Art v. Craft

I don't like to call my rug and painting work craft but for me to fit in, I have to. It goes against all my principles because to me, craft is beading and macrame. It's things that older people do when they have time on their hands and want to talk to people at craft fairs. I'm sorry but that's just the way I see it. Of course, they are talented and I salute these crafty people for making a bit of money out of a passion.

So why don't I see my work as craft? My rugs are more of an art form, even though they are functional. I don't just design shapes and slap them on a rug. I blend wool to make colours, I sometimes inlay felt to give depth, I use different types of wool to create more textures... but most importantly, I see the tufting gun as an extension of my paintbrush so it has a painterly quality that you just don't usually see in a rug. And that's what makes my work different.

In fact, @artroomgallery tweeted that my rugs were like walking on art. So there!

I'm sure many people out there disagree and to be honest, I wouldn't shout them down because the world of craft and design is vast. The lines between craft and art blur so much that I understand why people could pigeonhole my work as craft.

I just want that blur to be a bit clearer round the edges when it comes to my work. It's not craft, it's art!