Craftfulness audiobook

I've read previous reviews that lamented that there is nothing new in this book. In some ways that is true, but it also depends on what it is you're looking for. For me, someone who enjoys crafting, from creating things with clay to making jewelry, this book was about permission to enjoy the process as much, if not more than, the final product.I am a perfectionist and that irrational tendency so often gets in the way of me creating/crafting anything due to my fear of the product being less than stellar. This book helps bring it home to me, once again, that perfection is not the goal and not to let my fears stand in the way of my enjoyment in life -- not just in crafting, but in any area.

This book was so validating! When you work with your hands, create something of your own, you feel proud and accomplished. It’s linked to better mental health, and helps those with PTSD (etc) cope and express themselves. The book is many examples of how crafting is successful mindfulness - which I never linked together before. A short, good read!

MY THOUGHTS:I received this book in exchange for my honest review.This book nails exactly what I've believed for most of my life. First taught as a child that idle hands--the devil commands... to now where I'm constantly feeding my creative nature through writing, dance and art. I believe, by creating using my hands, I have grown as a person and allowed myself to be open to new ideas by sharpening my mind to details and open concepts. I believe that being creative is the next step to our succeeding in life and it's through creativity, that many have made remarkable advances in science, technology and other skills.Nurturing a young creative heart, ensures that as a child grows, their creative nature is more apt to push them to develop more openly, be more accepting of new ideas and allow them to push boundaries and impossibilities for greater achievements.This book talks about all of this including how making things rests our minds, or allows us to recap a day in a neutral, more calming way. Almost like therapy, being creative, making things has a stimulation for our minds that other engagements do not.I've always been creative. When I need to think through a problem, I do my art or when I'm emotionally heightened, either through an upset or anxiety, I find writing very calming as I pour all those frantic emotions into my creative juices. Heart patients will often take up a hobby, and by being creative find a non-medical treatment for high blood pressure and stress.The author even provide craft ideas for you to indulge in. Never accept thinking that you are creatively challenged. There is no such thing!This is a fantastic book!

This is a fast read - the audio version is 4 hours, including beginner instructions for a few different craft projects. The narrator’s voice is very pleasant. There is a large emphasis on process over product. This is something I apply to my yoga practice but not crochet projects, so I found this useful. The book also inspired me to branch out and try new crafting methods. I liked ruminating on the benefits I get from creating, which is something I haven’t spent a lot of time deliberately thinking about. I like to think the name of the book, Craftfulness, is a combination of crafting and mindfulness. This book is a great reminder that you don’t have to be a natural born artist or very talented to enjoy creating. My only complaint is the authors took this to heart when writing the book, as it was a bit repetitive and could have easily been much shorter. I would recommend this to crafters or for anyone who is looking to feel more fulfilled in their daily lives. It has inspired me!!

A brilliant look at the way making and creating can benefit our mental health. This book is well researched but easy to understand. I think many can be helped from the lessons learnt. With modern society and technology prompting a move away from crafting, the exploration of its meditative nature is timely. A must read!

As a crafter, the premise of this book intrigued me. And I have to say a lot of the things that the authors said resonated really well with me. First off I have to let you know that this is not a "how-to" book. It's more of a collection of anecdotes from various crafters and makers on the "why" they do what they do. I also appreciated the various scientific research and information that was gathered to show the mental and psychological effects of having a craft or hobby. Like I said, I'm a crafter, so I've known for a long time that there is definitely a positive mental effect that crafting brings to a person. But reading this book made it even more real to me. My hobbies have gotten me through many challenges and hearing of other like-minded individuals feel the same just makes me even more determined to keep my papers, scissors and glue gun on hand for the rest of my life. Here are just some of my favorite quotes from this book:"It doesn't really matter at all if you don't create a perfect artwork or object at first, because it's the flexing of your creative muscle that counts: the real 'value' is not necesarily in the outcome, the finished piece, but in pursuing your creative impulse.""Big ideas tend to appear when we are least expecting or prepared for them - and often when we are not strivng for soltuions, not actively doing, but rather when we allow the mind to wander.""'Craftfulness' is about embracing creative potential to come up with different ways of solving problems or facing life's challenges, while giving us a stillness of mind that allows these issues to bubble up to the surface in a way that is constructiv and helpful.""Everyday creativity is part of being human, a natural impulse to work around obstacles, make do and mend where necessary.""If we're not making, then something is out of kilter.""Lambert explains that our brains are hardwired to respond positively to physical exertion by rewarding us with deep satisfaction when our labours produce tangible results.""Andrew Brink of the department of Psychiatry at McMaster University makes the plain and bold assertion that creativity is the 'original anti-depressant'.""Crafting connects the mind and body in what amounts to a depply therapeutic process. By establishing mindfulness and 'craftfulness' techniques, we allow ourselves to experience intense or challenging emotions without the accompanying self-judgement or the need to censor painful memories.""When we are absorbed in the process of making, our minds rest and roam. Feelings and ideas that might otherwise be blocked or drowned out by the demands of directed thinking take root and hopefully inspire new ideas, projects and creations."". . . the difference between failure and succeeding is having a go. And those who try are 100% more likely to succeed than those who never pick up their needles, book a pottery class, or apply for a new job.""We learn by trial and error. It is a cliche, but mistakes are an opportunity to improve."". . . part of our approach to making things is accepting the inevitability of, and being comfortable with, imperfection. Perhaps for us that's the only way to embark on any endeavour.""Neuroscience has shown that our brains seek novelty, that breaking out of some of our routines provides a little of that novely, and inhibits distraction in our search for it.""Remember, don't let a lack of belief in your creative abilities hold you back - all humans start from the same position of knowing nothing.""But there is an important step here in that when tools and materials have their own space and are within easy reach, they acquire a welcoming and motivating quality. They encourage your return to the pastime which gave you so much pleasure yesterday.""When we write about the events in our lives, we catch the delicate fleeting thoughts that we might otherwise dismiss. Writing is a way of making sense of what is going on and by venting our emtotions or expressing frustration or joy it seems to make a positive impact on our well-being. Being able to untangle the knotty areas of a problem whether it's within a relationship or work, helps us to see the issue more clearly, the many different strands that make up a problem, and make it easier to understand." I highly recommend this book to any crafter or maker out there, or just anyone that wanted to learn more about the positive mental and emotional effects of having a hobby.

Rosemary Davidson & Arzu Tahsin’s book “Mend yourself by making things craftfulness” is a guide to finding joy and peace by the creative process. By finding self-expression and creativity in creating crafts, this book will guide you in different crafts from drawing to bookbinding. This book explores how crafts have positive effects on mental health to steps on how the beginner crafter can begin a project. Important quotes of the guide are “Crafting connects the mind and body in what amounts to a deeply therapeutic process” and “The concept of flow is central to craftfulness. The ability to lose oneself in the task at hand is one of the great components of making, the benefits of which have an impact on your life, long after you have put away your tools.”Overall, very enjoyable guide which gave me inspiration and confidence to being a new craft project.

This book came to my attention through my Tualatin Library newsletter. I thought the book was a general book on different types of crafts, but it's actually about what crafting does for one's mental health. Part 1 reviews the history of crafting and how the act of working with your hands to create something brings personal satisfaction, reduces stress and develops your creative muscle. It then provides ideas on types of crafts and how you can get started. It's a very encouraging book and expanded my definition of what counts as "craft" and "creativity." I'm finishing this book on the last day of 2019 and have my sights on trying crochet, photography, calligraphy or picking up my cello again!

A lovely little book that brings together the healing stories of women who have used various crafts to enrich their lives and move in a positive direction. I especially loved the encouragement to try new things, to take a risk without worrying about the outcome, and the testimonials to the impact spending time on creative acts can have on one's life. The book also includes lots of links to sites that can get you started and inspire you. Crafts include knitting, bookbinding, weaving, printmaking, writing, drawing, and decorative mending & darning.

3.5 starsI wouldn't necessarily call this one life changing or revolutionary or anything like that, but it was a really pleasant--almost gentle--read and I liked how it spoke realistic but positive vibes into the reader. The book was broken down well in that it built up to the idea of doing specific crafts, and then provided a chapter of example crafts and how to do them! The only thing I really didn't like was how so much of it was quotes, rather than them explaining their points a bit better.

It’s a very inspiring book. The authors explain why crafting is so important to all of us. Often we knew some of these crafts during childhood, but we lost the ability, didn’t mak time for them. These are healthy hobbies. They are more than hobbies. We are in a process of making things and that gives us a positive feeling, also the result - even not perfect - gives us satisfaction.I find the necessity of crafts in the book and my searching for my favourite craft now...

An interesting concept. The authors posit that you can improve your mental health by making things/ crafting. As a sporadic crafter myself, I can definitely see that I’m better able to focus when I’m working on a cross-stitch pattern or other craft project and that it does distract me from anxious thoughts. I especially liked the last section of the book where they go through basic instructions for different craft practices like weaving, darning, and pottery.

A little pretentious at the start, but it got better. I wouldn't say this is a must-read by any means, but it had nice quotes from crafters explaining how their craft has improved their wellbeing. I feel anyone who would pick this up is already crafting so not sure what the intention was for the reader. But I don't regret reading it, just didn't learn anything.

This was a good read. The book talks about how crafting is relaxing and therapeutic. During high stress or depression it can bring you back to a calm and happy state of mind. It can help you cope with grief and manic feelings. It can give you a real grounded feeling. The book has real people discuss what their crafts mean to them and how they have changed their lives for the better.