When we talk about makers, we think of artists, chefs, builders, creators—people who create wonderful, inventive, and interesting things. The more I thought about the word “makers,” the more it hit closer to home with me.
Being a maker isn’t just about creating something; it’s about how we show up in the world. Making meaning out of the mundane, or even difficult, moments in our lives. Not many people know this about me, but I am a cancer survivor.
I was 26. I was too young. I thought I was invincible. I was blindsided.
Surviving something life-altering like that doesn’t leave you the same, but it does leave you with a choice. What do you make of life after that? What do you build in the aftermath? What do you create when the blueprint is gone?
This issue is a celebration of that spirit. Of the everyday makers who are shaping our culture, community, and conversations. The ones who craft meals, moments, and spaces that help us feel a little more whole. The ones who understand that making isn’t always beautiful and captivating, but sometimes dark and deeply personal.
In this issue, we go on a tour of some of the public works of Zan Wells, a sculptor who has been making art all of her life and was recently honored with the Order of the Palmetto. Sherrill Hill makes stained glass works and mixed-media paintings and shares her love of making through her juried art show, The Artist Next Door. Katie Williams started making soap to help her child but soon realized she could make a living and a difference crafting soap through her business Peace, Love & Soap. From making theater history to making cocktails, each story shows someone driven to create—someone pouring their passion into their projects.
To be a maker is to believe that what you bring into the world matters, and what you make of your world matters. And to be a survivor is to live that truth.
Here’s to the makers, and to all of you who keep showing up to do it.
