Crafts as artistic practices are defined either by their relationship to functional or utilitarian products Arts and crafts comprise a whole host of activities that are related to making things with one's own hands and skill. Some crafts have been practised for centuries, while others are modern inventions, or popularisations of crafts which were originally practiced in a very small geographic area.
Applique is a technique in which pieces of fabric are sewn onto a foundation piece of fabric to create designs. The word appliqué comes from the French word appliquer, meaning to put on or to lay on. As a method of decoration appliqué has been a popular technique and has a long history with the earliest known example being a canopy of leather in Egypt believed to date from 980 BC. Appliqué is widely used throughout the world as in many cultures it is common to decorate oneself and one’s surroundings.
Quilting is a method of sewing or tying two layers of cloth with a layer of insulating batting in between. A bed covering or similar large rectangular piece of quilting work is called a quilt. A quilt does not have to be rectangular, however. Many quilts hang on the wall as art quilts and are all kinds of shapes and sizes.
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn using a needle.Elaborately embroidered clothing, religious objects, and household items have been a mark of wealth and status in many cultures including ancient Persia, India, Byzantium, medieval England and Baroque Europe.
Cross-stitch is one of the oldest forms of embroidery and can be found all over the world. It is a popular form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches are used to form a picture.Today cross-stitch is the most popular form of embroidery in the western world.
Smocking is a type of surface embroidery in a honeycomb pattern across the pleats that control the fullness while allowing a degree of stretch.
Trapunto is quilting in which only the design, which is outlined whit parallel lines of stitching is padded to give a raised look.
Mosaic is the art of decoration with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other material. Many centuries ago was the first use of mosaic decoration. The techniques of mosaic are simple… The materials so many… The result is magic.
Stained glass as an art form has been around for centuries.The making of stained glass windows consists of pieces of coloured glass held together in alatticed web of lead.
