few pointers. Knitting your own toilet paper is extremely time-intensive and hard on your plumbing and municipal sewage system, so I recommend you don’t do it. For that matter, it’s probably best to avoid all toilet-related crafts, even the commemorative “I just potty trained my kid” craft. Think twice before you choose to let Edward Cullen leer at you while you’re peeing. And TMI is always TMI, no matter what the medium or how painstaking the needlework.
Much as I respect the skill and ingenuity that goes into food-related crafts, I’m always struck by their sheer pointlessness. But hey, not here to judge. If it makes you happy to dress up like a burger, go for it.
Do use consideration when making gifts for others. If you can kick your substance abuse problems through crafts, great, but I strongly advise against slyly replacing your loved ones’ drugs or cigarettes with homemade substitutes, however lovingly made or well intended.
And please do be extra careful about what crafts you inflict upon your children. This yarmulke will not make your son’s bar mitzvah “fun” and “edgy”, regardless of how good-humoured your Egyptian friends are. And if your child is used as billboard, expected to play with a Knitler, or an anthropomorphized vibrator, or even simply subjected to a sewing project gone wrong, the long-term consequences may be serious.
In general, the results of all your hard work may not be what you envisioned: your plastic bag jewelry may be less than elegant; your attempt to hide the cigarette burn in your scarf may make the scarf look worse; your significant other may never wear the sweater you made him or her; and your clown paintings may give people clown phobias. None of this is meant to discourage anyone from crafting, of course! It’s just a word to the wise, etc.
From the "plastic bag jewelry may be less than elegant" link, I read the headline:
"She Has No Right To Look This Pleased"
and the best I can muster is
"Fuck you, you smug blogging prick."
Hmm, after going through all these links, I certainly do see an ugly side to crafting.
But I don't think it's on the side of the crafters.
posted by ShawnStruck at 10:18 AM on November 22, 2009 [14 favorites]
"She Has No Right To Look This Pleased"
and the best I can muster is
"Fuck you, you smug blogging prick."
Hmm, after going through all these links, I certainly do see an ugly side to crafting.
But I don't think it's on the side of the crafters.
posted by ShawnStruck at 10:18 AM on November 22, 2009 [14 favorites]
Also, let me use this time to mention that Regretsy is not really SFW. It'd generally borderline, with some cases of truely obscene stuff. It's well worth it, though.
Plus, one time I was browsing when no one could see my screen, and I giggled so hard at this my colleagues wondered what my problem was.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:21 AM on November 22, 2009
Plus, one time I was browsing when no one could see my screen, and I giggled so hard at this my colleagues wondered what my problem was.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:21 AM on November 22, 2009
You know, I am sick to fucking death of websites whose sole purpose is to make fun of people's efforts at fashion/art/craft/whatever.
You obviously took some time to construct this post well, but seriously, this is pretty goddamn mean-spirited and there's no excuse for it.
posted by hifiparasol at 10:23 AM on November 22, 2009 [8 favorites]
You obviously took some time to construct this post well, but seriously, this is pretty goddamn mean-spirited and there's no excuse for it.
posted by hifiparasol at 10:23 AM on November 22, 2009 [8 favorites]
I'm of two minds. The first is that the whole "blogs about making fun of stuff other people who are not really public figures do" is getting a little tiresome; it's like all we have left to add to the Web is contempt.
On the other hand, some of these craft projects are unbelievably fucking terrible, so there's that.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:23 AM on November 22, 2009 [4 favorites]
On the other hand, some of these craft projects are unbelievably fucking terrible, so there's that.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:23 AM on November 22, 2009 [4 favorites]
I dunno, I think a number of things from 'above the fold' are pretty cute, although the later things you point out are quite bad. The 'overcozied' post on the Kraftomatic link strikes as me pretty clever, actually, assuming that the glasses are still stable. No accidental destruction of fine wood furniture.
I just don't have much urge to point and laugh at anyone trying to make things. Even if they do a bad job of it, even if the idea is terrible, at least they're in there creating something.
On preview: what Astro Zombie said, more or less. His words are better than mine... I'm tired of contempt.
posted by Malor at 10:25 AM on November 22, 2009 [3 favorites]
I just don't have much urge to point and laugh at anyone trying to make things. Even if they do a bad job of it, even if the idea is terrible, at least they're in there creating something.
On preview: what Astro Zombie said, more or less. His words are better than mine... I'm tired of contempt.
posted by Malor at 10:25 AM on November 22, 2009 [3 favorites]
I feel like there's one aspect of this that makes it semi-okay: the stuff on Etsy is for sale. The people who post this stuff are confident enough in their goods to think that they might sell.
However, it's still kind of meanspirited, especially for hobbyists who are just trying to subsidize their fun. I like how Regretsy mainly just focuses on bizarre crafts, and only rarely makes fun of a craft for being poorly made. Etsy WTF seems a bit less kind. And I think it was wise of Cake Wrecks to take the moral high ground and make fun of only professional cakes, because amateur cakes are made out of love or friendship.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:32 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
However, it's still kind of meanspirited, especially for hobbyists who are just trying to subsidize their fun. I like how Regretsy mainly just focuses on bizarre crafts, and only rarely makes fun of a craft for being poorly made. Etsy WTF seems a bit less kind. And I think it was wise of Cake Wrecks to take the moral high ground and make fun of only professional cakes, because amateur cakes are made out of love or friendship.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:32 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
I am of the opinion that if you do something, it should either be masterful or you should overreach so far that it is an astonishing disaster. But, then, I follow Oscar Wilde's dictum that the only question that's really important in art is "is it interesting or is it boring."
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:32 AM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:32 AM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
Well, it looks like April Winchell got a book deal out of her contempt.
And the way I see it, if you're putting it out there, you're going to have people that connect and people what will hate it. I don't mind either (and I put a lot of crap out there). People pretend that these people are choosing to do something and are somehow unaware how what they are doing will be perceived. That's plain stupid.
As long as there has been art there will be art critics. Some of the art I hate the most in the world, more than most the shit linked above, make so much money that I am sure the artist is fine with my contempt.
If someone want to make stuff, and keeps that stuff to themselves, fine, but putting it on a public site means you have to be willing to accept some people aren't going to like it.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:33 AM on November 22, 2009
And the way I see it, if you're putting it out there, you're going to have people that connect and people what will hate it. I don't mind either (and I put a lot of crap out there). People pretend that these people are choosing to do something and are somehow unaware how what they are doing will be perceived. That's plain stupid.
As long as there has been art there will be art critics. Some of the art I hate the most in the world, more than most the shit linked above, make so much money that I am sure the artist is fine with my contempt.
If someone want to make stuff, and keeps that stuff to themselves, fine, but putting it on a public site means you have to be willing to accept some people aren't going to like it.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:33 AM on November 22, 2009
I find regretsy hilarious because it's not just "look at this," it's "BUY this." Other than that, it is pretty mean spirited to make fun of something that someone has spent time making.
posted by betweenthebars at 10:38 AM on November 22, 2009
posted by betweenthebars at 10:38 AM on November 22, 2009
This is one of my favorite Regretsy posts. It's bizarre and totally unrelated to the subject matter, and you can tell the person who made it didn't care too much about it as it's priced at only $4. Naturally, someone bought it after Regretsy posted it.
And this is cute. Maybe not $55 cute (although it sold), but if I were the type to buy Christmas trinkets and I saw it for $10 at Hallmark, I would buy that.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:39 AM on November 22, 2009
And this is cute. Maybe not $55 cute (although it sold), but if I were the type to buy Christmas trinkets and I saw it for $10 at Hallmark, I would buy that.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:39 AM on November 22, 2009
The worst -- and most face-palmingly tasteless -- example of crafting gone bad that I have seen recently is this abominable "soft 9/11" sculpture.
But noted art critic Mark Frauenfelder just about jizzed in his pants when he saw it, so what do I know. Yet another reason I stopped reading BoingBoing.
posted by Ratio at 10:45 AM on November 22, 2009 [3 favorites]
But noted art critic Mark Frauenfelder just about jizzed in his pants when he saw it, so what do I know. Yet another reason I stopped reading BoingBoing.
posted by Ratio at 10:45 AM on November 22, 2009 [3 favorites]
I think billyfleetwood said it best:
The worst creative endeavors are a better use of time than watching tv, reading US Weekly, wallowing in relationship drama, playing video games, and so on, etc. I would argue that even angsty cliched teenage girl heartbreak poetry is a more worthwhile use of personal time than 99% of what passes for acceptable pastimes in this day and age.posted by hydrophonic at 10:49 AM on November 22, 2009 [24 favorites]
Please, please, please people, erase the phrase "too much time on your hands" from your minds. It is small minded and weak. Obsessive, time-intensive, overly detailed hobbies are the antidote to the evils of marketing. They should be encouraged, not ridiculed.
Interesting that in the first link there's a knit hat that is obviously from Katamari Damacy... not only do most of the (6) comments insult the hat without knowing what it's from, even after a commenter explained what it was, another commenter expressed confusion about it. I can see not reading hundreds of comments, but you can't read 5 short ones before you post and do a quick google?
posted by Huck500 at 10:50 AM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Huck500 at 10:50 AM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
Oh come on people, I think Orange Swan has amply demonstrated that she is all for crafting, be it mainstream or way out of left field kooky. I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a moment to poke fun at the more...bizarre...crafting creations out there.
Besides, some of these are pretty nifty, besides being batshitinsane.
I actually thought the "burger dress" was pretty cool.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 10:56 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Besides, some of these are pretty nifty, besides being batshitinsane.
I actually thought the "burger dress" was pretty cool.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 10:56 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
It's not really entertaining or constructive to read that some mean-spirited asshole dislikes this or that, it's just depressing.
posted by aesacus at 10:57 AM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by aesacus at 10:57 AM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
Hydrophonic, I totally agree with billyfleetwood's excellent comment, which I had never seen before, so thanks for linking to that.
posted by orange swan at 11:05 AM on November 22, 2009
posted by orange swan at 11:05 AM on November 22, 2009
"Glitter Gone Bad" combines the confidence of the ignorant with the meanness of the insecure. Several of the crafts are made in specific reference to something, which is lost on the blogger. "Frosty the Crazy Ornament," for example, is a hand-made reproduction of a massively popular vintage ornament style.
posted by droob at 11:14 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by droob at 11:14 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
I have, in a couple of bags in the closet. two perfectly normal but unfinished shirts and two simple pairs of pants I started to make but abandoned when I realized they were not going exactly as planned. I have finished exactly one thing I started, and I didn't like that, either. I have no room whatsoever to start flinging rocks safely, and would be wise to duck and cover when I see others throwing stones.
posted by dilettante at 11:14 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by dilettante at 11:14 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Wrong? Bad? Ugly?
I am praying for you all, that the scales may fall from your eyes.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:15 AM on November 22, 2009
I am praying for you all, that the scales may fall from your eyes.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:15 AM on November 22, 2009
I'm in the camp that believes the people making fun of these folks have probably never got off their asses to try and do something creative...
tm;dr too mean; didn't read
posted by HuronBob at 11:15 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
tm;dr too mean; didn't read
posted by HuronBob at 11:15 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
that said, orangeswan, you DID do a hell of a job putting this post together. I would say it was "well crafted" and will NOT be the subject on terribleposts.com?
posted by HuronBob at 11:21 AM on November 22, 2009
posted by HuronBob at 11:21 AM on November 22, 2009
That burger dress is not just "pretty cool," it's fucking AWESOME.
posted by mediareport at 11:22 AM on November 22, 2009
posted by mediareport at 11:22 AM on November 22, 2009
Thank you for the laughs!! I was giggling like crazy at some of these (had to send the bleeding squirrel to my bro). I love the kitch and eccentrics of the world!
And, I don't see the 'contempt' in the sites. But then I was just looking, not reading. Lighten up, ppl -- anyone who crafts has heard it all from friends and family already. No blogger is going to scar them.
Anyone want to see my hand-crocheted octopus cap???
posted by Surfurrus at 11:22 AM on November 22, 2009
And, I don't see the 'contempt' in the sites. But then I was just looking, not reading. Lighten up, ppl -- anyone who crafts has heard it all from friends and family already. No blogger is going to scar them.
Anyone want to see my hand-crocheted octopus cap???
posted by Surfurrus at 11:22 AM on November 22, 2009
Btw, the "Making fun of crafts: Threat or Menace?" argument was hashed out in great detail a few months ago, when Mefite jacquilynne took down her "The Good, the Bad and the Etsy" blog after getting a death threat.
posted by mediareport at 11:31 AM on November 22, 2009
posted by mediareport at 11:31 AM on November 22, 2009
Anyone want to see my hand-crocheted octopus cap???
Abso-fucking-lutely!
posted by kuujjuarapik at 11:37 AM on November 22, 2009
Abso-fucking-lutely!
posted by kuujjuarapik at 11:37 AM on November 22, 2009
Screw Cake Wrecks, that Tonberry cake is fucking badass.
posted by adamdschneider at 11:43 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by adamdschneider at 11:43 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
...anyone who crafts has heard it all from friends and family already. No blogger is going to scar them.
Well, there one mefite would probably disagree with you, since she got death threats.
I'm not going to be able to find it again, but I read a post by someone that sketched or made a web comic or reconstructed major organs from Legos (I don't remember what he made). He wrote about how people kept saying, "you have too much time on your hands." So he broke it down. "No one says "You have too much time on your hands" to a golfer. No one says "You have too much time on your hands" to someone that works out every day. No one says..." (the quotes are total paraphrases).
My point is that part of the creative process is feedback. If you only sing in the shower no one will snark, but you will get no recognition from it.
I write poetry. Arguably bad poetry. But I also put some of it on websites and compete in the occasional poetry slam. I also make masks of clay. And I have man "too much time on my hands" hobbies. I get shit for some of them. Some I know are idiotic before I ever put it out there.
Sometimes I am surprised what people connect with, sometimes I am surprised by what people dislike, but without this feedback I'm not sure you can grow as an artist. And, yes, I would argue that someone heaping contempt on the fruits of your labor is valuable as well. You appreciate the hardcore fans more and you examine the things that brought about such derision. Sometimes the answer is to adapt, sometimes it is to stick to your principles, and says, "Fuck 'em if they don't get it," but in an echo chamber of praise we still have a need to strike out and seek an audience. If we didn't mankind would only produce artwork for mom's fridge.
If you can't take criticism, if you can't take contempt, you probably need to reconsider how you spend your time. If making poop out of felt gets you through the day, then shine on, but don't think you can post it out there for the world to see and expect one to take a shit on it.
posted by cjorgensen at 12:00 PM on November 22, 2009 [6 favorites]
Well, there one mefite would probably disagree with you, since she got death threats.
I'm not going to be able to find it again, but I read a post by someone that sketched or made a web comic or reconstructed major organs from Legos (I don't remember what he made). He wrote about how people kept saying, "you have too much time on your hands." So he broke it down. "No one says "You have too much time on your hands" to a golfer. No one says "You have too much time on your hands" to someone that works out every day. No one says..." (the quotes are total paraphrases).
My point is that part of the creative process is feedback. If you only sing in the shower no one will snark, but you will get no recognition from it.
I write poetry. Arguably bad poetry. But I also put some of it on websites and compete in the occasional poetry slam. I also make masks of clay. And I have man "too much time on my hands" hobbies. I get shit for some of them. Some I know are idiotic before I ever put it out there.
Sometimes I am surprised what people connect with, sometimes I am surprised by what people dislike, but without this feedback I'm not sure you can grow as an artist. And, yes, I would argue that someone heaping contempt on the fruits of your labor is valuable as well. You appreciate the hardcore fans more and you examine the things that brought about such derision. Sometimes the answer is to adapt, sometimes it is to stick to your principles, and says, "Fuck 'em if they don't get it," but in an echo chamber of praise we still have a need to strike out and seek an audience. If we didn't mankind would only produce artwork for mom's fridge.
If you can't take criticism, if you can't take contempt, you probably need to reconsider how you spend your time. If making poop out of felt gets you through the day, then shine on, but don't think you can post it out there for the world to see and expect one to take a shit on it.
posted by cjorgensen at 12:00 PM on November 22, 2009 [6 favorites]
The first time my wife (at the time my girlfriend) knitted a sweater she had skimped on the yarn and used some sort of cheap acrylic stuff. It was very thick yarn, and a deep shade of green. The sweater was far too big for her, and the sleeves had a bunch of cabling which (due to her knitting inexperience) wound up looking like muscles. We'd only been going out for a month or so, and I didn't want to say or do anything to rock the boat, but when she modeled the sweater for me I had to inform her that it made her look like The Incredible Hulk.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:03 PM on November 22, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:03 PM on November 22, 2009 [4 favorites]
That Katamari Damacy baby hat is unbelievably kickass, and I weep for the ignorance of those other 5 commenters.
Also, last Easter a number of my friends got custom-made bunnies from that girl's etsy store of bunny awesomeness. I'm sure this says something about my appalling sense of humour, but I REGRET NOTHING.
ALSO ALSO. IIRC, the last "horrors of etsy" post was where I found a bevy of potential xmas presents for the same unsuspecting friends. I love you, internets. I love you forever.
posted by elizardbits at 12:07 PM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Also, last Easter a number of my friends got custom-made bunnies from that girl's etsy store of bunny awesomeness. I'm sure this says something about my appalling sense of humour, but I REGRET NOTHING.
ALSO ALSO. IIRC, the last "horrors of etsy" post was where I found a bevy of potential xmas presents for the same unsuspecting friends. I love you, internets. I love you forever.
posted by elizardbits at 12:07 PM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
While criticism is a consequence of doing anything in public, some criticism is more valid than others. I think it's mean-spirited crap, and completely worthless criticism. If there was a craft blog entitled "here's where you went wrong" that pointed to ways to improve my crafting skills, I would however read it avidly - even if the examples were hilarious and awful.
I also think that the obsession with these usually female "critics" ridiculing anything involving vaginas whether tacky or just informational says something about their feelings about themselves and their feelings about other women. You can tell from their blog that these people are exactly who you NEVER want as a friend, because it's guaranteed they talk dirt about you behind your back. Yes, some people are squicked by ladypart stuff - but that doesn't mean it's in any way a craft "fail." Some of that information is pretty valuable and got skipped during health classes in high school.
posted by medea42 at 12:26 PM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
I also think that the obsession with these usually female "critics" ridiculing anything involving vaginas whether tacky or just informational says something about their feelings about themselves and their feelings about other women. You can tell from their blog that these people are exactly who you NEVER want as a friend, because it's guaranteed they talk dirt about you behind your back. Yes, some people are squicked by ladypart stuff - but that doesn't mean it's in any way a craft "fail." Some of that information is pretty valuable and got skipped during health classes in high school.
posted by medea42 at 12:26 PM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Oh, I don't know. These puke pillows are kinda cute.
posted by cobwebberies at 12:29 PM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by cobwebberies at 12:29 PM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
I really like the CraftFail blog because it's people poking fun at their own mistakes and, very interestingly, talking about how and when they went wrong and what they'd do differently next time.
Some of that other stuff, though, is just mean and unfunny.
posted by Neofelis at 12:37 PM on November 22, 2009
Some of that other stuff, though, is just mean and unfunny.
posted by Neofelis at 12:37 PM on November 22, 2009
If there's a God, It probably values sincerity above technique.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:38 PM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Joe Beese at 12:38 PM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
We'd only been going out for a month or so, and I didn't want to say or do anything to rock the boat, but when she modeled the sweater for me I had to inform her that it made her look like The Incredible Hulk.
The Card Cheat, if a man compared me to the Incredible Hulk in any context, I don't know how likely I'd be to marry him (i.e., he'd have to be really, really awesome in bed or something), so I'm impressed by the success of your courtship.;-)
posted by orange swan at 12:39 PM on November 22, 2009
The Card Cheat, if a man compared me to the Incredible Hulk in any context, I don't know how likely I'd be to marry him (i.e., he'd have to be really, really awesome in bed or something), so I'm impressed by the success of your courtship.;-)
posted by orange swan at 12:39 PM on November 22, 2009
Just wanted to add that if, for whatever reason, you decded to never post anything like this ever again, I'd be totally OK with that.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:40 PM on November 22, 2009
posted by Joe Beese at 12:40 PM on November 22, 2009
If there's a God, It probably values sincerity above technique.
Well, He made us. Case in point, I'd say.
posted by Wolfdog at 12:44 PM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
Well, He made us. Case in point, I'd say.
posted by Wolfdog at 12:44 PM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
Wow, some of those are creepy and weird.
But, you know, some of the assertions made by these sites make them seem so... conservative and normal. The kind of normal that is boring and sucks the life out everything.
I like the idea that there are wacky crafters out there stretching the notions of what "craft" and even "outsider art" means.
posted by clvrmnky at 1:01 PM on November 22, 2009
But, you know, some of the assertions made by these sites make them seem so... conservative and normal. The kind of normal that is boring and sucks the life out everything.
I like the idea that there are wacky crafters out there stretching the notions of what "craft" and even "outsider art" means.
posted by clvrmnky at 1:01 PM on November 22, 2009
Yes, some people are squicked by ladypart stuff - but that doesn't mean it's in any way a craft "fail." Some of that information is pretty valuable and got skipped during health classes in high school.
My babysitter made anatomically correct dolls. I remember sitting in her lap while she sewed sequins onto them and told me about girl parts and boy parts. I learned more from her than in school or at home.
posted by hoppytoad at 1:05 PM on November 22, 2009
My babysitter made anatomically correct dolls. I remember sitting in her lap while she sewed sequins onto them and told me about girl parts and boy parts. I learned more from her than in school or at home.
posted by hoppytoad at 1:05 PM on November 22, 2009
A problem I have with a lot of this stuff is that things like the "chest vagina" actually look really well crafted and I would totally buy if I had the money. What these people are largely blogging about isn't always skill or technique, but about their personal views on societal taboos.
posted by emperor.seamus at 1:16 PM on November 22, 2009
posted by emperor.seamus at 1:16 PM on November 22, 2009
And on review I've been beaten too it, oops.
posted by emperor.seamus at 1:16 PM on November 22, 2009
posted by emperor.seamus at 1:16 PM on November 22, 2009
A lot of these blogs just come across as really mean-spirited. Normally I like mockery, but in this case, I guess I can relate to the difficulty of crafting, as someone who is entirely inept in almost every way. Craftfail is hilarious though, since it's the actual people laughing at themselves.
posted by !Jim at 1:21 PM on November 22, 2009
posted by !Jim at 1:21 PM on November 22, 2009
Speaking of crafting gone wrong, this improvised tale of craft shop rivalry just ain't right [tho it is funny.]
posted by slappy_pinchbottom at 1:23 PM on November 22, 2009
posted by slappy_pinchbottom at 1:23 PM on November 22, 2009
> The Card Cheat, if a man compared me to the Incredible Hulk in any context, I don't know how likely I'd be to marry him (i.e., he'd have to be really, really awesome in bed or something)...
Well, my awesome bed skillz aside...it was a very, very ugly sweater, and (not so) deep down she knew it. Sometimes I wonder if the whole situation was a test of my honesty...
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:29 PM on November 22, 2009
Well, my awesome bed skillz aside...it was a very, very ugly sweater, and (not so) deep down she knew it. Sometimes I wonder if the whole situation was a test of my honesty...
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:29 PM on November 22, 2009
>
Actually, the Tonberry was a "Sunday Sweet," which is a feature about cakes that are actually well made. She featured it because she thought it looked great. I think having a day of sincere appreciation also cuts through the snark a bit, which is probably healthier for everyone involved.
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:52 PM on November 22, 2009
Actually, the Tonberry was a "Sunday Sweet," which is a feature about cakes that are actually well made. She featured it because she thought it looked great. I think having a day of sincere appreciation also cuts through the snark a bit, which is probably healthier for everyone involved.
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:52 PM on November 22, 2009
> Also, last Easter a number of my friends got custom-made bunnies from that girl's etsy store of bunny awesomeness.
Yay spidercamp! I have a Meh bunny and my niece is getting a Guff bunny for Christmas.
posted by paduasoy at 2:28 PM on November 22, 2009
Yay spidercamp! I have a Meh bunny and my niece is getting a Guff bunny for Christmas.
posted by paduasoy at 2:28 PM on November 22, 2009
If this isn't funny to you, you're too young.
posted by carping demon at 3:03 PM on November 22, 2009
posted by carping demon at 3:03 PM on November 22, 2009
Mefite jacquilynne took down her "The Good, the Bad and the Etsy" blog after getting a death threat.
Having seen their attempts at handicrafts, why would you begin to assume that they'd be any more competent when it came to murder?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:41 PM on November 22, 2009 [6 favorites]
Having seen their attempts at handicrafts, why would you begin to assume that they'd be any more competent when it came to murder?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:41 PM on November 22, 2009 [6 favorites]
Actually, the Tonberry was a "Sunday Sweet," which is a feature about cakes that are actually well made. She featured it because she thought it looked great.
Ah, in that case, I forgive her. :-)
posted by adamdschneider at 5:30 PM on November 22, 2009
Ah, in that case, I forgive her. :-)
posted by adamdschneider at 5:30 PM on November 22, 2009
"The worst creative endeavors are a better use of time..."
I'm all for encouraging more creativity, more DIY, more making in general, but you know what? The assertion that your hobby is somehow more worthwhile than mine merely because mine doesn't eventually produce a damage pair of tights with buttons glued randomly to one leg is, frankly, bullshit. My non-crafting hobbies are valuable to me and to those I share them with. Just because you have soap shaped like a penis and that this somehow expresses creativity doesn't make you somehow better than me or what I do.
It's fine that people make something. But it's not unreasonable in any way whatsoever to point out when something someone makes is crap. I'm not a creative person in any measurable way whatsoever, and I assure you, anything I were to make would fall into the same category of pointless crap. My time is far better spent on doing the other things at which I have skill, derive enjoyment from, and bring pleasure to others with -- not making baby toys out of Bud Light cans.
posted by majick at 7:37 PM on November 22, 2009 [4 favorites]
I'm all for encouraging more creativity, more DIY, more making in general, but you know what? The assertion that your hobby is somehow more worthwhile than mine merely because mine doesn't eventually produce a damage pair of tights with buttons glued randomly to one leg is, frankly, bullshit. My non-crafting hobbies are valuable to me and to those I share them with. Just because you have soap shaped like a penis and that this somehow expresses creativity doesn't make you somehow better than me or what I do.
It's fine that people make something. But it's not unreasonable in any way whatsoever to point out when something someone makes is crap. I'm not a creative person in any measurable way whatsoever, and I assure you, anything I were to make would fall into the same category of pointless crap. My time is far better spent on doing the other things at which I have skill, derive enjoyment from, and bring pleasure to others with -- not making baby toys out of Bud Light cans.
posted by majick at 7:37 PM on November 22, 2009 [4 favorites]
When the apocalypse finally comes, it's going to be the people who have experience making slightly-more-useful-crap out of slightly-less-useful-crap that will rule the hardscrabble barter economy. Then we'll be laughing out of the other side of our vagina tea cozies!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:01 PM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:01 PM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Then we'll be laughing out of the other side of our vagina tea cozies!
For some reason I thought you were already doing that, stav. At least, that's how I've always pictured you.
posted by orange swan at 8:31 PM on November 22, 2009
For some reason I thought you were already doing that, stav. At least, that's how I've always pictured you.
posted by orange swan at 8:31 PM on November 22, 2009
This halloween costume from Handmade Gone Wrong made me laugh out loud with admiration for the creators.
posted by telstar at 8:50 PM on November 22, 2009
posted by telstar at 8:50 PM on November 22, 2009
I find it both amusing and annoying that certain parts of Metafilter tend to pile on this type of post, particularly when the site itself is a hotbed of snark. Something about craft offerings really pushes buttons for some of you, doesn't it? What is it about the alleged follies of knitters and crocheters and crafters of all types that makes you stand up and say "We're not going to take this sort of contemptuous behavior anymore!" when other sorts of human foibles seem fair game?
Chill, guys. You put something in public, and people will have an opinion on it. Simple as that. Don't start policing what sort of opinions we have, ok? It's a dangerous thing, making judgment calls. Next thing you know, I've called your call. All it takes is a pileon to call my call on your call on OrangeSwan's call etc, and then the sun falls into the ocean and we're all up to our elbows in Morlocks. Or something.
posted by ninazer0 at 9:20 PM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Chill, guys. You put something in public, and people will have an opinion on it. Simple as that. Don't start policing what sort of opinions we have, ok? It's a dangerous thing, making judgment calls. Next thing you know, I've called your call. All it takes is a pileon to call my call on your call on OrangeSwan's call etc, and then the sun falls into the ocean and we're all up to our elbows in Morlocks. Or something.
posted by ninazer0 at 9:20 PM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Hmm, after going through all these links, I certainly do see an ugly side to crafting.
But I don't think it's on the side of the crafters.
Indeed. This is like reading through engrishfunny or somesuch.
posted by rodgerd at 1:38 AM on November 23, 2009
But I don't think it's on the side of the crafters.
Indeed. This is like reading through engrishfunny or somesuch.
posted by rodgerd at 1:38 AM on November 23, 2009
Yeah, it's too bad this guy didn't do crafts. Inarticulately represent a good faith belief that happens to not be as sophisticated and as inline with the approved social stamp, and you're pilloried. Make a lamp out of a cow vagina and you're all good to go as long as it turns on when you rub it.
posted by cjorgensen at 5:00 AM on November 23, 2009
posted by cjorgensen at 5:00 AM on November 23, 2009
Well, it looks like April Winchell got a book deal out of her contempt.
And this, dear friends, is why all the most talented people I know are turning to self publishing instead of going with the Random Houses of the world. After doing 12 books under the old plantation system, and turning down a big book offer this summer (which wasn't so big after you did the math), I'm sick of the publishers going for the wounded gazelles in the craft world. The easy kill, the boring 5-seconds-of-yay-and-then-meh books.
(For knitters, might I recommend? one, two, three, four, five... all self published, all better than 99% of the books big publishers are doing).
I still like some of the snark sites (seriously, you can't do this full time like I do and not need a release now and again), but it's when the book publishers cash in on this kind of stupid and not the higher quality, more technically complex and interesting books that craftspeople would LIKE to produce that I get pissed off.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 5:34 AM on November 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
And this, dear friends, is why all the most talented people I know are turning to self publishing instead of going with the Random Houses of the world. After doing 12 books under the old plantation system, and turning down a big book offer this summer (which wasn't so big after you did the math), I'm sick of the publishers going for the wounded gazelles in the craft world. The easy kill, the boring 5-seconds-of-yay-and-then-meh books.
(For knitters, might I recommend? one, two, three, four, five... all self published, all better than 99% of the books big publishers are doing).
I still like some of the snark sites (seriously, you can't do this full time like I do and not need a release now and again), but it's when the book publishers cash in on this kind of stupid and not the higher quality, more technically complex and interesting books that craftspeople would LIKE to produce that I get pissed off.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 5:34 AM on November 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm in the camp that believes the people making fun of these folks have probably never got off their asses to try and do something creative...
Uh, I don't know about that. I enjoy laughing at the bad crafts and I do plenty of handiwork myself — I've made something like 25 items so far in 2009 and have quite a few Christmas presents in progress. You can see some examples of my work here if you're interested. It seems to me it's almost the other way around: people are more likely to be comfortable laughing at bad crafts when they craft themselves, because they know damn well they've turned out their own share of visual tragedies. It's a "shit crafts happen" release, and a part of keeping things in perspective.
And yeah, like ninazer0 says, Metafilter itself basically exists to critique and ridicule stuff on the web. I can respect that everyone has a different idea of where to draw the line when it comes to pointing and laughing at human foibles, but that doesn't mean the rest of us are obliged to toe the same line or are Very Bad People for not doing so.
posted by orange swan at 6:33 AM on November 23, 2009 [2 favorites]
Uh, I don't know about that. I enjoy laughing at the bad crafts and I do plenty of handiwork myself — I've made something like 25 items so far in 2009 and have quite a few Christmas presents in progress. You can see some examples of my work here if you're interested. It seems to me it's almost the other way around: people are more likely to be comfortable laughing at bad crafts when they craft themselves, because they know damn well they've turned out their own share of visual tragedies. It's a "shit crafts happen" release, and a part of keeping things in perspective.
And yeah, like ninazer0 says, Metafilter itself basically exists to critique and ridicule stuff on the web. I can respect that everyone has a different idea of where to draw the line when it comes to pointing and laughing at human foibles, but that doesn't mean the rest of us are obliged to toe the same line or are Very Bad People for not doing so.
posted by orange swan at 6:33 AM on November 23, 2009 [2 favorites]
Yes, it is entirely possible to snark with the greatest love and understanding that we've all created things that seemed like a great idea at the time but somehow went awry. And there is a rich subculture, or perhaps counterculture in the knitting world that openly courts WTF reactions. The Katamari hat is probably well within that realm, as are a fair quantity of etsy goods.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 7:44 AM on November 23, 2009
posted by KirkJobSluder at 7:44 AM on November 23, 2009
I was looking at this last night, and got to the knitted toilet paper link. I then had the following conversation with my roommate.
Me: So, you know I knit, right?
Roommate: Yep.
Me: Could you promise me something?
Roommate: Okay....
Me: (shows him picture) If you ever come home and find that I'm knitting this? I want you to take the needles out of my hands and stab me in the back of the head with them.
Roommate: (studies picture a moment, winces) Huh. ...Okay, yeah, you got it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:35 AM on November 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
Me: So, you know I knit, right?
Roommate: Yep.
Me: Could you promise me something?
Roommate: Okay....
Me: (shows him picture) If you ever come home and find that I'm knitting this? I want you to take the needles out of my hands and stab me in the back of the head with them.
Roommate: (studies picture a moment, winces) Huh. ...Okay, yeah, you got it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:35 AM on November 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
The toilet paper and potpourri poop is such an obvious example of WTF/gonzo/crack knitting that I'm amazed anyone is considering it with a straight face.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 9:06 AM on November 23, 2009
posted by KirkJobSluder at 9:06 AM on November 23, 2009
"such an obvious example of WTF/gonzo/crack knitting"
Obscure subset of obscure subgroup is obscure.
I mean, yeah, that may well be true, except for the part that nobody's ever heard of "gonzo crack knitting" so they aren't going to identify it as readily as you will.
posted by majick at 9:54 AM on November 23, 2009
Obscure subset of obscure subgroup is obscure.
I mean, yeah, that may well be true, except for the part that nobody's ever heard of "gonzo crack knitting" so they aren't going to identify it as readily as you will.
posted by majick at 9:54 AM on November 23, 2009
It's not a particularly subtle or inside joke. It's a roll of knitted toilet paper and an air freshener shaped like a turd. It's like trying to defend the sensibilities of a whoopie cushion or fake vomit.
Of course perhaps one of the problems with etsy and similar crafting sites is that it's sometimes difficult to distinguish the bad but earnest Ed Wood Jrs of the crafting world from the gonzo crafters trying to out-kitsch each other. And the whole Mark Ryden thing of mashing up cute and disturbing is getting a bit old in my opinion.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 10:58 AM on November 23, 2009
Of course perhaps one of the problems with etsy and similar crafting sites is that it's sometimes difficult to distinguish the bad but earnest Ed Wood Jrs of the crafting world from the gonzo crafters trying to out-kitsch each other. And the whole Mark Ryden thing of mashing up cute and disturbing is getting a bit old in my opinion.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 10:58 AM on November 23, 2009
Hmm. I didn't get that Katamari reference, delmoi, having never heard of Katamari, but I do feel like I should have realized the hat was intended to reference or imitate something because that hat is too well made and well-proportioned to be just a case of bad or weird design.
posted by orange swan at 5:54 AM on November 24, 2009
posted by orange swan at 5:54 AM on November 24, 2009
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