Jessica Green is a book addict and library card holder since the age of 3. She’s a librarian at the Ottawa Public Library and currently the Apartment613 Librarian-in-Residence, sharing a compendium of literary thoughts and tips.
Ottawa is a very crafty place and only seems to be getting more so the longer I live here. If you have ever wanted to pick up anything from tatting to making pickles, there are books available here at the library covering a vast amount of creative endeavour. This is one of my favourite areas to check and see what new titles have come in, or even discover some of the older titles in an area I never considered before.
One major trend I’ve noticed is the massive resurgence of quilting, with everything from fresh takes on classic quilt patterns using funky fabrics to modern designs that are easy for anyone to create in an afternoon. Here’s a list of the quilting books available, and you can head over to your local fabric store, like Fabrications, to find all the materials for your projects.
For anyone looking to have fun with mold, bacteria or yeast, there are dozens of books where you can learn how to make cheese or beer, discover how to ferment vegetables, yogurt or kombucha, or, be able to create your own bread from scratch. You can also learn about canning and preserving to keep your fruits and vegetables even longer.
Now that the Ottawa City Workshop and Ottawa Tool Library are in operation, it’s that much easier to get your hands on tools to make something out of wood. Here’s a list of books dedicated to woodworking, plus a small set of books all about reusing wood pallets!
So whether you are looking to get into tatting, origami, d
Quick picks
- Poles Apart by Terry Fallis: I greatly enjoyed this funny tale about a man who writes a feminist blog anonymously which takes on a life of its own. Fallis always writes an entertaining story where everything goes wrong before it goes right again.
- Children of the Broken Treaty by Charlie Angus: A definite must read especially in light of the book’s focus on education on reserves. I can only echo the quotation offered by Joseph Boyden on the cover “Gripping. Disturbing. Maddening”.
- Rice Noodle Fish – Deep Travels Through Japan’s Food Culture by Matt Goulding: This is a visual feast describing actual feasts in Japan. Goulding visited many eateries around Japan and the differences in food are really interesting as well as the similarities in the approach for perfection. Don’t read this one hungry.
