Friday Finds – February 20, 2026 | Great Reads, Creative Tips & Reader Extras
Welcome — I’m so glad you’re here for this week’s Friday Finds.
It’s been one of those weeks where slowing down feels especially important. With seasonal sickness making the rounds, this feels like the perfect time to stay cozy, pick up a good book, and enjoy a few quiet moments of rest and creativity together.
Let’s settle in.
📚 Featured This Week on the Blog
Here’s what’s new on the blog lately — gathered in one easy spot if you missed anything.
💡 Short on time? You can always scroll down to the Reader Extras section for a quick browse.
|
Jump by D.L. Orton is a high-stakes science-fiction thriller blending multiverse collapse, emotional depth, and cinematic world-building. Book two of the Madders of Time series delivers tension, heart, and unforgettable characters. |
Guest Post by Margaret Izard, Author
A guest post spotlight for Stone of Destiny by Margaret Izard, the final book in the Stones of Iona series. Includes an author guest post, excerpt, giveaway, and links for readers who enjoy romantic fantasy and emotionally rich storytelling. |
|
Finding My Tokoloshe by L.N. Bokete
African mythology, dangerous magic, and emotional stakes collide in this dark fantasy romance. My review of Finding My Tokoloshe by L.N. Bokete explores its world-building, pacing, and immersive shifter mythology. |
Gina's February 13, 2026 Friday Finds
This week's Friday Finds features new book reviews, an Indie Author of the Week spotlight, a cozy knitting tip, and reader-friendly extras perfect for a relaxing February weekend. |
🌟 Indie Author of the Week – Friday Finds – February 20, 2026
Mim Eichmann
Mim Eichmann is an award-winning historical fiction author whose creative life has included music, dance, and storytelling. After a long career as a performer, choreographer, and artistic director, she turned her focus to writing novels that bring history to life through deeply human stories and resilient characters. Her books, including A Sparrow Alone, Muskrat Ramble, and Tayvie’s Story, are known for their rich historical detail and heartfelt emotional journeys.
📚 Featured Book
What Ever Happened to Cathy Martin
Kathy Reichs meets Sherlock Holmes in this gothic Midwest thriller set in southern Indiana in 1978 that seeks to unravel a deadly tangled web of lies surrounding three former high school friends, one of whom has been missing for over a decade ... but which one? And why?
Connect with the Author:
🔗 Website | Amazon | Goodreads
✨ Indie Author of the Week highlights an author whose work has been featured on the blog and stood out to me or my readers.
🧶 Tip of the Week: Relaxation Through Crafting
A small idea for a calmer, cozier week — one simple tip at a time.
If life feels especially busy or overwhelming, crafting can offer a gentle way to slow down. Creative hobbies aren’t just enjoyable — research shows they can support emotional well-being, reduce stress, and help quiet a busy mind. Even a few minutes spent making something with your hands can create a sense of calm and accomplishment.
🌿 Why Crafting Helps
- Reduced Stress: Activities like knitting, pottery, and other hands-on crafts can lower cortisol levels and provide a soothing mental escape.
- Mindfulness: Repetitive motions — stitching, coloring, or folding paper — encourage a “flow” state that helps calm racing thoughts.
- Self-Care Support: Crafting offers emotional comfort, helping manage anxiety while improving overall mental well-being.
✨ Relaxing Crafts to Try
Fiber Arts (Knitting, Crochet, Embroidery)
The rhythmic motion of yarn crafts is deeply meditative and often compared to active relaxation. Embroidery and cross-stitch are especially portable and easy to pick up for short calming breaks.
Painting, Drawing & Adult Coloring
Watercolors, sketching, or detailed coloring books allow gentle self-expression while improving focus and reducing anxiety.
Paper Crafts
Junk journaling, scrapbooking, and origami combine creativity with reflection, making them wonderful outlets for processing memories and emotions.
Diamond Painting
A blend of cross-stitch and paint-by-numbers, diamond painting involves placing tiny resin pieces onto a canvas — a simple, repetitive activity many find incredibly soothing.
Pottery & Sculpting
Working with clay provides tactile stress relief through shaping, pressing, and creating with your hands.
Candle Making & DIY Projects
Craft kits like candle making or beeswax wraps add a sensory element while creating something practical and comforting for your home.
Adult Puzzles
Even puzzles count! Traditional or 3D puzzles encourage focused attention and provide a peaceful mental reset.
💛 Tip: Choose a craft that feels enjoyable rather than productive. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s giving your mind a quiet place to rest.
This section rotates between healthy tips, recipes, patterns, and crafts, so if this week's tip doesn't quite fit where you are right now, there is always something different coming up in future Friday Finds.
Since this week’s tip focused on relaxation through crafting, I thought it would be fun to share a few cozy creative finds that help make quiet moments even more enjoyable. These are simple tools and comforts that pair beautifully with reading, crafting, or slowing down for the weekend.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support the blog.
|
🧶 Grandma's Knitting Kit for Beginners
Beginner-friendly • cozy creative hobby This beginner knitting kit immediately caught my attention because it feels wonderfully nostalgic — designed around the idea of learning to knit the way many of us imagine being taught by a grandmother. Everything comes in one box, making it an easy and calming place to start a new creative hobby. 💛 This is one of those cozy finds that simply felt worth sharing. |
✍️ My Favorite Erasable Gel Pens
Smooth writing • erasable color planning These are the gel pens I personally use for planning posts, journaling ideas, and adding color to creative projects. They write smoothly and erase cleanly, which makes experimenting and creating feel relaxed instead of permanent. 💛 A longtime favorite on my own desk. |
|
☕ Cordless Mug Warmer & Wireless Charger
Keeps drinks warm • decluttered desk comfort This clever little desk companion keeps your coffee or tea warm while also charging your phone — a simple upgrade for anyone who spends time reading, crafting, or working at a desk. I love finds that feel practical without adding clutter, and this one blends comfort with everyday usefulness. |
🧩 Puzzle Shed 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Relaxing downtime • nostalgic weekend activity This nostalgic puzzle immediately felt like a peaceful way to slow down at the end of the day. The cozy country store scene is full of small details to discover, making it perfect for relaxing evenings, quiet weekends, or anyone who enjoys creative downtime away from screens. |
💬 Reader Contest Question of the Week
I’d love to hear from you!
⭐ High-engagement: What small activity helps you slow down and relax — reading, crafting, puzzles, or something else?
🗓️ Contest closes March 1, 2026 at noon CST.
If your entry arrives after the deadline, don't fret — it will be added into next month's contest.
🌿 Closing Notes
This week’s Friday Finds felt especially cozy to put together. There’s something comforting about slowing down and creating with our hands — whether that means crafting, puzzling, journaling, or simply taking a quiet moment away from busy routines.
I hope something here inspired you to carve out a little calm time for yourself this weekend. Even small pauses can make a big difference, and sometimes the simplest activities are the ones that help us reset the most.
Until next week, my friend — may your days include good books, warm drinks, and a few peaceful moments just for you.
Discover more from Gina Rae Mitchell
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Great post, Gina. I've started using an app that has puzzles in it, but when I get home, I'm going to start doing the many puzzles that I've accumulated over the years. I do enjoy doing puzzles with my grandkids. Of course reading is a favourite past time of mine. Have a great week.
Listening to worship music is my go to. Praying and meditation is great, too.
Painting, drawing, adult Coloring, paper crafts, puzzles, and of course, reading slow me down for a relaxing day.
I'll check out Mim Eichmann's books. Thanks for letting us know about them.
Enjoy the rest of this February, Gina.
~Rosie
Thank you so much for the honor, Gina! How you manage to read and critique all these books every week is mindboggling! Also, I thought I'd pass along this wonderful idea: I was just invited to a community-based woman's club that's doing a 'silent read and tea' in a quiet setting. You bring whatever book you're already reading for silent reading for an hour or so, then join other readers in small group book discussions along with treats and tea. Looks as though we're back to winter here in Illinois ... thanks again! mim
That sounds lovely. There is so much stress in the world today. I am trying to surround myself with calm, peacefulness. And yes, the return to winter is not helping with that!
I don't seem to have nearly enough time to read, so when I give myself the opportunity, it feels particularly relaxing! And, I have to add, skimming through this blog always makes the world seem a bit more calm.
For Contest to slow down I read, write for fun write reviews for print books and chat with my new boyfriend overseas