Most of us crochet for a mix of practical and pleasure reasons... We need a scarf to keep us warm, we enjoy gifting a handmade treasure to a friend, it's relaxing, etc. But crochet can be so much more. Crochet is an artistic medium just like paint, or clay, or pastels; it can be used to create works of fine, or "high" art. 

As a art director working in the magazine industry I spend some time each week trying to find new illustrators to make stories pop. This past week I unexpectedly (and delightfully) discovered the work of Kate Jenkins. Look and be astonished. It's part pop art, part Jeff Koons, part Andy Warhol, but all B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Take a peak and be inspired to try working on something new and unexpected... Veering from "normal" projects could look as good as this: