Probably you’ve heard this term before. It’s time to find out what it is.

Arts & Crafts refers to a social movement, and according to an art history article, “the Arts & Crafts movement grew out of several related strands of thought during the mid‑19th century. It was first and foremost a response to social changes initiated by the Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain and whose ill effects were first evident there.” The movement was established in England in 1888 under the guidance of William Morris.

The core features of the Arts & Crafts Movement are a belief in craftsmanship which stresses the inherent beauty of the material, the importance of nature as inspiration, and the value of simplicity, utility, and beauty.

However, Arts & Crafts also refer to interior designs, and different forms of art which we are more familiar with. There are plenty of kinds of Arts & Crafts, including:
Art: painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, music, cinema, and theatre
Craft: textile crafts, paper crafts, decorative crafts, and fashion crafts
Obviously apart from the different kinds of art, there are numerous techniques you can use. But let’s focus on something else.

Is there such a possibility to practice at home? Or is it better to join a course? It depends. It is much more beneficial to your skills and experience if you have an expert or a supervisor who can observe your work, and in case you need, help or guide you. However, you can do it on your own. Provided that you want to try it at home, you ought to know what supplies or tools it is necessary to have.

What supplies or equipment do you need? Are they commonly available and affordable or do you need to put a lot of effort into purchasing them? It may turn out that you are required to visit plenty of specialist stores in order to begin. Let’s take a look at the types of arts and crafts as well as at tools or materials worth having before you start.

Felting is the most ancient form of textile art, and predates weaving and spinning techniques. Technique and practice are the factors that are crucial in the case of felt art. However, when it comes to the necessary tools, they are available and quite cheap. Perhaps it is one of the least demanding art in terms of materials.

It sounds complicated, but nothing could be further from the truth! The easiest soaps to make are glycerin soaps. Such an activity doesn’t require much expertise or a special course. Moreover, it gives you an opportunity to prepare your own handmade natural product that you may use in everyday life. Therefore, not only is it a form of amusement, but also a practical activity.

Do you care about a pleasant ambience? Perfect! You can easily make your own handmade candles at home. In contrast to felt art for instance, candle making doesn’t require special techniques. The easiest way to do this is simply by recycling old candles or using wax.

Pottery is pleasant as you have the possibility to get familiar with some basic techniques and methods at home by looking them up on the internet. Nevertheless, supposing that you want to make it look like professional work, the necessary supplies and tools are quite expensive and not very common. That is why, you’d better look for a course or workshop where tools are accessible to all participants.

When it comes to jewellery making, there are a lot of various jewellery making kits available in shops or on the internet. There is no need to attend professional courses since you may easily practise at home.  You’ll find out how crucial it is, when you realise how many small elements you use to make, for example, a bracelet.

Apart from the fact that all of the previous activities are done by ourselves, DIY (Do It Yourself), or as others say “Damage It Yourself” means doing some minor repairs or decorations and things like that. What do you need? It depends on what you want to create or repair. In this case there is a wide range of tools you may need.

Now if you gained some basic knowledge about different types of artistic activities, it’s high time to grab a paintbrush or a hex key! Don’t hesitate to check how‑to videos on the internet, as there are a lot of them. Step by step and you will achieve perfection. It is time to get to work!