where's the THRILL in craft?

I've been asking myself the question "what is thrill". But, the only way to work that out is to ask "what do people find thrilling?"; an anecdotal rather than scientific approach. So here I am, asking the same question in the crafts scene.

After a little searching, I came up with the following interesting quotes from articles in the group:

"I'm in this because of the enjoyment of creating art, and every time someone buys one of my pieces as such, I get a thrill second only to sex"

"The thrill was in producing something by your own ingenuity"

"What a thrill to see your quilts hanging and having people look at them"

"many designs of mine that have been published, it's still an absolute thrill when I see another one come out!"

"since Back Stitch is always done last, the thrill of discovery is gone. We already know what it looks like, so we want to get on to the next creative thrill"

"For me, the thrill is losing myself in the process."

All very interesting, but what is it about craft that thrills YOU? The challenge, publicly displaying new work, being the best, socialising? You tell me!

I'm a researcher in England and I'd really like to know about your craft related thrills. I'm currently conducting interviews with people about their personal experiences on the web-site

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If you've got something to say on the subject, please visit the site and take an interview. You'll find a set of short, but carefully crafted questions that you can download and answer at your leisure; you'll also be able to read more about the project.

Thanks

Brendan email: thrill@chromo11[dot]com web:

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Reply to
BW
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Reply to
aeromom

'Thrill' is a term I associate with adrenalin seekers, and not relevant to why I spend time doing crafts.

Reply to
Elyse Grasso

I do get that "rush" which may or may not be adrenal...for me, it has to do with the inputting of colors, I "dose up" through my eyes, but then there's textures too, and they have their own thrill...then there's the seeking, huntergather style, of all the bits and pieces that belong in a piece of work together, the putting them together into something different than they were separately...thats a thrill too. I'm more into the process than the results--I don't want to sit and look at things for hours once they are done, I'm off to do something else. Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

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Reply to
Sjpolyclay

That is the best explaination I have ever heard of those moments we have when our art flows through us.. that magical moment of in the groove... everything else ceases to exist for a while. We become conduits. Diana

Reply to
Diana Curtis

I don't know how much any of you are bothered by pointless cross-posting, but this "Brendan" person has posted near-identical stuff in rec.equestrian, among who-knows-how-many other groups.

Just callin' 'em as I see 'em, but this "project" doesn't appear to be what it seems. I can just see it now, in various specialty groups: "Where's the THRILL in breastfeeding?"--"Where's the THRILL in rubber stamping?"--"Where's the THRILL in running with scissors?" ... and so on ... it's simply a less overtly offensive form of trolling.

Cindy Clayton Houston, Texas, USA

Reply to
Cindy Clayton

Yeah, the original post was kind of dumb but we have had some good answers to it, so, hey, what's the diff. aeromom

Reply to
aeromom

To be fair, Cindy, this person stated at the beginning that the question was being asked about various activities in different groups. Trolls don't normally declare their cross-posting like this.

Julie

Reply to
Julie

ROFL - that figures.

Reply to
Kandice Seeber

Are you writing a book? Why are you doing this research? Thrilled minds want to know.

Reply to
Karleen/Vibrant Jewels

Cindy , what you describe , just might point to a serious research , by comapring the way different groups define thrill one might find and learn more facts about the nature of thrill , to all humans. mirjam

Reply to
Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

Hello,

I hope you haven't become disillusioned by my absence, and you're still there. I do try and maintain discussions in the user groups I approach with my questioning.

You're quite right. Whilst conducting my research I do two things: (1) Cross post - but only between groups of like minded interests (2) Cut and paste text where relevant (no one hand writes ALL their wedding invites!)

But hopefully you'll have noticed that I do take time to get to grips with a user groups history, and only approach groups that are interesting.

The other questions you have...

The sensation of giving yourself over to a situation (e.g. art), and loosing self awareness IS very important to being thrilled in lots of cases, but not all. If the driving force is great enough (e.g. being thrown around in a roller coaster) you can't help yourself. But there are some classic examples of fire-starters having to meditate and aply with fire before they become lost in the moment.

Am I writing a book? It's early days yet. The main reason for starting this research was to understand what thrills people. I aim to build installations with the sole intention of thrilling people. I was originally trained as aeronautical engineering, but I moved on to study design at the Royal College of Art. I now do a mixture of research, design and art installations (I recently talked about my work at Tate Modern, you can see a video on the

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website)

Most people do associate thrill with extreme sports etc. This is what the media would have us think! I'm on a mission to show that anyone, doing anything they love can be thrilled. Thrill is about the enjoyment of life. People shouldn't feel that they're not entitled to be thrilled by what they do.

You should read the interview I've just posted. It's from a woman who crocheted her own wedding dress. It's the most fantastic account of thrill I've read. I think it might inspire you. You can se it at

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If this does inspire you, please do an interview yourself. The more interviews I have that debunk the "extreme sport" theory, the better. And yes, you can write about breastfeeding, though my sister should be writing one about child birth (I really should give her a ring).

Thanks again

Brendan

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Reply to
BW

Brendan, Thank you very much for your reply. I find your questions and approach interesting, and look forward to seeing more of the answers you are accumulating. Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

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Reply to
Sjpolyclay

Sounds like a good nite of knockin boots to me!

Reply to
anon pants

Concerning your poeste:

Point 1

You think you were teh only one smart enough to notice this?

Point 2

Perfect example of One Up One Down scenario with motive of calling attention to yourself.

Pointe 3

OP explained their research motives so you were just plain WRONG!

ok bye

Reply to
anon pants
**SNORT**
Reply to
KDK

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