During this week of shopping and consumption (and yes, we're doing that too), here's Sketchbook's shout-out to the joys of making things. Looking back, it's been such a year...

Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. Frank Zappa

Cesar prepping for the floor drain way back in the spring.

This is what our space looked way back in the summer.  We drove out to the western suburbs to pick up that walk-in fridge. Ask us to tell you that story next time you're in. — This is what our space looked way back in the summer. We drove out to the western suburbs to pick up that walk-in fridge. Ask us to tell you that story next time you're in.

And this is our DIY installation of our brew system in September.

I love fool's experiments. I am always making them. Charles Darwin

We're big fans of the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse and had a great time picking out wood for our bar. That's Celso, Cesar's Dad, doing the hard work.

If you want something done well, do it yourself Napoleon Bonaparte (yeah, we're aware of the weirdness of that quote but it just...works).

Shawn and Cesar prepping our Few Barrels to hold the Lapwing (Strong Scotch Ale).

As technology advances, it reverses the characteristics of every situation again and again. The age of automation is going to be the age of "do it yourself". Marshall McLuhan

Cesar and Amy's daughters Gabi and Anna-Sophia's pipe-cleaner ornaments.

It's been a great year of doing it ourselves here at Sketchbook. If you've never brewed beer before, consider changing that in 2015, and check out our friend and neighbor Brew Camp's great gear and supplies.

DIY Spirit @ Sketchbook