> The story stuck with me as we've been talking about the dying arts: breadmaking, quilting, etc., many of which are having a resurgence.

I find the revival of old crafts quite interesting, and also humorous in a way. Take quilting as an example.

When patchwork was first invented, people did it because it provided a way to make useful things out of scraps. It was thrifty and non-wasteful. When you made your clothes, there would always be the little offcuts left over, so you kept them all and then later you could use them to make quilts for your family. You used every part of the buffalo, in a manner of speaking.

Nowadays, when you want to make a patchwork quilt, you go to a special patchwork quilt shop and buy special material designed to be used in patchwork quilts. I don't know if it's just me, but this strikes me as being so freaking hilarious and ironic. I love it.