if i were to sum up 2008 in one phrase, it would be “do-it-yourself.” In the advent of a new year (era, rather), there has been an undeniable shift, i believe, in the way we consume, create, design, craft, sustain, and make. whatever the impetus – whether it’s the threat of global warming, the pinch of the economic crisis, a general anti-consumerist attitude, or just a new (or rekindled) appreciation for the handmade – more and more people are dodging the malls and opting to give more creative, sustainable and/or handcrafted gifts this holiday season. i, myself, have frequented more craft fairs than one-day sales in recent days.
i can attribute my own lack of blogginess these past couple weeks to running a holiday sweatshop of one, transforming the recycled bottlecaps, cereal boxes, and yarn balls strewn across my living room floor into one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family. while i can’t describe my projects here (as i probably will be gifting them to many of you!), i do want to share with you an upcoming movie that i’m pretty juiced about.
handmade nation is a new documentary by first-time director faythe levine, about the burgeoning craft movement in america. in 2006, she visited 15 cities and interviewed over 80 indie crafters, artists, and designers to capture the essence of diy. i’m a little worried about the overwhelmingly punk aesthetic of the film, but still very interested.
check out this awesome stop-animated opening title sequence:
or watch the 8-minute trailer here.
happy crafitng!
