Generations ago, there was a time when women did a great many things for their household. Women did the sewing, the cooking, canned vegetables and made jams.
If you go back far enough in history, they even made soaps and candles and spun the yarn that garments were made from. They did these things out of necessity. They did these things because if they didn’t, their families went without.
With industrialism came the ability to mass produce many household products. As we refined this ability, much of the burden was lifted from the shoulders of women as a whole in western society.
And of course, with women’s liberation, women began to enter the workforce and the demand for such time and energy saving products increased and the old world crafts began to die.
Seldom anymore, do you find a young woman who knows how to read a pattern, or grow a garden, or can vegetables or what the hell soap is even made of. Most women are too caught up with their job or school, on top of looking their best and staying fit to think of doing such time consuming tasks for themselves.
I have heard them called lower level skills and even degrading. Too often, women fail to see the power in ability to create, a power that seems to have been given up in order to join men in the workforce.
You want a shirt that no one else has that fits you perfectly; if you have a sewing machine you can make it yourself and know that it is truly one of a kind. Although sewing machines can be spendy, they can be well worth your money if you use it often.
Patterns can be reused many times and can be purchased in many locations, including online. And you can repair your favorite clothes, or use them to make something new.
Many of us are worried about our health and our figure, but find that produce is expensive and the gym is boring.
Gardening is not only a source of fresh vegetables, but a source of exercise as well. Tending a garden a couple of times a week can help burn some extra calories and provide a refreshing change of scenery from the gym. And of course, having a source of fresh vegetables in your back yard eliminates excuses not to eat them.
We all know drinks at the bar can add up fast. Making your own wine or brewing beer can be worth the startup cost in the long run. Beer tasting or wine tasting parties are always popular ones.
Canning and making jams or soaps are all rewarding arts that produce useful products that you can share or even trade, and often save a buck or two in the long run. If done correctly, canning your own vegetables and jams can help reduce preservatives and unknown ingredients found in cans at the grocery store as well as save you money.
Soaps and candles can be made in a variety of shapes and colors and are much-appreciated gifts. Any of these goods could be sold at markets or in consignment, or traded at barter fairs, creating potential profit.
Consider some of these dying arts and see if one fits you. Be powerful, and create something useful, create something unique. Create something you like that sets you apart from everyone else. Learn to do something for yourself, and be truly unique.
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