Mind of a Maker
A daily blog inspired by Matthew Dicks
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”
To become better at something, you have to practice. What better way to become a better writer and storyteller than to practice by making a habit of writing daily?
In this daily blog, we’ll discuss Maker-related topics as well as what inspires projects, including YouTube videos, Movies, TV Shows, Disney, Star Wars, LEGO, Books, and more. Everything is on the table, and nothing is off-limits.
Disclaimer: The thumbnail images featured on this blog are often AI-generated. See Disclosure page for more information.
3 Reasons Star Wars Builds Are Perfect For Beginner Makers
3 reasons Star Wars builds are perfect for beginner makers.
1. Turn trash into projects
2. Hide mistakes with weathering
3. Finished pieces shouldn't be uniform
Dystopian projects lend themselves well to beginners because they leverage common mistakes as features, not failures.
4 Techniques To Add Custom Designs To Projects (Even If You Don't Have A Laser Or CNC)
After creating a few projects, many Makers want to progress to adding custom details and embellishments to projects.
The easiest thing to do is purchase a laser or CNC to engrave the design or precisely carve it out, but neither option is cheap, so here are 4 alternative techniques.
The Only 5 Steps For You To Make Anything (No Matter How Complicated)
I overcomplicated most of my first builds, but finally realized that every project, no matter how complicated, only has 5 steps. Once you internalize these 5 steps, you'll be well on your way to build anything.
5 Mistakes I Made When First Starting My Maker Content
In early 2017, I started an Instagram page for Southern Style DIY that was dedicated to posting my build projects online, but it didn't go as well as I thought.
I had watched tons of YouTube videos and thought I knew everything. After all, how hard could it be to post some pictures of my projects online and create a massive audience? In short, I didn't know what I was getting into, but I still think it was a great decision.
1 Simple Framework for Turning Your Weekend Projects Into Online Posts
You've been working away on weekend projects for months and have thought about posting them online, but don't know where to start.
Makers want to connect with other Makers. Posting your projects online helps you join that community that you might not have locally (or know where to find them). But how do you get started?
The Number 1 Thing You Should Do To Start Making Things This Weekend
Whether you've had dreams of redecorating your house, finally building that patio furniture, or just want to have a new hobby, Making things is a fantastic thing to start doing. However, it can be tough to figure out exactly where to start, leading you down countless rabbit holes online. While online, all you see are people with massive workshops making it look simple to create whatever they want, which can make it even more difficult to get started.
1 Tip I Would Give Someone Who Wanted To Start Making Things For Themselves
I have been Making things for 8 years now. And what I can tell you (from experience) is that in order to succeed as a Maker, you need to be willing to learn, willing to fail, and willing to think big.
So, here's the 1 tip I would give you if you wanted to pursue being a Maker:
The First 3 Projects You Should MAKE When Starting Out
The opportunities for what you can build are nearly endless! Which is amazing, so you can always learn something new and continue to grow as a Maker. However, it's easy to become paralyzed by choices when first starting.
The Number 1 Thing New Makers Struggle With On Their First Project (And How To Get Past It)
When I decided I wanted to be a maker, I did my research, got some tools, and wrote down ideas, but didn’t actually make something for months.
How I Discovered Solution Projects And Themed Projects Are Better When Combined
I love solving problems. So when I started Making things, I started trying to Make my own solutions to problems, but something was missing.
How I Got Interested In Making Things
After being completely burned out in my corporate job, I went down the YouTube rabbit hole of Makers.