J ROBERT CLARK - MAKES $5 / month

J ROBERT CLARK - MAKES focuses on the maker culture, emphasizing the value of craftsmanship, creativity, and the learning process. It explores the philosophical and practical aspects of making things by hand, problem-solving, and appreciates the beauty of imperfections and the significance of persistence and optimism in creative pursuits.

Maker Culture Craftsmanship Creativity Problem-solving Philosophy of Making Learning from Mistakes Persistence and Optimism Importance of Lighting in Design Maximizing Space Technology and Society

The hottest Substack posts of J ROBERT CLARK - MAKES

And their main takeaways

Too happy to create?

78 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24

Creativity can be affected by inner happiness
Struggling with a project can happen even during times of personal happiness
Happiness can sometimes impact productivity

The mediocre job

78 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24

🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity Craftsmanship Perfectionism Construction Repair

Internal competition can be a driving force for excellence
Sometimes good enough is better than perfect
Temporary fixes may not be perfect, but they can serve their purpose

The past meets now

58 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24

🎭️ Culture History Travel Nature Society Reflection

Ruins hold stories of the past and remind us of the impermanence of creations.
Route 66 serves as a testament to how human-made structures fade into ruins over time.
Exploring ruins can be a deep reflection on the passage of time and the eventual decay of all things.

Take a deep breath and fix it

117 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23

🏥 Health & Wellness Anxiety Growth Self-Improvement

When mistakes happen, don't panic. Stay calm to find a solution.
Learning from mistakes is valuable. They make us mentally stronger.
Experience gives us confidence that we can overcome errors and succeed eventually.

Left-hand threads

117 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23

🔬 Science Psychology Physics Intuition Mechanics

Regular threads are righty tighty, lefty loosie.
Left-hand threads are the opposite, lefty tightie, righty loosie.
Left-hand threads exist to keep things from coming loose and can be counterintuitive.

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A moment of gratitude

117 implied HN points • 10 Feb 23

Author expresses gratitude towards subscribers and supporters
Financial and moral support from subscribers is appreciated
Author values providing content for all readers, not just paid subscribers

Beware the hammer

78 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23

🕹 Technology Tools Repairs

Having a narrow view leads to a narrow approach
Using a hammer requires finesse and care
Different tasks require different types of hammers

Persistence

78 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23

⛪ Faith & Spirituality Optimism Persistence Creativity Hope Fear

Optimism is key for persistence in a creative life.
Good things come through persistence, even in the face of doubts.
Creativity and happiness are achieved by taking risks and persisting through challenges.

Disappearing handwriting

78 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23

🎭️ Culture Handwriting Art History Communication Technology

Cursive handwriting is becoming less common among the younger generation.
Technology like automated scanning systems may struggle to read cursive handwriting.
The disappearance of cursive handwriting may lead to the loss of historical documents and a unique art form.

The genius of Gran's green beans

78 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23

🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Recipes Family Ingredients History

Cooking green beans takes time and can yield different flavors
Raw green beans have a different taste than slow-cooked green beans
Slow-cooked green beans develop umami flavor through cooking

Asked to fix something? Say yes!

78 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23

🎨 Art & Illustration Repair Creativity Appreciation Skills Community

If someone asks you to fix something, say yes and help out.
Being able to fix things is rewarding and makes you feel appreciated.
Everyone can be a fixer and share their skills; don't hesitate to help when asked.

Thoughtfully courageous

78 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23

🏥 Health & Wellness Inspiration Self-Improvement Personal Growth Well-being Motivation

Be willing to take calculated risks and jump into new challenges.
Reflect on past mistakes as learning opportunities and don't let self-doubt hold you back.
Taking action is crucial - think briefly and then be courageously proactive to succeed.

Shop time

78 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23

🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity Time Craftsmanship Reflection Imagination

Time in the shop is considered the best time-consuming task by makers.
Time, while valuable, becomes transcendent when used wisely in activities like creativity.
Time can feel relentless and chaotic, but finding moments of joy and focus can make it more bearable.

There can never be too much light

58 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23

🪑 Design Lighting Installation Improvement

Good lighting is essential for design and craftsmanship.
Inadequate lighting can lead to errors and frustration in working spaces.
Modern LED lights are an easy and effective solution to brighten up poorly lit areas.

Perfectly imperfect

58 implied HN points • 03 Mar 23

🎨 Art & Illustration Craftsmanship Beauty

Imperfections in handmade items are a part of their unique beauty and tell a story.
Witness marks on objects can be considered a maker's unique signature.
Scars and imperfections serve as reminders of experiences and contribute to personal stories.

Space and the case for a few shelves

58 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23

🪑 Design Space Storage Interior design DIY

Consider utilizing the full volume of space around you, not just the floor area.
Adding shelves can significantly increase the usable space in a small area.
Simple solutions like installing shelves can make a big difference in organizing and maximizing space.

I didn't ask for all this stuff, did you?

58 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23

Disruption in business may not always bring intrinsic value or benefit to society
Disrupted sleep, plans, and family time are negatives to avoid outside of business disruption
Disruptive innovations should be scrutinized for their true impact on improving lives

From the archives - a little tech sleuthing

39 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23

🕹 Technology Electronics Research Learning

Discovering hidden knowledge can be exciting and fulfilling.
Looking at challenges as 'black boxes' can help in breaking them down and finding solutions.
Exploring and learning about different things, whether in electronics or otherwise, is a valuable and rewarding pursuit.