In the month of October a century ago, the term, though not the concept, of Do-It-Yourself first entered our vocabulary. A magazine called Suburban Life introduced the words that have become short-hand for so many ideas in 1912, encouraging people to undertake their own projects, especially in carpentry and clothes making, sort of in counter-revolt to the spread of manufactured goods but also for reasons of economy.
The movement, really taking off in the 1950s through today, has continued to compliment and build upon as well as offer an alternative to the prefabricated, one-size-fits-all market. A price can’t be put on creativity and ingenuity, but moreover, there’s the sharing, show-and-tell aspect that has no comparison to commercial crazes that’s become a force all its own: found in home-improvement television, as well as the stores that keep crafters and makers well supplied, entrepreneurial websites like etsy and of course the subsets of cooking, independent film and music, blogging, mending, darning and repurposing and all the stories that go with them. In honour of this most auspicious and enduring culture, I plan to learn a new skill and create something this month. What crafty abilities of your own would you like to strengthen?
The movement, really taking off in the 1950s through today, has continued to compliment and build upon as well as offer an alternative to the prefabricated, one-size-fits-all market. A price can’t be put on creativity and ingenuity, but moreover, there’s the sharing, show-and-tell aspect that has no comparison to commercial crazes that’s become a force all its own: found in home-improvement television, as well as the stores that keep crafters and makers well supplied, entrepreneurial websites like etsy and of course the subsets of cooking, independent film and music, blogging, mending, darning and repurposing and all the stories that go with them. In honour of this most auspicious and enduring culture, I plan to learn a new skill and create something this month. What crafty abilities of your own would you like to strengthen? 
