DIY crafts are popularly pleasurable pursuits

Who doesn’t like DIYs? They are fun but not just in the exciting mannerism of what fun occurs as; they instead turn out to also be oddly satisfying tasks. Of course tapping into one’s creative potential to churn out something that is sometimes functional but always appealing nonetheless, with such materials and means easily available and accessible and affordable and it is easy to allow for the ‘science of the arts’ to be the definite agent of this spurring. But how did humans came to do it all by themselves as a leisurely pursuit even when we as a race had anyway been collectively toiling for similar makes in our individual capacities?

The very nature of do it yourself is one of such commonplaceness that has been permeating some expanse of the human existence since forever. And yet to outline its history would mean a definite harking of times identifying as years of the 20th century. In the same line of thought, despite DIYs generally sending out vibes of something leisurely and fun and spontaneous, they occur equally in contexts of the necessary. Which is to say one might choose still to do something by themselves even when the task at hand might be such that has professional or expert help available to that ending. Call it a form of cost effective consideration or a desire to use up disposable resources or even an intent on trying to see how it fares, this aspect of the DIY character is strictly rooted in a more practical essence.

The crafty assertion of DIYs is more of a modern happening though and one that expresses therefore mostly in the form of decor ideas and objects, or so as to say spurring aesthetic images even when fostering a kind of functionality that does not quite occur as essential. They though serve their own purpose by being unique markers of personal style and creativity. In fact this extent of purposefulness gets a spin of sorts when they manifest as such things that would be replicas of anything and everything from clothes and jewelry and fashion to furnishing and accessories and lifestyle elements and what not indeed.

And then there would be that altogether distinct world of DIYing composed up with everything from Skincare recipes and wellness regimens, as well as some easily put together directions and compilations of the food world and the greater gamut of what occurs as an enchanting canvas of arts and crafts and such curiousness. All in all then, they very notion of doing it yourself defines perfectly the essence in which it stems which is to conveniently and spectacularly make do with whatever’s ordinary.

Despite such contemporary feel and even moniker of identification, the first ever instance that occurs somewhat as being a DIY construct would date way back in time to as early as the 6th century BC. An archaeological discovery in Italy that finds reference as being ‘an ancient IKEA building’ is the first known structure to exhibit strands of bearing some kind of the DIY character. And yet for all its massive upsurge as a trend or phenomenon or movement or whatever it is that adheres to its now big identity, the craze for doing it all by yourself definitely took over sometime in the 1950s or 60s.

This alluding to something as we know it today in the DIY sense of the term is then pretty much a novelty. Since what transpired in that immense span of time between the BC and the AD eras would be different ways in which people would be doing by themselves such tasks that occurred within specific ‘departments’. As would be testament borne by a 1677 book Mechanick Exercises written by Joseph Moxon as a manual on woodworking and other trades in spite him being a printer by profession and some expression of DIYing has been meandering through considerable a period of time before being thrust into a fancier limelight.

Similar developments characterised the expanding fore of DIY in the years that followed with generally more intensive projects of necessity taking shape therefrom. The years of the 1800s provided a ground for DIY practices to assume more creative an identity that found quite a boost in some rather ironic setting of the following century. As the two disruptive wars wreaked global havoc and caused mass shortage, along with the particularly depressing state of the economy that was monikered as the Great Depression, doing it by themselves as well as they can came to be a necessity of a different kind. With everything from rationing of food leading people to curate recipes as per available ingredients to the already known ‘principle’ of make doing with everyday objects working as well, DIY amassed a following that has helped further its popularity in the long run.

This popularity that set in upon the DIY stage brought along with it also a separate strand of distinction to account for. With it by now already becoming a routine practised due to the once governing conditions, it became easier to diversify the mannerisms of continuing to assert appeal. The popularity of new media simultaneously spurred also the growth of DIY as a trend, as did an evolution of the ideas shaping the notions of work and leisure. In the DIY narrative, people deciphered a certain charm of ‘owning’ that derived out of as well as was deployed in self expression.

At that time there also developed a more hands-on attitude that was entertained by the people because of the realisation that these things that they are now doing can help them course through life in general. It was everything from sustainability and sufficiency to creativity and capabilities dominating the greater human conscience in which DIYing saw its own opportunity in thriving and flourishing. And flourished it has indeed in rather inventive terms through the decade of the 1990s and the dawn of the new millennium most particularly in yielding for itself the massive power of the internet.

It isn’t for nothing of course that DIYs have managed to keep the world hooked even in its ‘traditional’ being well established in the digital times. That they are fun to get all artsy and crafty with is a definite definer of their ‘goodness’. This transcends essentially to the emotional realm of things in which is interweaved many a feel good assertions. The very feeling of creating something by yourself makes for such a happy stimulant. And that it helps as well to take your mind off the mundane happenings and exhausting stressors of daily life is a huge plus indeed.

Not to ignore the practicalities associated with these humble attempts at redoing homes and recycling utilities and the cost-effective, sustainable ideals ingrained in DIY things makes them the ultimate winner. Of course you impart also your own personal touch to whatever it is you do yourself. Whether that it be curating the look of a place or customising a recipe to suit your needs, DIYs afford us the ultimate luxury of gratification. In instances of DIYing also beauty aids and health potions with easily available pantry staples and one does not even happen to face the aftereffects of possible chemical additives and harmful ingredients.

Consider DIYs in all its creative significance and they present no less delightful possibilities in scouting. They explore still the realm of handiwork but the artistic sense of what makes the former a more favoured option is the basicness of it. Sure such do it yourself projects might need some sort of skill and thus be enthusiastically taken to even by adept professionals looking for a different outlet of their self expression. But that they do not absolutely call for expertise or even upon the as lax as possible element of the artistic paints for the DIY identity an image much conducive.

So inclusive is any identity of what gives itself to the DIY narrative that has made it a prospect in working one would not think of as labour. The very name of it is a quirky way of sparking excitement that appeals with its quotient of being exclusively yours. DIYs are not envisaged as labours of love even when they might entail considerable effort. They instead express as being leisurely pursuing of something one loves no matter the immense serviceability thus entertained as well. DIYs are here to stay and thankfully so since in the uncertain times of which we are not quite well ahead of, they help maintain our sanity without straining the resources.