Early Book Review: Storey's Curious Compendium of Practical and Obscure Skills: 214 Things You Can Actually Learn How to Do by How-To Experts at Storey Publishing

Storey's Curious Compendium of Practical and Obscure Skills: 214 Things You Can Actually Learn How to Do by How-To Experts at Storey Publishing is currently scheduled for release on September 15 2020. Readers with a hunger for knowledge and an interest in the myriad ways people have taught themselves to make, grow, and build will discover the ins and outs of how to do everything they’ve ever wondered about in this colorful, inviting volume. With dozens of useful and intriguing visual tutorials that cover how to carve a turkey, capture a swarm of bees, predict the weather by the clouds, darn socks, create a butterfly garden, set up a dog agility course, keep a nature sketchbook, navigate by the stars, and more, this rich compendium will educate, fascinate, spark conversation, and inspire new hobbies and experiences.

Storey's Curious Compendium of Practical and Obscure Skills is exactly what the title states, and is a helpful resource to have in the home, or to check out regularly from the library. I cannot tell you how many times I planned to do something or ran into one of the myriad of problems that come with home ownership and had to quick search up if my ideas of how to do something are right or will only make things worse. Is the solution in my head really something I remember reading or learning somewhere, and is it the best way to go? The variety of things covered in this book cover a wide range of projects, from the expected and fairly common gardening advice to making beer, candles, and herbal tinctures, to training your dog to run an agility course. A little bit of everything is covered- including many things I had never expected. The text and images come together nicely to make all of the instructions clear and concise. It was fun to look through, and I found many interested parts that I sat and studied. I think this is a great resource for every household, and a perfect gift to those striking out on their own for their first time.

Book Review: Crochet Kaleidoscope: Shifting Shapes and Shades Across 100 Motifs by Sandra Eng

Crochet Kaleidoscope: Shifting Shapes and Shades Across 100 Motifs by Sandra Eng offers a twist on crocheted motifs as you shift through various shapes and color combinations. From the traditional granny square to more complex forms, these faceted motifs are the building blocks to creating unique and stunning designs. Along with a collection of 100 fresh motifs, this book includes a complete guide to choosing yarn colors, what order to put them in, and how many to include. Plus, get five home decor and accessory patterns including a table runner, pillow, and rug from crochet designer and author Sandra Eng. You can shift shapes and shades to make the perfect piece for your home.

Crochet Kaleidoscope: Shifting Shapes and Shades Across 100 Motifs is a well organized and encouraging collection of ideas and instruction. It is not a great book for novices and those that need the basics thoroughly explained, but I think some beginners that are comfortable with the terminology and willing to try new things will be fine. I will admit that I am not one for working in motifs, mainly because I hate sewing the pieces together in order to get the final product, whether it be a cool jacket, sweater, afghan, or something else entirely. I prefer one piece or join as you go motifs, so my skill set here was lacking. However, some of the information shared I had a good understanding of, like color choices, but I found the instruction and encouragement to try new or different things through out the book to be very well put together and worded. The suggested colors and notes included with each motif were helpful, and I think will help make newcomers and those more cautious about color combinations and color order comfortable until they are ready to strike out and try something more unexpected or unique.  I really liked the projects that were included toward the end, and I just might give the Mod Flower Shawl or Zinnia Table Runner a go, since they can be join as you go projects, and could also work as a stash or scrap buster- both of which I really need to do. The stitch key and glossary at the end of the book is also helpful for explaining stitches or terms that readers might not be fully comfortable or familiar with. The measurement conversion chart and the additional resources ware also helpful.

Book Review: The Book Blogger Platform by Barb Drozdowich

The Book Blogger Platform by Barb Drozdowich is a resource for bloggers that want to share their love of books, and their thoughts on the books they read.  Are you a book blogger or do you want to be one? Are you having trouble handling the technical details of blogging? The Book Blogger Platform can be a "user manual" for your blog! A book written by a book blogger for book bloggers and that answers all your questions! 

The Book Blogger Platform covers the basics off book blogging, complete with technical advice and over 25 how-to videos that are included at the end. The book covers everything you could need, including a breakdown of why many bloggers get started, how or where you can host your blog, what you should include in your blog, and the importance of networking with other bloggers (my shortcoming).  The information was clear and well organized, and the technical instructions were concise and understandable to beginners and seasoned veterans. I am glad I read the book because it reminded me that I had some updating and twerking to do, and that I had been seriously slacking in the social aspect of blogging. 

The Book Blogger Platform is a good guide for beginning bloggers. I will say that some of the links are no longer useful, because of blog catalogs or groups having disbanded or changing names, but as a general rule this book would be handy for those starting out, and for reminding those of us that have been at it awhile to keep updating and evolving with technology and our lives. 

Book Review: Doodletopia: Manga: Draw, Design, and Color your own Super-Cute Manga Characters and More by Christopher Hart

Doodletopia: Manga: Draw, Design, and Color your own Super-Cute Manga Characters and More by Christopher Hart is a book that combines instruction, inspiration, and interesting illustrations. The instructions are clear and concise, with activities and ideas that aspiring artists can use to expand their skill and comfort level with a variety of anime and manga style art. There is a great deal of information as well as exercises and challenges. Sections include opportunities for readers to draw a companion for an existing character, create their own emojis, and finish their own scenes. Readers can design manga bookmarks, stationery, and even get started developing their own graphic novels.

I think Doodletopia is a good buy for readers that are looking to expand on their drawing skills, particularly in this style of artwork. I would suggest photocopying a few of the challenges and activities, only so you can complete them more than once and see how you skill and style grows. 

Book Review: The Fantasy Artroom by Arron Pocock

The Fantasy Artroom by Arron Pocock is a book that will help you brush up on your skills and add new tricks and techniques to your repertoire. Sketching, line art, watercolors, mixed media, composition, rendering methods ― The Fantasy Artroom is your all-in-one traveling companion into the world of fantasy art. These step-by-step demonstrations offer easy-to-follow methods for drawing trees and landscapes; forming dwarves, witches, mermaids, centaurs, and other characters; and putting them all together into enchanting compositions. Introduce a new dimension to your drawing, line art, and watercolor images with this richly illustrated guide and its helpful exercises, tips, and suggestions.

The Fantasy Artroom is a nice blend of explaining the whys and hows of fantasy art. Arron Pocock explains their techniques and preferences in the genre. I like the way the process is discussed, including technical skill, intent, and inspiration. I find that all three are important in all art forms, and there is no exception here.  Everything was covered thoroughly and there was plenty of encouragement along with the discussion of skill and practice. I think inspiring artists could benefit from this material.

The Fantasy Artroom was a well organized, beautiful, and instructional book. readers that are interested in expanding their art skill, particularly in dealing with fantasy worlds and creatures, will find much of interest here. 

Early Book Review: Natural Hair Coloring: How to Use Henna and Other Pure Herbal Pigments for Chemical-Free Beauty by Christine Shahin Wood

Natural Hair Coloring: How to Use Henna and Other Pure Herbal Pigments for Chemical-Free Beauty by Christine Shahin Wood is currently scheduled for release on May 17 2016. This book shows readers that they do not need to choose between ditching boxed dyes and dying your hair. Natural hair care expert Christine Shahin shows readers how they can use nontoxic natural plant pigments;henna, indigo, amla, and cassia to color hair naturally.  There are clearly written instructions and step-by-step photography, along with comprehensive information and details about each of the ingredients and processes used in the book. Shahin shows you exactly how to apply these pigments, alone or in combinations, to achieve a full range of shades of brown, black, and red. She also includes instructions for transitioning from chemical dyes to natural ones and for using chemical and natural dyes together.

Natural Hair Coloring is a detailed resource for anyone that really want to give up boxed or salon dyes, or someone that wants to change up their hair color without starting to use them. The information includes details about hair health, the ingredients she uses in her recipes, and how readers can create their own recipes and proportions depending on the results they want and the health of their hair. I think the fact that she includes specifics for every hair type, color, and ethnicity makes this a resource for individuals, library collections, and those that want to help others ditch the chemical treatments. The fact that the ingredients and tools that she uses are fairly easy to get a hold of makes everything even better. Now I have to explore and experiment a bit more on my own hair- I sense several purchases in my near future.

Natural Hair Coloring is a detailed and comprehensive resource for anyone looking to try all natural coloring. It is not for everyone since it is time consuming, but for those interested in making the jump this book would be a great introduction or clarification for any questions or difficulties.  

Early Book Review: Crochet One-Skein Wonders® for Babies by Judith Durant, Edie Eckman

Crochet One-Skein Wonders® for Babies: 101 Projects for Infants & Toddlers is a nonfiction book that is currently scheduled for release on May 3 2016. This book collects one hundred and one patterns that use one skein of yarn or less. Projects include Hats and caps, bootees and socks, mitts, dresses, tops and bottoms as well as blankets, bibs, soft toys, bottle cozies, diaper bags, and more. Most of the patterns are accessible to crocheters of all skill levels, although there are some stitches and patterns that will keep more experienced crafters thinking as they work as well. A nice collection for crocheters that are looking for small projects and cute gifts to make.

Crochet One-Skein Wonders® for Babies is a nicely organized and varied collection of crochet patterns for young recipients. Single skein projects are great for keeping in the car, working on while traveling, or for stash busting. I will admit to using these projects for all three. The patterns are interesting enough for all crocheters, with plenty that can be done by all skill levels. These are all original patterns were contributed by 54 designers from around the world. Each project comes with complete instructions, charts, schematics, and beautiful photographs so that no matter how you like to work (I like following a pattern while the charts only confuse my many times) you can complete a perfect project. Particular favorite patterns of mine from the book are the April Showers Cape, Dad and Me Necktie, and the Kitty Kat Lovey.

I would recommend Crochet One-Skein Wonders® for Babies for crocheters that love crafting for the little ones, and will get much use from these patterns.  

Early Book Review: Outdoor Math: Fun Activities for Every Season by Emma AdBage

Outdoor Math: Fun Activities for Every Season by Emma AdBage is a book that helps parents, teachers, and children to find ways to get outside and do some math at the same time. It is currently scheduled for release on April 1 2016. The book includes twenty-two outdoor activities, organized by season. With these activities, children will learn about numeracy and arithmetic, as well as math concepts such as shapes, time, greater/less than, even and odd numbers, patterns and grids. The activities have simple-to-follow instructions and are accompanied by adorable illustrations that provide clear visual demonstrations. The natural materials required (stones, pinecones, snowballs, worms) are easy to find in many environments. Supplementary spreads introduce the numbers 1 to 10 and further explore addition/subtraction and multiplication/division, with simplified explanations and illustrated examples. There are also science lessons here, regarding the properties of nature and how things change during the four seasons. Many of the activities can be done in pairs or groups, promoting teamwork and cooperation. A list of activities in the back matter indexes the activities and categorizes them by the math skills they develop.

Outdoor Math is full of pictures and detailed instructions and suggestions for engaging children in games that can help solidify math concepts. There are some very simple games and activities for the youngest learners such as working with shapes, there were more advanced activities that included multiplication and division. I think some of the games and pictures seemed a little dated to me, like the guides my teachers and parents had when I was a kid, the ideas are still sound and would be engaging for the right children. I did like that there was a good variety of games to chose from, and some for every season. It is a useful book, one that would be a good resource to have on hand or for checking out of the library and making copies of the activities you are most likely to implement with your own children or the group you work with or care for.

Outdoor Math is a great resource for parents and teachers to have at their disposal. Using these activities they can help teach or reinforce math lesson, all while having the children playing outside and active. A win-win as far as I am concerned. 

Book Review: Baby Crochet Design: Hats and Boots by Graziana Materassi

Baby Crochet Design: Hats and Boots by Graziana Materassi that offers patterns matching caps and booties range in style from cute little animal motifs to fruit and flower-adorned costumes. Sixteen unique crochet patterns feature complete instructions for hats and booties, accompanied by full-color illustrations. A pretty pink piglet, wide-eyed owl, busy bee, sweet strawberry, and a tropical pineapple are but a few of the playful designs. The hat patterns can be adapted to accommodate the heads of older children as well.

Baby Crochet Design is a useful resource for those looking to make a variety of fun hats and matching booties for babies and young children. The owl and fruit hats were very cute, but I have to say that there were new designs that seemed fresh and new to me. They are ll worth making and learning the patterns for, but I did not find them overly special. Unfortunately there were also some minor formatting issues with the digital galley I received, which I havre to assume were fixed before the final version was released. There was nothing lacking or wrong with the patterns, my only problem was that I frequent several craft stores and craft communities and have seen similar patterns over the years.

Baby Crochet Design is a good resource for those looking to make a variety of baby hats and matching booties. I did not find the designs included to be anything new or previously unavailable, but they were cute.

Early Book Review: Naturally Bug-Free by Stephanie L. Tourles

Naturally Bug-Free: 75 Nontoxic Recipes for Repelling Mosquitoes, Ticks, Fleas, Ants, Moths & Other Pesky Insects by Stephanie L. Tourles is currently scheduled for release on February 23 2016. This book is a resource that offers the information you can use to protect yourself, your children, your pets, and your home from bugs without using store bought chemicals. There are 75 simple recipes for safe, effective bug repellents you can make at home from all-natural ingredients. The recipes can offer protection from mosquitos, ticks, and other biting insects. There are also recipes for pets, such as herbal shampoo, bedding formulas, and flea-and-tick collars and powders. The book also includes repellents for the home, such as sachets that repel moths, carpet powders that repel fleas and ants, and essential oil repellents to keep your pantry pest-free. A detailed ingredient dictionary explains the properties of all the herbs, essential oils, and other key ingredients.

Naturally Bug-Free is a wonderful resource for readers that want to explore natural avenues in home and health care. the book goes into great detail about the why and how anyone can go about using all natural recipes. There are concise and informative descriptions about each possible ingredient, tool, and storage container that you might use. There are recipes sprays, balms, body oils, and tinctures, with scents ranging from eucalyptus to floral, lemon, vanilla, and woodsy spice. I like the level of detail and information included, as well as the variety of recipes. While I tend to stick to the most gentle sprays, there is something for everyone willing to take the leap into natural repellents. The inclusion of personal insect repellents, as well as those for pets, homes, and prevention really make this a resource that can be utilized by all skill and interest levels. All of the information included is important, some of it necessary reminders for those that might think themselves already experienced or highly knowledgeable on the subject.

Naturally Bug-Free is a useful and highly informative resource for anyone looking the defend themselves, their family, their pets, or their homes from pests without using harsh chemicals that might cause damage to the environment (or themselves). This would be a great addition to home or library collections. 

Book Review: Modular Crochet: The Revolutionary Method for Creating Custom-Designed Pullovers by Judith Copeland

Modular Crochet: The Revolutionary Method for Creating Custom-Designed Pullovers by Judith Copeland is a reprint of a crochet book from 1978. This book shows basic crachet technigues with plenty of detailed photographs to demonstrate how to crochet clothing using modular crochet techniques. The garments are worked in the same basic shape, which consists of eight modules, or rectangles. Yarn, color, size, and stitches used can turn the basic format into a variety of finished projects.

Modular Crochet is a technique that I have never really used, having taught myself to crochet via internet instructions and a few fantastic books while I was pregnant with my oldest child (who is just shy of 9). The idea is sound, and has been around for awhile, since this is a republication. I have to admit that I am intrigued and might be testing out the method when I finish up my current project. The technique is described well, and the photographs used do a good job of illustrating the technique. However, I will admit that I found the book to be dated, which is not completely unexpected. I think anyone that has the basic crochet stitches mastered, but is still intimidated by patterns and clothing could use this book to help master freeform or improvisational crochet. Not a bad guide, but definitely dated, although I guess we could just call it retro?

Modular Crochet is a well done guide, and would be useful to those wanting to try making clothing without using a prewritten pattern. The diagrams, instructions, and photographs work together to explain everything very well. My only complaint is that the book does not seem to be updated from the 1978 version in this publication.

Early Book Review: The Herbal Goddess Guide: Create Radiant Well-Being Every Day with Herb-Inspired Teas, Potions, Salves, Food, Yoga, and More by Amy Jirsa

The Herbal Goddess Guide: Create Radiant Well-Being Every Day with Herb-Inspired Teas, Potions, Salves, Food, Yoga, and More by Amy Jirsa is a non fiction resource that is currently scheduled for release on April 21 2015. Amy Jirsa offers recipes and ideas for exploring and embracing the distinctive qualities of twelve herbs; chamomile, rose, dandelion, holy basil, nettle, calendula, lavender, turmeric, echinacea, elder, cinnamon, and ginger. Recipes for teas and foods, skin and hair care treatments, complementary yoga poses, meditations, and more are well explained.  

The Herbal Goddess Guide is a great resource for those that are interested in more knowledge about herbs and how to live an all natural and healthier life. The information on each of the herbs, along with the recipes and yoga poses that follow, are well organized and very detailed. these are wonderful photographs that accompany each page. This book really is about bringing the mind, body, and spirit together via herbs and lifestyle. So, if you do not care for that style of help, then this book is definitely not for you. I am not rigorous about this lifestyle, but still found much of the herbal information and recipes for tea, food, and body care to be valuable. i know i will be blending some of these teas, salves, and creams but am not likely to start the meditation and yoga any time soon. I did not find the advice and information preachy, it was very well stated and straight forward, it is just not my cup of tea.

The Herbal Goddess Guide is a wonderful starter book for those looking to use herbs and lead a holistic life. If you are looking for detailed herb information and some fantastic recipes, then this book is still a great resource and it is easy to skim or skip the information that is not as interesting to you.

Book Review: Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects - Easy to Pick Up, Hard to Put Down by Sophie Maletsky

Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects - Easy to Pick Up, Hard to Put Down by Sophie Maletsky is an easy-to-follow and understand guide to creating duct tape projects. The book includes photographs alongside directions in order to make creating a wallet and making a bag easy while providing a variety of options for making each project truly your own. The instructions each include icons showing difficulty level, project time, and helpful hints; such as how to keep your scissors clean and what to do with the end pieces.

 

Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects is a solid instructional book. The details and photographs are put together to make everything easy to understand and follow. Some of the creations, like the tablet cover and clutch purse were very cute. Like any craft book, some of the ideas are ones that I have seen before, either on Pinterest of floating around on my Facebook feed, but some were new to me. The layout and little icons and hints made me happy, and I think most people interested in crafting with duct tape will enjoy this book and make use of a good number of the projects.

Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects offers readers some great information, tips, and projects for working with duct tape. Avid makers just might want to add this to their home library, while dabblers and those just curious about what others are doing with this one utilitarian item might want to check it out from their local library. 

Toilet Training Books for Parents Informative Books to Help and Reassure

Toilet training is something all parents both dread and look forward to in our child's development. We look forward to having a diaper free house, but not the battles and set backs that can take place. Here are some books to read to help decide if your toddler is ready, and ideas and techniques that can help you and your child on the path to being completely diaper free.

My first suggestion to read is the Everything Potty Training Book. I picked this book up of the parent shelf at the library, along with some others, and found that it gave the best summary of everything I needed to know. It gave the expected information on how to tell if your child was ready to use the potty, and a great description of several of the most popular techniques for potty training. The overview gives parents the information and confidence necessary to work with their toddler and succeed in getting them using the potty as well as dealing with any setbacks and issues that might arise.

Stress-Free Potty Training is another book that gives the basics of several proven toilet training methods, and information to help you decide which is right for you and your child. Since every child is different, we as parents need to be open to suggestions and advise from the experts. These two books had the most comprehensive and functional information that I have seen.

For the fiercely determined, to get potty training done quickly you might be tempted to aim for Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day, but honestly, it is not really one day. The method includes laying a lot of groundwork in the months prior to potty training day, including things that might otherwise be included in the potty training process. However, the actual potty action does happen in one day. I did not actually try this intense but fun .sounding method, which hinges on an all day potty party with the child being trained, however many of the preparatory training was useful in my home, and the theory of the method does seem sound. There is also Potty Training in Less Than a Day and Potty Train in Three Days.

For a completely different tone, try The No-Cry Potty Training Solution, which focuses on methods that are more relaxed, and child driven. These methods might take longer, but are also less likely to have serious set backs and struggles than the more pressured methods. This book is ideal for people without time lines such as needing to have your child potty trained to continue in day care or go to Pre School. The process is much more relaxed for both you and your child.

For those of us with stubborn boys that know what they need to do, but don't want to stop playing on a regular basis I suggest Potty Training Boys the Easy Way which talks about all the different issues that can arise with potty training boys whether they are starting early or late.

Every child is different, and no one method will work for every child. This holds true for twins and multiples. I suggest reading several books, preferably borrowing them from a library before spending money on any and only buying the ones you find specifically useful. There are many more quality books on toilet training out there, these just happen to be some of the ones that I have read and found helpful in my quest potty train my son. I am sure that one my daughter is ready it will be a completely different experience.

Early Book Review: The Crocheter's Skill-Building Workshop by Dora Ohrenstein

The Crocheter's Skill-Building Workshop by Dora Ohrenstein is a crochet resource that is currently scheduled for release on December 2 2014 in digital and paper formats. This book is a guide that covers all of the basic crochet techniques, from choosing yarns to finishing! It deals with the basic questions that each and every crocheter faces, as well as those that have been hooking for years might never have seen dressed elsewhere. Included are more than 70 stitch-along swatches that each teach and reinforce the skills of a particular technique, along with five projects (a hat, shawl, neck warmer, bag, and scarf) that put those techniques to use. The swatches offer not just a variety of stitch patterns but also a variety of shapes and can serve as the building blocks for sophisticated and creative projects of your own design.

The Crocheter's Skill-Building Workshop is a wonderful resource for crocheters of all skill levels, from beginners through those that consider themselves experts. As someone that supplements her income selling crochet items, I found a few explanations and bits of advice to be invaluable and in some cases answering questions that I have had for years and never found the answer to before. Crochet fans will find some great tools in calculating yarn, including after having made modifications to hook sizes and/or yarn weight. The explanations, detailed pictures, and labeled diagrams do a great job of illustrating the techniques and at no point does the tone come off as conceding, which does sometimes happen with books or videos detailing basic stitches and information.

I highly recommend The Crocheter's Skill-Building Workshop to anyone that enjoys crochet, particularly those of us that are always looking to improve our skills and understanding. I have already preordered my paper copy for myself, because my digital e-galley is wonderful but not quite as useful to me as an actual paper copy with post-it notes and the ability to leave hand written notes and ideas in the margins.

Book Review: Christmas Crochet for Hearth, Home & Tree by Edie Eckman

Christmas Crochet for Hearth, Home & Tree  by Edie Eckman is a helpful pattern collect for Christmas crochet projects. The projects include Christmas stockings, ornaments, and more. Beginners and experienced crocheters will get a lot out of the useful technique tutorials and will want to jump right in and start one of these twenty projects. 

Christmas Crochet for Hearth, Home & Tree is a collection of projects that would be great for decorating you home for the holiday, or for giving away as gifts. Projects include a variety of stockings, ornaments and garland for trees, small tabletop trees, and embellishments for pillows and walls. I found the patterns to be easily understood and includes both the written pattern and a symbol chart. Each is also labeled with the recommended skill level, so crafters can decide what they want to complete. I was also very happy to see a variety pf stick techniques used, some of which add a special texture or look than the more ordinary crafts. 

Christmas Crochet for Hearth, Home & Tree is a well organized book, with very detailed patterns to help even the less experienced crafters successfully complete the projects. This is a solid resource for crocheters looking for holiday craft ideas.

Book Review: How to Knit by Leslie Ann Bestor

How to Knit by Leslie Ann Bestor is a well organized guide for learning how to knit. It has simple, fully illustrated instructions lead you step by step through the basics of knitting. This includes choosing the right needles, choosing yarn, reading a knitting pattern, casting on, executing knit and purl stitches, binding off, and blocking finished projects. Important techniques for increasing, decreasing, and repairing mistakes are also included. Even if you've never held a pair of knitting needles before, this easy-to-follow guide will have you knitting comfortably quickly.

How to Knit is a good basic guide. My mother has always been an avid crafter. She does just about everything to do with yarn or thread. I can do most sewing projects and am an avid crocheter, but had not yet mastered knitting. This guide is easy to understand and well organized. It is a great guide for new knitters as well as those that already know the basics but might need a refresher. I had not gotten much past casting on before reading and following the directions in this book, but now feel comfortable with some basic stitches and patterns.

While crochet will always be my favorite, I feel much more comfortable in the realm of knitting after reading How to Knit. The writing and illustrations are easy to understand, and offer encouragement and instruction without talking down to the readers. This book is a good resource for getting started in knitting. 

Book Review: Herbs for Long-Lasting Health: How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies for Lifelong Vitality by Rosemary Gladstar

Herbs for Long-Lasting Health: How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies for Lifelong Vitality by Rosemary Gladstar is a well organized guide to herbs and health in middle age and beyond. The book goes through the specific health issues and some specifics about them, as well as the properties of dozens of specific herbs, both familiar are previously unknown to me. The book is a precise guide to choosing the right herbal remedies for common situation.

Herbs for Long-Lasting Health is a solid resource for novice and experienced herbalists. The book details many herbs and their properties including astragalus (which was new to me), bilberry, and milk thistle. The book offered recipes for herbal remedies, how to use herbs safely, and details about some of the most common battles those reading the book are likely to be trying to fight. The book was well organized and the appendix was particularly useful for precise and detailed information.

I would recommend Herbs for Long-Lasting Health to readers that are looking to begin their journey, or solidify their knowledge, in working with herbs for their personal health. There are recipes and herbal properties that are very well explained and organized.

Book Review: Herbs for Stress & Anxiety: How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies to Strengthen the Nervous System by Rosemary Gladstar

Herbs for Stress & Anxiety: How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies to Strengthen the Nervous System by Rosemary Gladstar is an accessible guide to the uses of herbs in combating  the affects of stress on the body. There is detailed information on the herbs used, recipes, and instructions for using the herbs and recipes safely.

Herbs for Stress & Anxiety is an accessible guide about how to make your herbal remedies to strengthen your nervous system and address a wide range of symptoms, including panic attacks, depression, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, migraines, herpes, neuralgia, and more. I liked that the book went into the specifics of the maladies to be treated and the herbs being mentioned. I do not always enjoy reading the personal philosophy that is included, but the information is well explained and some of the recipes included are ones that I will try.

I would recommend Herbs for Stress & Anxiety to readers that are looking to begin their journey, or solidify their knowledge, in working with herbs to manage some minor physical and physiological aspects of stress and anxiety. The recipes and herbal properties included are very well explained and organized.

Book Review: Little One-Yard Wonders: Irresistible Clothes, Toys, and Accessories You Can Make for Babies and Kids by Patricia Hoskins and Rebecca Yaker

Little One-Yard Wonders: Irresistible Clothes, Toys, and Accessories You Can Make for Babies and Kids by Patricia Hoskins and Rebecca Yaker is a wonderful spiral bound book with patterns that are easy to understand and follow. Each project uses one yard (or less) of fabric. Some are so simple that they only take a few hours to complete. There are step-by-step illustrated instructions, beautiful close-up photographs, and pattern pieces included in a bound-in envelope make it easy and fun to create all kinds of adorable items.  My favorite patterns were the Pajama Monster and Little Stuffie, Monster Towel, Booster Chair, and the Insulated lunch bag. Some were very functional and money saving ideas, while others are just great fun for the maker and the little one that it could be gifted to. I plan and making more than a few of the projects in this book.

Little One-Yard Wonders is a well organized and useable resources. So often I look at pattern books and find only a couple worth while patterns while the rest are either incomprehensible or completely unwanted.  This volume had a good number of patterns that I was eager to get started on, and no patterns that left me wondering 'why anyone would want to make that'? The Secret Monster Overalls and the wearable towels are something that I can see any toddler thrilled to have, and the variety and inspiration in this book made me very happy. There are clothes, accessories, toys, and furnishings for little ones from newborn to elementary-school age. The categories and projects were set up logically and the instructions are easy to understand and put into action.

I would recommend Little One-Yard Wonders to anyone that sews. Readers that enjoy making items for children, babies, nursery sets, and so on will find something here that makes the book worth adding to their collection.