A Short Note on Making Things

Why Make Things?

Oct 31, 2023

Hello, I’m so pleased you’re here. I'm Elizabeth, I live in South Wiltshire, UK with my husband Justin, our three wildlings and two crazy dogs. Join me as I explore the beauty of slow, seasonal living and share my motherhood journey and unschooling lifestyle of living, learning and creating together.

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The question why make things? has been circulating in my mind over the past few months as I explore this beautiful space called Substack. Various thoughts and feelings have emerged along with ideas and new desires to create. Making things and creativity feels like an act of self love, it feels like an invitation to get to know my authentic self. To enjoy the process of exploring and experimenting with ideas that gently begin to take shape. It felt right to gather some of those thoughts and feelings from my mind, my heart and my notebook and put them neatly in one place. They can wait here for me. I'll revisit my words when I'm further along my journey and it's time to look back.

In a world that often moves at a relentless pace, I find the act of making things stands as a powerful remedy—a healing balm for my soul.

This short note dips it’s toe into the profound reasons why individuals like myself are driven to create and how this creative process can offer comfort, peace, and a deeper connection with oneself and the world.

The innate thirst and drive to make things, to create, serve me as a form of healing. My creative endeavours provides solace and respite from the chaos of everyday life. I can tune into myself as the world around me melts away. It offers a sanctuary where one can find peace and engage in a form of meditation that is quite different from traditional practices. Making things, using one's hands, mind and body allows me to connect with, not only myself, but when desired, it can heighten my own awareness of the world around me.

In a world marked by rapid advancements and a sedentary lifestyle for a lot of us, the act of crafting with one's hands brings balance. It counterbalances the stillness of modern life, enabling a shift and movement between different realms. One realm is characterised by outward connection, fast-paced and busy, while the other embraces the slow and simple, fostering inward connection.

Making things transcends the individual pursuit of creativity. It can become a communal activity, a means to share skills and form connections within a community. Home educators, for instance, often find that creating together, learning side by side with their children, family and wider community fosters a sense of deep togetherness.

You may wonder how to weave creative endeavours into your already bustling routines. For me, the answer lies in seeking out even the briefest of opportunities to use your hands, move your body, and slow your mind. This will look different for each of us. It involves blocking out the chatter of daily life and dedicating time for self-expression.

It's about doing something just because you want to, simply for the joy of it. It’s staying curious and open to new experiences. It’s offering your creativity up as a gift to the universe, which in return will soothe your nervous system and nourish your spirit.

Ways to Start Making Things:

1. Exploring Words: Writing, poetry, and journaling can be a simple yet profound way to start creating. Words are vessels for emotions and ideas, allowing you to express yourself. I start each day by doing a stream of consciousness writing which is a journaling technique where you allow your thoughts to flow freely, unfiltered by conventional rules or expectations.

2. Visual Arts: Whether it's painting, sketching, or photography, visual arts enable you to capture the beauty of your surroundings and emotions in a tangible form. I love to sketch and paint with watercolours and document our days through photographs. My favourite thing is to just take notice of things that bring me joy and savour the feeling.

3. Home Environment: Transform your living space into a canvas. Rearrange furniture, add personal touches, or create DIY home décor to infuse your environment with your creative spirit.

4. The Kitchen: Experiment with new ingredients, try a family recipe passed down through the generations offering a connection with the past and present. Cook with your children, cook alone, try a new restaurant.

5. The Garden: Rewild your garden, fill windowsills with herbs and arrange cut flowers, bring the outside in by collecting seasonal treasures to display back at home. I find having a physical connection with the earth, the soil so grounding which is a beautiful companion to creativity.

I have found that making things is a transformative journey. It's taken a long time to see myself as a creative, to reframe the things I make, the ways I choose to explore creativity. I've realised that is more than a self expression, It’s an invitation for healing, peace, and connection in a fast-paced world.

By using your hands, mind, and heart to create, you not only enhance your own well-being but also contribute to the tapestry of human creativity and community.

So, why make things? Because in the act of making things, you discover a world of solace, beauty, and boundless possibilities. You discover yourself.

Tell me, what thoughts come to mind when I offer the question, why make things? I would love to know.