Art is a way of life...what do you think? does this apply to crafters too?

good afternoon dear reader,

I came across this quote today & want to share it with you. 

Art is the extended arm of your imagination, the feast of inspiration for your muse...Art isn't just creativity...its a way of life. ~ unknown

I completely agree.  Art encompasses my life, my thinking, my way of viewing the world.  I think this quote can be extended to include crafters also because many crafters are also artisans.

I view the world around me differently now that I'm a painter. I marvel at colors and shapes & see patterns where none existed for me before.  This afternoon, my Mother (also a painter) was taking my little dog Elvis out for a walk.  It's a grey overcast day with heavy clouds.  When I opened the door & looked out at the sky I said, "Mom, we'd have to paint that sky using the wet on wet technique to get that soft blended look".  We laughed because had just finished watching an artist using that technique for painting a sky in watercolor on a UNC-TV program. 

I also look at objects with ideas for re-purposing them.  I'm not a hoarder, I throw out lots of stuff, however if it is something I think I'll use soon for a project, I'll keep it.  I keep pretty tissue paper & little boxes or containers.  I scour church sales for vintage and/or broken jewelry to take apart & reinvent into something cool...also vintage books for card making, tag making, journaling etc.  I'm always on the lookout for shells when I walk on the beach. 

What do you think?  Do you look at the world & things differently?  Whether you are a full time artist/crafter or if you have a "regular job", is your art or crafting a way of life for you?