had an opportunity to define what it is i “do” a couple days ago

i’ve grown more confident describing myself, in part, as a craftswoman

crafts•wom•an \ˈkraf(t)s-ˌwu-mən\ n (1886) 1 : a woman who is an artisan 2 : a woman who is skilled in a craft

while bearing in mind, i’m also an apprentice – still learning

ap•pren•tice \ə-ˈpren-təs\ n, often attrib [ME aprentis. fr. AF apprentiz, fr. aprendre to learn, fr. L apprendere, apprehendere] (14c) 1 a : one bound by indenture to serve another for a prescribed period with a view to learning an art or trade b : one who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers a trade, art, or calling 2 : an inexperienced person: NOVICE <an ~ in cooking> — ap• pren•tice•ship \-tə(sh)-ˌship, -təs-ˌship\ n

looked up a couple neighboring terms, too

ar•ti•san \ˈär-tə-ˈzən, -sən, chiefly Brit ˌär-tə-ˈzan\ n [MF, fr. northern It dial. form of Tuscan artigiano, fr. arte art, fr. L art-, ars] (1538) 1 : a worker who practices a trade or handicraft : CRAFTSPERSON 2 : one that produces something (as cheese or wine) in limited quantities often using traditional methods — ar•ti•san•al \-zə-nᵊl, -sə-, -ˈza-\ adj — ar•ti•san•ship \-ˌship\ n

jour•ney•man \ˈjər-nē-mən\ n [ME fr. journey journey, a day’s labor + man] (15c) 1 : a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person usu. by the day 2 : an experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer esp. as distinguished from one who is brilliant or colorful <a good ~ trumpeter — New Yorker> <a ~ outfielder>

hadn’t planned on taking down the definition for artist, but it was just beneath artisan and seeing i was already there…

art•ist \ˈär-tist\ n (ca. 1507) 1 a obs : one skilled or versed in learned arts b archaic : ARTISAN 1 2 a : one who professes and practices an imaginative art b : a person skilled in one of the fine arts 3 : a skilled performer esp. : ARTISTE 4 : one who is adept at something <con ~ > <strikeout ~ >

(definitions from Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)

sure, or whatever…

and, in the spirit of learning through creative process, a couple breadcrumbs from recent projects:

crafts·wom·an