Making Things: Finding Use, Meaning, and Satisfaction in Crafting Everyday Objects

Experienced crafters Boyle (blogger, Reading My Tea Leaves; Simple Matters) and Pearlman (Modern Rug Hooking) to teach readers how to make what they need instead of buying anew: making pot holders, dog leashes, storage boxes, clothes hangers, and more by repurposing something old—shipping boxes, T-shirts, fabric scraps—and giving new life to what’s already on hand. They demonstrate how doing this can make people more reflective on a spiritual level too; readers may find that making their own things changes the way they see objects and other aspects of their surroundings. The authors consciously avoid specialized tools and materials. Instead, they specify multi-use supplies that are common and readily available. Each project comes with highly detailed and specific instructions, both metric and U.S. measurements, suggestions for alternate materials, tips, and options for customizing. Many of the projects—more than 100 of them—are family friendly. The photographs and illustrations are for right-handers only, so left-handers will need to make their own adaptations. The book also includes projects and materials indexes, which are quite helpful.