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Home, Garden, and DIYNovember 2014
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"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." ~ Scott Adams, American cartoonist
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New and Recently Released!
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| My Drunk Kitchen: A Guide to Eating, Drinking, and Going With Your Gut by Hannah HartHannah Hart's YouTube show My Drunk Kitchen began as a goofy stunt to cheer up a friend, but Hart's hilarious and charmingly pun-filled adventures in drunk cooking quickly attracted a huge following. In her first book, Hart serves up recipes that range from thrifty (Saltine Nachos) to optimistic (a stack of pizzas makes a Pizza Cake, right?) to downright silly (an absurdly literal Scotch Egg) -- all paired with drink suggestions and friendly encouragement for struggling "adultolescents." Readers looking for another cookbook with similarly tipsy (but more irreverent) humor will appreciate Amy Sedaris' I Like You; reluctant adults seeking further lifestyle advice will find plenty in Grace's Guide by Hart's fellow YouTuber Grace Helbig. |
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| International Night: A Father and Daughter Cook Their Way Around the World by Mark Kurlansky and Talia KurlanskyIn International Night, renowned American food writer Mark Kurlansky welcomes a debut co-author: his teen daughter, Talia. Once a week, father and daughter would spin the globe, point a finger, and let chance determine that Friday night's dinner. Their experiment led to this cookbook, which presents 52 meals from locations around the world, including Naples, Tanzania, Brazil, Quebec, and Kazakhstan. Each meal comes with a profile on its country of origin, and each recipe is rated by difficulty, making International Night accessible (and -- dare we say it? -- educational) for teens, adults, and families. |
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| A Beautiful Mess: Happy Handmade Home: Painting, Crafting, and Decorating... by Elsie Larson and Emma ChapmanFans of the lifestyle blog A Beautiful Mess will already be familiar with sisters Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman and their colorful, crafty-chic aesthetic. In this volume, they focus on helping you give your home a "happiness makeover." It doesn't take a lot of cash, just a willingness to zero in on what you really love, and the gumption to creatively repurpose what you've already got. Along with tons of beautifully lit photos, this upbeat, unintimidating book is packed with useful tips: how to make gallery walls that work, suggestions for styling mismatched furniture, ideas for flea market overhauls, and instructions for super-simple DIY decor projects. |
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| The Creative Shrub Garden: Eye-Catching Combinations for Year-Round Interest by Andrew McIndoeShrubs aren't the showiest or most celebrated plants, but they have a fierce defender in award-winning gardener Andy McIndoe. Using almost 900 full-color photos to emphasize his point, McIndoe proves that shrubs aren't "boring beasts," but rather a versatile and low maintenance way of creating a distinct mood (mellow, indulgent, reflective) or invoking a certain setting (cottage, coastal, or Mediterranean). Topped off with a diverse plant directory and an alphabetical maintenance guide (which includes container plantings), The Creative Shrub Garden is a comprehensive introduction to the fashions and functions of shrubs. For more ideas on mood-driven garden design, try Jan Johnsen's Heaven is a Garden. |
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| Make It Mighty Ugly: Exercises & Advice for Getting Creative Even When It Ain't Pretty by Kim Piper WerkerAnyone who has ever battled creative self-doubt can benefit from this witty read about tackling the fear of failure. Using just three steps -- "name the demons," "make stuff," and "keep on making stuff" -- readers are encouraged to boost their creative potential by letting go of the pressure to be perfect. Yet Make It Mighty Ugly is more than just a self-help book; it also includes practical prompts and hands-on exercises to help you work through those creative demons, plus plenty of punchy anecdotes from a variety of creators to let you know that even when you're in doubt, you're in good company. |
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| Trash-to-Treasure Papermaking: Make Your Own Recycled Paper by Arnold E. GrummerTrash-to-Treasure Papermaking is two craft books in one: a down-to-earth, eco-friendly guide to basic papermaking plus a project book of fun and easy papercraft. A brief history of papermaking gets you started, followed by a run-down of basic tools and techniques for making poured, dipped, and molded paper from old phonebooks, junk mail, comic books, food can labels, and more. Once you've made a stash of recycled paper with lovely new textures and colors, there are dozens of fun projects here that you can make: a tiger mask, a cloud mobile, or even custom wedding invitations. Pick up Clare Youngs' Papercrafting in No Time for more speedy, simple papercrafts. |
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| Paper Illuminated by Helen Hiebert"There is something magical about the flicker of candlelight," says author Helen Hiebert, and anyone who's seen streets lined with glowing paper-bag luminaries is likely to agree. Starting with a simple paper lantern (a great activity to do with kids!) and progressing to more complex projects such as accordion blinds, lampshades, and a Japanese-style paper screen, Hiebert details 15 variations on the magical luminary theme. Papercrafters will love this book, which not only expands their craft, but also explains many techniques -- such as batik, marbling, and piercing -- for adding color and texture to either handmade or purchased papers. |
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| The Repurposed Library: 33 Craft Projects That Give Old Books New Life by Lisa OcchipintiDedicated bibliophiles know how hard it can be to say goodbye to a beloved book, even if it's no longer in readable condition. But with some help from The Repurposed Library, you can transform that book into a treasured keepsake. This clever collection of crafts to make out of discarded books contains many gift-worthy artistic creations, including mobiles, wreaths, and ornaments, but it also boasts plenty of practical projects, such as shelving, storage, or an old-fashioned cover for an e-reader. And since most of the projects incorporate book pages, they can be completed with basic papercrafting tools and skills. Want more bookish brainstorming? Check out Jessica Pigza's library-inspired Bibliocraft.
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| The Best of Paper Crafts Magazine by Jennifer SchaererPaper Crafts Magazine celebrates its sixth anniversary with this compendium of cheery, diverse papercraft ideas. Intermediate to experienced paper artisans will find loads of inspiration among the 500+ projects featured: party decor, jewelry, bags, keepsake containers, magnets, and much more for all seasons and occasions. Minimalist assembly instructions (glue/tape/stick X to Y) may stump inexperienced crafters, but large, attractive photos throughout offer great visual cues. A section of recipes for giftable food items (pudding-filled cupcakes) along with related paper projects (cupcake party invites) is a sweet bonus! |
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| Paper Made! 101 Exceptional Projects to Make Out of Everyday Paper by Kayte TerryIt doesn't get much simpler, cuter, or more fun than these 101 projects from Kayte Terry, a boho-chic merchandising pro for Anthropologie. Paper is inexpensive, abundant, and easy to repurpose; here, Terry shows readers how to turn gum wrappers, junk mail, paper bags, magazines, wrapping paper, cardboard, old books, and other around-the-house supplies into lamps, mobiles, frames, vases, bags, jewelry, party favors, hair accessories, and even hip modern bookcases and furniture. No matter how humble the materials, thanks to Terry's solid design principles even beginners can get "WOW!" results. Teen crafters will especially like these street-smart, penny-wise paper projects. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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