clear forest bookmarks

today i’m looking for your insight. do you like using digital readers or prefer old fashioned hard copy books?

i’ve been tempted to explore new readers like the nook, kindle or ibook, but something about them just doesn’t settle with me. see, i like to flip through the pages of a book with my fingers, doggie ear the corners and make notes in the side columns. and to me, there’s just something about placing a well loved book on a shelf to refer back to again and again. i like to have a library, i think books are beautiful. it is for this same reason that i prefer to purchase my books rather then get them from the library, i want to call them my own and keep them forever (though, i do try to purchase used books). plus, i found this article on our health and wireless waves a bit concerning. also, if i used a digital reader, i wouldn’t be able to use cute bookmarks like these!

so what’s your opinion? do you use a digital reader? do you like it, or not? i can definitely see where there would be certain advantages. for instance, i’m sure airplane and vacation reading would be much easier (and much lighter). and it might be easier to find passages, if you can search for a specific word or phrase. i would like to hear which you prefer, and if you’ve tried a digital reader- what do you think of it?

wrap up: {books} {digital reader} {hard copy} {ibook} {insight} {kindle} {library} {nook} {read}

this year, we had a very crafty christmas (my favorite kind). we gave and received lots of art inspired gifts, and here are a few that i thought might interest you. i’ve had so much fun browsing these books and can’t wait to get started painting a bit more with my new art supplies (thanks, mom!).

1: dr. ph. martin’s radiant concentrated watercolor sets

2: martin universal design mijello glass palette

3: tabletop artist by urban outfitters

4: print and pattern by bowie style

5: the little book of letterpress by charlotte rivers

6: crafting a meaningful home by meg mateo ilasco

7: digital textile design by melanie bowles

did you  have a crafty christmas? what is your favorite artsy-inspired gift?

wrap up: {art} {books} {christmas} {crafty} {gifts} {painting} {supplies} {watercolor}

somehow, visiting diana’s city light photography shop makes me feel well educated.  maybe it’s the way she’s captured books, telephones and typewriters or maybe it’s because her work is so beautifully mature, that i feel she’s schooled me by just browsing.  either way, the depth of her shop keeps me intrigued and her lovely blog makes me laugh!

elsewhere :: {shop} {blog} {flickr} {facebook}

wrap up: {books} {city light} {etsy} {our city lights} {photography}

hello lovebirds!  when i recently got inspired by megan’s recommend reading list over at crafting an mba, i decided to share with you some of my very own favorite crafty books! whether you’re just now thinking about opening an etsy shop, ready to start a blog, or looking to be the next amy butler, there’s something for everyone in the following craftilicious reads.  enjoy!

title: Craft, Inc.

author: Meg Mateo Ilasco

Craft, Inc. helps teach and inspire you to turn your craft hobby into a successful business.  meg mateo ilasco guides you through developing products, naming your company, writing a business plan, applying for licenses and tons more.  with chapters on sales, marketing, trade shows and publicity, plus interviews from successful pros (jill bliss, jonathan adler..) it’s a must read for anyone who is ready to go big with their crafts.

title: Start Your Own Blogging Business

author: J.S. McDougall

this handy book is an easy read (i finished it in one afternoon) and full of helpful info.  if you’re thinking about starting a blog, Start Your Own Blogging Business guides you through setting it up, attracting visitors, engaging readers and offering advertisers.  a must read!

title: Crafty Superstar

author: Grace Dobush

Crafty Superstar is the perfect book for someone just starting out with a small etsy shop.  it covers all your basics and helps you set up shop, get paid, package your goods and begin getting some press.  a great quick read for the newbie!

title: The Anti 9 to 5 Guide

author: Michelle Goodman

whether you’re ready to get out of the cubicle or determined not to get there in the first place, The Anti 9 to 5 Guide by Michelle Goodman gives you the advice you need. applicable to a broad range of careers (not just craftsters), she’ll help you quit you job, save money and become your own boss.

title: The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and On-Line

author: Kari Chapin

in this book, Kari Chapin helps you determine the right price for your items, discusses opportunities such as indie craft fairs and sites like etsy, gives photography tips and even some publicity advice.  after reading, you’ll be able to makes sense of the global possibilities for marketing and selling crafts.

title: The Savvy Crafter’s Guide to Success

author: Sandra McCall

The Savvy Crafter’s Guide to Success is written by a professional crafts person, for the wanna-be professional crafts person.  with chapters on everything from organizing your work space to finding outlets, tip on photographing your work, keeping records, and submitting your work to publishers, you’ll be well on your way to building your career.  Sandra McCall guides crafters through the world of crafting with pertinent information on how to build and maintain a craft business, how to teach the best arts and craft classes, how to write regularly for craft/home publications, and how to get your designs sold.

do you  have any favorite must-reads?

wrap up: {book shelf} {books} {craft guides} {esty business} {etsy shop help} {must reads} {small business}

i love coffee. in fact, i’m sipping on my second cup right now.  and, i have to admit, i’m a sugar and cream kinda a gal.  the hub won’t touch my coffee as he thinks it’s nothing but a blob of sugary goo.  i’ve tried to drink it black, but i just can’t. you know i’ve been reading those beekeeping books?  there’s a point to this, i promise.

{coffee pot with wallpaper}

for now, i think the only think i got out of those (extremely) interesting books, is how good honey is for you!  i knew honey was healthy and that local honey would help your allergies but i had no idea that it had so many ‘healing’ properties.  there are all these studies showing how traditional beekeepers never get diseases like arthritis and the like, and they think it’s because of the honey and the bee’s stings.  i’m not saying go out and get stung (lol) but i am saying you should try to eat more honey!

for 1000′s of years honey has been used to help everything from skin conditions to digestion issues to diabetes and high cholesterol.  so, i thought i should get on this!

here’s what i learned:

- their are hundreds of health benefits to eating honey (here’s a start: honey)

- honey naturally contains so many vitamins and minerals!  niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid (b vitamins), calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium and zinc.  whoa!

- you should always buy local honey, especially to help relieve your allergies.

- buying organic honey is important!  many beekeepers put antibiotics in the bee’s water supply, which end up in the honey.  go organic!

- the darker the honey the more antioxidants it has.

so, what’s my point?  well, i’ve started using honey in my coffee instead of sugar.  and, it’s *delicious!!

how do you drink your coffee?

p.s. since i’ve recently been converted to the amazing wonderfulness of honey, you might find me ranting about it even more with some beauty and food recipes. stay tuned!

wrap up: {books} {coffee} {honey} {organic gardening} {read} {recipes}

we meet another friday! we’re off to greenville again this weekend- and i’ll be busy catching up on some sunshine and good reading.  i just got my ‘spring reading’ books this week and i’m so eager to get started on them!

my reading list: less is more, keeping bees, simply in season, beekeeping, the backyard homestead, fresh from the farmers market

keeping bees & beekeeping

why beekeeping? that’s a good question.  i read a snippet about it lately and next i knew i was in the beekeeping section in barnes and noble.  after that? the checkout line.

simply in season & fresh from the farmers market

i’m always looking for new in-season recipes, i’m excited to start folding some doggie ears!

the backyard homestead & less is more

i’ve heard really good things about the backyard homestead, so i planning to start with that one.  plus, i’m itching for spring and yard work so this will really get me motivated! have you heard of less is more? it’s a compilation of articles written by sustainable, positive-thinking writers.  it’s supposed to be a real pick-me-up!

have you read any of these?  what are your spring must-reads?

wrap up: {beekeeping} {books} {homestead} {in season} {less is more} {reading} {recipes} {spring}

happy monday!  did you have a good weekend?  we sure did, the weather was about sixty all weekend, what a nice treat!  i even got to snag a nap in the sunshine. :)

clockwise :: do you have the time?, set of 3 large grid notepads, butterfly daughter garland, curio cups wheel, the quite bird print, glowing forest

we traveled to greenville, south carolina for the first weekend of david’s spring cycling races.  we’ll be traveling all over the southeast for the majority of the weekends to come over the next few months.

i love the feeling i get when these races start up- to me, they mean lots of road trips, sunshine and sitting in the grass with a good book.  i’ve already scoped out a few books i want to read- less is more and the backyard homestead.  have you read or heard anything about either of these?

what books are you reading?

wrap up: {books} {greenville} {read} {south carolina} {sunshine} {travel}

please welcome the fabric shopper to going home to roost!  if you’re a fabric addict like i am- the fabric shopper is a dream come true!  the wonderful rosie searches for amazing fabrics- and brings them to you (when she’s not sewing or grandbaby hugging that is)!  along with loads of eye candy, rosie gives you access to tutorials, patterns, pattern reviews and books to inspire you.  a go-to sight for anyone needing inspiration or the latest fabric find!

thank you, rosie, for supporting going home to roost!

for more information about becoming a sponsor, visit our advertising page!

wrap up: {advertise} {books} {fabric} {patterns} {sponsor} {tutorials} {welcome}