Special Guest Article — “Why Make Homemade Items”

Editor's Preface

We like to hear what other people have to say… We like to pass on their advice and share their experiences. Everyone has their own forte, their own expertise "niche". With that in mind we left the open offer or request on our website for anybody working within the art and craft Industry, to write something for our readers. If you feel you have something to say to the art or craft market that can benefit readers in some way, we’d love to put your article in our newsletter.

I recently received one from a interesting individual, Alan Detwiler. I guess I’d say he’s just an everyday person that likes to "make things" out of everyday things. He’s the casual "do it yourself-er", someone who likes to tinker and improvise and improve things… Any of that in you? Sometimes we’re "barking up the wrong tree" for the big answer or the big solution or magic fix or improvement, when it’s just the simplest most ingenious small un-elegant, un-fancy thing that does the trick!

This is a different kind of article to put in our newsletter, but I think you’ll see why I believe it’s very applicable… Alan’s not talking directly about an art or craft but he definitely IS talking about creativity and harnessing that motivation inside of us to create, to invent, to build, to "make something" new or better… to do something we’ve wondered about or never got around to doing…

He submits the simple challenge to all of us to harness that ingenuity and imagination inside of us and see the wonder that might come out…

Personally, I’ve noted in my years, a strong tendency for the creative artist or crafts person to also be a practical "MacGyver" of sorts (Remember that t.v. show?) Their creativity and natural curiousity won’t allow them to NOT find a solution to things in their day-to-day life. They’re 'driven' and are seldom 100% satisified… Any of this familiar to any of you? Their creativity will either make them a great "jimmy-rigger on the spot" using whatever they have at their finger tips to fix something or make something better. Or they’ll have a "Da Vinci" moment and truly invent something astonishing that it’s a wonder no one had thought of before… Come on… think about it! Haven’t you ever surprised yourself before? Have you ever just taken a crack at making something yourself rather than hoping and waiting for it to one day appear in the market place?

I guess I’m saying that I believe ALL ARTISTS ARE ALSO INVENTORS in a manner of speaking… Creating and inventing are close relatives in my books… And the invention doesn’t have to be some collosal revolutionary new product for society or something technical or scientific… Maybe it’s just down-to-earth and common-sense borne? Just like art, it doesn’t even have to relate to all people, but at least to the beholder… It can be something simple that you need or want, or that you wonder why no one has ever yet made or improved upon… So… Get creative! Don’t get stale… The power to invent is nested in the creative process of any artist… Do you have all the perfect tools of your trade just the way you’d like it? Do you have everything you need? Did you ever make a gadget or gizmo to help you with your art or craft process? If not… Why not make it yourself! Put your your thinking cap on… You may be able to create on canvas… why not invent in the 'day to day'… Something to think about for anyone who calls themselves creative…

Check out what Alan Detwiler has to say…

“It feels good proving that imagination and ingenuity can make life better. Having witnessed first-hand the process of invention, we wonder what other things we can achieve.”

Why Make Homemade Items

I've always liked to make gadgets and gizmos that fill some need ... some useful (or not so useful) function. It started with the simple things that many kids make — slingshots, a simple bow and arrow, a toy boat. Occasionally, more involved items such as a canoe and a dune buggy became trophies to add to my accomplishments.

Simple things appeal to me more than more costly homemade items. A project with a small amount of time invested seems more like entertainment. Projects that use up more time and money make me think I would be better off doing something else.

So now when I don't feel motivated to do more practical things I often turn to an idea about some device or other that I've wanted to try making but never got around to.

I can recall many such improvised devices that gave me much needed diversion from the grind of more practical endeavors. Time spent earnestly involved in the creation of something designed and made with ones own ingenuity can be quite enjoyable. Each project gives me something to be proud of and more evidence that I am capable of more than tediously repeating over and over what I have done too many times before.

Ideas for things to make come from many places. Most often the idea comes from some need. I do a lot of keying of text using a computer keyboard. I tend to keep the room temperature a bit cool, cool enough that my hands become uncomfortable. I ended up rigging a length of electrical heating tape wound in a large coil-shape to surround the keyboard. Tying the heat tape to a large piece of cardboard keeps it in place. It does a nice job of keeping my hands warm. I can leave the room temperature set where I want it. As far as I know, you can't buy anything like that.

A project can inspire wonder about the physical world and wonder about our abilities to manipulate what is around us. Our capacity to wonder and appreciate increases partly because of what we learn as we build and invent.

Creation of an improvised device increases awareness and reverence for what the world has to offer. Making an appealing gizmo can bring creative and rational abilities together. Using both together is a powerful combination that will increase a person's ability to produce and enjoy life.

It is fun and satisfying to conjure up and build simple devices. Those created items command more appreciation than more casually acquired, purchased items. And it feels good proving that imagination and ingenuity can make life better. Having witnessed first-hand the process of invention, we wonder what other things we can achieve.

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