Easy Crafts for the Insane A Mostly Funny Memoir of Mental Illness & Making Things

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"If things are especially dire, just contemplate Dolly Parton." This is but one nugget of sage advice in Kelly Williams Brown's Easy Crafts for the Insane. Brown's quirky, off-the-cuff style lends itself well to this memoir-cum-crafting how-to. Her heartfelt relatable essays let us know we are not alone. Even in those moments when we feel we have no control over our life, the world, or our glitter glue gun, we can always accomplish a simple craft to keep us tethered to reality. Recommended By Tina M, Powells.com

From the New York Times bestselling author of Adulting comes a story about how to make something when you're capable of nothing.

Kelly Williams Brown had 700 Bad Days. Her marriage collapsed, she broke three limbs in separate and unrelated incidents, her father was diagnosed with cancer, and she fell into a deep depression that ended in what could delicately be referred to as a "rest cure" at an inpatient facility. Before that, she had several very good years: she wrote a bestselling book, spoke at NASA, had a beautiful wedding, and inspired hundreds of thousands of readers to live as grown-ups in an often-screwed-up world, though these accomplishments mostly just made her feel fraudulent.

One of the few things that kept her moving forward was, improbably, crafting. Not Martha Stewart-perfect crafting, either — what could be called "simple," "accessible" or, perhaps, "rustic" creations were the joy and accomplishments she found in her worst days. To craft is to set things right in the littlest of ways; no matter how disconnected you feel, you can still fold a tiny paper star, and that's not nothing.

In Easy Crafts for the Insane, crafting tutorials serve as the backdrop of a life dissolved, then glued back together. Surprising, humane, and utterly unforgettable, this is a poignant and hysterical look at the unexpected, messy coping mechanisms we use to find ourselves again.

“Kelly Williams Brown has created an incredibly valuable handy thing: a book you can either treasure for yourself or simply hurl to/at people in your life who don't understand about mental health obstacles but whom you really wish would. And! Another cool thing: anyone can follow the craft ideas to occupy a mind that desperately needs a break while creating neat whimsical objects. The book is humane, funny as hell, and relatable. It will help both our collective mental health and the glue and glitter industries.” John Moe, author of The Hilarious World of Depression

"Clever and whimsical and insightful and honest and charming and darkly funny--there is not a wrong note in the entire blessed thing. This is a perfect book. Read it immediately." Sarah Knight, New York Times bestselling author of Get Your Sh*t Together and the No F*cks Given Guides

"Clever, hilarious, vulnerable, yet insightful. Easy Crafts for the Insane is my new favorite book. Wonderful story telling with an instant intimacy, cute drawings and smart crafting tips. Kelly Williams Brown is my current girl crush and writing hero." Amy Dresner, author of My Fair Junkie

Kelly Williams Brown is the New York Times bestselling author of Adulting and Gracious. A former reporter, ad copywriter, and Bourbon Street bartender, she lives with her giant, neurotic dog in Salem, Oregon.