Craft your own happy A collection of 25 creative projects to craft your way to mindfulness

UK maker Ford calls many of her two-dozen-plus designs "Kawaii," or Japanese for cute. Her first collection, she notes, was inspired by a search to cure anxiety, remedied by mindfulness creation. Truly simple to fashion, and requiring little in monetary outlay and effort, these 25 projects examine the ways in which crafting, even for a few minutes, can catapult readers into a flow state, distracting and calming anxious minds. Some of the offerings: a pompom footstool, clay diorama, pressed flower phone case, and toast-shaped make-up bag (complete with a face!). Templates at the end enable success, while captioned color photographs of how-tos, complete "needed materials" lists, and step-by-step directions support making activities. Many of Ford's comments will resonate in these pandemic days, like "there's something therapeutic about gently stabbing a piece of merino wool repeatedly" and "being organized is a form of self-care."

Most mindfulness craft books focus on drawing and coloring, but here mindfulness is paired with 25 craft projects designed to bring joy and calmness to the maker. Debut author Ford (owner, Elbie Co.) designs and sells what she calls "happy cute" craft kits and has arranged her first book around the projects that help inspire and ground her. A lover of kawaii, the Japanese concept of cuteness, Ford's colorful craft projects are arranged by mood and designed so that beginners can find success in small projects that involve embroidery, cross-stitch, paper, wood, macramé, and several other mediums. Projects range in size from pieces of jewelry to wall hangings and even a pom pom footstool. The easy-to-follow instructions are supported by helpful, full-color, step-by-step pictures of the process. For each project, all required items are easily obtainable, and Ford includes templates in the back of the book for those projects that need them. VERDICT Crafters, especially beginners, and lovers of kawaii will be sure to find something they like in this book with its wide variety of projects. Recommended also for those looking for fun projects to do with children.--Holly Hebert, Middle Tennessee State Univ., Murfreesboro