The National Week of Making was last month, but we think it’s never too late to celebrate our clients! We have a lot of customers who use our folding table risers to lift up their work surfaces so they can work on their craft without hurting their backs. There are so many different things to make and it’s exciting to be able to support people who are in this group.

Who are Makers?

People who take raw materials and transform them into something different are all makers. Many of our makers are quilters and other types of fabric artists. We love going to the Road to California quilt show to view all the wonderful pieces that our clients create.

Makers are found in all types of fields and industries, not just quilting and fabric arts. They’re in education, music, other visual arts, science, technology, engineering, culinary arts, community revitalization and manufacturing. Plus more!

Makers are creative people who like to work with their hands to develop something useful and/or beautiful. 

Staying healthy

Because many people are makers as a hobby, they don’t necessarily set up their workspace to be ergonomic or healthy for their bodies. You probably find that your making makes you feel great mentally, but don’t let it make you feel bad physically.

• If you’re standing up, ensure that the work surface is at the right height so you don’t have to bend over or reach beyond a comfortable length. 
• If you work sitting down, make sure your shoulders are relaxed and your elbows and knees are about at 90 degree angles. Your feet should be flat on the floor or on a foot rest. Sit up straight like your mom told you. Don’t forget to stand up periodically!
• Some makers do a lot of small, repetitive motions that can strain your hands and wrists. Make sure you get some stretches in from time to time to relieve the strain.
• Keep hydrated. We live in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, so we’re used to very dry weather and we know how important it is to make sure that we have enough water. But in other areas of the country, it’s not so urgent, and people tend to forget. Human bodies need water, so make it easy to get what you need.
• If you work with your hands and don’t want to be interrupted, wear a hydration pack like the ones runners and bikers use. Then when you need inspiration you can run right out the door!
• Exercise is always important. It increases the blood flow to your brain (among other things) and that helps boost your creativity. Solving problems or figuring out work-arounds, as makers so often need to do, is a lot easier when you have a lot of fresh, oxygenated blood feeding your head.

Get stuck? Take a hike. You don’t have to run a marathon unless you really want to.  Just get the body moving, the blood flowing, and your heart pumping for a while each day.

• Sometimes you may get a lot of exercise with certain parts of your body while you’re working on your ideas. If that’s the case, make sure you strengthen the opposing muscles and supporting ones too. 

For example, if you use your biceps a lot, make sure you build your triceps too. Plus your back and shoulders. Always get a little core work in because that helps your whole body move safely.

What are you making? Let us know in the comments!