One of my favorite things about the online world is that we have the chance to meet and connect with people we would never meet otherwise.  I have gotten to know people who love the things I love and even those who write about the things I love.  There are certainly many things I can and have bemoaned about social media, but I do love this aspect of it.  As a result of some of these connections, I’m occasionally sent something a fellow creative and author has put out in the world.  Over the summer and into the fall, I received a bunch!  Some were temporarily lost in the shuffle of the move and some were mailed to temporary addresses until we were settled or sat on top of a pile of boxes until I could get things opened and organized.  While I haven’t had time to thoroughly read each one, I’ve been able to spend time with them, hunting and pecking through them for bits I could share with others who might enjoy them.

So, here are the books I received from some of my talented online friends…

You might know Heather better as Sweet Shady Lane, the account that has shared a beautiful Minnesota lake home and is now sharing a complete renovation of a new/old home named Little Oak.  But what you might not know is that behind the beautifully designed interiors is a very talented writer.  Of course, her followers have been prodding her for an interiors book, but she surprised us all and released a novel – .  I am so proud of her for following her own internal prompts and writing a novel.

I haven’t had the chance to read the entire novel, but I have read excerpts and they pull you into the world.  Her words are descriptive, vivid, and strung together beautifully.  I can’t wait to have the time to curl up with it.

I bought Todd Casey’s first book when I was looking for oil painting instruction books and it quickly became one of my favorites.  I since started following him on Instagram and was even able to take one of his online classes.  I feel like I’ve been waiting for his newest book to come out forever!  I kept watching the release date on Amazon get pushed back, but it’s finally here!

I took this book with me to an appointment, so I had quite a bit of time to sit and read it.  Like Todd’s first book, this book is very technical, but not in a way that feels overwhelming or unapproachable.  It’s technical in the sense that it’s thorough, details, and provides in-depth information where other painting resource books might make a mention of something and move on.  It really is an entire semester of a class on color put into a book.  I am fascinated by color and have enjoyed studying it over the years, so this book is right up my alley.

My favorite part is when he shows paintings from famous artists side-by-side with the color palette they used.  It brings some explanation to something that can seem so mysterious.

In the inscription in my book, Todd wrote, “If you nail your values, you can commit crimes with color!”  This book will give you the technical tools and know-how to improve both values and color in your paintings.

If you want a practical organizing book that isn’t about putting your stuff in pretty bins but is about really gaining mastery over it, this is the book for you!  I have flipped around and read some of the challenges (like 120 Things to Throw Away Guilt-Free) ad I already feel inspired.  We did a bunch of purging pre-move, but there is more purging to be done now that we’re settling into our new house.

I also like that Shannon not only gives easy tasks to complete, but she offers encouragement and advice along the way.  Organizing stuff is rarely about the stuff, but about our relationship with the stuff, about our habits and routines, and she addresses all of that.  It’s a good, easy read that can be a valuable resource in any home.

I was so happy when I heard that Amy of Euna Maes was coming out with a book.  I always enjoy her enthusiasm and the refreshing way she shares her work online.  This book brings what she shares online and puts it in your hands.  It’s a more in-depth look at hospitality, fellowship, and how that is often centered around food.  She also shares some short testimonies from others and, of course, some recipes

Melissa of The Inspired Room is a book-writing machine!  I have been online friends with her for over 12 years and it’s been so fun to follow her prolific journey as an author.  In her latest book, , she encourages the reader to enjoy the simple things in life through every season.  She is someone who can really speak to that since they just moved to their dream home on the North West coast.  They picked a home that was about the life they wanted and it’s been inspiring to follow.

Of course, the photography and styling are beautiful and her words are equally so.  I’ll always show up for anything Melissa has going on.

I thoroughly enjoy the topic of styling and therefore thoroughly enjoyed flipping through by Robin Zachary.  This is a great book if you’re like me and just enjoy the topic of styling and want to get some fresh visual ideas and inspiration.  Robin touches on all sorts of styling – food, products, lifestyle, flat lays, interiors, and more.  It goes well beyond how to arrange things and dives deep into the whys, finding your own aesthetic, creating mood boards, sketching ideas, and beyond.  It’s a rich, full, creatively stimulating book.

A Home to Share by Leslie Saeta

And last but not least, A Home to Share by Leslie of My 100-year-old Home.  Oh man, I just love Leslie and how she shows up online.  She is generous, relatable, aspirational, and encouraging.  Of course, this book is an extension of that.  The photography and styling are just what you’d expect and even though I have followed her online for years, I’m still seeing all sorts of new inspiring images in the book.  Leslie shares her ideas and wisdom on decorating, entertaining, and DIY.  She also has an entire chapter devoted to outdoor living, which I’m particularly excited about since that’s always been an area of struggle for me and it’s definitely a strength for her.

It’s really a lovely book and, if you’re here on my blog for the decorating ideas, you’ll enjoy Leslie’s book as well.