stitch-witchery or hobby lobby

Though maybe not the sort of realization of the Star Trek style replicator or teleportation that the purist might be hoping for, three dimensional printing, using a variety of media from fast-setting goop to foam to ceramics, seems to have a lot of promise for empowerment and expression. Taking the idea of speedy prototyping and delivering it straight to the cottage industry, items (and any item), given the patience, can be sprouted layer by layer in exacting detail, from a three-dimension scan or original design—or assembled like a model airplane from a punch-out sheet. To revive the care, dexterity, and continued concentration for modeling, tools and fittings and generally smithery and carpentry and pottery, is a very positive detour away from art, progress and participation measured on only flat planes.

Of course, malleability and ruggedness will only improve over time and perhaps the potential for domestic manufacturing will explode, already with talk of fabricating architectural elements, sculpture, ginger-bread houses, integrated circuits, clothing and even human organs. Boing Boing, MAKE and many other websites host creative conversions about 3D printing innovations regularly. Just see what you can find. Design will be customized and revolutionized, with no restraints or anything extraneous. There will be, no doubt, a Gutenberg moment of singularity when the means are available to all, and surely there will be some businesses that want to ensure that their designs are protected and maybe computer companies will someday soon turn to peddling patterns, like the Simplicity paper cut-out guides in fabric stores and turn spiteful like those who belittle homemade Christmas presents over the store-bought variety. Clay might be the business of the future.  Perhaps contemporary designs will retain some proprietary protections, but I am sure that any home would be happily and comfortably outfitted with Art Nouveau and Classical motifs—brilliant and timeless and in the public domain.