What "old fashioned skill" amazes you the most?

I am amazed at so many, but I would have to put the ability to make clothes and shoes from raw materials as one of the very top. To go from wool on a sheep"s back or hide on a deer and make clothes and shoes that you need is just incredible. Of course, I can't do either. I have to admit that I am thankful to be able to just run out and pick up what we need. Can you imagine, if the very shoes on your feet were dependent on what animal you could hunt and process the hide from?

Pat I would probably say the same thing. Its incredible to look at wool that has been sheared off sheep, and then to see it made into a sweater. To see rawhide off a cow or deer, made into mocassins.

Many of the natives chew the hide to make it soft and still do in the artic. It amazes me because there is no way I'd chew hide. We were just talking about that the other day with the kids and they said as well, not a chance!!!

When I look at sheep being sheared, its just globs of wool. To think that when its spun, that it comes out into long strips. Its amazing to watch.

Great question!!

I'm very impressed by spinning and weaving. Forged iron metal work amazes me too. Glass blowing really blows me away.

Ditto on the glass blowing. It is an amazing thing and truly a great talent.

glass blowing is magical. I could sit and watch for hours and hours.

I'm really amazed by many skills. I'm not the most handy and although I've done many floral crafts, I'm not the most crafty either and definitely not a skilled artisan of anything. There has to be something so rewarding in people that do things like furniture making. To be able to take a material in a basic form and create something beautiful is such an art and gift.

There has to be something so rewarding in people that do things like furniture making. To be able to take a material in a basic form and create something beautiful is such an art and gift.

I agree.

I can spin the wool from our sheep and knit a jersey...that's easy...but I'd hate to have to walk far in any shoes I made!:icon_cry:

For me it has to be quiltmaking and putting food up. All the work and time that goes into making quilts is just Wow.
To see the jars of what people have grown themselves stacked on shelves just glistening with untold goodness just makes me smile.
Fruits of labor are riches indeed.