Book review: Mindful Crafting: The Makers Creative Journey
by Sarah Samuel
Mindful Crafting: The Makers Creative Journey by Sarah Samuel is a book that explores our relationship with our creativity and self-expression, and how crafting and mindfulness can together calm our mind, body, and soul – allowing us to be in the moment with our materials and our mind. Creativity is a process rather than an ability or output.
Through a series of chapters, with themes such as the Creative Process, Crafting for the Soul, Inspiration and Creative Flow, the book guides readers through series of steps to becoming a mindful crafter accompanied by practical meditation exercises. Samuel weaves in snippets of her personal life and crafting journey experiences throughout each chapter together with her expert insights. Samuel highlights her need to move beyond the ingrained tension between following what others expect of her (accompanied by fear and self-doubt) and finding her own true expression. Relevant quotes from artists, authors and philosophers also add to each chapter; “Stillness is where solutions and creativity are found” - Eckhart Tolle
Mindful Crafting is all about the true potential value of craft making and how we can meet our desire to be creative and open ourselves up to new and infinite possibilities as a result. This book is relevant for all crafters (…and aspiring crafters) whether you are a potter or a painter, knitter or embroiderer, woodworker, jewelry-maker or even a creative gardener, supporting and encouraging us all to push our boundaries and develop our own personal crafting journeys that go beyond our routine way of doing things.
“As well as the sheer enjoyment of using our hands to make something new, crafting helps us connect with who we are” – Sarah Samuel
Creative Crafting covers a range of external and internal challenges you might encounter or barriers that hold you back from crafting and explores practical ways to overcome them. These barriers may include finding space and structure, changing direction, and common obstacles like creative block, negative self-judgement, and a lack of time.
Samuel's life has been, which she does through her art, craft and writing as well though her coaching program for women "Breakthrough to Your Soul-led Work". Sarah believes that everyone has a unique medicine and when they can connect with this they will find meaning and purpose in their lives and in the world.
Samuel also casts fresh light on how the basic human need to create is often forgotten as mass-consumerism and automation takes over our everyday lives and how we can all still find our unique path, craft and our own means of individual, joyful self-expression.
Sarah Samuel was born in the west of London in 1973 to an Indian father and English mother, both ordained ministers. She is now a potter and jewelry maker (as well as author) who integrates mindfulness into the creativity courses she runs through her business, Potent Creatives. She explores her own spirituality, taking influences from Buddhism, Reiki and Yoga and she has attended courses and retreats in Italy, Spain, India and Japan.
“I believe that each one of us has a unique contribution to make and in fulfilling our potential we not only become happier and more fulfilled in ourselves, but we change the world in our own unique way.” – Sarah Samuel
Creative Crafting is an easy-to-read practical book that will be of interest and value to taking a more mindful approach to crafting and is also an open invitation to those of us who lack the confidence to embark on our own crafting journey.
“The present is the only moment available to us and is the door to all other moments.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
Black Teal Bay books rating: 7.5 / 10
