i have always been impressed with the fact that anything that started as a "common" enterprise eventually becomes art. painting on a cave wall has been refined to works that take our breath away. wrought iron, a staple since early times, has become an amazing art form. cooking--something used to keep us merely fed, has been elevated to an art form, as has clothing, writing, music--and quilting. a basic form, used to keep families warm, using available materials like old clothing, corn husks, paper, wool, cotton, etc, has been turned into a celebration of what was once common. the used clothing has instead become fantastic fabric designed for beauty, nostalgia, embellishment; and the stitching once learned at a mother's side has become art in its own right.
the human mind and heart is a wonderful playground for creativity, and we need to do just that--create. it keeps us alive.