We’ve won: Our handbook is the Best Mixed Media Craft Book.
I’m so thrilled to share that The Craftivist Collective Handbook has won Best Mixed Media Craft Book in The Creative Book Awards 2025!
This win is testament to the distance that the Gentle Protest message travels. It is reaching people who perhaps might not necessarily identify as activists, yet care deeply about creating a world that is more kind, beautiful and fair for us all.
I’m so proud of it and everyone who contributed to the making of this unique book.
A Beautiful Resource to Invite Deep Reflection
The Creative Book Awards celebrate the best crafty and design books in the industry. Each category is judged by an expert panel including renowned designer and author Wayne Hemingway and UK’s leading sewing and soft crafter Stuart Hillard.
When creating the Handbook, it was important that each project was easy to follow for both new and experienced crafters. That’s why I enlisted the help of Lara Watson, former editor of the magazine Mollie Makes who helped to shape the practical, step-by-step instructions for each piece.
Yet the Handbook makes no secret of its political purpose - to be perfectly honest it was for this reason that I was a little surprised that we were shortlisted at all.
This win is a beautiful reminder that the projects in the book speak directly to the humanity in us all. It’s heartening to see that our Gentle Protest messagewas appreciated by the judges.
““There is nothing ‘shouty’ about this book, starting with the very first page it is gentle, calming and it invites the reader to take time and indulge in every page.
I love the ethos of this book, it’s wonderfully inclusive and doesn’t require any skill, depth of knowledge or understanding from the reader but instead invites everyone to explore crafts and activism at the same time.
This book gently explores the impact that crafting can have on feelings of sadness, anger or powerlessness and helps to channel those feelings into more positive actions and outcomes. The world needs more books like this!””
Left to Right: Craftivist Collective Handbook model: Shafat Khan, Author Sarah P Corbett and reader Yuxian Seow at The Crafts Council Gallery book launch, London May 2024
Gentle Messages Travel Far
I hope that this win provides fresh energy to help deliver the Handbook into more hands around the world. I asked the publisher, Jon Mitchinson, what effect this will have on book sales.
“Awards matter,” he said. “It’s the perfect reason for us to go back to bookshops and to hundreds of thousands of our customers to say - if you haven’t got one, now’s your chance! And if you already have a copy… buy some more for your friends and family!”
Unbound Head of Editorial, Imogen Denny said “It's always a cause for celebration when one of our books find its readership, but to be recognised for this wonderful prize as well is testament to Sarah's hard work and commitment to making sure there's a way for everyone to make their voice heard.”
She added “We are so delighted that as a prizewinner even more people will learn about the art and power of Gentle Protest.”
I am so delighted, too.
Thank you to our patrons for their support in helping me be able to have capacity to create this book, all of our contributors, community who preordered the book for helping this book come to be. And remember to take a moment to celebrate.
All my love, appreciation and solidarity,
Sarah x
CEO of Crafts Council Natalie Melton at Crafts Council Gallery private book launch for supporters, contributors and friends May 2024