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
Ali, it was sure fun to see your book list. As a librarian and avid reader, I love to hear what others are reading. I have many of the same books and also find them inspirational. I have been wanting to read Daniel isn't talking, so I'll be interested to hear what you think of it.
Speaking of living an artful life, I'm starting a new are journal project on my blog and would love for you and any of your blog readers to check it out.
www.artsymama.blogspot.com
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I LOVE GREAT GATSBY. For my 30th bday I want a gret gatsby birthday!!!
a good book is Enchilaadas rice and beans by Dainel reveles. if you e-mail me your addy I'd be happy to send you a copy!
Andie
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Fantastic list....thanks for sharing! Have you read "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho? I think this would be another book you would love too! I also love anything by Cathy Zielske, Sabrina Ward Harrison, Julia Cameron and Sarah Ban Breathnack! Oh yes, I loved The Big Picture too!
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Thanks for sharing your list Ali! The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is one of my favorites!
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Thanks for sharing your list. I'm always looking for a good book to inspire and to just read. Simple Abundance is a daily ritual for me. Love it.
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"My Antonia" is a favorite of mine as well. What a beautiful book!
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You have inspired me to pick up a book tonight that I have been wanting to read...right after I get home from work and cook some dinner. By the way, I love your new banner. What an awesome family photo!
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The Great Gatsby is the best American novel ever written. Its depth is astounding. Needless to say, it's my fave, too. :)
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Hey ReaderGirl! Love books like no one's business, myself — and have I got a find for you! Go to LibraryThing.com and check out their cataloguing thing. It's all online and you get the same kind of recommendations that Amazon gives (you know, "people who like X also like Y" but there's no SALES involved, just people listing and cross-listing and getting in touch with other people's reading lists. I like the links where I can see what other users have my same books — and then I click on their catalogues to see what *they* are reading, since we clearly have the same taste! I have come across some groovy finds on there because of those links...it's a fun place to explore.
And thanks for mentioning the Julia Cameron works. I have been meaning to read her for a while but never got around to it, and I finally ordered them. I have a little box of Amazon happiness now on its way to me — thanks for the push!
(PS: I am not affiliated with LibraryThing in any way, just a big fan who recently discovered it!)
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Simple Abundance changed my life! I know it was the single most inspirational book I've ever read and I will forever be thankful. You have some interesting favorite reads and I love reading what others are reading as well. Jodi Picoult is a great writer and I've enjoyed several of her books as well. What a great topic.
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oh wow!
great list, Ali
thanks for the insights you share with those who LOVE your philosophy and LIFE ARTIST vision
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Loved, loved, loved the Time Traveler's Wife.
Great recommendations. I am going to go broke on Amazon.
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Oh my gosh! I've never met anyone else who loved "My Antonia" as much as I do!!! Great list, Ali!
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wow, great books, my friend!
love this list!
thanks!
R
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I love lists - especially book lists - and apparently I love other people's list skills as well. Thanks for some new suggestions!
If I may suggest the following - Peace Like a River by Leif Enger; Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See; and Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Have you finished the Good Life yet? I was curious about that one.
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totally loved the red tent. now i need to find time to read some of these other ones. thanks for the list.
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I think what you read tells a lot about you as a person. We have a very, very similar list of favorites! Which means, of course, that we are both super cool people :-)
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Relly-Thank you for your tips. I am still fairly new to blogging. I love the feeling of community and friends at your fingertips. The area of the country that I live in does not seem to have many creative individuals in it. I haven't met anyone that is as enthusiastic about art (Life Art especailly) as I am. It's wonderful to have found so many other women with the same interests as I have. :)
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you change your banner more often then i change my underwear. oh wait, i dont wear underwear. ;)
i love it! but i loved the old one too. :)
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Ali,
O.K., I definitely want a little building like The Bad Dog Inn as a Girl's Only - Artist Retreat! Thanks for the link - what a great place!
Michelle
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