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

by Erin Boyle, Rose Pearlman

Making Things champions handmade crafts that infuse the no-waste ethos with glamour and fun.

Through easy-to-follow tutorials for over 100 projects that are both accessible and aspirational, Making Things invites readers to try their hands at a variety of crafts and celebrate the satisfaction that comes from slowly and carefully creating for oneself. Learn to fold magazine pages into Masu Boxes for organizing bits and bobs, make a cardboard loom for weaving potholders out of old linens, braid your own Kumihimo Dog Leash, or starch fabric scraps for decorative bunting.

Makers Rose Pearlman and Erin Boyle met in 2018 and immediately struck up a friendship, united by a reverence for everyday objects. Their approach towards craft reflects a shared commitment to sustainability and accessibility – as they write in Making Things’ introduction, “Craft can be exquisite and exacting, the result of formal training and years of practice, but it can also be experimental and messy and not quite perfect.”

Scouring sidewalks, stoops, and thrift stores, the authors repurpose materials to create projects that range from functional to fun and frivolous. Step-by-step guides make it simple to start and finish each project, while the book’s stunning photographs show how each craft can fit within an organized, thoughtfully curated home.

As Making Things demonstrates, relying on a limited range of supplies and repurposing the same materials can spur our creativity, encouraging us to look at a pile of junk on a stoop and see endless possibilities.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, How To

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Miss✧Pickypants ᓚᘏᗢ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting craft book that would make a good starting point for folks looking to get into crafting. A number of projects would be well-suited for kids. Many projects have pictorials to accompany the steps to help guide you through. The resulting outcomes tend to look very homemade and given the title, that should be expected. While the overall message for recycling/up-cycling old items is an excellent one, it didn't seem to really apply to the majority of the projects contained within.

[MacKenzie Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to Make everything in this book! So many useful and thrifty ideas that look amazing, not cheap and flimsy. Very conscious of materials and reuse, wasting less. Rose Pearlman is who I learned to punch needle from via another book, so I knew it’d be a good one.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun projects to try- though i think i’ll need more detailed instructions for most.

[Christine Fitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful, attractive projects you’d actually want to keep in your home; great no- or low-waste materials lists that don’t require a lot of specialized supplies. Good if you’ve got scraps of all kinds - paper, cardboard, fabric, yarn etc.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A really solid idea for a book, but overall very high level and general, perhaps not at the level of detail needed to actually do the projects/crafts discussed.

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, this really isn't a book you just read straight through, so I can't say I actually *finished* it. However, I love it so much after requesting that my library purchase it and getting my hands on that copy, that I am purchasing a copy for myself so I can gaze adoringly at it for the rest of my life. That means this book deserves 5 stars despite me not reading every single word of it yet.

Simple, inspiring, encyclopedic ~ a must-have for any crafter.

Source: public library hardcover

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure that I would recreate any of the suggested crafts, but the book offered ideas for using items that I would throw away, and still might! The pages that detailed how to create weaving ropes for handing items was the most intrequing.

[Holly]

I can't really give this a review because I think many of the ideas are really neat, the results are ultimately not my style.

[Jaye Sudar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good projects, and a range of ideas! Will be buying my own copy. Love all the different ideas.

[Sara]

Not my style, but appreciate the hand craft ideas.

[Virginia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointed, maybe for a kindergarten teacher except the instructions are really poor.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found some useful and fun ideas to make and play with in this book. Very enjoyable!

[Pam Saunders · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing it’s all about the photography and instagram style images with repetitive craft ideas and little actual ideas and inspiration.

[Cathleen Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would be a good book for someone unfamiliar with handicrafts.
Good basic instructions on knitting and making paper mache.

[Lisa Daleiden-Brugman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable general crafts book, great for beginners who aren’t sure what craft(s) they want to try, or who have a little experience (such as vague memories from childhood) and want to learn more. Also it’s good for parent/caregiver and child projects. Many materials are things found in many homes—in fact, many are “upcycling” projects that re-purpose worn-out or leftover items such as string. Other items should be easy to find in any craft store or online. Instructions are helpful and often brief, with plenty of opportunity for the creator’s imagination. Photos are helpful and highly appealing.

I’m an intermediate crafter in most of the skills in this book but got a few good ideas for new projects, and some good helpful hints.

Highly recommended for teens through adults; many projects are good for children about 6 years and up with a teen or parent helping. Also a good resource for community organizations, children’s camps, librarians, and so on.

[Olympia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crafts are not gendered or racially divided. (Although, someone will have correct things to point out about the history of Folk Art) But this book is so slanted to other white-moms it’s kinda upsetting.