Hand Crafting
Hand crafting: Manually Crafting Art and Goods
Hand crafting refers to using one's hands and simple tools to create functional objects. Anything one would use in the home (primarily functional goods such as furniture, clothing, and dishes) can be hand crafted, as they were in the days before we had machines to make them for us.
In today's age of digital production, hand crafting has become a symbol of traditional values and "country" elegance. Some people eschew this old-fashioned art form in preference of the perfection and symmetry of mass-produced material goods, but wherever you see hand crafted objects, you can be sure the owner holds tradition and history in high esteem.
The Artistry of Handicrafts
Many non-functional but environment-enhancing objects, including paintings, wall hangings, vases, and signs, can be (and frequently are) hand crafted. The most common hand crafted item is also the one to sustain the least amount of physical impact and, debatably, the highest amount of function and aesthetic value: handmade signs announcing a house number.
Your house number is usually the first thing new visitors and delivery people notice about your home. Just as owning a home is quickly becoming a tradition held over from previous generations, making sure house numbers are obvious, legible, or even aesthetically pleasing seems to be a thing of the past in some neighborhoods. However, you can be guaranteed that anyone who takes pride in their home is in possession of a detailed hand crafted house number plate.
Elegance and Equality
Anyone who has a home has a house number, and this distills the basic essence of hand crafted goods: these are the necessary things everyone has, whether rich or poor. You might see a rustic-looking hand crafted house number sign on a weather-beaten cabin in the woods, or a stately Victorian house number sign in iron scrollwork in the city. It's obvious both homeowners take pride in their residence, value the traditional and functional aspects of hand-crafting, and want to ensure their homes are easily recognized by passersby.
Part of the appeal of house number signs, for the creator, is the wide variety of materials and styles possible. Some house number signs complement the house's decor; others are designed to say something about the family living inside. Like a modern-day coat of arms, these hand crafted house signs can speak volumes about the homeowner, even if there isn't a single letter on them.
Hand Crafting For the Future
Some things remain the same despite time's passage. It's becoming less and less common for people to own their home, but the popularity of hand crafted goods within and without the home are on the rise. People around the world are re-learning these skills, both as a way of preserving their family traditions in an age of increasingly distant families, and a method of saving money during economic drought.
If you learn to hand craft your own home goods, excellent - you'll save a great deal of money, and build pride in your home as your skills improve. If you're unsure of your abilities but you'd like to learn, you can pay homage to the art form by creating your own home sign. It can be as simple or as detailed as you like, but the end result will be the same: everyone who sees your homemade house number will know of your respect for hard work, creativity, and home pride.