Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
24 results for "crafting"
A tech reviewer skeptical of creativity gadgets found unexpected healing in a small cutting machine that helped her reconnect with making art after caregiving and mental health struggles left her unable to create. The affordable device turned crafting from daunting to doable again.
A Tasmanian musician spent two years handcrafting guitars from Anzac biscuit tins to raise money for veteran mental health services. Adrian "Ace" Kitson is selling his unique creations to benefit Open Arms, a charity supporting veterans and their families.
Rakesh Chitkela woke at 4 AM as a child to help his widowed mother clean buildings just to survive. Now he works at India's Ministry of Education, crafting policies that help students like he once was.
A Chinese engineer spent a week secretly crafting an AI-animated love story to propose to his girlfriend, turning their everyday moments into a cartoon that captured millions of hearts online. Their simple approach to sharing life's sweet moments reminds us that the best stories don't need grand gestures.
Joel McKay spends his days building up Quesnel, BC as city manager and his nights crafting dark horror fiction. The former journalist turned public servant proves you can serve your community while pursuing creative passions.
Teens in Southborough, Massachusetts are getting their hands dirty for biodiversity, crafting seed pods filled with native plants that help struggling pollinators survive. The volunteer program teaches environmental science while earning students community service credits.
When Maxine Smith died with knitting needles in her hands, she left behind thousands of unfinished squares meant for people in need. Now her Australian community has transformed her final projects into 80 blankets warming families facing their hardest moments.
A Kerala sculptor transforms trash into treasure, crafting a life-sized Kantara tiger from banana leaves, coconut husks, and straws. His workshop proves waste can become wonder with patience and imagination.
A stone someone thought was just an old barn foundation turned out to be a Bronze Age factory for crafting spearheads. The 3,000-year-old discovery reveals surprising connections across ancient Europe.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2Fa7%2Fe7%2Fa7e7e19d-5eaa-4fc4-97a8-1222a00213f7%2Fwallace_and_gromit_chasing_criminal_mastermind_feathers_mcgraw_in_the_wrong_trousers_1993__a.jpeg)
A new exhibition reveals how Aardman Animations spent five decades crafting beloved characters with clay, patience, and humor. Kids can now create their own stop-motion films at the interactive London show.
A creative new trend has Kenyans crafting banknotes into beautiful bouquets for Valentine's Day and special occasions. While central banks warn against damaging currency, entrepreneurs are finding innovative ways to share the love with cash gifts.
A Los Angeles artist is leading a global knitting project to create handmade blankets spanning Earth's circumference. So far, 8,000 welcome blankets have reached immigrant and refugee families across America.
New archaeological discoveries are rewriting the timeline of human innovation, revealing our ancestors were crafting tools far earlier than previously believed. Understanding when these breakthroughs happened helps scientists piece together why humans evolved the way we did.
A Minnesota yarn shop's call to action created a nationwide red yarn shortage as crafters rushed to make protest hats. The $5 patterns have raised over $588,000 for immigrant aid organizations.
After a photo of 5-year-old Liam in ICE custody went viral, crafters nationwide are crocheting blue bunny hats like his to show support. A free pattern has sparked a wave of handmade symbols of hope.
Utrecht native Roselilah just claimed her second Grammy at age 28, co-producing Kendrick Lamar's chart-topping hit "Luther." The Dutch beatmaker has been crafting music since she was 12, selling beats online and collaborating with hip-hop's biggest names.
A Minnesota yarn shop turned a simple knitting pattern into a movement that's raised over $588,000 for immigrant aid organizations. The red "Melt the ICE" hats, inspired by Norwegian resistance symbols from WWII, are flying off needles across the world.
A Minnesota yarn shop inspired crafters nationwide to knit red hats protesting immigration enforcement, raising over $250,000 for local aid organizations. The design echoes Norwegian resistance hats worn during Nazi occupation in the 1940s.
China is crafting its first national policy to help workers adapt as artificial intelligence reshapes jobs across industries. The plan includes massive training programs and new protections for gig workers.
For four decades, Saynoy Kaenkomol has been handcrafting whimsical fondant figures in Thailand, turning sugar into nostalgic joy. She keeps prices low so everyone can afford a sweet piece of childhood.
Showing 20 of 24