Books & Life Inspiration.
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I love to read. Always have.
Everything I read becomes a part of me.
Love to be inspired. To learn new things. To have my point of view expanded and enlightened and challenged. I find that reading helps my mind make connections. Reminds me of certain things. Makes others more clear.
One of my favorite things is exchanging reading lists with other like-minded souls. Here are a few lists of favorites from then and now.
Currently reading (I pick up which ever one sounds good when I get into bed):
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert (really enjoying and savoring this one)
The Sound of Paper by Julia Cameron (love, love this book)
Create Every Day Journal compiled by Kobi Yamada (this is a blank book with page after page of the best life quotes and tons of room for your own reflections, writings, etc. Any of the books from this site are totally worth it.)
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp (letting this one sink in - totally interesting)
Drawing From Life: The Journal As Art by Jennifer New
Daniel Isn't Talking by Marti Leimbach (have not started this one yet)
All time favorites (The first two were read in high school. The images and the stories have live in my mind. The other two are more recent reads. They both consumed me.):
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
"I don't want life to imitate art. I want life to be art." Carrie Fisher
I am definitely not the first person to advocate creating art from our lives. Or going with the flow. Over the last couple years my own personal philosophy has developed and grown and continues to evolve. As I conduct workshops, as I read, as I create my own art and experience my own life (and my own personal challenges), I adjust and refine my voice. The things I say over and over at workshops: it is ok, embrace impefection, go with the flow, tell your story have become a part of my own message, my own personal philosophy on art and life.
There have been many artists over time who have written about letting go of our drive for perfection. About identifying our authentic selves through our art. And about making art a part of our lifestyle and celebrating all the little everyday things. I love these kinds of books: ones that echo and bring to the surface the little bits and pieces that live in my heart. That is why I read. Some of the books listed here are directly related to scrapbooking, others to art journaling, or to writing, or to life in gneral and other forms of art.
Some of the ones I have enjoyed and have made an impact on my heart include:
Anything by Sabrina Ward Harrison
The Big Picture by Stacy Julian (Love her. Love her philosophy that scrapbooking is a lifestyle. And I love how she organizes her albums.)
The Artists Way by Julia Cameron (A classic.)
Visual Chronicles by Linda Woods & Karen Dinino (These gals are right on with their philosophy.)
12 Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin
Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach (I have not read the companion book yet but have it on my list for the future)
Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory
Living Out Loud by Keri Smith (Totally uplifting.)
A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen
52 Projects by Jeffrey Yamaguchi (Just totally cool.)
Clean & Simple Scrapbooking, The Sequel by Cathy Zielske (I got a sneak peek at this one and it is amazing - I love her words, her philosophy, her design. And I love that it is not just about the layouts, it is about the concepts and the philosophy she shares. I just love her.)
I am sure there are more. And there will be more to come.
And hey, if you saw my Letters From Mom book in the newest Creating Keepsakes and want to see the inside, I will be posting photos once I get the album back. Not sure exactly why the insides were not included in the column - the inside is the heart of that album.
And here is a working link to Bad Dog Inn.
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74 comments
this looks like a great list!
i'm definately going to check into it...
thanks for posting it
:)
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lol I am the first one to comment, yeah!
I so love to read too! I am lucky to be a realy, realy fast reader. like 800 pages in one day! Reading is food for my soul as it seems to be for you too. I haven;t been reading a lot lately since I was using my spare time to scrap. But since today was my last day of work(yeah!!!) I tend to read more in the near future. Peace out~!
corinnexxx
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Ali, thanks for the reading list! I'm always looking for new books to read & add to my collection. *grin*. I am currently reading Time Travelers Wife..my friend Jenny got it for me a week ago, and I had to make myself put it down, so that I could slow down. I was reading too fast! It is a good book; and I like the different views from the present, past, and future!
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Thanks for the list Ali. I love to read as well - just wish I had more TIME to absorb some really good books. As always, your blog is inspirational and uplifting. Peace and blessings, Cindy.
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oh yay! I totally was wondering why we couldn't see the inside !
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Ali! Thanks for the list of books, I too love reading. Cool ..thanks for the working link to Bad Dog Inn! ;) You rawk!
jenn
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I love your looong list of reading material. I also love to read, my mind craves information (for pleasure and knowledge). I just can't get enough to read, yet I never seem to have the time, that I would like, to spend reading. I have a family of 4 and a mini dachshund; and I am sure you know, all too well, how busy you are with a family. But it is all worth it in the end.
I would like to ask you if you have any tips on how to begin scrapbooking all my old photos. I have boxes and old albums full of them....when ever I try I get overwhelmed with the vast quantity and don't know how to begin. LOVE your blog, LOVE your scrapbooking style.
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The Red Tent is one of my all-time favorites too. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. Beautifully written.
Two recommends: The Devil in the White City--just finished, couldn't put it down; and The Kite Runner--excellent.
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Sherry - whenever I have the overwhelmed feeling I go through 'the happy scrapper' ebook from www.simplify101.com, I think Aby also does classes at bigpicturescrapbooking.com
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thanks for sharing your book list, and your insights. You are such a creative and precious soul. I learn and grow from you ea and every day.
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Thanks for sharing - and SO glad you'll be sharing more of your 'Letters from Mom' book --- I kept looking and looking for the insides and wondered if I was crazy and just couldn't find them. :)
So glad you're you and that part of being you is sharing yourself with us.
Glad and grateful.
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Yep, I remember reading your column and thinking, "Wow, sure would love to see more of that book." So, cool--I'm really pleased you're going to share more with us! I've always wanted to know what to do with those envelope pages too... That fabric, on the cover, is really beautiful too!
Tina J.
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Oh my, Ali. I love that you love to read too. It inspired to blog about my books.
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Like your reading list isn't long enough already....if I could recommend two books...
Seeing Past Z, Beth Kephart. Written as not really a memoir, and not really a parenting how to. More of a parenting how I. So inspirational, and about making active choices - to not accept the status quo, not not run with the pack, esp in the area of a child's time. My copy is completely higlighted, underlined, dog-eared. Just so inspired by it.
Traveling Mercies, Ann Lamott. This woman can write, like Ella Fitgerald can sing. Love it. The story of her journey into faith (and sobriety), but its more the words she uses than the story itself that got me.
Ok, now I will have to read some the ones you recommended (maybe I should start with the ones I already own, and are sitting on the floor next to the bed?)
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Great reading list... we share some favorites.
Thought you might be interested in these as well.
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock - the mental visuals in this are astounding and heartwrenching
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult - you want to choose a side, but you see each perspective so clearly that, in the end you are just grateful that the situation is not your own.
danielle d
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I love the list of books, as a librarian I love to read and enjoy finding new treasures. I too loved the Red Tent! I wish I had more time to read, so I could throw out a good book or two, but right now I am reading mostly easy to read mysterys and espionage books. I will come around and read other stuff again, but right now I am working on other things in my life such as my journal habits.
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thanks for costing me more money! :-P
SARK totally inspires me but I'm sure you've read her stuff.
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what a great list!! thanks so much for sharing--can't wait to get Cathy's new book!!
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I am a high school freshman at Tualatin High School (15 mins from Bridgeport Village) and I discovered your site while researching a career I hope to go into in the future: Graphic design. I have been checking every day now- for new images, posts, and ideas. You blog has really inspired me to capture my life right now. Thanks so much!
p.s. I am reading The Great Gatsby in English class currently... thinking it may become one of my favorite reads as well.
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Love your new banner... just wondring... what font(s) did you use on it?
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