Product Info
Making a Life by Melanie Falik:
Why do we make things by hand? And why do we make them beautiful? Led by the question of why working with our hands remains vital and valuable in the modern world. Author and maker Melanie Falick went on a transformative, inspiring journey. Traveling across continents, she met quilters and potters, weavers and painters, metalsmiths, printmakers, woodworkers, and more. She uncovered truths that have been speaking to us for millennia yet feel urgently relevant today:
We make in order to slow down, to
- Connect with others
- Express ideas and emotions
- Feel competent
- Create something tangible and long-lasting
- And to feed the soul
In revealing stories and gorgeous original photographs, Making a Life captures all the joy of making and the power it has to give our lives authenticity and meaning.
Editorial Reviews
“[This] book is filled with stories of weavers, ceramicists, welders, woodworkers, quilters and more, with photos of the art, the crafts, homes and workspaces. Falick examines how making by hand contributes to a good life.” —Associated Press
“This book is a gem, and one that will inspire you to keep (or begin!) making and creating, a desire that’s inside each of us.” —The House that Lars Built, November 2019 Book Club Pick
“A remarkable series of 30 vignettes that simultaneously comfort and stimulate. . . . Falick’s treasury, sumptuously photographed, will appeal to anyone who admires the people dedicated to making the world around them more beautiful.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Lovely and thoughtfully inspiring. . . . These very up-close-and-personal profiles, supplemented by elegant color photographs of people at work and their projects, capture the spirit of making and the dedication that’s behind the art. . . . In wholehearted agreement with the author: ‘When we get to the point where we aren’t able to make things with our hands and feel no mastery, we feel lost.’ ” —Booklist, starred review
About the Author
Melanie Falick is an independent writer, editor, and creative consultant—and a lifelong maker. Formerly the publishing director of STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books, an imprint of Abrams, she is also the author of Knitting in America,Kids Knitting, and Weekend Knitting, as well as several other titles. Find her on Instagram @melaniefalick and at melaniefalick.com.
Other than my Quiltblox patterns, quilt labels, and other printable designs, many of the items in my shop are linked to Amazon. I can search out and offer you the best of the best items in each category, without having to stock that item on my physical shelves. This saves you the time and energy of searching out these items on your own.
Will I earn a small commission – should you decide to make a purchase? Maybe, I hope so. Does that change the price you pay for each item? Not in any way – you only pay the listed price for any item you choose to purchase.
