Published by Harvest House Publishers, Ten Peaks Press on September 1, 2026
Genres: Non-Fiction
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From Marian Parsons―beloved creator of the Miss Mustard Seed brand―comes an inspiring invitation to slow down, embrace creativity, and build a more meaningful life.
In a culture obsessed with productivity, efficiency, and constant hustle, it can feel like there's little room left for creativity. We're encouraged to move faster, do more, and consume endlessly―but what if the secret to a richer life is slowing down and making something with our own hands?
In Move Slow and Make Things, Marian Parsons helps readers rediscover the joy of creating and the satisfaction that comes from living with intention. Drawing from her own creative journey as an artist, entrepreneur, writer, and maker, Marian offers thoughtful encouragement, practical exercises, and real-life stories to help readers reconnect with their God-given creativity.
Inside you'll discover how to:
Cultivate a more creative and fulfilling life
Find beauty and inspiration in everyday moments
Overcome perfectionism and creative insecurity
Develop a slower, more intentional pace of living
Embrace the mindset of a maker and creator
Create with purpose rather than pressure
Find contentment beyond productivity and achievement
Reawaken your imagination and creative confidenceThrough hands-on exercises, thoughtful reflections, and practical wisdom, Marian shows readers how creativity is not reserved for professional artists but is a gift available to everyone.
Whether you enjoy painting, decorating, crafting, writing, woodworking, homemaking, DIY projects, or simply want to bring more creativity into your daily life, Move Slow and Make Things will help you see the world with fresh eyes and discover the joy of making something beautiful.
Perfect for creatives, artists, makers, crafters, entrepreneurs, DIY enthusiasts, and anyone interested in slow living, intentional living, creative growth, and personal development, this encouraging guide will inspire you to create freely, live thoughtfully, and embrace the pace that allows your creativity to flourish.
You were made to create―and you don't have to rush.
Making time for creativity can be a struggle, especially when people feel guilty for prioritizing artistic expression. Blogger and artist Marian Parsons explores why creativity is essential to human flourishing, and how we can make it a regular part of our lives. Parsons encourages her readers that no matter what kind of creativity or art they enjoy, making space for it is crucial. Instead of feeling like creativity is something frivolous that you can only engage in when you’ve checked off everything else on your to-do list, you can make it part of your routine.
The first half of Move Slow and Make Things focuses on the big ideas behind this book, with themes like the importance of slowing down, fostering curiosity, and having a growth mindset. Parsons also shares personal reflections on life’s constraints, and she encourages readers to let their creative pursuits ebb and flow, instead of expecting immediate results or consistent output. She gives examples of how she has balanced her creative pursuits and her business with her parenting responsibilities, and I like how she shared encouragement for moms without assuming that all of her readers are in that same life stage or situation.
In the second half of the book, Parsons focuses more on practical matters, such as finding support with other creative people, engaging in creative record-keeping, and evaluating whether or not you want to pursue your art as a business or preserve it as a relaxing hobby. All throughout the book, Parsons shares personal anecdotes. Her storytelling is one of the book’s strengths, and at the end of each chapter, Parsons prompts the reader towards some kind of practical action step.
Although this book is from a Christian publisher, Parsons designed it for a mainstream audience. She makes a few passing references to faith, like when she says that creativity is God-given, but you can count these brief mentions on one hand. This book does not explore the relationship between art and faith, or the role of creativity in a Christian’s life and worship. The author wrote this book for absolutely any creative person. Although that expands the audience for the book, readers who expect a faith-based perspective may be disappointed.
This book is beautiful and appealing as a physical object. This is a sturdy hardcover with thick, high-quality pages, and the book includes lots of stylish, eye-catching photographs. Parsons took these photos herself, and they feature creative supplies, her artwork, musical instruments, and found items from nature. The photos rarely illustrate anything Parsons is writing about, but they add more beauty to an already attractive gift book, and this is a nice coffee table book to decorate with and flip through.
Move Slow and Make Things is an encouraging book that can help readers reflect on the value of creativity and make more space for it in their lives. This book can appeal to serious artists and to casual hobbyists, and the author’s personal stories and reflections can inspire people to reflect more on their own creative journeys.