Book Talk

Fight cabin fever

It was not till I moved to Rochester that I heard the term cabin fever. And the severity of this winter is giving us all a good case of it.  The best remedy I’ve found is to keep busy. And yes, I do have a lot of suggestions for you.

For you scrapbookers who want to branch out, we have Creating Cards with Scrapbook Embellishments by Mary Jo McGraw. Get extra use out of your supplies and tools and cheer someone’s day with a handmade card.

Many people enjoy creating their own handmade jewelry and for them we have World Beads: an Exploration of Bead Traditions around the World, with 30 Projects to Create your own Jewelry by Janet Coles and Robert Budwig.  The authors show lovely beaded jewelry with instructions for making your own.

From Better Homes and Gardens comes Hip Knits: 65 Easy Projects from Hot Designers. Projects for all ages are included, from adorable baby wear to manly scarves.

If you prefer to read about other people doing the work try Made from Scratch: discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life by Jenna Woginrich.  Though you may not want to go as far as this web-designer turned part time homesteader, she has some great ideas for these tough financial times.

I’m always surprised at the number of people asking for books on organization. So give yourself a feeling of accomplishment, reduce your clutter, and conquer your piles of paperwork! Read Organizing Plain and Simple: a Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Solutions to your Everyday Clutter Challenges, by Donna Smallin.

And in that theme, start your spring cleaning a bit early with Monica Nassif and Spring Cleaning: the Spirit of Keeping Home. The book is full of tips for cleaning things I never even thought of cleaning…

Since you now have piles of things you can get rid of – recycle. If you haven’t experienced Craig’s list, it’s time you did.   Your clutter may be just what someone else is looking for. There are many facets to the list including apartment rentals, available services, job searches and personals. Let Jenna Lloyd guide you through in craigslist 4 Everyone. Clean out your house and make a little extra cash.

And finally, read Get Motivated: Overcome any Obstacle, Achieve any Goal, and Accelerate your Success with Motivational DNA, by Tamara Lowe. That says it all…

Virginia Cooper
Adult Services Librarian