Wednesday Wisdom: 27 Inspiring Quotes About Crafting
When I launched my Facebook group, I shared inspirational quotes about crafting every week. I called the series: “Wednesday Wisdom”.
Even now, some of those quotes have stuck in my mind and have become a mantra whenever I make a junk journal or work on a new craft project. They help keep me focused on what I’m doing and keep me motivated even if something doesn’t go exactly how I planned.
You see, many of my favourite crafting quotes centre around the idea that things don’t need to be perfect. Often, the thing we love most about handcrafted items is exactly that: they’re handmade and come with beautiful quirks and imperfections.
I didn’t always see things that way. My mentality changed from the moment I fell in love with junk journals. They’ve pretty much cured me of a lifetime of perfectionism.
But the following quotes about crafting have also helped, which is why I love these more than any others. I hope they also serve as some inspiration for you.
My Favourite Quotes About Crafting
“Done is better than perfect.”
– Sheryl Sandberg, a renowned American technology executive and author who previously worked as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Meta. She’s also the founder of the nonprofit: LeanIn.Org and wrote the book “Lean In”, which both advocate for women’s empowerment in the workplace and gender equality.
“The beauty of handmade is in the imperfections.”
– Anon
“Creativity takes courage.”
– Henri Matisse (1869-1954): A renowned French artist known for his innovative use of colour and form. He was also a leader of the Fauvist movement.
“Every artist was first an amateur.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882): An influential American essayist, philosopher and poet. He was also a key figure in the transcendentalist movement.
“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.”
– Dorothy Parker (1893-1967): An American poet, short story writer and satirist known for her wit and sharp humour. She was a prominent member of the Algonquin Round Table.
“There is no wrong way to make pretty things.”
– Anon
“The world is but a canvas to our imagination.”
– Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862): An American author and naturalist who’s best known for his book “Walden,” which reflects on simple living in natural surroundings.
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
– Thomas Merton (1915-1968): A Trappist monk, theologian and author who’s celebrated for his spiritual writings, including “The Seven Storey Mountain.”
“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.”
– Joseph Chilton Pierce (1926-2016): An American author and advocate known for his work on human consciousness and child development, notably “The Crack in the Cosmic Egg”.
“The more I paint, the more I like everything.”
– Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919): An influential French Impressionist painter, celebrated for his vibrant and lively depictions of scenes, people and landscapes.
“In crafting, there are no mistakes, only new discoveries and unique creations.”
– Adapted from existing quotes by Justine Jenkins from House of Mahalo
“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.”
– Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007): An influential American writer celebrated for his satirical and humanistic novels, including “Slaughterhouse-Five” and “Cat’s Cradle”.
“The creative adult is the child who survived.”
– Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018): An acclaimed American science fiction and fantasy author. She was most famous for works like “The Left Hand of Darkness” and the “Earthsea” series.
“Crafting is a way to make something out of nothing.”
– Anon
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”
– Mary Lou Cook (1932-2016): An inspirational author and speaker known for her quotes on creativity and life, including the famous line mentioned above.
“By doing what you love, you inspire and awaken the hearts of others.”
– Anon
“Anybody who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”
– Albert Einstein (1879-1955): A genius physicist who developed the theory of relativity and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
“No one masters his craft the first day.”
— Roman proverb
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
– Scott Adams, an American cartoonist and creator of the comic strip “Dilbert”. He’s also recognised for his humour and commentary on corporate culture.
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
– Maya Angelou (1928-2014): A renowned American poet, memoirist and civil rights activist. She’s perhaps most celebrated for her autobiography: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”.
“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”
– Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890): An influential Dutch Post-Impressionist painter, most known for iconic works such as “Starry Night” and “Sunflowers”.
“Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.”
– Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): A German composer and pianist of the Romantic era, renowned for his symphonies, chamber music and choral compositions.
“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
– Albert Einstein (1879-1955): A genius physicist who developed the theory of relativity and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
“Creative isn’t the way I think. It’s the way I like to live.”
– Paul Sandip, a contemporary designer and entrepreneur who’s recognised for innovative designs and contributions to the field of product design.
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
– Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919): The 26th President of the United States, known for his progressive policies, environmental conservation efforts and leadership in the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War.
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.”
– Albert Einstein (1879-1955): A genius physicist who developed the theory of relativity and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
“The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art.”
– Junot Díaz, a Dominican-American author known for his novels, including “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2008.
How To Use These Creativity Quotes For Even More Inspiration
While it can be inspiring simply reading the above quotes about crafting, you’ll probably find them more effective if you use them in certain ways. Here are some ideas I’ve got for you.
Incorporate them into a creative project
Seeing your favourite quote every day can help it stick in your mind more than just reading it, so why not incorporate it in your next project?
You could make a piece of artwork such as this tissue bleeding art I made featuring one of my favourite Hawaiian phrases. Or you could even create an embroidery or cross-stitch featuring your favourite quote like I did with the “Done is better than perfect” quote.
Psst! If you like my cross stitch picture, you can grab a printable version of my pattern via my Etsy shop. Check it out here >>
Use them as a daily affirmation or mantra
You don’t even have to see your favourite quote for it to stick in your mind. Instead, you can simply repeat it to yourself every morning as a daily affirmation or mantra.
That way, whenever you’re working on a project, the words of wisdom should stick with you.
Share them on social media
If you’re feeling particularly inspired by a quote, why not share it on social media to help motivate others?
As Albert Einstein once said: “Creativity is contagious, pass it on.” So this sounds like the perfect excuse to share his and others’ wise words.
You’re welcome to use the images from this article on your social channels. Just as long as you mention where you found them and include a link to my blog to serve as image credit.
Please note this offer only stands for this blog post you’re reading right now, not my whole site. If you’re ever unsure, just check with me first *wink*
Alternatively, you can easily make your own images to share on social media via the free online tool Canva. Just remember to reference who originally said the quote so we can ensure they’re getting the credit for the wise words we love so much.
Use them as a journal prompt to inspire your art or writing
Finally, I like to print out my favourite quotes and pop them inside a pocket in my journal.
Whenever I need some inspiration for designing a page spread or writing an entry, I look over my favourite quotes and use them as journal prompts. I find this very helpful when I’m stuck in a creative rut.
READ NEXT: 52 Journal Prompts To Help You Write In Your Journal
Over to you now – what are some of your favourite quotes about crafting? And how do you use them? Let me know in the comments below…
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