The
current severe economic downturn is affecting people on
every level. Rising fuel costs have impacted everything from the
price of groceries to the cost of getting to work everyday.
Joblessness is up and the discretionary income is down. But some
of the most telling signs of the times are the changes in the
way people spend their leisure time. We've all read media
reports about the trend away from vacations and toward
"staycations," where people stay at home instead of traveling.
Along the same lines, there's a significant trend toward finding
recreational activities that can substitute for more costly
alternatives. What are the emerging trends? Crafts for kids,
quilting, and gardening.
It makes sense when you think about it. After all, kids'
activities like gymnastics lessons and karate lessons can take a
chunk out of the family budget - both in terms of fees and in
terms of the cost of gas to shuttle kids around to their
extracurricular activities. For adults, the cost of lattes,
nights out at the movies, and going out to dinner really add up.
Plus, when times are tough, families tend to stick closer
together and look for ways to spend quality time with one
another. On every level, crafts fit the bill.
As a result, parents and grandparents are on the lookout for
kids' craft projects that will engage children and keep those
little hands busy. Thankfully, there are many inexpensive books
that are filled with ideas. For example, you can find books that
outline crafts using play dough, how to make flower figures, and
even Christmas crafts. In fact, you can even find books that
provide ideas for making Christmas gifts that fit in a jar. From
crafts for preschool-age children to pastimes for older kids,
these idea books provide a wealth of options for engaging
children's imaginations.
As for adults, two trends are emerging. Just as knitting and
sewing enjoyed a resurgence during the past decade, the latest
"old world" pastime to hit the big time is quilting. Although it
looked as though the art of quilting was on the endangered list,
hobbyists are bringing it back to life and enjoying the detail
and craft involved in making a quilt. As a result, there is a
wealth of helpful new books on quilting projects, including
how-to books, quilting patterns, and quilting designs.
The other emerging trend for adults is gardening. Since people
are spending so much more time at home, they're finding that
gardening is a great way to inexpensively spruce up the yard -
and get an unparalleled sense of satisfaction.
The recent resurgence of interest in crafts is not only a matter
of economics. It's also a reflection of people's new
environmental sensibilities. The concepts of reduce, reuse, and
recycle are the cornerstone of crafting. Tidbits laying around
the house can be put to use in crafts for kids, pieces of fabric
can be put together to make gorgeous quilting designs, and some
types of waste can be composted and used as fertilizer in
gardening. Save money and save the planet? It's a winning
combination!
