Witty Knits

KnitKnit is one intriguing book of microknits, supersized, and everything in between. There are also lots of patterns for more ordinary projects. It makes me want to pick up my needles right this minute!

Back in Time

I know that it might seem strange that my parents still live in the house of my childhood but I love that it's filled with memories and I can return to it as often as I'd like. Dear Photograph unites photos from long ago with the present in an original way. The photo-within-a-photo format with a brief letter evokes memories and emotions incredibly effectively. If you're inspired to do one of your own, the author welcomes uploads at www.DearPhotograph.com.

Keep Out

The photos let us peek into the most precious place of a teen--her room. It's a rare treat to glimpse them in their natural surroundings, to learn about their dreams and fears. The most remarkable thing about A Girl and Her Room are the similarities that transcend time and place.

Dressing Up

No matter what your taste in fashion might be, you're certain to remember a number of these dresses, the people who wore them and made them famous. It's hard to choose favorites, but I have a fondness for Julia Roberts in Valentino from 1982, Princess Di's wedding gown (equally striking in person!), Kate Hudson in Versace in 2003, and the four gorgeous photos of Sarah Jessica Parker. Swoon!

Quick Thinking, Thinking Again

What would you take? I still don't know, even though I've been contemplating it since I was about seven years old. My possessions have changed since then but my values haven't and I would be hard-pressed to know what I'd want to grab. Seeing what the people of The Burning House selected might have helped me a little bit, but I'm still revising my own list.

Modern Humor

The makers of Unhappy Hipsters have created It's Lonely in the Modern World. The captions they provide for these perfectly stylized photographs and the snarky remarks about living as a modernist are simply spot on!

A Touch of Dutch

When I see windmills, I am filled with warm memories. They are a symbol of my Dutch heritage and the fields around my grandparents' farm had them. I was delighted to read American Windmills to learn more about the stately icons. I didn't know until recently that many were made in Michigan (alongside Daisy air rifles at the Plymouth Iron Wind Mill Company) and I also didn't realize that you used to be able to order them from the Sears Catalog--just like our house!

Beauty in Reuse

I was going through Raw + Material = Art and recognized two of the featured artists' works. Sayaka Kajita Ganz entered ArtPrize 2010 with "Emergence" and Brian Dettmer had  "World Books" in the competition as well. They fit well with the other examples in the book--and I am pleased I saw some in person.The creativity and effort is truly inspirational.

Eye Candy

I've never been to "the shows" and I probably never will but reading A Front Row Seat makes me feel as if I have. Sinclair lets us see the designers, the celebrities who attend, the buyers, the backstage preparation, and the models who wear the art. It's a thing of beauty!

All in the Cards

Casinos and religion rarely mix so the premise of the documentary Holy Rollers really intrigued me. The Church Team is a group of religious folks who are trying to make a living by playing poker. We get to learn about how card counting really works, what they do to prepare for their visits, and how successful they are at what they do. Who's ready to hit the tables with me?

Capital Crimes

Filmmaker Werner Herzog looks into the Texas death row system and successfully keeps his film completely neutral. Through the interviews of inmates, law enforcement, family of victims, a pastor and state executioner, Into the Abyss allows viewers to draw their own conclusions about the criminals and the justice system.

Uncomfortable and Awful

If you are considering whether or not to have children and think you might very possibly choose to do so at some point in the future, I would advise you to avoid viewing the movie We Need to Talk about Kevin at all costs. It greatly disturbed me and I cannot even decide if I liked it or not. It did make me consider some ideas that had not occurred to me before...so that is something.

Stylish Small

Small living space is sometimes challenging but it's very rewarding to make use of what you have and take care in selecting what you add and display. Living in a Nutshell, though small in format, packs a lot of creative ideas for making your tiny digs have big style. The projects would look great in any home and I can't wait to try a few myself.

Not Yet Solved

The documentary which chronicles the construction, inhabitation and decline of the Pruitt-Igoe housing complex in St. Louis, Missouri gives chilling testimony to the sad fact that many of the woes which the residents faced in the 1950s are not any better today. Through the interviews of people who were involved in the project and news footage, you begin to gain understanding of the complexity of the situation--then and now.

1000 Words

The New York Magazine runs compelling stories each week and this book highlights a wide variety of subjects in a hefty volume. The sections of portrait, documentary, photo-illustration, style, and projects feature famous and ordinary people, news-making and everyday events, and many incredibly moving subjects. Some photographs have follow-up commentary from the people in the photos many years later, as well as impressions from the original photographer.

Dying with Dignity

Regardless of your views on assisted suicide or euthanasia, How to Die in Oregon is a tender and respectful documentary that will give you great pause. It profiles people who are facing terminal diagnoses, the suffering that they face, and the option that they may choose to take, thanks to Oregon's Death with Dignity Act. The film probably won't change your opinion about the issue but it will make you think about what your own future holds.

Lifelong Learning

I'm a big believer that you have to continue learning new things to prevent brain atrophy. I saw these two books and new that my crafty boundaries are in dire need of some expansion. I can sew a straight line, so I might have less trouble navigating Stitch Magic. I'm daunted by Crochet Lace Innovations. The hook has gotten the better of me more than once. If at first I don't succeed...

I Do

The Wedding Dress traces the history of marital fashion for the last three hundred years, throughout various countries, with drawings, photographs, and museum pieces. The trends span everything from royal dresses to ultra casual and each one is more beautiful than the last. The oversized book is a feast for the eyes.

Dreaming of a Space

After spending the last few days sorting and organizing my various craft supplies, I decided I'd earned the right to sit down and gaze longingly at two books that showcase some really amazing creative spaces. I can only imagine a wondrous dedicated room (or building!) for making my various projects at this point. But a girl can dream, right? If you're looking for ideas, these two books have great photos and suggestions:

Inside the Creative Studio
Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration

Sweet James

I readily admit that I watched Some Days are Better Than Others just because James Mercer is in it. He does a bang-up job in portraying down-trodden Eli sensitively and without an ounce of pride. The movie is quiet and thoughtful and thought-provoking. Portland is another character in the movie (like Ann Arbor's Zingerman's Deli is in The Five-Year Engagement) and it's integral to the plot. My favorite part? The karaoke of "Total Eclipse of the Heart."

Powerful

Whether you're a poetry fan or not, you'll be moved by Louder Than a Bomb. The documentary follows several teams as they ready to compete Chicago's annual poetry slam. The students' lives will draw you in and the pieces they perform will entertain and educate you.

Mysterious Tiler

Resurrect Dead documents one man's quest to find the meaning and creator of the Toynbee Tiles, small works of art that have been embedded in the pavement of the streets of South Philadelphia and about two dozen other cities in the U.S. since the early 1980s. We follow Justin Duerr as he seeks the answers to questions that have lain unanswered under the feet of thousands of pedestrians for decades.

Looking Reality in the Face

Who is John Madden? He's just one of many faces we might pass without thought on any given day. Hard Ground introduces us to a few of the folks that photographer Michael O'Brien took the time to meet and pairs these faces with the words of Tom Waits. We get to look closely at these people and, through them, ourselves.

A Passion for Fashion

I'm in love. He doesn't know I exist and he wouldn't look twice at me. Who is the object of my affection? Bill Cunningham, the NY photographer and subject of this documentary. He is passionate about his work, thoughtful, sweet, genuine, funny, and fearless. We get to follow him around as he bikes the streets of New York in search of interesting street fashion trends. His humble demeanor and quiet nature make him irresistable and the film is simply wonderful.