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So much more than a treehouse.

by Beth on April 26th, 2013

Close your eyes for a second and imagine the most wonderful treehouse you can think of. If you’re like me, what comes to mind is probably something out of Swiss Family Robinson. My real-world experience with treehouses is very limited. Trees we had. Tree swings even. But not a treehouse.

The people at Black & Decker and have come up with the most amazing DIY guide to treehouses I’ve ever seen. You want your kids or grand kids to have their own Swiss Family Robinson adventures, or if you’d like to have them yourself, The Complete Guide to Treehouses is for you.

Although it does assume some previous familiarity with tools and basic construction methods, as you’d expect from Black & Decker, there are step by step instructions full of photos and diagrams to lead you through the process. Well written and easy to follow, the book is laid out in four sequential sections, each building on the previous.

Treehouse Basics deals with all the things to consider before you build: Choosing the right tree or trees, Planning and Design considerations, including local laws or ordinances; and Treehouse Safety.

Treehouse Building Techniques is the largest section of the book (as you’d expect from Black & Decker) and includes the how-to information for each of the basic components of a treehouse: the platform, walls, doors, windows, roof. They include proper building and safety considerations for each step. From anchor bolts, joist hangers, knee braces, framing walls, doors and windows it’s all here. And it’s presented in a way that even a novice builder can follow.

Plans for 6 different treehouses are included at the back of the book, if you’d rather follow a pre-designed plan. But beware – one flip through this book and you’ll want to building your own treehouse!!

Tags: Treehouses
Published in Do-It-Yourself, Nonfiction
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Bzzzzzzz

by Beth on March 15th, 2013

For the last few years Honey Bees have been in the news a lot due to Colony Collapse Disorder, and the potential effects on farming and crops in the US.

In my north side Iowa City neighborhood it seemed exactly the opposite last year. People were seeing amazing numbers of bees in their gardens. At one point they were chasing away the hummingbirds!

Late in the summer we discovered why when a large natural honey bee hive was discovered in on one of the big Norfolk Pines at the edge of Oakland Cemetery. (click on the image to see the crack in the tree full of bees). It was amazing sitting on the porch and watching the bees on the Rose of Sharon hedge all fly off in the same direction. It made me wonder about putting a hive in my own back yard. There are three new books at ICPL on bees!

Homegrown Honey Bees: An Absolute Beginners Guide to Beekeeping – Your First Year, from hiving to Honey Harvest by Althea Morrison and Mars Vilaubi. Full of amazing close-up photography, this is a great book for new-bees. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) From planning for and acquiring your supplies and setting up your hive, to understand the bee life cycle and behavior, it’s all here. The authors share what they went through their first year as beekeepers. From replacing a dying queen bee and keeping their hive alive during a hard winter to their first honey harvest. It’s a fun read, but gave me a LOT to think about.

Building Beehives for Dummies by Howland Blackiston. If you’re like me, you think beehive and you think a medium sized stack of white boxes. That’s a good description of a Langstroth hive – but there are 5 other types of hives popular around the world. Blackiston’s book also includes discussions of the benefits and uses of each type of hive. But be warned, this book is actually the sequel to his “Beekeeping for Dummies” book written a few years ago, and this one is designed for the experienced beekeeper who is also a DIYer who is experienced working with wood and reading cutting lists and plans, although he does a pretty good explanation of everything involved.

Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture – revised and expanded edition by Ross Conrad. Originally published in 2007 just as Colony Collapse became big news, this 285 page updated guide to organic beekeeping contains 12 chapters that cover just about everything you need to consider to raise bees organically, harvest honey, and market your finished product. From hive management, to dealing with parasites and pests, and hive diseases it’s all here. At the end of the book you’ll find notes divided by chapter, a glossary, a list of resources, and a thorough index.

Published in Do-It-Yourself, Home & Gardening, Outdoors & Nature
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ICPL Best of 2012-Nonfiction

by Kara on December 19th, 2012

ICPL Staff Selections for “Best Books of 2012″ – Nonfiction Titles

This is a fun list that includes two graphic novels and a book of poetry as well as books about art, family, famous people, arts & crafts and much more. Click on each title below to search the Library’s catalog for availability. And remember, if it is checked in, you can click on “Place a Hold” and Library staff will retrieve it for you. Just head to the Library to pick it up once you’ve received your Hold Notice.

Happy Reading & Happy Learning

An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace	Tamar Adler
Circular Knitting Workshop	Margaret Radcliffe
Escape from Camp 14: One Man’s Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West	Blaine Harden
First 20 Minutes	Gretchen Reynolds
Going Home: Finding Peace When a Pet Dies	Jon Katz
How Music Works	David Byrne
Idea Factory	Jon Gertner
Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now – As Told By Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Left It, and Long For It	Craig Taylor
Louvre: All the Paintings	Erich Lessing & Vincent Pomarede
Makers: The New Industrial Revolution	Chris Anderson
Memoir of a Debulked Woman: Enduring Ovarian Cancer	Susan Gubar
Mrs. Kennedy and Me	Clint Hill with Lisa McCubbin
Mrs. Robinson’s Disgrace: The Private Diary of a Victorian Lady	Kate Summerscale
My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family	Zach Wahls
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are	Ann Voskamp
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl	Ree Drummond
Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures (Graphic Novel)	Caroline Preston
Showdown at Shepherd’s Bush: The 1908 Olympic Marathon and the Three Runners Who Launched a Sporting Craze	David Davis
Thinking, Fast and Slow	Daniel Kahneman
Underwater Welder (Graphic Novel)	Jeff Lemire
Eat & Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness	Scott Jurek

Published in Arts & Crafts, Audiobooks, Do-It-Yourself, Home & Gardening, Nonfiction
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ICPL Arts and Crafts Bazaar 12.8.12 10AM-4PM

by Kara on October 30th, 2012

I LOVE to sew! There’s nothing better than a cold day, a good audio book, and yards of fabric or other “rescued materials” just waiting to be transformed! When the Library’s Friends Foundation recently announced a call for artists for an Arts and Crafts Bazaar, I started thinking about what I could contribute to benefit the Library. A quick stroll to the New Nonfiction shelves provided many books full of inspiring projects.

1-2-3 Sew by Ellen Luckett Baker provides directions, photos, and patterns for 33 great projects. An online preview of this book gives information about the table of contents as well as a bonus project. This book is great for beginners and begins with a list of essential tools every person needs to complete the projects. My favorite projects are the three Tote Bag patterns including a Market Tote, Doodle Bag, and Lunch Sack. The photos are inspirational and instructions are easy to follow.

Reinvention by Maya Donenfeld gives great ideas for sewing with rescued items. The book starts with Sewing and Printing basics then provides project ideas based on the type of rescued material, including Burlap, Wool, Jersey and Denim. There’s also an interesting Resources section and Stencils and Templates at the end of the book. My favorite project is the Story Scarf. Basically a Story Scarf is made from fabrics that have special meaning. If someone says, “Oh, I love your scarf!” you can share a story about one of the fabrics that is incorporated into the design.

Improv Sewing by Nicole Blum and Debra Immergut takes a pragmatic approach to creative expression through sewing. Easy instructions for creating patterns are logical and help the reader customize ideas to their own use. The section on Ruffles, Pleats and Trims provides inspiration for adding embellishments to clothes and other projects. My favorite project is “Ollie and Opal’s Big Dog Bed” and ideas for sewing on paper or cardboard.

If you are looking for fun winter projects, check out the wonderful collection of sewing and crafting books at the Library.

Published in Arts & Crafts, Do-It-Yourself, Nonfiction
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Calling all artists and crafters

by Beth on October 20th, 2012

Do you enjoy making arts and crafts?

Do you knit, sew, work with paper, clay, wood or glass?

Would you be willing to donate some of your handmade creations to support the Iowa City Public Library?

Then we have an opportunity for you!

ICPL’s first annual Fundraising Arts & Crafts Bazaar will be held on December 8, and we’re looking for a variety of donated arts and crafts to sell. Just about anything is welcome and can be donated for this sale. More details can be found at the bottom of this post.

And to get you in the mood to craft, here are some of the new crafting books available at ICPL:

A Bounty of Bead & Wire Bracelets by Nathalie Mornu. Nathalie Mornu has collected 50 wonderful bracelet designs from 37 leading jewelry artists. She begins with a well written and easy to follow 10 page section called “Basics” that explains bead sizes, wire gauges, findings, chains, tools and various techniques used to create the pieces in the book. Each of the projects is identified by name and artist. Each has a full-color close up photograph, a materials and tools needed list, and easy to follow step by step instructions. Some projects include notes and suggestions from the designer as well. The projects run from basic to advanced, from fast to time consuming. Each piece is a beautiful work of art that you can make for yourself.

Mod Podge Rocks!: decoupage your world, by Amy Anderson. Amy Anderson, creator and moderator of the popular blog by the same name (www.modpodgerocksblog.com) has collected 40 fun projects that run the gamut of decoupage craft – from wearable art to home decore and holiday gifts. Starting with a multi-page introduction to the various formulas of Mod Podge and their many uses, Anderson takes you step by step though each project. A simple supply list and lots of full color photos are provided.

Shrink! Shrank! Shrunk! Making stylish shrink plastic jewelry, by Kathy Sheldon. If you’re a child of the 70’s you may have fond memories of the Shrinky-Dink ™ craze. Well it’s back with a new twist. Sheldon’s book starts with a great 10-page introduction to the fun of working with the different types of shrink plastics available and the types of artists media used with each. Step by step instructions for more than 30 projects follow, with great color photographs, and 14 pages of templates.

T Shirt Quilts Made Easy, by Martha Deleonardis. T shirt quilts are a fun way to hold on to memories. They mean a lot to the person who owned the shirts, but can be rather boring to others. Deleonardis’ new book takes tshirt quilts up a notch or two. Using bright colors and wild patterns, she adds pieced sashing and borders to create some amazing quilts that just happen to include tshirt squares. beginning with ten pages of hints on working with tshirts is followed by eleven separate projects and a gallery of tshirt quilts made by others. The bold color photgraphs, well written and easy to follow instructions make this a must have if you’re a tshirt collector.

Bazaar Details:

Arts and crafts items donated for the bazaar can be dropped off at the Library from Nov. 26 to Dec. 6. The public is invited to attend the sale, which starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8^.The sale will last until it’s all gone or 4 p.m., whichever comes first. Proceeds will benefit the Library’s Friends Foundation. For more information on the Arts & Crafts Bazaar click here.

Tags: Arts & Crafts, quilting, sewing
Published in Arts & Crafts, Do-It-Yourself
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Building Sandcastles

by Maeve on August 9th, 2012

This weekend is Sand in the City and this year there is a mini sand sculpting competition for the public. ICPL can help you with ideas on how to craft a sandcastle or other sand creations. Sandcastles Made Simple by Lucinda “sandy feet” Wierenga offers step-by-step instructions from extremely simple to very elaborate structures.

Her suggestions for tools are to look no farther than your kitchen drawer or toolbox – a pastry knife, spoons and forks, a paint scraper, a melon baller, toothpicks, measuring cups, a soft bristled paintbrush, a a spray bottle and a plastic straw will all come in handy. If you are not participating in Sand in the City and are going to the beach or just hanging out in the backyard sandbox, you will need a shovel with a small scoop and of course a bucket or two.

If you get bit by the sand sculpting bug there are competitions all across the United States.

Published in Do-It-Yourself, Outdoors & Nature
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Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese

by Elyse on July 12th, 2012

Jennifer Reese has wallsful of cookbooks and in part to justify their existence came her blog, tipsybaker.com. When Reese found herself unemployed in 2008 she wanted empirical data to support her economic choices, “taking into account the competing demands – time and meaning, quality and conscience, budget and health – of everyday American family life.” She spent time raising chickens, all kinds of vegetables and a couple of children. From the blog and the data emerged this well-written, funny and surprisingly compelling book. Which foods and drinks are worth making from scratch from important perspectives: How much of a hassle is it to make, and if it’s a big hassle, is it worth the experience…at least once? How much does it cost to conjure it up compared with purchasing it at a big grocery store or Whole Foods or some other healthy food store?

Lest you think this is a dry, fuddy-duddy kind of book, know that Reese is smart, modern, funny, and tells it like it is. Yes, there is science – after making baking powder by sifting 1 part baking soda with 2 parts cream of tartar (another science altogether) and comparing it with Clabber Girl double acting baking powder, the resulting cookies tasted the same, but the homemade baking powder made sprawly less cakey cookies. This chemistry lab resulted in Jennifer’s decision to purchase aluminum free baking powder such as the Rumford brand going forward. And there is math, 2.5 pounds of Camembert costs about $9.00 to make. Purchasing this much cheese in Reese’s neighborhood would cost about $50.00. “Even if you blow it and lose your whole investment in this cheese, it’s not a big one.”

There are 120 recipes in Make the Bread, Buy the Butter ranging from breads and spreads to desserts, having people over to duck eggs, junk food to canning. There’s a short list of resources in the appendix. It’s worth taking a gander at the book just to see what’s worth making and what’s worth buying. It’s worth lingering over the book because it’s funny, well-written and informative.

Spoiler alert: make the frankfurter rolls, buy the hamburger buns.

Published in Do-It-Yourself, Home & Gardening, Nonfiction
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Holiday Gift Projects

by Todd on December 19th, 2011

For a number of years, I let my children pick out holiday gifts for their mother.

After the ice cream maker and the disco ball, we began calling these “Homer gifts.” They are named after the animated character, not the Greek poet; epic fail, not epic scale. Really, the boys were picking out things they wanted for themselves.

So now we try to make something that she might want and use, but with a personal touch. As they have gotten older, the macaroni necklaces do not hold much interest for them, so I am always on the lookout for creative projects for them to give as presents.

The great thing about projects like these is that the kids remember quality time spent working together, usually learn something in the process and have a sense of pride in the result that they would not have from simply buying something at a store.

“Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff to Make with your Kids,” by David Erik Nelson, has projects from a simple treasure box, which could be turned into a jewelry box, to inexpensive screen printing, to a personalized shirt, as well as other projects kids can build for themselves.

“Ductigami: The Art of the Tape,” by Joe Wilson, is full of inexpensive, durable projects ranging from a wallet to an apron to a full shower curtain. Most people have a roll or two of duct tape around the house. It comes in a range of colors and even some patterns if you prefer to be more creative than using the standard gray.

“Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share,” by Ken Denmead, takes the duct tape wallet a step further and adds a light to it. You also can find out how to crochet a bag for dice or build a lamp using Legos and a few electronic components.

“Woodburning with Style,” by Simon Easton, shows how to take simple wooden objects, such as a picture frame, and add some personal flair to it. Plus, hot metal and the smell of burning wood create lasting memories while creating presents. Just be careful so those memories aren’t traumatic.

“The Complete Book of Decorative Knots,” by Geoffrey Budworth, has great illustrations on how to weave many knots. They can be used to make jewelry, key chains, a rug or a handle grip for just about anything. If you want to make things even fancier, there are more decorative knots in “75 Chinese, Celtic, and Ornamental Knots,” by Laura Williams and Elise Mann.

Although these books do have projects my children would enjoy, they are not limited to boys or children. The Iowa City Public Library also has books and DVDs for all levels of makers for creating almost anything you can imagine. Stop by the Children’s Desk on the first floor or the Reference Desk on the second floor and let us help you find your next project.

Published in Do-It-Yourself, Nonfiction
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Not your everyday craft books!

by Beth on August 5th, 2011

Summer time. When the humidity hits 75% and the heat advisories start popping up, I start looking for things to do inside. And what better way to while away the hours by the fan or AC then by breaking out the craft supplies! So I wandered through the library’s craft section (upstairs at 745) and came up with a handful of odd-ball craft books with lots of neat thing to try.

Want to make yourself a duct tape kitchen apron, a wallet, or a cell phone case? Brake out a few rolls of duct tape and take a look at Ductigami : the art of the tape by Joe Wilson.

Are you a fan of monsters, or do you know someone who is? Check out Me Make Monster! A mish mash of monster craft by Jenny Harada. Make all sorts of monsters – little or big. Each project has a list of supplies and tools needed followed by simple, well written instructions and lots of color photographs to help you make your very own monsters.

Now if crafting to you means Christmas or Holiday decorations, try Fa la la la Felt: 45 handmade Holiday Decorations by Amanda Carestio. A very bright and colorful felt crafting book with 45 simple holiday projects. Nice photos of the finished projects, but not of the steps, although most are so simple they don’t really need photographs. Starting with an introduction that talks about different types of felt, making your own felt by recycling old wool sweaters, and a section on basic embroidery stitches, and templates for all the projects this could get you in the holiday spirit months early!

Subversive Cross Stitch by Julie Jackson contains “33 designs for your surly side” and instructions on how to turn your own favorite snide comments or phrases in the cute little bits of non-work-friendly art for you or someone special.

Just in the mood to craft, but have nothing in mind? Go for AlternaCrafts by Jessica Vitkus. This book has a lot of neat ideas. Broken down into three sections: Projects to Wear, Projects for your Home, and Projects to Give, this book contains a wide range of projects including stamping with raw vegetables, tying a macrame bracelet, up-cycling clothing, making sachets, or making bouquets of paper flowers.

Consider yourself an advanced crafter? Making Stuff: an alternative craft book edited by Ziggy Hanaor might be more your speed. Starting with an instructional section to learn how to knit, felt, applique, sew and crochet, then sections on crafting clothing, jewelery, plus three more sections of oddball crafts, this book is lots of fun, but more for the experienced crafter or knitter. And just a note – this book was published in England, so sometimes some of the English is confusing. (I think Fairy Lights are just white Christmas Lights)

Now of all the craft books I looked at, there was one I just have to buy for myself, and it’s huge. The Big-Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano has over 150 craft projects – little to big / simple to complex. Things that made me burst out laughing or stare at in disbelief. Things I never would have thought of on my own, but that he breaks down so simply I can’t wait to try them. Beware of this book. You’ll want to buy it too.

Tags: Arts & Crafts, Crafts
Published in Arts & Crafts, Do-It-Yourself
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My Droid by Craig James Johnston

by Kara on March 5th, 2011

I am addicted to my Droid phone. It may sound hokey, but it has really changed my life. Droid phones are based on the Google Android operating system. There is an Android Marketplace where applications (apps) may be downloaded. These apps include programs for serious use as well as fun.

With my Droid I read books from the Library, keep up with the news, listen to books from the Library, send/receive eMail & Text messages, keep up with my calendar, organize contacts, navigate in the dark with the flashlight, monitor Facebook & Twitter, keep travel plans organized, decide what to wear based on the weather forecast, navigate to new places, learn about places I want to travel to, and wake up with the alarm clock. I used to be able to monitor where my family members were (or at least where their phones were) but they figured out how to block that … oh well. Bottom line, my Droid is a great tool that easily transitioned into my daily life.

A lot of what I learned about my Droid I picked up through experimentation, watching others, or handing the phone to my kids for assistance (duh, Mom!). I’m a Digital Immigrant – I didn’t grow up with computers and most of my computer knowledge comes through personal and on-the-job training. Digital Immigrants approach technology very differently from Digital Natives. Digital Natives don’t remember and can’t comprehend a life without computers and devices.

I don’t usually read non-fiction books but I’m so enamored with my Droid I decided to give this book a try … and I loved it! I learned about navigating within the Droid, organizing, shortcuts, tools, apps, and keeping it running smoothly. Engadget is predicting an Android invasion in March with the release of many new Android tablets. I’m ready … so if any of my family members are reading this, please remember that my birthday is just around the corner (I can always dream anyway …)

Published in Do-It-Yourself, Nonfiction, Science, Nature & Technology
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