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Traditional crafts

Author: Tuzmo Tizmo
by Tuzmo Tizmo
Posted: Mar 17, 2022
What is traditional craft?

Traditional methods and materials are used to create items with skill and care. This often involves handiwork such as textiles, woodworking, glassmaking, metalworking, and ceramics. As a result, these items are often more expensive than mass-produced equivalents, and may be considered collector's items.

Many people enjoy the traditional crafts that are made around the world. From pottery to jewelry, these items are often handmade and feature intricate designs and intricate techniques.

If you are interested in starting a traditional craft business:

There are many reasons why traditional crafts is a great investment. First of all, the quality of the finished product is usually higher. Secondly, the skills required to make these items are usually passed down from generation to generation, which means that the quality of the finished product will always be high.

Finally, these items often have a longer lifespan than mass-produced alternatives. This is because they are made to last and typically do not require frequent replacement or upgrading.

If you are looking for an investment that will appreciate in value over time, traditional crafts may be the perfect option for you!

Philippines Traditional Arts and Crafts

The Philippines' arts and crafts date back thousands of years, with jade carving being one of the first examples dating back to roughly 2,000 BC. While many indigenous traditional crafts, such as weaving and pottery, are still alive and well, others, such as the religious wood carving I saw in Pampanga, are newcomers, brought here by settlers from other provinces.

The Philippines diverse arts and traditional crafts are due not only to its unique cultural melting pot, but also to the abundance of natural materials easily available, such as bamboo, rattan, and coconut shells, to name a few.

  • The Oyster with the Windowpane

The craft sector has also benefited from the wealth of the sea. Capiz, for example, is derived from the shell of the Placuna placenta mollusk, which can be found in the Philippine waters. These edible mollusks are harvested for food and the shells are used in traditional crafts by fishermen. Nothing goes to waste!

Capiz is fragile, translucent, and iridescent by nature. Spanish settlers in the Philippines used capiz shells to make traditional crafts of stained glass windows for their churches in the 16th century, earning the mollusk the nickname "windowpane oyster." Capiz shell lampshades dangling from trees in parks and gardens are now rather prevalent. I couldn't resist buying a capiz star at the airport shortly before boarding my flight home to use as an ornament for my Christmas tree. It's a great remembrance of my visit.

  • The Lake Sebu Dream Weavers

While some traditional crafts are generally common across the Philippines, some are peculiar to ethnic groups. The textiles and traditional costumes are particularly noteworthy.

Dream Weavers are T'boli women who live in the south of the archipelago near Lake Sebu in the province of South Cotabato. They make T'nalak, a hand-woven textile made from the fibers of the local plant Abaca. The fabric, as well as the ladies who make it, are revered. Surprisingly, the patterns they weave were not created by the women or even their forefathers. Fu Dalu, the spirit of the Abaca, brought the designs to them in their dreams, and they were recreated entirely from memory.

Indonesian Arts and Crafts

Jewelry, beadwork, batik, pottery, metal, baskets, wood carving, leather puppets, stone carving, and painting are only a few examples of Indonesian traditional crafts and arts. When you're browsing the market stalls or looking for your next buy, keep in mind that these pieces were created by local artists who used their extensive abilities to create them. Any leather puppet play, any wood carving ornament, any beautiful batik is a work of art that pays homage to Indonesia's history.

  • Carving in Wood

The modest shop where we went had both small and large pieces. Decorations of deities such as Buddha or Ganesh, as well as masks, were among the little things. Tableaux, walls, and columns include traditional crafts of carvings that adorn the walls and doors.

The ashes of cremated bodies or religious gifts are held in wooden urns and other elegant receivers. The larger pieces were genuine furniture, many of which we saw in local homes and restaurants, and an indication wood carving is important to all Balinese. A larger item, according to the workshop owner, could take four to six months to complete, demonstrating true artistic passion.

Ebony, crocodile tree (found only in Bali), hibiscus, sandalwood (from Flores Island), and mahogany are the essences of wood. The sculptors' abilities are impressive: the way they use metal tools, the keen carving tools carefully removing wood chips and transforming a rough wood log into art.

The villages of Tegalalang, Singakerta, Pujung, Jati, Pengosekan, Celuk, and Mas are home to the majority of traditional crafts making from Bali's wood carvers. Kubu Taman Sari in Batusepih, Kemenuh – Sukawati was the store we went to.

  • Puppets made of leather

The tiny store, tucked away on the side of the road, concealed the incredible job that had been done. On leather, there is only stitching. One worker began by carving the firm leather skin, using pinching tools to form the figurine's design and pattern. Buffalo hide is the best skin for making the traditional crafts leather puppets, while cow skin is also used occasionally.

A tiny item could take a few days of meticulous work, while a larger doll could take weeks. The majority of the puppets are between 10 and 30 inches (25 and 75 cm) height. Another artist painted the pierced sections, using the natural yellow of the skin as a backdrop color or coloring it white or black, depending on the character of the puppet in traditional crafts. Each plane of the figure is painted, a procedure that takes weeks to complete because one side must dry before moving on to the next. The machinery that gives life to the puppets is made up of natural elements such as soft wood and plants. In Bali, the art is known as Wayang kulit, which translates to "shadow puppetry." It is thought to be the oldest puppet form, dating back to the 8th or 9th century.

  • Batik

The workshop we went to was great and quite informative. The two separate batik procedures were displayed in a small area. The hot wax is being used to make traditional crafts dots and lines. The alternative option is to use a hot copper stamp to print the design. Printed batiks are usually less expensive because they are made faster.

The heavy stamps were usually handled by men, who dipped them in wax and pressed them on the fabric to impregnate it. Hand-drawing became the domain of women, who meticulously drew dots and lines to long swaths of white or colored fabric.

As they dipped the brush in the hot wax before drawing, the unfettered flow of their hands was like a dance. The women formed a circle around pots of hot wax that were ready to be dipped. A long line of garments was drying in the shade after the workshop contaminated the white sheet with natural colors. Most significantly, the local Balinese are inspired by and wear the designed traditional crafts, which are not solely for the benefit of tourists. The bearer's position, specific places, or customary occasions such as weddings can all be revealed through patterns. We went to Batik Plentong on Jl. Tirtodipuran 48 in Yogyakarta.

  • Stone Carving

Despite the fact that we did not visit a stone carving workshop, the beauty of the traditional crafts carved walls we witnessed at various temples could not be denied. The junction design displayed a great level of craftsmanship, with scenes reflecting history and mythology that were extremely detailed and exact.

Stone narrative is evident in temples such as the Hindu Pura Besakih. Local artisans are fixing the damaged artefacts, and their work and expertise can be seen in numerous places, including Prambanan Temple.

Few things you should keep in mind before Starting:

First, research your market to determine what type of products and services people are interested in. Second, invest in the right equipment and materials to make your products with the highest quality possible. Third, be creative and innovative with your designs, and be sure to experiment to find new and interesting ways to market your products. Finally, be persistent and continue to work hard in order to build a loyal customer base. You can start a successful traditional crafts business with a little dedication and hard work.

Looking for projects? Here's few ideas:
  • Up cycling
  • Crafting with natural materials
  • Sewing and Quilting
  • Painting and Drawing
  • Gardening and Cooking with herbs and spices
  • Repurposing and Recycling
  • Making Pottery or Ceramics
  • Hand sculpting or woodworking
Types of Traditional craft
  • Needlework
  • Quilting
  • Sewing
  • Beard and mustache cleaning supplies
  • Candle making (wicks, beeswax, scents)
  • Pottery (earthenware, stoneware)
  • Textiles (cotton, linen, woolen)
  • Knitting/crocheting (fiber needles, yarns)
  • Glass blowing and stained glass-making (glass rods, sand, oxide of lead)

Which craft projects really trigger your interest?

traditional crafts projects can be an enjoyable way to express yourself and explore your interests. Some of the craft projects that really interest me are quilting, crocheting, and painting. I find that these projects allow me to be creative and expressive, and I can really get lost in the process. Additionally, the finished product can be beautiful and unique, which makes them a pleasure to display.

If you are also interested in traditional crafts projects, then be sure to check out some of the trending crafts on Pinterest and Instagram. These platforms are fantastic for finding inspiration and learning new skills. You can also ask family and friends for advice on which craft projects they are particularly interested in. By doing this, you can build a community of traditional crafts enthusiasts who can help guide and support your creative Ideas.

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Author: Tuzmo Tizmo

Tuzmo Tizmo

Member since: Mar 13, 2022
Published articles: 9

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