A good book for makers of all skill levels, regardless of what you make. There is a lot of emphasis on the meditative qualities of making, and while this can get slightly repetitive at times, it serves as a reminder to enjoy the process of making, to not rush it, to give yourself the time it takes to learn a new process, be open to mistakes and learn from them, to be okay with the end result not being perfect. There are reminders to take care of yourself- I've forgotten to eat many times myself- and to be able to step away if something isn't working. I especially enjoyed the chapter on Being Conscious of the Environment, and how it focused on not having to have all the supplies, making your own materials or sourcing them locally, thinking about the impact your materials have on the world around you. Many long-time makers will be familiar with the ideas presented in this book, but it's always nice to have a refresher, and newer makers will find help in learning to slow down and enjoy the process.

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The healing power of using ones own hands to create has long been recognized by those of us who craft as a beautiful and calming aside to daily life ( apart from those 'unpicking moments'). This book examines this concept a little more deeply. A nice book someone who is embarking on a handmade journey, but also equally for those of us who wish to explore why we craft and how to achieve the most from our sessions.

Searching for more mindfulness in my life, I discovered that being a maker is more peaceful to me than meditation practices. In addition to my career as a photographer, this year I started creating other forms of art and pottery, and I discovered that as soon as I pick up a pencil or piece of charcoal and especially when I put my hands into clay, all my stress disappears and time flies. And that is precisely what this book is about; it's a good starting point for new makers on how to create headspace and, where to find inspiration. However, I can imagine that it is less appealing for more experienced and professional makers who already know how to get started and how to finish.

Many of us are makers, and Ms. Beck reminds us of the nature of the creative process, and the potential for achieving even more by consciously using mindfulness practice. Great inspiration for all of us who dabble in crafts, art, cooking for pleasure and more.

Think about what you make
Ellie Beck's book "Mindful Thoughts For Makers. Connecting head, heart, hands" as published by the Quarto Publishing Group - Leaping Hare Press. Beck's goal is to show why creating with our hands is uplifting, rewarding, and soothing for the whole human being - body, mind´, and soul. She treats topics such as "On being a Maker" and "The Heart of the Maker", but also topics such as "Making Mistakes", "Motivation for Making", and "Repairing the Broken." With her approach she encourages the "makers" to breath and to slow down in our hectic world. Nevertheless, one has to ask what her frame of reference is, what the world-view for her ideas is, since she does not provide references or a bibliography.
It is an interesting approach since even arts and crafts in the time of Pinterest and Instagram etc. Are very goal-oriented and influenced by perfection. The book contains great illustrations and is a resource for creative people to help them to reflect about what they are doing and why they are doing their craft. It is important to note that this is not an "How-To-Do" Book, but a book for reflection.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#MindfulThoughtsForMakers #NetGalley

I enjoyed all the tips on how one can incorporate mindfulness into our daily lives especially when we are creating things. The graphics add a calming and wholesome dimension to the text. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to practice mindfulness informally while creating.

While there is nothing ground-breaking in this book, it's a great little guide to remind you of the importance of taking time to create, just for the pleasure of creating. With chapters on making mistakes, nature as inspiration and the importance of patience while we learn and master new tasks, it's a quick read with essentials to remember. I especially appreciated the "Being Gentle with your Perfectionism" chapter!

This book is really nice at expressing the healing nature of creating things. I liked the little antidotes and this book content made me smile.

There are things to enjoy about this book. It includes a whole spectrum of making -- knitting, sewing, pottery, woodworking. The illustrations are lovely. But I think it's going to be more useful to readers who aren't already making things and want someone to tell them how to do it. Not the specific techniques, but how to settle down and approach a project.



It quickly became obvious that I'm not the target audience for this book. There's a focus on silence, on drawing inspiration from nature, on putting aside outside sources of inspiration.There's lots of encouragement to work alone...until a later chapter when the author recommends joining a local group because that will expose you to makers with different experiences and backgrounds, as opposed to online groups. (My experience has been the exact opposite, but maybe that's just a quilting thing.)



I felt like the book concentrated more on meditation and considering your impact on the environment than actually creating things. The author's perspective was interesting, but I'll keep multi-tasking and doing things in a room full of noise and distractions.

An excellent, well-written book on the meditative nature of crafting by hand. I truly enjoyed this book and read it at one sitting. I appreciated the author's thoughts on slowing down, taking a break from our busy lives, and enjoying the pleasant simplicity of crafting. She also reminds crafters that it's the process - not the finished product - that's important.

This book would be great as a gift for anyone who crafts - sewing, woodworking, knitting, crochet, and any other handmade crafting activity.

An intriguing book, suited for any makers, linking our work as makers to both the world around us and to the world of our craft. That's good. Certainly the lessons we can apply to both by taking a slower & more thoughtful approach are many. And the lessons we can learn from our work as makers should apply to all of our lives.

Inspiring as it is, it comes up short. With a totally secular view of the world and nods in the direction of currently fashionable ideas, I have to wonder if Beck knows anything about the Judeo-Christian origins of this approach. While it's all well and good to talk about slowing down and being mindful, without a real grounding in belief, it ends up being just another fashionable idea. Without talking about this even the tiniest amount, Beck's book falls short.