Wife spends too much money on stupid crafts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait...there is a Hobby Lobby in our area?

There’s one in Leesburg at least. Near the outlet malls.

Why?

Because there aren’t any in DC or MoCo. I didn’t know they were over here.

There is also one in Columbia.

Fairfax too, Fair Lakes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, this makes me sad for your wife.

As we become adults, it can be hard to keep hold of a sense of fun and whimsy that doesn’t have an explicit measurable goal. And when we lose that, we lose a lot of the joy that life can offer, regardless of whether or not we’re successful in objective terms.

I see that loss reflected in your comments — you wish she’d go to the gym NOT because she’d enjoy it or it would improve her mood, but because it might help her lose twenty pounds.

Meanwhile she’s getting joy out of playing with glitter and paper. Nothing will come of it, she won’t make millions as an artist. So what? She’s having a grand time for less than your personal trainer costs you, while you’re fuming about the mess and expense (which you can clearly afford; otherwise you would’ve replied to the many people who asked you if her crafting was seriously cramping your household budget).

Between you and your wife, I know who I’d choose to be: the person with a talent for happiness, cheap glitter and all.

I love this post

[Anonymous]

I have been crafting a lot during this pandemic. I am a well known authority in my profession, travel internationally to give keynote addresses, have authored scholarly texts . . .I am not stupid and I love crafting. I was raised by those cram school type parents who scheduled every moment of my life and asked where the other 2 points were when you bring home a 98.
I have struggled as an adult to enjoy leisure time and have loved getting in touch with my creative side. I tend to get a bit obsessive about crafts but have learned to knit elaborate blankets that people actually ask for as gifts. In our home we have many lovely textiles, etc that would cost 400 or 500 dollars at the store but which I have made. We receive compliments from visitors to our home.
Maybe your wife just needs more practice or she hasn't found her particular crafting passion yet.

[Anonymous]

I sell mine on Etsy. Pays for the supplies.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy making my crafts but they sell easily and make good gifts. Maybe wife could upgrade but SIL after years of being partner in BigLaw seems to get a lot of relaxation from her crafts. Hadn’t she earned it ?

[Anonymous]

OP's craft hobby is just a red herring. If you've read his posts, he's unhappy about her weight (20 lbs over?), wants her to lose it, but is afraid to come across as a jerk. So, he lashes out at her hobby.

Everyone has hobby. It helps us clear our heads and recharge for our daily grind of family and work.
If you take it away from her, she'd be miserable and would take it out on you. You might as well look for a divorced lawyer now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I enjoy making my crafts but they sell easily and make good gifts. Maybe wife could upgrade but SIL after years of being partner in BigLaw seems to get a lot of relaxation from her crafts. Hadn’t she earned it ?

What crafts exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound like a peach. Just be lucky you found someone who puts up with your bad attitude. Wife's crafting is the least of your worries. You need a new personality.

No, OP sounds normal and it's the wife that has a problem. I am sure she is not working if this is how she's spending all her time.

I do wonder what is it with women and crafting though? And sorry to say but 99% of the stuff is junk. When men do crafts, they make items with utility like tables, woodwork...women just glue pieces of paper together and clutter the house. I’m a woman and I’m so embarrassed to be associated with such an insipid activity.

Sexist much? And much of the “men’s woodwork” is absolutely ugly and poorly made.

Personally I do woodworking, papercrafts (origami/ scherenschnitte), sewing (curtains/ pillows/ masks), garden and cook. Oh and I also have advanced degrees, a full-time job, and kids with special needs. I was fortunate that my parents thought developing interests was important. And my DH also has his hobbies- restoring old cars and bikes. Our kids benefit because they get to be creative- they are more gifted in drawing and painting. Plus they see their parents trying new things.

My DH and I took a woodworking project class together and it was a really fun date night. He was surprised how much he liked having a finished product at the end of class.

You don’t have a Michael’s problem- you have a budget and/or marriage problem.

[Anonymous]

OP you seem to have a lot of anger towards your wife and I don’t think it’s the crafting. Try to figure out what it is because unless you address it you’re going to be stuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound like a peach. Just be lucky you found someone who puts up with your bad attitude. Wife's crafting is the least of your worries. You need a new personality.

No, OP sounds normal and it's the wife that has a problem. I am sure she is not working if this is how she's spending all her time.

I do wonder what is it with women and crafting though? And sorry to say but 99% of the stuff is junk. When men do crafts, they make items with utility like tables, woodwork...women just glue pieces of paper together and clutter the house. I’m a woman and I’m so embarrassed to be associated with such an insipid activity.

ha ha ha ha ha

have you ever seen a "workbench" in a garage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound like a peach. Just be lucky you found someone who puts up with your bad attitude. Wife's crafting is the least of your worries. You need a new personality.

No, OP sounds normal and it's the wife that has a problem. I am sure she is not working if this is how she's spending all her time.

I do wonder what is it with women and crafting though? And sorry to say but 99% of the stuff is junk. When men do crafts, they make items with utility like tables, woodwork...women just glue pieces of paper together and clutter the house. I’m a woman and I’m so embarrassed to be associated with such an insipid activity.

my DD and the other under 40 grown up adult women in the family call a SIL's crafting the preK-grade 3 elementary school art projects. Same level of difficulty and minor artistic expression. A truly baffling endeavor and now an entire room has been redone for this...used to be a bedroom and now the ex user /DH/kids have nowhere to sleep except the below ground basement with no bathroom on that level of the house.

You just know something is off when at a family event a 1st grader had made something similar in school and noticed the craft project decor brought to another's home as party decorations.

[Anonymous]

My little boys love banging things together... Looks just like some grown up men's woodwork projects.

The point is not to sell it. It's a very normal hobby

[Anonymous]

The craft hatred in this thread is indicative of the DC mindset. If it doesn’t make money, it has no worth. A sea of gray with law degrees and no heart.

[Anonymous]

$600-800 for something that keeps her happy is still cheaper than paying for therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact that she buys from Hobby Lobby would be the most concerning part.

Before being married I would intentionally take girlfriends to shopping centers with a Michaels to see if they would take the bait.

I would love to hear more about your dating techniques