Arts and Crafts

It may at first seem incongruous that Pallas Athene, the Warrior Woman, is also the goddess of arts and crafts. But when you think about it, many of the skills required by her role as the Peaceful General are also necessary for successful crafting.

Arts and crafts require patience, intelligence, and dexterity. Whether you're producing a practical item -- knitting a scarf, sculpting a vase, weaving a basket -- or creating a decoration like a Christmas tree ornament, you start with a vision of the end result and figure out how you will achieve it. In effect, you develop a strategy.

Many of the crafts we consider recreation today were once necessary to the functioning and survival of the community, such as basketry, pottery, leatherworking, weaving and carving. A woman who excelled at these arts achieved status and respect from her community.

In medieval Europe, noblewomen often spent the winters weaving tapestries and sewing clothing for their families. Needlepoint and lacemaking were highly prized skills. Crofters spun their own wool before weaving the yarn into clothing.

Finding a craft that suits your temperament may not be easy; you might even learn the mechanics of a craft without ever becoming good at it.

A growing interest in handicrafts reflects the general movement toward a less stressful life. Creative handwork is calming and satisfying and many women enjoy browsing through craft fairs and supply stores with like-minded friends. Rubber stamping has become a popular pastime, with entire tradeshows dedicated to the craft of making greeting cards, wrapping paper and other items through the use of decorative stamps and inks. Some women host rubber stamping parties in the spirit of Tupperware and Avon socials.