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Indie Makers

Updated: Apr 21, 2020


Spring has sprung!

Along with it is the kickoff of our new series of events

designed exclusively for Makers! Which may have you wondering...

What exactly is a Maker?

Simply put, someone who makes things! Anything, everything...

" Humans do two things that make us unique from all other animals; we use tools and we tell stories. And when you make something, you’re doing both at once."

- Adam Savage

Why should you be a Maker?

I'll share with you some of the benefits to making and

why we think it’s so important for people to

GET CREATIVE!!!

>> Mental Health

The brain is a very complex organ that controls all functions of the body, interprets information from the outside world, and embodies the essence of the mind and soul. Intelligence, creativity, emotion, and memory are a few of the many things governed by the brain which is why we need to be proactive to keep our brains happy and healthy.

Depression relief is by far the most widely reported and studied benefit of making/crafting. Did you know that relaxed, repetitive motions such as those used in crochet or knitting can actually help calm the body as well as the brain? These repetitious motions have been shown to release Serotonin, a natural anti-depressant. It also strengthens fine motor skills and when practiced responsibly with stretching and break intervals it keeps your fingers and hands feeling better as they age.

Anxiety can be absolutely crippling for those who suffer from it. Crafting can help ease many forms of anxiety. By keeping your hands busy and brain focused, it brings the internal mind to a calmer space allowing those with social anxieties to function better in otherwise typically uncomfortable situations. Simple counting has even been shown to serve as a productive outlet for people with anxiety associated disorders such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) as well as eating disorders.

Stress is one of the leading causes of health problems in America. It's effects range from migraines and fatigue to heart failure and even early memory loss. It's no secret...

Reducing stress reduces disease.

Making as meditation can be a daily way to minimize the effects of stress on the body. Several studies have also shown that crochet and knitting specifically can postpone age-related memory loss. Recently, researcher Yonas Geda, MD, a neuropsychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic, completed a study that showed knitting is neuroprotective and may actually reduce dementia by as much as 50%.

>> Self Esteem

We all know that low self-esteem has a variety of negative health impacts. Crafting helps build self-esteem by allowing the Maker to harness new skills, have a sense of achievement and productiveness, provide a useful way to give to others, and create beauty through self-expression.

>> Community

No matter what issues you may be dealing with, it is always helpful to have a community of support around you. With the ever-growing number of modern makers are also endless opportunities to spark mutually beneficial relationships. Get to know the makers in your own community through local fairs, events, classes and meet ups or forge new connections with people from all over the world through social media, online interest and support groups.

Being tied to many generations of Makers that came before us and the ones who continue to thrive today can offer a great sense of pride for everyone from fiber artists, leather and woodworkers, bakers, candlemakers, etc. The list goes on and on.

The need for our race to live more sustainably has become evident now more than ever. The fast-paced throw-away society we have come to know today has proven that cheap, mass produced goods are actually causing more harm than good to our planet and it's inhabitants. In order to take action we need to be more mindful of the things we use and how they are being obtained. By simply choosing to make, grow, and create more of the things we need on a daily basis we are adding fuel to a movement that has already sparked across the world. A movement which empowers people vs. machines, small businesses vs. large corporations, and responsibly sourced materials over cheap and harmful ones. The Makers movement in essence is a show of support for the everyday people, the dreamers, doers, artists, inventors, creators, movers, shakers, and most of all,

Makers.

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