| Bravetart: Iconic American Desserts by Stella ParksSo you want to make -- from scratch -- the candy bars, vanilla wafers, toaster pastries, and other sweet treats you usually see in a package? And maybe you'd also like to make snickerdoodles, chocolate pudding, vanilla ice cream, and other classic dishes? You're in luck! Stella Parks, an award-winning pastry chef, spent five years creating the 100+ recipes (and 200 or so variations) in this stunning book, which also includes vintage ads and historical details, including the surprising origin of Key lime pie. |
|
|
How Not to Kill Your Houseplant : Survival Tips for the Horticulturally Challenged by Veronica PeerlessDo you have a "black thumb"? Does just looking at plants cause them to wither and die? Peerless offers advice on keeping houseplants alive, even if you're horticulturally challenged. She shows you how to create an oasis of happy flourishing houseplants, and even give suggestions for different areas of your house.
|
|
| Potted: Make Your Own Stylish Garden Containers by Annette Goliti Gutierrez and Mary GrayIf you're tired of trying to find the perfect (and affordable) planter, stop searching and make your own! Projects are sorted by material (concrete, plastics, metals, terra-cotta, and organic materials) and come with colorful photographs and a list of tools and materials needed. Along with step-by-step instructions that detail how to make a tiled cinderblock planter, flying saucer planter, and 21 more planters, the authors also offer encouragement to try your own ideas. |
|
|
Make Softies : 11 Cuddly Toys to Sew by C & T PublishingIf you want to sew up a quick gift, make a toy for a baby or toddler, or decorate your home with a little whimsy, look no further than this collection of 10 softies from popular designers Amy Adams, Kirstyn Cogan, Samantha Cotterill, Abby Glassenberg, Jill Hamor, Brenna Maloney, Sweetwater, Kasja Wikman, Annabel Wrigley, and Angela Yosten. Cute houses, cuddly creatures, and even a checkerboard are all achievable with three-dimensional sewing for beginners and up.
|
|
|
Duct Tape Engineer : The Book of Big, Bigger, and Epic Duct Tape Projects by Lance AkiyamaFrom a working cannon to a bridge, this powerful everyday adhesive is perfect for creating incredible things! The Duct Tape Engineer, hands-on educator and master tinkerer and author of Duct Tape Engineer, Lance Akiyama will show readers how to design, sculpt, and build eighteen mega projects. From backpacks to kayaks and kiddie pools to catapults--out of duct tape in their own back yards. Projects are designed to be long-lasting as well as fun, with advice on solid construction techniques and weather proofing.
|
|
Focus on: Creative Writing
|
|
| How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One by Stanley FishStanley Fish, college professor and connoisseur of fine sentences, explains why the building block of writing is the sentence. In this informative and entertaining book, he discusses how to craft good prose as well as how to know well-written works when you see (or hear) them. Drawing on examples from movies, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Martin Luther King Jr., Antonin Scalia, Elmore Leonard, and more, Fish inspires as he illustrates. New writers may want to start here; as Fish says, "if you know sentences, you know everything." |
|
| The Art of Memoir by Mary KarrMemoirs have been having a moment for a while now. If you want to write your own and would like an irreverent guide, this funny yet full-bodied bestseller is a good place to start. Mary Karr, a university professor and the author of three acclaimed memoirs (The Liar's Club, Cherry, and Lit), uses examples from her own books (along with others by favorite authors), shares literary anecdotes, and discusses her writing process while identifying the elements of a successful memoir. |
|
| Steering the Craft: A 21st-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story by Ursula K. Le GuinPopular author Ursula K. Le Guin presents practical advice on how to pen a good narrative. To that end, she covers the sound of language, point of view and voice, sentence length and complex syntax, narration, grammar and punctuation, workshops and peer groups, and more. Using discussions, examples, and specific practice exercises (such as writing the same scene from different points of view), this book is like a writing workshop you can do at home. |
|
|
Writing the Life Poetic : An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry by Sage Cohen "Poetry is just the evidence of life," says Leonard Cohen. "If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash." You don't need an advanced degree to reap the rewards of a rich poetic life–writing poetry is within the reach of everyone. Writing the Life Poetic is the inspirational companion you've been looking for to help you build confidence in your poetic voice. It takes poetry from its academic pedestal and puts it back into the hands of the people.
|
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|