5 Books for Creative Types

It’s no secret around here that I love going to the library. It is a weekly trek for us. We have a library in town, but it is rather limited in selection sadly (though understandably, we’re a pretty small town). Blessedly, we are near to one of the best library systems in the country. I’ve mentioned the Hamilton county library system here before (you can even see a photo of my favorite branch in that post). We drive almost 30 minutes to utilize this library system. It is the best resource in our homeschool, well worth the $25 a year (I have to pay for my card since I don’t live in Hamilton county). Really, what other curriculum can you pay $25 for and get thousands of books that you don’t have to store?!

Since I love books and am always on the lookout for new books, I figured there is probably a few others in my boat. In a new regular feature here, I’m going to share five books that I’ve recently checked out and/or bought. I usually preview books through the library before purchasing them on Amazon.

Also, just to be clear, my Amazon links are affiliate links. It costs you nothing, but I get a little (and I do mean little) kickback. If this bothers you, just open a new tab/window and search for them on the Amazon manually.

Handmade to Sell: Hello Craft’s Guide to Owning, Running, and Growing Your Crafty Biz :: This was in the new non-fiction section. I love reading about running a crafty business (possibly more than actually running one, ahem). Section titles that caught my eye include The Handmade Movement, Owning Your Awesome, Owning Your Own Store, and Dealing with “the F Word”. This book seems to run in the same vein as Kari Chapin’s books, even the illustrations and layout feel familiar.

The Right-Brain Business Plan: A Creative, Visual Map for Success:: I’ve waited MONTHS for this one. I found it on Amazon in one of those “new for you” or other recommendations page and placed a hold on it immediately. Apparently, I’m not the only one this title appeals to, as I had to wait about 4 months for one of the few copies to become available. So far, I’m loving it. Jennifer Lee helps you marry your left brain (analytical) with your right brain (creative) and shows you how they can both benefit your business.

Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists of All Ages (Lab Series):: This book is great. You can turn this into an homeschool art curriculum easily. There are 52 units (projects) that cover drawing, painting, printmaking, paper and mixed media. I’m pretty sure I will be buying this book. I’m wanting to compare it to this one to see if it would be a better fit for us: Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun (Lab Series).

Sew Fabulous Fabric:: This caught my eye in the crafting books section. I got it to see if it might be a good fit for my oldest. It is a good fit for someone beginning to sew with a machine, but she’s not quite there yet. There were a couple projects that I thought I might try my hand at, Washday Blues and Floral Delights.

Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World :: I’m loving all the ways artists are using their gifts to help others. More on that soon.

Be sure to check out my Good Reads section for more book ideas and also interesting blog posts from around the blogosphere.