For those of us crafters who need a little background noise when working, it can be a little tough to pay attention to that gripping new Netflix show and your project – itās a headache waiting to happen, going from screen to stitching every couple of seconds.
So, with that in mind and understanding those crafty struggles, Iāll be offering you my top picks to listen to when making your next masterpiece. Each month, Iāll give you an audiobook, a podcast and an album thatās kept me in good company as Iāve been stitching away. Hopefully these will become good pals for you as they had me! And who knows, perhaps I’ll share the odd WIP update, too!
Before you dive in, please make sure to check your content warnings as some of these suggestions may contain adult language and/or sensitive topics.
š Audiobook: Wabi Sabi – Beth Kempton
After taking part in numerous writing courses after discovering her book The Way of the Fearless Writer, it was a no-brainer for me to go back through her bibliography and listen to Wabi Sabi by Japanologist, Beth Kempton.
Conceptualised from Japanese aesthetics, Beth invites us to explore Wabi Sabi in this audiobook, encouraging us to take on the practices of slowing down and appreciating the beauty of the every day, including the impermanence of it.
Listening to the wisdom bestowed to Beth from her first time in Japan, and then onto us, really is a breath of fresh air. As youāre working on your latest project, itās the perfect craft accompaniment as Wabi Sabi encourages you to take stock, give yourself grace and help you realise that a dropped stitch or two really isnāt the end of the world.
When life gets a little overwhelming, itās the perfect book to listen to when you need to zoom out and realign with whatās really important in life. With many teachings to apply to your own daily life, Wabi Sabi is a must-listen.
šļø Podcast: Tower 4 – 7 Lamb Productions
Iāve been a long-time fan of Tower 4 and currently, weāre quite the way through season three. Yet starting from the beginning will have you hooked more than that crochet project. Episodes are few and, understandably for the small team producing it, far between, so Iāve been saving them for a binge and my-oh-my was it worth the wait!
After the passing of his mother, Mike Archer accepts the job of becoming a firewatcher in Wyoming, hoping that the new role in Tower 4 will allow him peace and a place to reconnect with his writing.
He finds a friend in Amber, another recruit in Tower 2. But as the nights pass by and their dialogue deepens, Mike uncovers thereās a little more at play than just keeping an eye on the forest below. After all, thereās no smoke without fire.
šæ Album: Everything I Thought It Was – Justin Timberlake
After a six-year hiatus, JTās back with his sixth studio album and it’s also Everything I Thought It Was – worth the wait and delivering banger after banger.
For me, itās been on repeat and then some. Spanning 18 tracks, Justin takes us through quite the journey of emotion; especially in āParadiseā, as he reunites with the boys of *NSYNC ā that one hit me right in the feels.
Now Iāve got my own theories about the concept for the album, especially after reading the vinyl insert – but I wonāt bore you with that here! Picking a favourite track for this was a tough one as there are a fair few clamouring for the top spot, but āFlameā appears to be the winner, here. Well, judging by my Spotify repeaters, anyway!
Let us know what youāve been listening to this month and share your WIPs by using #MyWoollyPicks – we canāt wait to see what youāve been making!