tera tinez
Slow down, one word at a time
Word searches inspired by real, human experiences.
100% designed and written by me including the hand-drawn cover and curating every puzzle.
Books
Take a break from screens, let your pen and mind wander with an extra page for doodling
Perfect for gifts or as a coffee table book for guests
80 beginner friendly word search puzzles that take you back to specific moments
Great as a relaxing (or competitive!) activity with friends
Hi there! I am a designer based in Toronto, Canada.
Currently taking some time off after experiencing burnout working in tech, I felt drawn to my creative roots and decided to make activity books that help in quieting the mind and being in the present moment.
I am also passionate about lifelong learning, cultivating community, reconnecting with nature, women's health, and intergenerational healing.
Questions
Why make word searches?
Similar to others, I've dabbled in popular analog hobbies lately like colouring books. I found I can get perfectionistic and caught up with decisions about how things looked.
I also noticed having a sense of solving something kept my brain actually motivated enough to do it more often.
Word searches were something I enjoyed as a kid that I want to bring back.
I loved the dopamine hit of finding one and crossing it off.
Unlike other more complex puzzles that made feel like I was thinking too much, word searches felt simple enough to finish consistently and feel satisfied afterwards.
However, it was hard to find word searches I liked. A lot of them are made for seniors in mind or clearly AI generated.
They also nearly always had double sided pages which looked a bit too visually cluttered for me to be as relaxing.
I decided to make what I wanted to see: books that felt calming, more spacious, and embraced the little human moments. That way, I could keep practicing mindful moments more easily.
Why are they only available on Amazon?
Since I am just starting out in self-publishing, Amazon is the most straightforward and reliable way to get them into your hands.
I'm very open to exploring other printing and distribution options as I grow.
Are you planning on making more?
There is a third one in the works, stay tuned!