The book pile, volume one

Every year in May I go a little bit book crazy.  I think, maybe, after several years of receiving birthday cards with Barnes & Noble gift cards tucked inside, I’ve become conditioned to mine my wish list for some creative reading, as my special day approaches.  I spend much of May mentally spending any birthday money that may come my way, and drooling over new releases.

In reality this year, I only had enough to buy one birthday book, but I’d also gotten a book from Neil earlier in the month “just because,” and I’d picked up two others for vacation purposes, so it was still a book-filled month.

I have a tendency to keep a small pile of new-ish reading material out on the table for inspiration purposes.  Usually they are not the kind of books that you would read, so much as they are the kind of books that inspire you to try new projects or creative techniques.  It’s rather hard to say when you are actually finished with a book like that, so I tend to just swap out the oldest one in the pile, when a new one comes on board.

So here’s my current book pile:

• Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver – I’m about halfway through with this one, and it is really making me re-think my food-buying strategies.
• A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg – I finished reading the essays in this book, I really enjoyed them, but now I would like to try a few of the recipes.  There’s a pound cake calling my name, in particular.
• Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes – I’ve had this one since March or April, and I haven’t done any of the projects yet.  I still want to, though!  So many ideas, so little time…
• Local Flavors by Deborah Madison – I think I’m on a food kick.  This is the book I picked up for my birthday. I’m hoping it will help me prepare my family’s meals more seasonally, and really take advantage of the farmers’ markets this year.
• Sewing Green by Betz White – Lots of great ideas in this book, and next on my list to try is the reversable wrap skirt.  I’ve got my grandmother’s tablecloth and a thrifted pillowcase set, ready to go…
• Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross – It’s been a month or two since I’ve made anything from this book, but the few things I did, I’m still using/wearing regularly.

I’ll tell you what new release I really am looking forward to: Ancient Modern by Ronna Sarvas Weltman.  I’m expecting there to be a lot of creative jewelry construction ideas, which is always something I welcome.  I’ve got color and pattern down just fine, but construction, and determining what makes an attractive piece of finished jewelry, are concepts I still struggle with.  I’m also hoping it can teach me some basic wireworking techniques.

I know I get a lot of great reading ideas from my favorite bloggers.  If you’re like that, too, and you want to see what I’ve got in my inspiration pile, a random title pops up on my left sidebar each time you refresh the page.  Or, you can see them all in one place, here.

How about you?  What creative and domestic books are you reading now, and what are you hoping to read soon?  There’s a new Flickr group, I hope you’ll join, and participate when you can.  Piles of crafty, creative books are just so pretty, I think!