Photography by Hannah Kopacz (potholder), Fredda Perkins (mosaic), Opal Cocke (quilt) and Mimi Kirchner (doll)

RESPECT YOUR ELDERS (Clockwise from top left): Funky potholders by Socorro Rivera; a stylish mosaic by Fredda Perkins; an art quilt of vintage Japanese panels by Opal Cocke; and a tattooed man doll by Mimi Kirchner.

“That’s what keeps crafting vital and alive.”

And while age is just a number to most of these women, their years of experience have left them with some invaluable lessons.

“As I get older, I care less about rules,” says quilted fabric artist Opal Cocke, 64, of Camano Island, Wash. “I do what feels right in the moment.”

For Cocke, that may mean leaving raw edges or combining media in ways she hasn’t seen before. Her work also includes painting, beading, stitchery, photography, and found objects. “But, I know that learning the rules from my mother and grandmother has given me confidence in breaking the rules.”

These lessons from our grandmothers prove to be priceless. And if you haven’t been able to partake in your own grandmother’s wisdom, you still have a chance to experience what previous generations have to offer.

“I wish new crafters, whatever their age, would take the time to learn some of the history,” Kirchner says. “People have been making things for as long as there have been people. Everything about craft and everyone who has enlivened the conversation with their vision is not necessarily on the internet. Go to the library. Check out some older books. See the amazing work that was being created all during the last century.”

 

» Socorro Rivera: madewithlovebyhannah.com/ grandma.html » Fredda Perkins: naughtysecretaryclub.com » Mimi Kirchner: mimikirchner.com/blog » Opal Cocke: craftzine.com/go/cocke

Rachel Hobson blogs at Average Jane Crafter (averagejane crafter.blogspot.com). Diane Gilleland blogs at CraftyPod ( craftypod.com).