DISCONTINUED: Council of Science Editors Book Club discussion

Hi All! Finally got my copy of this book and ready to kickstart the conversation. Let's start with something easy and fun: how many of you lovely people are "makers"?

Making is one of my personal favorite things to do - big fan of crochet and cross stitch (so I'm really looking forward to the chapter on wool), but also do a lot of food-based craft (and thus am looking forward to learning more about sugar!). One thing I used to love pre-pandemic was to find random arts classes around the area and do a sampling of various skills - I've taken a pottery course, blacksmithing, book-making, etc.

What do you all make? Or if you don't make something currently, is there a skill you've always wanted to try? Have you been traumatized by the concept of "arts and crafts" like the authors mentions in the prologue?

I got pretty serious about baking right before the pandemic started because I wanted to learn to make the perfect chocolate cake, including an egg-free version, which is way harder than it should be in 2021. So I make a pretty spectacular dark chocolate cake, and I also learned to make khobz (a somewhat flat Moroccan bread that is ubiquitous in Morocco) to accompany the Moroccan meals that my husband cooks (Moroccan tagines are one of his specialties).

I do know how to knit very basic things but don't do it much. I used to cross stitch a lot when I was younger but haven't done that in years either.

One question I have is whether photographers are considered "makers." Animal photography is my primary creative outlet, but I have no idea if that counts. I know that whether photography is an art or a technical skill is a long-standing debate.

My husband is an artist and is always working on drawing, digital design, sign painting, hand lettering, etc. My best friend is an artist as well (ceramics and fiber art, primarily), and being around them both is interesting because they definitely approach and interact with the world differently than I do.

Although I am still awaiting my copy of the book (seller cancelled after a couple of weeks and had to reorder elsewhere)...

I am probably one of the few that do not use my hands for physical projects per se. If writing counts... I generally still use pen and paper to write scenes and notes for a book-writing.

I think photography counts, Clarissa. :)