3,446 record(s) found
Celebrated TV presenter, storied radio broadcaster and podcast creator, over the years, we have come to know and love Gaby Roslin for her unbridled enthusiasm and infectious energy, and she is on a mission to help others discover the joys that life has to offer. In Spread the Joy, Gaby guides readers in living a more joyous life. Whether at home, running errands, at work or on your morning stroll, there are so many opportunities to find and appreciate life's everyday joyful moments. Packed with heart-warming stories, charming illustrations, hilarious anecdotes, practical tips and inspired tricks, this guided journal shows readers how they can not only discover life's simple pleasures, but also learn the invaluable gift of spreading joy to others.
A fast-paced account of the year Clara Parkes spent transforming a 676-pound bale of fleece into saleable yarn, and the people and vanishing industry she discovered along the way. Join Clara Parkes on a cross-country adventure and meet a cast of characters that includes the shepherds, dyers, and countless workers without whom our knitting needles would be empty, our mills idle, and our feet woefully cold. Travel the country with her as she meets a flock of Saxon Merino sheep in upstate New York, tours a scouring plant in Texas, visits a steamy Maine dyehouse, helps sort freshly shorn wool on a working farm, and learns how wool fleece is measured, baled, shipped, and turned into skeins. In pursuit of the perfect yarn, Parkes describes a brush with the dangers of opening a bale (they can explode), and her adventures from Maine to Wisconsin ("the most knitterly state") and back again; along the way, she presents a behind-the-scenes look at the spinners, scourers, genius inventors, and crazy-complex mill machines that populate the yarn-making industry. By the end of the book, you'll be ready to set aside the backyard chickens and add a flock of sheep instead. Simply put, no other book exists that explores American culture through the lens of wool.
There is not just one story of silk. In silk is science, history and mythology. In silk is the future. Aarathi Prasad's Silk is a gorgeous new history weaving together the story of a unique material that has fascinated the world for millennia. Through the scientists who have studied silk, and the biology of the animals from which it has been drawn, Prasad explores the global history, natural history, and future of a unique material that has fascinated the world for millennia. For silk, prized for its lightness, luminosity, and beauty is also one of the strongest biological materials ever known. More than a century ago, it was used to make the first bulletproof vest, and yet science has barely even begun to tap its potential. As the technologies it has inspired – from sutures to pharmaceuticals, replacement body parts to holograms – continue to be developed in laboratories around the world, they are now also beginning to offer a desperately needed, sustainable alternative to the plastics choking our planet. Prasad's Silk is a cultural and biological history from the origins and ancient routes of silk to the biologists who learned the secrets of silk-producing animals, manipulating the habitats and physiologies of moths, spiders and molluscs. Because there is more than one silk, there is more than one story of silk. More than one road, more than one people who discovered it, and wove its threads. From the moths of China, Indonesia and India to the spiders of South America and Madagascar, to the silk-producing molluscs of the Mediterranean, Silk is a book rich in the passionate connections made by women and men of science to the diversity of the animal world. It is an intoxicating mix of biography, intellectual history and science writing that brings to life the human obsession with silk.
Breathe new life into old furniture and thrift store finds Upcycling Furniture For Dummies shows you how to revitalize old furniture, with just a little effort and imagination, and maybe a few coats of fresh paint. Upcycling furniture is affordable, good for the environment, and a whole lot of fun! This easy, step-by-step guide shows you how to get creative and put your own unique flair on your designs. You'll gain the knowledge and confidence you need to select items that are worth transforming or restoring and learn specific techniques to give old pieces a new lease on life. - Learn the process of upcycling dressers, tables, chairs, and other furniture - Enjoy the fun of sourcing items and increasing their value with your creativity! - Update your decor with gorgeous, upcycled furniture - Express yourself and find out how to flip your creations for a profit! This Dummies reference is great for anyone with an interest in turning trash into treasure.
Whether you live in a country farmhouse or an urban apartment, find inspiration for every room in your home. Come cozy up with your creativity and Liz's welcoming voice so you can love the feeling of being at home. In this audiobook of house and garden photography and DIY inspiration, popular blogger Liz Marie Galvan shares: 100 tips and tricks to make your home feel cozy Budget-friendly hints to make decorating affordable Simple DIY projects for every room in your house In Cozy White Cottage, you'll get the help you need to create a space you love coming home to as Liz offers her best home décor and design tips. You'll love Liz's real-life, easy, and affordable ideas to get the most out of your home and discover things like: The passion and productivity that can pour out of an inspiring, functional workspace or home office The conversation and connection that flow out of a warm, well-arranged living room The thoughtful hospitality that can welcome guests, be it for a cup of coffee or an overnight stay The rejuvenation that can happen when we have quiet spaces for reading, prayer, and rest The calming routines and rituals that we can implement into our spaces and our lives The laughter, joy, and learning that can occur in adorable, functional playrooms The life-giving power that beats in the heart of our homes: the kitchen Join the hundreds of thousands of readers and DIY-ers who find design inspiration on Liz's blog, where she shares stories of life with her son, Cope, and veteran husband, Jose, in their 1800s Michigan farmhouse, and her home décor boutique. Cozy White Cottage offers inspiration for every style and makes the perfect self-purchase, housewarming gift, birthday treat, Mother's Day read, or holiday gift. Look for Liz's other cozy home décor book of DIY inspiration, Cozy White Cottage Seasons. DIY instructions and beautiful house and garden photographs are available in the audiobook companion PDF download.
Sick of cheap, wasteful, disposable fast fashion? Learn how to shop for vintage clothing and accessories and build a more sustainable, stylish closet. In this indispensable guide, anyone who buys or wears women's clothing will learn how to: - Sort trash from treasure - Fix minor flaws-and spot major ones - Find your ideal silhouette (including tips for plus-size shoppers) - Alter and repurpose garments Buying older clothing means getting beautiful pieces that are built to last, without contributing to sweatshops or landfills-but only if you know what to look for. Let a vintage clothing expert guide you to ethical fashion bliss!.
"Orenstein is such a breezy, funny writer, it's easy to forget she's an important thinker too."—People In this lively, funny memoir, Peggy Orenstein sets out to make a sweater from scratch—shearing, spinning, dyeing wool—and in the process discovers how we find our deepest selves through craft. Orenstein spins a yarn that will appeal to everyone. The COVID pandemic propelled many people to change their lives in ways large and small. Some adopted puppies. Others stress-baked. Peggy Orenstein, a lifelong knitter, went just a little further. To keep herself engaged and cope with a series of seismic shifts in family life, she set out to make a garment from the ground up: learning to shear sheep, spin and dye yarn, then knitting herself a sweater. Orenstein hoped the project would help her process not just wool but her grief over the recent death of her mother and the decline of her dad, the impending departure of her college-bound daughter, and other thorny issues of aging as a woman in a culture that by turns ignores and disdains them. What she didn't expect was a journey into some of the major issues of our time: climate anxiety, racial justice, women's rights, the impact of technology, sustainability, and, ultimately, the meaning of home. With her wry voice, sharp intelligence, and exuberant honesty, Orenstein shares her year-long journey as daughter, wife, mother, writer, and maker—and teaches us all something about creativity and connection. Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
A guidebook for beating the monotony of the everyday by purposefully cultivating the surprising joys that come from living an off-kilter life It's all too easy to get caught up in the often monotonous nature of our day to day—moving from one rote task to the next, only to rinse and repeat the next day. Weirdness, however, is an easily accessible antidote to these feelings of languishing. The quirky, eccentric, and peculiar can take us out of our normal habits of thought and perception, surprising us by breaking up our routines and reminding us that there's more to life than the everyday. In How to Be Weird , Eric G. Wilson offers 99 fun and philosophically rich exercises for embracing all the weird in the world around us—taking aimless walks, creating a reverie nook, exploring the underside of bridges, making tombstone rubbings, finding your own Narnia, and more. With brief digestible entries on how to make sense of the random, guidelines on how to defamiliarize familiar objects through meditation, and exercises for locating weird states and phenomena for ourselves, How to Be Weird is an invitation to lean into the weird and to live a fuller life.
'I loved this book . . . I'm so desperate for you all to share in its wonder' - Elizabeth Day, author of How To Fail. Dear Reader is a moving, funny and joyous exploration of how books can change the course of your life, packed with recommendations from one reader to another. For as long as she can remember, Cathy Rentzenbrink has lost and found herself in stories. Growing up she was rarely seen without her nose in a book and read in secret long after lights out. When tragedy struck, books kept her afloat. Eventually they lit the way to a new path, first as a bookseller and then as a writer. No matter what the future holds, reading will always help. From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Act of Love. 'A love letter to stories and reading . . . a book to cherish' - Nina Stibbe, author of Love, Nina.
Learn how to dramatically reduce the waste you produce—and your stress levels—one sanity-saving step at a time in this accessible, practical guide from the creator of The Zero Waste Collective. “You’ll feel inspired by McKenna’s thorough and accessible approach to understanding the why and how of reducing waste.”—Julia Watkins, author of Simply Living Well Say goodbye to your bursting toiletries bag, fast fashion, and all the plastic crowding your pantry. It's time to build less trashy habits for a more sustainable and ethical life. With relatable stories, compassion, and a realistic perspective, Tara McKenna will show you how in this ultimate guide to going zero waste(ish). We're all trapped in a wasteful convenience-based cycle, but Don’t Be Trashy offers an alternative: an approach to reducing waste that emphasizes progress over perfection. McKenna guides you month by month through a year of reducing consumption, covering: • Decluttering and turning off the flow of stuff into your home • Breaking up with fast fashion and developing a capsule wardrobe • Cutting off your supply of single-use plastic in your kitchen, cleaning supplies, and bathroom • Investing in home goods that'll last for decades without breaking the bank • And more! Ultimately, it's about changing your mindset to one of minimalism and conscious consumption—a mindset that’s as good for your wallet and your well-being as it is for the planet. Don't Be Trashy will guide you to your best life—one with less waste and more joy!.
Based on Laurie Rosenwald's popular workshop, How to Make Mistakes On Purpose reveals an intuitive, entertaining way to come up with truly original ideas. Three generations of humans have now been molded into results-oriented workers who cannot mess up, and therefore may never innovate either. Shared software, skills, and experiences equal no surprises. Surrounded by the unwavering, reliable results made possible by a machine, we all marinate in this ubiquitous cybersauce. Behold! Thousands of shiny new apps, sites, products, and services that look, feel, and are essentially the same. Because computers don't make mistakes.Chance is the natural foil to the digital. We combine both for originality. This makes for the kind of exciting, hopeful future we want. We embrace technology but need to slap it around a bit to get someplace new.Human error sparks connections. In a relaxed situation where one's hypercritical demons are AWOL, the snap, crackle, pop of brainstorms happen all around us.A fresh, colorful guide to discovery, with clearly marked directions and witty prompts, this is a book about living a productive, individualistic life. Whatever your job, it gives you a way to zig while everyone around you can only zag. It will also make you laugh along the way.
From the 2-time Tony Award-winner and the star of TV's Younger , funny and intimate stories and reflections about how crafting has kept her sane while navigating the highs and lows of family, love, and show business (and how it can help you, too). Whether she's playing an "age-defying" book editor on television or dazzling audiences on the Broadway stage, Sutton Foster manages to make it all look easy. How? Crafting . From the moment she picked up a cross stitch needle to escape the bullying chorus girls in her early performing days, she was hooked. Cross stitching led to crocheting, crocheting led to collages, which led to drawing, and so much more. Channeling her emotions into her creations centered Sutton as she navigated the significant moments in her life and gave her tangible reminders of her experiences. Now, in this charming and poignant collection, Sutton shares those moments, including her fraught relationship with her agoraphobic mother; a painful divorce splashed on the pages of the tabloids; her struggles with fertility; the thrills she found on the stage during hit plays like Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anything Goes, and Violet; her breakout TV role in Younger ; and the joy of adopting her daughter, Emily. Accompanying the stories, Sutton has included crochet patterns, recipes, and so much more! Witty and poignant, Hooked will leave readers entertained as well as inspire them to pick up their own cross stitch needles and paintbrushes.
Finding treasure in unlikely places, join pastor's wife and entrepreneur Angel Williams on a journey of faith, frugality, and family In today's culture, it's not uncommon to buy something one week and throw it away the next. We constantly throw out serviceable, valuable, even fascinating items without a second thought. But to Angel Williams, a pastor's wife and mother of four, that's an opportunity. Angel started dumpster diving out of curiosity when a woman at church mentioned it her, but it quickly turned into a sizeable side-business to help support her growing, blended family of four. She learned quickly that dumpster diving is far from a last resort for those in unfortunate circumstances. It can be a fun and profitable family activity! In Finding Your Treasure , Angel shares how dumpster diving fits into her family's Christian mission, how she started her business, and the moral case for reusing and recycling what your neighbors throw away. With a focus on faith and community, Angel opens up about her own journey, from starting to dive to growing her own YouTube following. Come read about her most amazing finds, including $1,000 cash , designer handbags, and even toys and furniture for her family. She'll take you through where you can find the best places to dive, how to pick which items to sell or donate, how to put safety first, and where you can find your own local community of fellow divers.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Adulting comes a story about how to make something when you’re capable of nothing. Kelly Williams Brown had 700 Bad Days. Her marriage collapsed, she broke three limbs in separate and unrelated incidents, her father was diagnosed with cancer, and she fell into a deep depression that ended in what could delicately be referred to as a “rest cure” at an inpatient facility. Before that, she had several very good years: she wrote a bestselling book, spoke at NASA, had a beautiful wedding, and inspired hundreds of thousands of readers to live as grown-ups in an often-screwed-up world, though these accomplishments mostly just made her feel fraudulent. One of the few things that kept her moving forward was, improbably, crafting. Not Martha Stewart–perfect crafting, either—what could be called “simple,” “accessible” or, perhaps, “rustic” creations were the joy and accomplishments she found in her worst days. To craft is to set things right in the littlest of ways; no matter how disconnected you feel, you can still fold a tiny paper star, and that’s not nothing. In Easy Crafts for the Insane , crafting tutorials serve as the backdrop of a life dissolved, then glued back together. Surprising, humane, and utterly unforgettable, this is a poignant and hysterical look at the unexpected, messy coping mechanisms we use to find ourselves again. * This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains crafting instructions, a supply list, and illustrations from the book.
Our massive, global system of consumption is broken. Our individual relationship with our stuff is broken. In each of our homes, some stuff is broken. And the strain of rampant consumerism and manufacturing is breaking our planet. We need big, systemic changes, from public policy to global economic systems. Since founding Fixup, a pop-up repair shop that brought her coverage in the New York Times, Salon, New York Public Radio, and more, Sandra Goldmark has become a leader in the movement to demand better "stuff." She doesn't just want to help us clear clutter-she aims to move us away from throwaway culture, to teach us to reuse and repurpose more thoughtfully, and to urge companies to produce better stuff. Although her goal is ambitious, the solution to getting there is surprisingly simple and involves all of us: have good stuff, not too much, mostly reclaimed, care for it, and pass it on. Fixation charts the path to the next frontier in the health, wellness, and environmental movements-learning how to value stewardship over waste. We can choose quality items designed for a long lifecycle, commit to repairing them when they break, and shift our perspective on reuse and "preowned" goods. Goldmark shares examples of forward-thinking companies that are thriving by conducting their businesses sustainably and responsibly.
"Little and Often is a beautiful memoir of grief, love, the shattered bond between a father and son, and the resurrection of a broken heart. Trent Preszler tells his story with the same level of art and craftsmanship that he brings to his boat making, and he reminds us of creativity's power to transform and heal our lives. This is a powerful and deeply moving book. I won't soon forget it." —Elizabeth Gilbert Trent Preszler thought he was living the life he always wanted, with a job at a winery and a seaside Long Island home, when he was called back to the life he left behind. After years of estrangement, his cancer-stricken father had invited him to South Dakota for Thanksgiving. It would be the last time he saw his father alive. Preszler's only inheritance was a beat-up wooden toolbox that had belonged to his father, who was a cattle rancher, rodeo champion, and Vietnam War Bronze Star Medal recipient. This family heirloom befuddled Preszler. He did not work with his hands—but maybe that was the point. In his grief, he wondered if there was still a way to understand his father, and with that came an epiphany: he would make something with his inheritance. Having no experience or training in woodcraft, driven only by blind will, he decided to build a wooden canoe, and he would aim to paddle it on the first anniversary of his father's death. While Preszler taught himself how to use his father's tools, he confronted unexpected revelations about his father's secret history and his own struggle for self-respect. The grueling challenges of boatbuilding tested his limits, but the canoe became his sole consolation. Gradually, Preszler learned what working with his hands offered: a different perspective on life, and the means to change it. Little and Often is an unflinching account of bereavement and a stirring reflection on the complexities of inheritance. Between his past and his present, and between America's heartland and its coasts, Preszler shows how one can achieve reconciliation through the healing power of creativity.
Harness the "power of can't" to make your big, impossible dreams a reality with help from a creative entrepreneur who's turned her quirky passion into a global force. Learn how to make your big, impossible dreams a reality with help from a creative entrepreneur who's turned her passion into a global force. People always ask Shelley Brander what possessed her to leave the successful advertising firm she founded with her husband to open a local yarn store. And then they wonder how that one storefront grew into an e-commerce business, and from there into a global movement to Knit the World Together. In Move the Needle, Shelley shares stories from her life to show that you can pursue your life's passions—both personal and professional—no matter how quirky or impossible they may seem to everyone around you. Whether you are an entrenched or aspiring entrepreneur, or have a passion that just won't let you go, Shelley shares lessons from her journey that reveal how to: . Put your passion first and make your creative side hustle your main gig . Recognize the true value of creativity and experimentation . Have hope against all odds . Surround yourself with supportive people . Cut ties with those who weigh you down . Believe in the power of your weird, impossible dream! In Move the Needle, Shelley invites you to embrace your passion and hold space for your seemingly improbable (but totally possible) goals, dreams, and purpose. This audio product contains a PDF with supporting material, and the PDF is available to download.
From Ashima Shiraishi, one of the world's youngest and most skilled climbers, comes a true story of strength and perseverence—in rock-climbing and in life . To a rock climber, a boulder is called a "problem," and you solve it by climbing to the top. There are twists and turns, falls and scrapes, and obstacles that seem insurmountable until you learn to see the possibilities within them. And then there is the moment of triumph, when there's nothing above you but sky and nothing below but a goal achieved. Ashima Shiraishi draws on her experience as a world-class climber in this story that challenges readers to tackle the problems in their own lives and rise to greater heights than they would have ever thought possible.
Purl and stitch: Empowering, healing, and reconnecting us to each other and ourselves In a fractured world plagued by anxiety and loneliness, knitting is coming to the rescue of people from all walks of life. Economist and lifelong knitter Loretta Napoleoni unveils the hidden power of the purl and stitch mantra: an essential tool for the survival of our species, a means for women to influence history, a soothing activity to calm us, and a powerful metaphor of life. This book is a voyage through our history following the yarn of social, economic and political changes - from ancient Egypt and Peru to modern Mongolia, from the spinning bees of the American Revolution to the knitting spies of World War II, and from the hippies' rejection of consumerism to yarnbombing protests against climate change. For the author it is also a personal journey of discovery and salvation, drawing on the wisdom her grandmother passed along as they knit together. Revealing recent discoveries in neuroscience, The Power of Knitting offers proof of the healing powers of knitting on our bodies and minds. Breaking through societal barriers, even nursing broken hearts, and helping to advance cutting-edge science, knitting is still a valuable instrument for navigating our daily lives. As a bonus, the book includes patterns for ten simple yet iconic projects that reflect the creative, empowering spirit of knitting, with complete instructions.
A hands-on manual and a history and celebration of clothes tending—and it's remarkable resurgence as art form, political statement, and path to healing the planet. For thousands of years, mending was a deep craft that has for too long been a secret history. But now it's back, bigger and better than ever. In this audiobook Kate Sekules introduces the art of visible mending as part of an important movement to give fashion back its soul. Part manifesto, part how-to, MEND! calls for bold new ways of keeping clothes and refreshing your style. Crammed with tips, fun facts, and tutorials, MEND! tells you exactly how to rescue and renew your wardrobe with flair and aplomb—and save money along the way. Whether you've never owned a needle or are an aspiring professional, MEND! gives you clear instruction and witty advice, with over thirty techniques, from classic darning and patching to cheeky new methods invented by Sekules, to help you turn every garment into a unique fashion statement. Including interviews with menders, shameful fashion industry facts, a ten-step closet mend, cheat sheets, stitch guides, moth elimination, museum conservator and vintage dealer tricks, and more, this is an audiobook to inspire, delight, and galvanize. Sharp, funny, and incredibly timely, MEND! leads the slow fashion revolution into its next phase, where getting dressed is a joyful, creative experience for all.