Craft Whore or Madonna?
Once upon a time this crazy smart and talented friend of mine thought we should have our own alterna-craft fair — so we did. Her handle (how 70s is that?) was Craft Whore — mine, she determined, was Craft Slut. That didn't seem right for me (I'm much too prudish), so it was quickly changed to Craft Meanie, which is more in line with my Spice name, Grumpy Spice. Anyway, since I can't post any of my holiday crafts I decided to pull this out of the archives. It's Craft Whore's felt portrait that I made for our online craft bios.
I started by taking a photo for reference. When I took the photo she just happened to be holding her baby, who just happened to hold up her hand like baby J. Divine craft inspiration? I think so. At the time I was also having some difficulty coming to terms with the name Craft Whore (remember, I'm a prude). How was I going to present Craft Whore to the world, and in felt no less? But, then, I realized that she could be both, Craft Whore and Craft Madonna — and, that it's quite common to have a complex about this.
I got to use some of my long repressed soft sculpture skills from way back (I won 1st place at the county fair when I was about 12). I used a couple layers of felt for the cheeks (she's cheeky) and trimmed the edges with an Exacto knife for roundness. The halos are vintage German goldleaf glued to felt.
I don't know how to end this post except to ask: Which one are you?
I started by taking a photo for reference. When I took the photo she just happened to be holding her baby, who just happened to hold up her hand like baby J. Divine craft inspiration? I think so. At the time I was also having some difficulty coming to terms with the name Craft Whore (remember, I'm a prude). How was I going to present Craft Whore to the world, and in felt no less? But, then, I realized that she could be both, Craft Whore and Craft Madonna — and, that it's quite common to have a complex about this.
I got to use some of my long repressed soft sculpture skills from way back (I won 1st place at the county fair when I was about 12). I used a couple layers of felt for the cheeks (she's cheeky) and trimmed the edges with an Exacto knife for roundness. The halos are vintage German goldleaf glued to felt.
I don't know how to end this post except to ask: Which one are you?
18 Comments:
I'm ashamed to admit that I fall in the I'm a craft-meanie category. I would like to be a Craft Whore or Madonna. I asked Bill, my husband, if he thought I should take an anger management class (after I freaked out, along with hitting, the dog for chewing an ornament) and he said "I don't know". I asked him if he really wanted to say yes, but was afraid of my reaction. He didn't answer. Yes, Craft Meanie. That's me.
i'm a craft whore for sure. i try any and all crafts with little or no regard for needed skill sets, necessary materials and/or ability to follow patterns and directions. that's kinda whorish, don't you think?
I'm kind of prudish too. I probably would have shortened it to "Craft Ho". Somehow Ho and Mofo don't bother me.
I don't know, can we be a little bit of both?
craft bitchy. absolutely.
Craft meanie for sure. Totally.
mad-crafter might be more true for me.
My parents all have that whore/virgin complex. And they're not even all ex-catholics.
whore, definetly whore... and, with a dash of slut thrown in for good measure.
Whore. Who wants to be good, anyway?
All of it depending on my mood! BTW (you may be aware) Anne Summers wrote a book called Damned Whores and God's Police looking at the Role of Australian Women from invasion times...Picks up on this thread arguing that the role of women is often seen in these polarities.
definitely craft whore, i can't commit to any one craft, and blithely jump ship when a more attractive craft comes along. my closet is full of unfinished projects and I often don;t wash my hands before handling fabrics. But i always preshrink.
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I don't like the words "whore" or "slut." Though I am pretty exercised by trollope, harlot, strumpet, bawd (though that seems usually applied to men), tart, hussy, slattern (which is actually just a variation of "slut" but emphasizes the messiness and poor hygiene), wanton (yes, it CAN be a noun), and the ever-pleasing moll.
In terms of "meanie," I also enjoy the words virago, harpy, termagant, vixen, battle-axe, fishwife, scold, and shrew. I like the idea of "Craft Harpy," though, for me, it would be more like "Literature Geek Harpy," which has no real ring to it at ALL.
In the tomboy arena, we have "hoyden," which I love. We used to refer to my friend Larissa as "The Hoydenish Vixen," or, later "H.V." She didn't mind.
Well it's good to see some some outrageous craft labels out there! Years ago my husband told me I should have an instructional craft show and title it "Cocksuella's Crafty Corner". That's been our dirty little secret for a looong time...
Interesting. I definitely don't fit the Craft Whore category, slavishly devoted as I am to knitting (although we do have an "open relationship"). I think maybe I'm somewhere between Craft Meanie and Craft Junkie. In fact, I could use a fix right now...
i just wanted to say i think the piece itself rocks.
i hope, when i grow up, to be a craft ho.
I asked my husband and he said I was a Craft Madonna. He seems to think I'm an artist type more than a Carol Duvall, craft ho type! I think I'm both! I just love to make stuff! Doesn't matter whether I'm quilting or making fake cakes from chenille!! Yor felt work is gorgeous, btw! Happy Holidays!
From Craft Whore/Madonna:
This is my favorite picture of myself - I was a little worried when Michelle indicated she was doing "soft sculpture" and "portrait" of me. I imagined panty-hose type pouchy people with lumpy insides. Instead, like with all of Michelle's beautiful work - I was actually flattered at the depiction.
I most relate to meg's post - I too pay little attention to directions or instructions, or the way things "should" be done in craft. I'm sure this irritates Craft Meanie at times - she isn't that much of a meanie - she puts up with me as a crazy all over the place friend...
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