The Library

I miss the library of my youth.

We go to our local library just about every week. The one we go to was built, oh I don't know, maybe 12 years ago. And while I enjoy it (because, you know, I adore books), going to the library is just not the same as it used to be.

I loved the library when I was a girl. First off, it was q-u-i-e-t. You know I love that. People didn't have cell phone conversations, or just plain conversations, in the library. You went there to read. An actual book.

I still love looking through the books. One of the nice treasures of life is finding a book you want to read that you didn't even know about an hour ago.

I'm not sure when libraries became more about videos and games, internet and meetings (or maybe it's just mine, but I kinda doubt it), but I miss the old feeling. I miss the heavy wood tables and chairs, the huge card catalog, and the library card that had a metal plate on it. I remember how privileged I felt when I got my library card. Like I'd been entrusted with the safe keeping of a vast treasure. Which, in a way, I had. You respected other people's space and they respected yours.

The stack above are some recent favorites, including Circle of Quiet (I just love that title) by Madeleine L'Engle.

One of the things I do love about today's library is the book sale room! I've found quite a lot of knitting magazines over the years, as well as some great books. All but one of the books pictured above were bought in the book sale room. As a matter of fact, I'm currently reading another book sale purchase...Imagine (How Creativity Works) by Jonah Lehrer. Fifty cents, people. Add a little yarn, a cup of tea, and it doesn't get much better.

Book Review : Cast On Bind Off, 54 Step-by-Step Methods

This is one of those books you want to keep by your knitting chair, or in your knitting bag all the time.  Or at least whenever you need to cast on or bind off.  Talk about handy!

The book is divided into 2 main sections, obviously:  Cast ons and Bind offs.  From there, it's broken down into types of cast ons or bind offs.  Need something stretchy?  Flip to the stretchy cast ons and you'll have several to choose from.  Want details on an i-cord bind off?  Check out the decorative bind offs chapter and you're set.

If you're a visual learner, like me, you'll love the photographs of each step in the process.  And the clear, bullet-point type instructions are easy to follow.  There is a picture of the front and back of each cast on and each bind off, and most of the time a view of it on edge.

Inside the front cover are all the cast ons included in the book and the page number where you can find them.  The back cover has all of the bind offs and where to find them.

And the last great thing about this book is it's size.  It's small.  Not too small, where you can't quite see the photos, but not too big to tuck into your knitting bag.  And the spiral binding makes sure you can lay it flat and work without the pages flipping over.

So, if you're looking to enlarge your repertoire of cast ons and/or bind offs, you'll enjoy this handy little book!

On My Bookshelf : Drawing From Within

Drawing from Within by Nick Meglin and Diane Meglin

I bought this book on a whim after reading the preface and introduction on Amazon.  Am I ever happy I did!  This book just gets better and better with each chapter.  If you're looking for a traditional how-to book, this isn't it.  But if you're ready to discover your own voice with your art, buy this book right now.

Drawing from Within is about the sheer pleasure and joy of drawing.  How it makes you feel.  How it makes you feel.  Nick Meglin does a fantastic job of coaching as he gets you to look at yourself, your drawing and what makes you draw.

And if you need a push to get into your sketchbook more often (like, everyday) you will absolutely find it here.  As he says in the book,"your own sketchbook is your teacher."

A few of my favorite quotes (and it was hard to narrow it down - I could've quoted entire pages!) :

"It isn't possible to teach anyone how to draw.  Drawing is self-taught."

"It's fun to draw.  Let each drawing be just that!"

"To spend time observing, without drawing, thinking, without drawing, or feeling, without drawing, is the misfortune of nonartists."

"There are no mistakes, just lines you're not happy with."

"Draw, don't make a drawing."

"What you can achieve is a sincere, personal artistic response to visual stimulation.  That's worth aspiring to because you're capable of achieving your goal with every drawing you make."

An Illustrated Journey

I got Danny Gregory's newest book, An Illustrated Journey, a couple of weeks ago and I've been reading it a little bit at a time.  It's fascinating to read about different artists' process, tools and thoughts.  I'm thoroughly enjoying it.  What artist doesn't love to read what other artist's use and their process?

There are 34 artist's sketchbooks presented in the book with a wide variety of styles, so there is something for everybody.  I don't think you can read this book and not want to go out sketching right away!  It's just so inspiring.  I'm always itching to pick up my sketchbook and pen after I read it.

It's interesting to me, as someone who hasn't always drawn, how many of the artists say, "I've always drawn, since I was a child..." or something similar.  There are a few who have only been drawing for a few years, but not many.  And some drew as children and then stopped for years, before picking it back up.

I also love how many of the artist's say that sketching imprints a scene or place in their mind in a way that no photograph every could.  Drawing something makes you really stop and "see".  I find this is true for me, too. When I look through my sketchbooks, I can remember exactly where and when I made that sketch.  What I was thinking and feeling, or even smelling!  It's a great way to capture a moment in time.

A Stack of Me

This is a stack of books I love.  Actually, I love books in general.  But some books really become part of who you are, or even better, help make you who you are.

I think your stack can say a lot about you.  The top book is one I happened upon at the library.  It's pretty fascinating...it's about cold places, cold weather, snow and ice.  The preserving book is my favorite for jams, jellies and pickles.  It's got great companion recipes and they don't use pectin in the jams & preserves, which I prefer.  And of course, books about wool.  Love the wool.  And, if you're an introvert, you'll love Quiet by Susan Cain.

My go to recipe for pancakes is in the Country Kitchen Cook Book, which reads more like a novel than a cookbook.  Lots of great gems in there.

What are the books you love?

Your Knitting Library : Books Every Knitter Should Have

A Fine Fleece by Lisa Lloyd
After checking this book out of the library countless times, I finally purchased my own copy.

I've bought a few new books lately, and it got me thinking about knitting books in general.  There are a lot of them out there!  It's easy to be overwhelmed at the pace of new releases, especially for pattern books.  But it's also very tempting to add to your book collection!

There are a few types of books I think every knitter should have on their bookshelf, even if they are only "occasional" knitters:

Pattern Books -
These are the shiny new baubles that the publishers dangle before us on a regular basis.  It can be a book of sweater patterns, shawls, or socks, or all of the above.  But the gist is....you want to knit this!  A few of these may be in the category of "I want to knit this entire book!" or "I want to live in this book!"
A few of my favorites in this category include :
A Fine Fleece by Lisa Lloyd
Vintage Modern Knits by Kate Gagnon Osborn & Courtney Kelley
Knitting Classic Style by Veronik Avery
Knitting Green by Ann Budd

Reference Books-
Every knitter should have at least one reference book, but preferably more.  Because no one book can cover everything (except maybe the newly updated Principles of Knitting).  These books are the backbone of your knitting life.  Need to do a cable cast on?  Don't know how?  A reference book will tell you.
Vogue Knitting Quick Reference by Vogue Knitting
Knitter's Companion by Vicki Square
The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmings Hiatt

Stitch Dictionaries -
Sometimes I just want to put a different stitch in it!  These are where I can lose myself for hours, no days.  Sometimes I'm looking for a particular type of stitch, and sometimes I'm just looking.  That's when I can usually look at each stitch pattern and imagine several possibilities for each one.  Oh, the ideas!
Barbara Walker Treasuries (Several volumes)
Harmony Guides (Several volumes)
Stitchionary by Vogue Knitting (Several volumes)

Knit Lit -
Knitting based fiction, humor, essays, cartoons, etc.  Every knitter should have one of these just for sheer enjoyment.
Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
It Itches by Franklin Habit

Challenging Books -
Scare yourself a little!  Everyone has techniques they haven't tried, and yarn they haven't worked with.  You should have at least one, preferably two or more, books that you think are a little "beyond" you.  Not enough to scare you witless, but enough to inspire and challenge you.
Shirley Paden's Knitwear Design Workshop
Double Knitting: Reversible Two-Color Designs
Mastering Color Knitting

If you're a book lover like me...you've already got a long wish list.  So why not add a few more?

Books for Creatives

I love books.  Especially books about creativity and the creative process.  And it's a big bonus when you run across a book review by a blogger who is also creative!

Wild Olive reviews Blogging for Creatives on her blog.

Leslie at A Creative Mint gives us a peek at Mastering the Art of Fabric Printing and Design.

And I know I've seen a review for A Field Guide to Fabric Design.  I just wish I could remember where I saw it!  But I found another good one here.

I think my wish list just grew by a few books!

One of my favorite books for encouraging creativity is Artist's Journal Workshop by Cathy Johnson.  I got this book last year and it's chock full of inspiration to get your creative juices flowing, as well as exercises to sharpen your creative skills.  Whether you draw, paint or stitch...there's a lot in here to help you organize and develop your own creative process.

The book is divided into 5 chapters:  Getting Started, Test Drive, Exploring Journals, Journaling Lifestyle and Pulling it all Together.  Throughout, there are examples of many artist's journals, pages, materials and sketches.  It's chock-full of tips and "try this" exercises to give you something to jump off from.

One of the biggest hurdles I had to overcome was the fear of "messing" up my sketchbooks.  I had to get over the idea that everything in my sketchbook had to be perfect, beautiful and to scale.  It helps a lot if you can think of your sketchbook as your practice book that occasionally has a finished idea in it!

This book shows you various styles, methods and media.  You are sure to find something to inspire you!

What are your favorite books for creatives?

Cooking Books

I love a good cookbook.  But I really love "cooking" books.  You know, those books that really make you want to get in the kitchen and make something.

I've had good success in finding good books at flea markets and antique malls.  Sometimes the time has to be right for a cookbook, if you know what I mean.  Sometimes, the place I'm at in my life, the mood I'm in and the cookbook I find are all in perfect alignment.  That's usually when I find a new favorite.  One you just want to live in.

And not too long ago, I found the two gems shown above.  The first is, of course, Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  A classic for sure.  I have 2 other Julia Child cookbooks, and I use them.  I learned to make puff pastry using her book The Way to Cook.  So when I saw this staring at me from a shelf, I grabbed it.

The other is a cookbook from The Trellis in Williamsburg, Virginia.  We took a couple of trips there over the past few years and we loved eating at The Trellis.  It's a wonderful restaurant.  We often say to each other when asked "Where do you want to eat?" .....The Trellis.  So I'm anxious to dig into this book and try some of the recipes.  They are arranged seasonally, which I like.  It's good to eat with the seasons.

Old Books: Knitting Books

This is a category that I'd like to expand!  I have a few older knitting books, but not many.  The good news is, there are a few old classics that are being reprinted these days.  However, I have found a few gems:

Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting.  I'd wanted this book for quite a while, and had almost ordered the reprint.  Then we were at our favorite "farm supply" store poking around in a used book room they have, and wonder of wonders...there was a copy of this book for $1.  (Yes, that's one dollar.  I think I squealed.)  I haven't even scratched the surface of this book yet, but I'm looking forward to doing so.

Alice Starmore's Fisherman's Knits.  Another bargain find, this time for $3.  Once again, full of information, patterns, charts....but most of all, ideas.

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac.  You can't spend a better $7 or $8 bucks.  This book has classics in it:  February Baby Sweater, Nether Garments (I love that name), Mitered Mittens, Pi Shawl, etc.  Really...if you knit, you should own this book.

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop.  What can I say...it's Elizabeth Zimmerman. EZ.  This book is loaded with knowledge.  If you want to be a better knitter, a smarter knitter...get yourself this book.  Learn from the best.

Stephanie Pearl McPhee's Knitting Rules.  While not exactly "old"  (It came out in 2006.) this book is a classic.  This is the book that made me love knitting.  Really.  The Yarn Harlot has such a love for this craft that it can't help but come through.  It's one of those you read and re-read.

Knit on.

Old Books: Cookbooks

I love old books.  And some of my favorite old books are cookbooks, since I love to cook.  I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you.

Down Home by John Hadamuscin is probably in the top 5 list of my favorite all-time cookbooks.  This is one of those books where you could just crawl in and start living in it.  The menus are good, real food.  The photography is great, and it's full of tips and homey little stories.  And so far, I haven't made a bad recipe from it.  And I've made quite a few.  I'd love to cook my way through this book sometime.

In Pursuit of Flavor by Edna Lewis.  This was a happy find at the library's book sale room for a dollar!  Great common sense, simple and old-fashioned cooking that also happens to be delicious and healthy.

Julia Child's Menu Cookbook by Julia Child.  Seriously, does anybody not like Julia Child.  I mean, the woman could cook!  I remember watching the reruns of this series on television (back when we had it) and loving it.  My go to recipe for french onion soup came from here.  And she even taught me how to make puff pastry.
Great for learning classic techniques.