Making a Life

Working by Hand and Discovering the Life You Are Meant to Live

Melanie Falick author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Workman Publishing

Published:29th Oct '19

Should be back in stock very soon

Making a Life cover

This book explores the transformative power of handcrafting, illustrating how Making a Life connects creativity with personal fulfillment and community.

In Making a Life, author Melanie Falick embarks on a heartfelt exploration of the significance of crafting by hand. Through her journey, she seeks to answer the profound question of why we create beautiful things with our own hands. This quest leads her across continents, where she engages with a diverse array of artisans, including quilters, potters, and woodworkers. Each encounter reveals the timeless truths about the human experience and the essential role that creativity plays in our lives.

The book features profiles of 30 talented creatives, each offering unique insights into their craft and the motivations behind their work. Falick emphasizes that making is not just about producing items; it is a way to slow down, connect with others, and express emotions. As she delves into the stories of these makers, she uncovers the deep-seated need to create something tangible, something that can provide a sense of accomplishment and feed the soul.

With stunning original photographs accompanying the narratives, Making a Life beautifully captures the joy of creation. It serves as a reminder of the power that making holds in giving our lives authenticity and meaning, encouraging readers to embrace their own creative journeys and find passion in the art of making.

“[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
 

ISBN: 9781579657444

Dimensions: 282mm x 208mm x 26mm

Weight: 1400g

320 pages