Art or Craft? Or How Can I Make Some Money Without Mass-Producing?

I’ve been thinking about Christmas. There is the potential to exploit this holiday and make some money, or stay true to what I love, and maybe make some money. I walk a fine line between creating art, and creating craft. I constantly struggle between “cranking out” hundreds of similar items or plodding along with my labor intensive work. Of course, I DO want to sell items that will appeal to the everyday person. Should I compromise? If so, at what point? How?

I find that when I’m under pressure to produce a certain type or size of work, I’m unhappy with the result. I don’t get lost in the process. My composition is off, the colors are off, my work gets sloppy. I feel impatient to be done with it. I want to throw it against the wall, keening, and writhing with angst. Just kidding! Truthfully, though, I just don’t enjoy it. I was a teacher for 44 years, I got up, went to work, weathered a lot of storms, followed rules I didn’t believe in, took a lot of guff from a lot of people. What kept me going was the enjoyment of the relationships built with students, parents, and staff . (Also, the paycheck, and health insurance! ) At this point in my life, I want to ENJOY what I’m doing. I want to love the relationship between myself and my art.

So, back to the original quandary. To exploit the Christmas season, or not? Hmmm. Compromise? But how? Well, Christmas is often romanticized with old-fashioned charm. Doilies are old fashioned, and charming. What could I make with doilies that would honor their beauty and workmanship, AND honor the Christmas season, AND encourage me to branch out artistically?

Ideas came flooding in. The obvious choice was a wreath. Many doilies, aren’t really doilies at all. They have a solid linen center with a crocheted edge. The center is almost always stained. Voila! Cut out the center and you have the beginnings of a gorgeous wreath.

For this piece I wanted a red, but not too bright red background. I also used a linen embroidered coaster and rimmed it with a doily edge I had left over from another project. The hole that's cut in the middle doesn't have to be perfect, as it will be mostly covere.

This one is a linen coaster with a crocheted border from another doily. Ignore the camera shadow, please!

I didn’t want to paint on the crocheted part too much because I liked the contrast between the background and the natural colored doily.

I used scraps of doily and lace ferns, leaves, and flowers, painted them and applied.

And this is why I save all my scraps!

I paint the pieces before I apply them.

To add dimension I didn't glue all the pieces down flat. That way, I could also weave ribbon, jewelry or lace under and over the pieces.

Before adding the ribbons and pearls, I added gold highlights and edges to add even more interest, texture, and dimension.

Gold highlights add more texture, and dimension.

I also finished the background by adding shadows and glazes.

Add depth and interest with shadows and glazes.

Finally weave the ribbon, add the pearls and jewels.

Put it in a frame to finish it off.

Pretty, isn't it?

I loved the end product! I enjoyed the process! Yay! This is a keeper!