I have a pool. With small children, this is a blessing and a curse: A blessing because my family enjoys swimming, and a curse because my family enjoys swimming—which means I need to be vigilant and sit by the pool all day even when I don't feel like swimming.
God bless all the great craft, creativity, and small business books that came out this summer to keep me entertained. Here are a few of my favorites, which I highly recommend you pick up for crafty and artistic inspiration.
Printmaking Unleashed: More Than 50 Techniques for Expressive Mark Making by Traci Bautista
I had so much fun this summer following along with Traci and her #printmakingunleashed 30-day Instagram challenge. Each day was a different prompt from her book, which kept me very busy and very crafty, even my kids had fun playing along. This gorgeous book is filled to the brim with colorful and inspiring pictures. I spent the dog days of summer learning about hot glue stencils and filling water balloons with paint. If mixed media is your bag, this book is a must-have.
Creative Block: Get Unstuck, Discover New Ideas. Advice and Projects from 50 Successful Artists by Danielle Krysa
Reading about successful artists always inspires me. Creative Block not only tells the stories of how artists got where they are today, it also tells, in their own words, how they get themselves unstuck. Even people who you think eat, sleep, and breathe creativity hit a block from time to time. Let creative icons like Wayne Wright, Jenny Hart, Kate Bingaman-Burt and more tell you how they get unstuck. Danielle Krysa is the blogger behind The Jealous Curator, so you know she picked some juicy artists to profile in this chunky book.
20 Ways to Draw a Tulip and 44 Other Fabulous Flowers by Lisa Congdon
I have been a fan of Lisa Congdon's work for a long time. I'm also a fan of the entire 20 Ways series from Quarry. Several fabulous artists have contributed to this series, guiding aspiring artists on how to draw not only tulips (and countless other types of flowers), but trees, butterflies, and fruit, too. Like all books in the series, this one is full of pictorial prompts and blank space for you to try your hand at illustration.
I got halfway through the first chapter of this book, and it felt a little autobiographical: Bored girl at work decides to use downtime to start a business. Business takes off, and she quits her day job. A girl who knows how social networking and the spin you put on your brand is every bit as important as what you are selling (if not more so). Needless to say, I am loving this book. I say "loving" because I am still in the process of reading; one problem I have with this book is that I get a few pages in, and then I feel inspired to get up and add things to my Etsy store, or do some promoting online, or make a to-do list. It's a totally inspiring read—just not before bed. I get too riled up to sleep! I want to fist pump the air and say "hell, yeah," and that might wake everyone up.
Mixed Media Masterpieces with Jenny & Aaron: Create Incredible Art Journals and Handmade Mixed Media Treasures with Two Master Crafters by Jenny Heid and Aaron Nieradka
Jenny and Aaron from Everyday Is a Holiday have a very distinct look and style: Pastel pink, burlap browns, and aqua blues are a running theme in their work and book. I credit these two with my summer obsession with air dry clay—their mini faux doughnut projects had me running to the nearest craft store. The book holds your hand through several different (and adorable) mixed media projects to wear, decorate your home with, and add to your art journal.
Show Your Work: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered by Austin Kleon
I devoured this book. After reading Kleon's previous New York Times best seller, Steal Like an Artist, I was like a vampire-obsessed tween trying to get my hands on the latest in the Twilight series. Creative business books are my jam. It is a rare person who can make something creative and also have the marketing sense to know how to promote it. The two most often do not go hand in hand. That being the case, a book like this should be a creative person's bible: It shows you how to get your work in front of people without looking like a total jerkface. This is one of those books you can't borrow from a friend or check out from the library. You are going to want to highlight, dog ear, underline, and go back to it again and again.
101 Kids Activities That Are the Bestest, Funnest Ever! by Holly Homer and Rachel Miller
Not only did I stay crafty this summer, so did my kids (when they were not in the pool). We did some old standbys like foot painting and bead making, but we also tried plenty of new activities from this book. One of the things I love about kids crafts is that there might be a suggested starting age (3 and up), but there is never an ending age. I spent a whole day with my kids playing with shaving cream. This was started as an activity for them, but ended up with me making marbled paper and painted shirts. Mixed media and kids' crafts often go together, and one great thing about this book is that most of the projects use items you already have around the house, or were thinking about putting into the recycling bin.
Washi Tape: 101 + Ideas for Paper Crafts, Book Arts, Fashion, Decorating, Entertaining and Party Fun by Courtney Cerruti
Is there anything you can't do with washi tape? It's the best thing to happen to crafters since hot glue. It comes in a million colors and widths—and, according to author Courtney Cerruti, the possibilities are endless. After reading this book, I, too, am a believer. Washi tape makes everything better: brown bag lunches, coat hangers, even flower pots. If it will sit still long enough you can put washi tape on it and make it cuter. Since washi tape is easy to remove and reposition, it is also great for kids to craft with. Just ask my daughter: She is quickly depleting my stash.
104 Things to Photograph published by Chronicle Books
This is a blank book with prompts and slits to display your pictures. The fun photography prompts inspire you to look at things differently and more closely. For instance, one of the prompts says "A Bald Spot." I immediately thought of a place in my lawn where the grass has died, rather than hair on someone's head. One of the best ways for me to stay creative is to always stay challenged and learn new things. Once I feel comfortable with a craft or hobby, I want to jump to the next thing. When I am in a creative rut, I love turning to photography. I don't have to create anything, but I do have to look for inspiration. With so many great prompts to guide me, I am sure that when my book is filled, I will love it just as much as one of my precious scrapbooks.
What were some of your favorite reads for artistic inspiration? What keeps you creating? It may be cooling down where you are, but I have a couple of months left of swim patrol here in Texas, and I'm looking for fresh reading material.