A collection of essays about using crafting as an activist. Diana Weymar stared Tiny Pricks Projects after Trump was elected the first time. In this book she conducts interviews like with writer Gabrielle Blair, and brings together essays by others (Jamie Lee Curtis!). Included is an essay about joining the Tiny Pricks Project (TPP) and how to create your own. Another good book to help crafters get involved.

Crafting a Better World is an interesting monograph by Diana Weymar on the fertile intersection between activism and creativity. Released 10th Sept 2024 by HarperCollins on their William Morrow Harvest imprint, it's 184 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The book includes artist profiles for a number of active creators across multiple disciplines: acting, writing, drawing, photography, fashion, cooking, music, fibre arts, and others, as well as hybrid/cross disciplinary expression. The profiles are interesting and inspiring, and in a few cases, moving and touching. The author has curated the subjects well, and most readers will probably benefit from reading all of it, not just the specific ones they recognize or are interested in. The profiles include interviews between the author/curator and the subjects, as well as a number (circa 50%) of small projects for reader inspiration and use. They range from embroidery, curating a small art installation, to making vulva shaped chocolates.

The book is unapologetically activist and passionate. The "vibe" tends toward inclusivity, positivity, productive anger, and deeply fed up feminine energy (as anyone who has been awake during any of the last 8 years can surely understand).

The author/publisher have also included an abbreviated links and resources list for further exploration and reading.

Four stars. It would be perfectly suited to public library acquisition, home use, gift giving to activist minded crafty folks, and artist collective studios.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

What an amazing resource for people who are feeling overwhelmed with the state of the world and want to contribute what they can to make it better. This is an essential resource for anyone seeking to learn more about craftivism.

I picked this up because it was stated as a "guidebook" for combining crafting and activism. As someone who was recently getting into crafting and had a whole lot of concerns about the current political climate and what I can do about it, this sounded like the perfect answer.

Unfortunately it's less of a guidebook and more of a series of anecdotes and stories from people about either their own crafting, their own activism, neither, or both. And I'm personally not really interested in how Jamie Lee Curtis thinks she meant to inspire others, or embroidering for the first time after several years as a method for coping with postpartum glumness.

Another misleading title...almost no "DIY Projects" and almost all interviews/profiles of activist crafters. Not bad, necessarily, just not what I was expecting or hoping for, so I was a bit disappointed.

Interesting but uneven profiles of different acts of craftivism. They're fascinating and inspiring, but readers might want more hands-on advice or projects.

I think the stories are very inspiring, especially for this day and age. It gives inspiration and helps to open your mind to other ways of being an activisit. That being said, I was really hoping for more crafts and concrete creative ideas.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I liked the concept of this book but the articles or chapters in this book weren't always interesting or enlightened my creative ideas. There we're as many crafting ideas in this book as I expected either. In a different mood I made get more from this book.

This was an inspiring collection of essays that celebrate the power of creativity to spark positive change. While I really liked the essays, like other reviewers, I also thought there were going to be more projects in here to try out.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

I love craftivism and was extremely excited to receive this book for review. Most of this book was interviews and photographs of different craftivism projects. If you are interested in seeing a diverse collection of craftivism projects, this is a great volume to read for inspiration. The interviews are interesting, however, they are extremely short. While I understand these are intended to be a series of snapshots, some of these these felt exceptionally short and almost incomplete. Overall, I think this would make a great coffee-table-style book that you flip through when you're looking for inspiration, however, I wouldn't recommend reading it all the way through at one time.
*Thank you to Net Galley for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was way too wordy for me. I wanted more actual crafts to go with the essays. Just not a good fit for me. Would not recommend to anyone i personally know.

This book ended up being a bit different than I expected; the assumed it would be a collection of craft ideas and tutorials for needlepointed VOTE patches and protest signs. Rather, the book is a series of interviews with political activists that created or used crafting or creative art in their activism. Nevertheless this was an interesting read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

This book is an inspiring and empowering guide for those looking to channel their creativity into activism. The combination of thoughtful essays and unique DIY projects offers a refreshing way to engage with important social issues. While the range of topics can feel a bit broad at times, the overall message of using craft to make a difference is both motivating and uplifting. A great read for anyone passionate about creative activism.

This little volume packs a big impact. I was fortunate enough to be able to view Diana Weymar's Tiny Pricks Project when it was being displayed in a little studio in Portland, Maine. It was really impressive and inspired me to do some activist stitching of my own. In this collection of essays Diana invites voices from all across the world of Craftivism to share their motivations, passions, and advice on crafting a better world.

You'll hear from voices like Jayna Zweiman, co-founder of the PussyHat Project, Sara Trail of the Social Justice Sewing Academy, Nadya Tolokonnikova - a member of Pussy Riot and a performance artist, as well as so many other voices. I was delighted to see a a diverse collection of voices including bipoc creators and queer folks included in this volume.

This book made me want to head out to my local thrift stores to search for hankies to embroider. And, as a public librarian, it also gave me some great idea for programming I could offer in the coming election year at the library.

This is less of a craft book and more a collection of essays on the intersection of craft and activism. There are a few projects included but I would be more tempted to shelve this with the politics books than the craft ones.

A collection of essays on activism interspersed with pictures of craft with attitude, this book is perfect for crafters looking for inspiration to spread their message. Perfect for those who carry knitting needles and a patch saying "this machine kills fascists" as well as those who want to change the world but don't know where to start. No patterns, only inspiration and hope.

This is an interesting book about "craftivism." I found each section from various creatives to be very interesting and inspiring. There are well-known names as well as lesser-known 'craftivists.' This is an inspiring book that makes the reader want to create and craft to help the world become a better place. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I had imagined this would be a book of projects, but it is more about creating an incentive to craft something. I found it interesting and I think it is a good reference book for those of us who would like to craft with more intention.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It's a thoughtful and informative read.

This is a great read for crafters who love social justice. It’s a series of interviews with crafters and activists about crafting as a form of protest. There are some really cool people in here, from a member of Pussy Riot to Dolly Parton‘s sibkid (non-binary child of her sibling) who does drag burlesque and curates Dolly’s 60+ year costume collection. Each one features an example piece, often embroidered, and an in depth interview. I wish there were more crafts but I loved the profiles and interviews.

I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.

As a crafter I jumped to read this. I was hoping for project but I did enjoy the profiles on crafters. I wish each profile was given equal love and attention though.