Well, here we are in September talking about my favorite books in July!  Well, that’s just how it goes sometimes.  I’ve been running a little behind lately on things that can be delayed, so I can focus on things that are more pressing or important.  August was busy with projects, my parents visiting, and getting the boys ready to go back to school.  I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed the rhythm and structure (and quiet focused time) that comes with them being in school.  It’s been such a gift, but I know that it’s precarious and uncertain and I just need to take whatever each new day brings. The September air is getting crisp and the leaves are already starting to turn and I’m ready for it. Anyway, before we move into more fall-related things, here are my books of the weeks featured in July… I think I love

It’s hard to believe we’re over halfway through the year!  Time flies when you’re stuck at home doing projects!  I have really missed my regular outings to Barnes & Noble, but I have been ordering newly released and used books online and have pulled out some of my favorite books to share from my stash.  So here are my picks for June’s Books of the Week… I bought this book shortly after it came out, in one of my last in-person trips to B&N this year.  It is such a sweet, encouraging, and inspiring book of poetry.  Her words and writing style resonated with me and it seemed fitting to select it as my pick on this particular week.   This poem is one of my favorites… If you don’t follow Morgan on Instagram, I would highly suggest it.  She shares her poetry and art there as well. Barb Blair

It’s hard to believe we’re over halfway through the year!  Time flies when you’re stuck at home doing projects!  I have really missed my regular outings to Barnes & Noble, but I have been ordering newly released and used books online and have pulled out some of my favorite books to share from my stash.  So here are my picks for June’s Books of the Week… I bought this book shortly after it came out, in one of my last in-person trips to B&N this year.  It is such a sweet, encouraging, and inspiring book of poetry.  Her words and writing style resonated with me and it seemed fitting to select it as my pick on this particular week.   This poem is one of my favorites… If you don’t follow Morgan on Instagram, I would highly suggest it.  She shares her poetry and art there as well. Barb Blair

I suppose I should share May’s Books of the Week before we get into July!  It’s just been that kind of month.  We can’t keep all of the spinning plates in the air all the time, right? It’s been great to dig into projects, though, and it’s okay that it’s distracted me a little. So, here are my picks for May… I purchased this book when it first came out and it is absolutely fantastic for those interested in oil or acrylic painting.  I bet it covers more material than you would get in a college class.  It is so thorough, yet approachable. It’s not just filled with information, but step-by-step demonstrations that show a variety of classical techniques. Yes, art has a strong artistic component (hence the name), but it is also highly technical.  If you learn and study the techniques your skill as an artist will improve. It

I must pat myself on the back for picking some great books in the month of April!  I feel like I can say that because I just picked them off of a shelf, read them, enjoyed them, and I’m sharing them with you. The Art of Beatrix Potter I enjoyed this book on a few different levels.  First off, I liked learning more about Beatrix Potter as a writer, artist, and creative.  This book is part biography with family photos and details about her childhood and how her stories and art began and evolved. I also enjoyed this book as a subject to study as an artist.  There are so many delightful sketches and watercolor paintings, as you would imagine.  I always learn so much from studying other artists.  I feel overwhelmed at the idea of sketching a street scene, but I can learn how to do it by making

Welp, it’s April 23 and we’re just now getting to March’s books of the week.  That’s just how things have been going lately.  I have definitely put too much self-imposed pressure on myself in a variety of areas and it’s starting to compound.  I know other over-achievers will sympathize.  You know you’re doing fine, but every little thing that slips through the cracks or gets done a little later than desired starts makes you feel like you’re not doing enough.  It’s completely unfair to ourselves and completely ignores the numerous things you’re doing right and well, but it’s a cycle that’s hard to break nonetheless.  Especially when busyness is a kind of sanctuary during stressful times. So, I’m typing it out in the hopes that acknowledgment works as a kind of antidote.  And I’m sharing it in the hopes that others who are feeling the same way will find safety

I have really enjoyed sharing a book of the week this year, but I’ve realized it’s just given me another excuse to buy more books when I really didn’t need another excuse!  I already have way more than 52 books to share and recommend!  But, it has been fun to look for new books and revisit old books that have stuck with me through all of the moves and purges. A couple of weeks ago, Jeff and I went out to dinner and then hit Barnes & Noble.  We usually split up, since we like to browse different sections.  He likes books about nature, fishing, history, theology, and I like books on decorating, art, cooking, gardening, crafts, creativity, and business.  So, yeah, we’re not hanging out in the same aisles!  I have my little route that I take from the magazines to the discount books to the cookbooks then to

At the tail end of last year, I decided I would share a Book of the Week each week of 2020.  I love learning from books and going back to them again and again for inspiration, ideas, wise words, lessons…  I view it as continuing education and I make frequent trips to the book store to browse for new reading materials.  I mention these books on my Instagram stories or here on the blog, but I thought it would be nice to share them in a more organized fashion for those who are interested. I’m going to feature a mix of new books and ones that have been favorites for years.  I’ll also share books on a variety of subjects from art and home decorating to design and business.  They will all be books that I consider to be “resource books” – books that can be referenced repeatedly in order