In With the New

From my Instagram

The year 2013 was full of of adventures. I traveled to Battle Creek, Ludington, Saugatuck, and Kalamazoo. I organized my craft studio. I read 151 books. I spent many Wednesday nights crafting and philosophizing with Wondra of Wondra's World. And the 10 days Wondra came home were EPIC!

But 2013 had its share of difficulties. My last blog post is dated September 18th. When a family member became ill, Matt and I had to take on unforeseen responsibilities. Life stopped. We spent several weeks driving back and forth to the hospital. We didn't know how bad her illness was (or if she'd be able to live on her own afterwards). But as she healed the visits because less filled with uncertainty and fear.

The wonderful news is that after a few weeks away she is home and doing great. After the responsibility and stress, I took time for myself.

The time was well-spent; I feel relaxed and focused. And what better time to return to a Shimmering Star than the beginning of a new year?

I look forward to 2014.

And the Bibliophiles Rejoiced!

Why I am sharing a grainy, nondescript photo of a wall? The wall belongs to my craft studio. My father will secure my new bookshelves to either side of the window tomorrow.

Soon, my books will be on display and organized!

I'm easily excited, but I know the bibliophiles understand.

For Love of Thrift

Mondays are usually cleaning day. Today I had a routine doctor's appointment. Since I had to fast so that they could draw blood (for insurance), I treated myself to a coffee as well as grilled cheese and broccoli soup from Panera. Afterward, I stopped at TJ Maxx and St. Vincent de Paul.

Here are a few of my thrifty finds.

Lace

Planter

1956 Composition book

I overheard an interesting spiritual conversation at the thrift shop. It is not the first time. Is it because of the nature of charity, I wonder? Or is it the deeper spiritual understanding that comes with having less to cloud the mind?

I am still pondering this. What are your thoughts?

Briefly, So I Can Read Tonight

“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”

George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones 

This weekend was hectic. I barely sat between work, cleaning, and entertaining family.

It's time to catch up on some reading!

Book Challenge Update

My 2013 book challenge is going well. I have already read 23 books this year. If I keep the same pace I will pass my 100 book goal around August. While I am glad that my challenge is going well, being able immerse myself in the pages of novels is the greater reward.

Reading opens our eyes to the world around us. What have you been reading lately?

The Presence

"Walking the stacks in a library, dragging your fingers across the spines--it's hard not to feel the presence of sleeping spirits."

Robin Sloan, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Connected

"We all want to connect with other human beings in such a way that they'll remember us and perhaps share our legacy with others."

Lee Gutkind, You Can't Make This Stuff Up: The Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction--from Memoir to Literary Journalism and Everything in Between

Book Challenge 2013

I read 88 books in 2012. You may remember I originally created a goal of reading 50 books in 2012. I completed my goal on October 1, 2012, so I challenged myself to 35 more books by the end of the year.

Here is a list of the books that counted toward my achievement.

1: The Treasure Is the Rose
2: Fresh Brewed Life
3: The Historian
4: Dance in the Desert
5: The Woman in White
6: Phantastes
7: Inner Simplicity - 100 Ways To Regain Peace And Nourish Your Soul
8: The Christian Atheist
9: Heaven Is for Real
10: Northanger Abbey
11: Classic Novels
12: Crazy Love
13: The Scarlet Pimpernel
14: Fish!
15: The Swan Thieves
16: Gateway
17: Keep It Real
18: City of Fallen Angels
19: Clockwork Angel
20: The Frenzy
21: Pretty Dead
22: I Am Number Four
23: The Arm of the Starfish
24: Water for Elephants
25: The Power of Six
26: Messenger
27: Lost Voices
28: Misguided Angel
29: Crafting The Personal Essay: A Guide for Writing and Publishing Creative Non-Fiction
30: Lost in Time
31: The Age of Miracles
32: Eleventh Grade Burns
33: Christian Mythmakers: C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, J.R.R. Tolkien, George Madonald, G.K. Chesterton, and Others 2nd edition by Hein, Rolland published by Cornerstone Press Chicago Paperback
34: No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog [Paperback]
35: The Night Watch
36: Pegasus
37: Quiet
38: Divergent
39: Delirium
40: The Thin Man
41: The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Prose Poetry: Contemporary Poets in Discussion and Practice
42: Clockwork Prince
43: Beastly
44: American Gods
45: The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction: Tips from Editors, Teachers, and Writers in the Field
46: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
47: The Immortal Rules
48: Writing Magic
49: Robin McKinley: Girl Reader, Woman Writer (Scarecrow Studies in Young Adult Literature #41) [ ROBIN MCKINLEY: GIRL READER, WOMAN WRITER (SCARECROW STUDIES IN YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE #41) BY Perry, Evelyn M ( Author ) Nov-16-2010
50: Seafaring Lore and Legend
51: Pandemonium
52: The Day Watch
53: Beyond the Writers' Workshop: New Ways to Write Creative Nonfiction
54: Insurgent
55: ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
56: Myth and creative writing : the self-renewing song
57: The Cambridge companion to creative writing
58: Defusing the Angry Patron
59: MFA in a Box: A Why to Write Book
60: Empowering Your Library: A Guide to Improving Service, Productivity, & Participation
61: Son
62: The Iron King
63: Organizing Your Craft Space (05) by Packham, Jo [Paperback (2006)]
64: The Casual Vacancy
65: Everything You Need to Know About Creative Writing: But Knowing Isn't Everything?
66: Sea-Thrift: A Fairy Tale (Illustrated Edition) (Dodo Press) Ill edition (authors) Radford, Dollie (2008) published by Dodo Press [Paperback]
67: Cupcakes and Cashmere: A Design Guide For Defining Your Style, Reinventing Your Space, And Entertaining With Ease
68: The Rise of Nine
69: Monstrous Beauty
70: The Iron Daughter
71: Fairy Tale
72: The Brides of Rollrock Island
73: Men Who Wish to Drown: A Tor.Com Original
74: The Sharp Time
75: The Iron Queen
76: City of Lost Souls
77: The Iron Knight
78: The Art of the Moment: Simple Ways to Get the Most from Life
79: Library Management Tips That Work (ALA Guides for the Busy Librarian)
80: Tithe
81: Art of Doing Nothing, The: Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself
82: Valiant
83: Training Library Staff And Volunteers to Provide Extraordinary Customer Service
84: Warm Bodies
85: The Lost Prince
86: Ironside
87: Beautiful Creatures
88: Creating The Customer-Driven Library: 1st (First) Edition

My goal for 2013 is to read 100 new books.

Read

Keeping with the Banned Books Week theme, I love this wooden sign by Scott Snyder of banished.

The maple sign can be stained in a variety of finishes. It would be perfect in a professor's office or next to a bookshelf filled with lots of books!

Libris

Book Challenge Completed

I mentioned that I had a dilemma to my book reading challenge. It's appropriate that I reached my book reading goal during Banned Books Week.

Here are the books that count towards my goal.

Goal Completed (10/01/12)

1: The Treasure Is the Rose

2: Fresh Brewed Life 

3: The Historian 

4: Dance in the Desert 

5: The Woman in White 

6: Phantastes 

7: Inner Simplicity - 100 Ways To Regain Peace And Nourish Your Soul 

8: The Christian Atheist 

 9: Heaven Is for Real

10: Northanger Abbey 

11: Classic Novels 

12: Crazy Love 

13: The Scarlet Pimpernel 

14: Fish! 

15: The Swan Thieves 

16: Gateway 

17: Keep It Real 

18: City of Fallen Angels 

19: Clockwork Angel 

20: Pretty Dead 

21: The Frenzy 

22: I Am Number Four 

23: The Arm of the Starfish 

24: Water for Elephants 

25: The Power of Six 

26: Messenger 

27: Lost Voices 

28: Misguided Angel 

29: Crafting The Personal Essay: A Guide for Writing and Publishing Creative Non-Fiction 

30: Lost in Time 

31: The Age of Miracles 

32: Eleventh Grade Burns 

33: Christian Mythmakers: C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, J.R.R. Tolkien, George Madonald, G.K. Chesterton, and Others 2nd edition by Hein, Rolland published by Cornerstone Press Chicago Paperback 

34: No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog [Paperback] 

35: The Night Watch 

36: Pegasus 

37: Quiet 

38: Divergent 

39: Delirium 

40: The Thin Man 

41: The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Prose Poetry: Contemporary Poets in Discussion and Practice 

42: Clockwork Prince 

43: American Gods 

44: Beastly 

45: The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction: Tips from Editors, Teachers, and Writers in the Field 

46: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist 

47: The Immortal Rules 

48: Writing Magic 

49: Robin McKinley: Girl Reader, Woman Writer (Scarecrow Studies in Young Adult Literature #41) [ ROBIN MCKINLEY: GIRL READER, WOMAN WRITER (SCARECROW STUDIES IN YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE #41) BY Perry, Evelyn M ( Author ) Nov-16-2010 

50: Seafaring Lore and Legend  


How many books do you think I will finish this year?

Read {Banned} Books

In honor of Banned Books Week (September 30th - October 6th, 2012), let's flood the bookstores and libraries and buy controversial classics! Or participate in a Banned Books Virtual Read-Out.

I read banned books pinned in the page; via Stick Em Good

Information is power. Reading stretches us; it helps us see the world in new ways.

Don't let someone tell you what to think.

Read {banned} books!

Reading Challenge

When I created my Shelfari 2012 reading goal I was working full time retail; 50 books seemed like a reasonable goal. Leisure time was not in the forecast, and I wanted to keep my goal realistic and attainable. Little did I know that I would first go down to part time and then find a library job.

I have read around 30 books since starting my new job; I am now at 41 of my 50 book goal. And since September has just began I have to wonder: should I change my goal? It no longer seems competitive.




(Sidenote: I have also joined Good Reads.)

The Power to Change Us

Will grinned. "Some of these books are dangerous," he said. "It's wise to be careful."

"One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us."

Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

Out of Print Tees

What better way to proclaim your love for books than a shirt alluding to the greats? Out of Print's mission is to celebrate "the world's great stories through fashion." Their literary tees feature familiar (and often out-of-print) book covers fit for bibliophiles young and old; each shirt is treated to feel as soft and worn as a well-read book.

For every shirt sold the company donates a book to a community in need through their partner Books For Africa.

Out of Print has literary tees for Men (Unisex), Women, and Kids. And with free shipping over $75, it would be easy to get carried away.

The Great Gatsby (First Edition)

1984

Moby Dick

Treasure Island

The Hardy Boys

Where the Red Fern Grows

Charlotte's Web

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Out of Print also sells literary accessories, gift ideas, and stationery.

Etsy Finds: Modern Bookends

Now that Matt and I are about to close on our house, I am once again thinking about bookshelves. When I curated Etsy Finds: Vintage Bookends it was difficult to choose which ones to feature, so I separated my finds into modern and vintage.

Etsy is a great way to fill a home!

Concrete Bookends by Rough Fusion

Ceramic Cushion Bookends by Djenya

Recycled Circuit Board Bookends by Debbie Arem Designs

Mosaic Bookends by Claudia Gill Designs

Fleur de Lis Bookends by twfaith

Unfortunately, a couple of these bookends are no longer available.

Penguin Threads

Artist Jillian Tamaki was commissioned by Penguin Art Director Paul Buckley to sketch and hand stitch illustrations for three classic novels. The stitches were sculpt embossed to create detailed, tactile covers for the Penguin Threads series.

via

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Emma by Jane Austen

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Any book lover would cherish the beautiful combination of art and words.

The books can also be found at Anthropologie.

Poems

Don't Judge

Don't Judge pinned in Geek Love; via The Black Sheep Dances

Etsy Finds: Vintage Bookends

I cannot tell you how many books I own; over half of my collection is in storage, and I cannot seem to stop purchasing them. As Matt and I get closer to buying a house, bookshelves are on my mind.

And with bookshelves come bookends. Etsy is a treasure trove of vintage finds; any of these sets would enhance our library.

Alabaster Horse Bookends from The Estate of Things

Hollywood Regency Shell Bookends from Fabulous Mess 

Brass Swan Bookends from C. Marie Keely Vintage and Handmade

 Art Nouveau Bookends from Vintage Cats Meow

Playful Cats Bookends from Vintage Shelf and Wall

Book Bookends by Ronson from Curious Goods Trader

Pirate Ships Bookends from Think Old Think New

United States of America Great Seal Drum Book Ends from The Pretend Den