Sometimes hobbies are so fulfilling that we look to make them our careers. This week on the blog we’re taking a look at 6 amazing new books that aim to take your interest in painting to a new level. Be sure to check back on Thursday for some inspiration.
If the cool days and even colder nights here in Melbourne haven’t inspired you to pick up some knitting needles to make yourself something cosy to wear, then perhaps these six books will. Knitting is not only practical but can also be a form of mindfulness and zen as many of these titles suggest.
For those of you that are are open to a little less zen when it comes to knitting, perhaps the Heavy Metal Knitting World Championships would be more up your street. Heavy Metal Knitting is about combining handicrafts and heavy metal in a super unique way. Unfortunately the championships were held last weekend in Finland, but if you get practising, there’s always next year!
52 Weeks of Scarves: Beautiful Patterns for Year-round Knitting by Laine
Who doesn’t love a scarf? 52 projects have been collated by leading knitwear designers from across the world and showcase an exceptionally wide range of yarns, techniques and difficulty levels. Nothing brings more comfort than a hand-knitted scarf – from a light wrap for cool shoulders on summer evenings or spring mornings, to a beautiful shawl as the centrepiece of autumnal outfits, or a cosy collar to be layered under winter coats. Whether you’re creating a shawl for yourself or a cowl for a loved one, there’s care in every stitch. Knitting is more than just knit, knit, purl. It is a feeling. This stunning book contains a beautiful scarf pattern for every week of the year.
Harry Potter Knitting Magic: More Patterns from Hogwarts and Beyond by Tanis Gray
Featuring over 28 projects pictured in gorgeous full-colour photography, Harry Potter: Knitting Magic, Volume 2 includes patterns for toys, apparel, and costume replicas pulled straight from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. Harry Potter: Knitting Magic, Volume 2 also includes fun facts, original costume sketches, film stills, and other behind-the-scenes treasures. It is the perfect gift for lovers of the original Knitting Magic and Harry Potter fans everywhere.
Knitting for Beginners: The Ultimate Craft Guide by Rachel McGregor
Sometimes you just need to start at the beginning. Are you looking for a complete beginners step by step guide to knitting, or do you want to get a knitting project going but are unable to work out on what you would like to do? then this is the best book for you. Start creating projects, with this complete book you won’t feel lost in between steps and end up getting tangled in a knot. knitting For Beginners is a fab book for all knitting novices.
Contemplative Knitting by Julie Cicora
Contemplative Knitting shows how knitting creates connections and communities, and how the repetition of knitting can be calming. Julie Cicora discusses in Comemplative Knitting how the act of ‘pearl one knit one’ can take the stress of the everyday away and calm the mind. This book is for those knitters looking to connect themselves a little deeper to their craft.
The Power of Knitting: Stitching Together Our Lives in a Fractured World by Loretta Napoleoni
In a fractured world plagued by anxiety and loneliness, knitting is coming to the rescue of people from all walks of life. Economist and lifelong knitter Loretta Napoleoni unveils the hidden power of the purl and stitch mantra- an essential tool for the survival of our species, a means for women to influence history, a soothing activity to calm us, and a powerful metaphor of life. This book is a voyage through our history following the yarn of social, economic and political changes – from ancient Egypt and Peru to modern Mongolia, from the spinning bees of the American Revolution to the knitting spies of World War II, and from the hippies’ rejection of consumerism to yarn-bombing protests against climate change. For the author it is also a personal journey of discovery and salvation, drawing on the wisdom her grandmother passed along as they knit together. Revealing recent discoveries in neuroscience, The Power of Knitting offers proof of the healing powers of knitting on our bodies and minds. Breaking through societal barriers, even nursing broken hearts, and helping to advance cutting-edge science, knitting is still a valuable instrument for navigating our daily lives.
The Beginner’s Knitting Manual: The Ultimate Book of Tips and Techniques by Debbie Tomkies
Learning to knit can be frustrating when it takes too much time and effort to begin your first project. The Beginner’s Knitting Manual introduces an array of stylish projects that offer a quick start. Even if you’ve never tried to knit, you’ll find that it offers plenty of chances to make something interesting, satisfying, practical, and beautiful.
Step-by-step instructions, accompanied by full-colour photos and stitch patterns, are suitable for intermediate-level knitters as well as beginners.
Enjoy!
Textile artist Magda Sayeg transforms urban landscapes into her own playground by decorating everyday objects with colorful knit and crochet works. These warm, fuzzy “yarn bombs” started small, with stop sign poles and fire hydrants in Sayeg’s hometown, but soon people found a connection to the craft and spread it across the world.
They may have been scratchy, they may have been too small, the sleeves were often a little tight but they were made with love. Hands up who had a home-made jumper for school when you were little?
We are exploring all things knitting this week (perfect timing with this freezing Melbourne Winter) so if you have been thinking about learning how to wrestle those knitting needles then this week’s blog is for you. Be sure to pop back on Thursday to have a read.
Photography is often a skill to learn sitting on people’s hobby wish-lists and it is no secret that Team Booko loves taking photos too. We have scoured the internet looking for books to not only inspire you but to also offer tips and tricks for those who would like to take a plunge into this creative world.
It would be remiss of us to share our favourite photography books and not include our very own photographic inspiration based here in Melbourne in the form of Chris Cincotta. Chris is behind the lens of the Humans In Melbourne facebook page (you can follow his work here) and @melbourneiloveyou on Instagram. Chris takes a photo each and shares it every day and, not surprisingly, has some wonderful coffee table books available on his website.
Understanding Street Photography: An Introduction to Shooting Compelling Images on the Street by Bryan Peterson
Discover the secrets to mastering street photography from an acclaimed international photographer, teacher, and best-selling author, Bryan Peterson. Street photography enables us to experience the world through a new lens. In Understanding Street Photography, readers will learn the techniques behind images taken around the globe, from the vibrant streets of Varanasi, India, to the crowded walkways of the Charles Bridge in Prague, and so many other corners of the world. In this master class, street photography is defined as images that convey evidence of human interaction, whether that’s a striking cityscape, an image of rush-hour foot traffic, the remains of a half-eaten sandwich, or a pedestrian portrait. Along the way, Peterson shares 120 “mini diaries” the story behind each image; the thought process; the arrangement of the composition; the psychology of the colours; and the lens, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO for readers to replicate his work. Professional and aspiring photographers alike will learn how to produce posed and candid compositions, capture light and movement, and work with shadows, weather, and architecture, and hone your craft. Through lessons, exercises, and anecdotes, Peterson shares his best tips for capturing the unpredictable world of urban life in motion.
Photographers on Photography by Henry Carroll
Think you know photography? Think again. Through a carefully curated selection of quotes and images, this book reveals what matters most to the masters of photography. With accompanying text by Henry Carroll, author of the internationally bestselling Read This If You Want To Take Great Photographs series, you’ll learn what photography actually means to the giants of the genres and how they developed their distinctive visual styles. Divided into clear sections, quotes offer intimate insights into “the camera”, “the photograph”, “taking pictures”, “style, subject matter and technique” and ultimately answer that all-important question-“what exactly is photography?” in wildlife.
Flora Photographica: The Flower in Contemporary Photography by William A. Ewing and Danaé Panchaud
Vivid, bold, spectacular and unexpected: a definitive overview of one of contemporary photography’s most innovative fields, showcasing flower imagery by more than 120 of the world’s leading practitioners. There has never been a period in photography’s long history – no school, no movement – when flowers have not been a central focus, whether in the form of the classic still life, the botanical study, incorporated into portraiture and studies of the human body, documented in street photography, or used subversively in surrealist collage and montage. Today, flower photography remains in full bloom, with photographers the world over depicting flowers and floral motifs in novel ways. Featuring works by more than 120 photographers, Flora Photographica links the very best of flower photography from the past thirty years with its predecessors. Vibrant and abundant with myriad species of flora, this stunning book is both a celebration of organic beauty and a keen look at the meaning of flowers in human culture – not to mention an insightful look at a key aspect of contemporary photography – making it a must-have publication for lovers of flowers and photography alike.
How I Make Photographs by David Yarrow
For over two decades, legendary British photographer David Yarrow has been putting himself in harm’s way to capture immersive and evocative photography of some of the world’s most revered and endangered animal species. With his images heightening awareness of endangered species and also raising huge sums for charity and conservation, he is one of the most relevant photographers in the world today. Featuring his 150 most iconic photographs, David Yarrow Photography offers a view of some of the world’s most compelling and threatened species. This collection of stunning images, paired with Yarrow’s first-person contextual narrative, offers an insight into a man who will not accept second best in the relentless pursuit of excellence.
Take Photographs, Not Snapshots: The Essential Elements of Photography by Cider Mill Press
There is no reason to be intimidated by your camera, as this book is ideal for the beginner looking to learn more or the professional looking for a quick reference guide on location. Take your photos from so-so to stunning with techniques to help you understand aperture, depth of field, lighting, and composition. With guides for both digital and traditional cameras, as well as smartphones, upgrade your photography game on any platform with ease. Don’t just settle for a good enough picture, become a master photographer with Take Photos, Not Snapshots.
How Do I Photograph A Sunset? by Chris Gatcum
How do we learn? We learn by asking questions. But what if we don’t know what questions we should be asking? Thanks to the digital revolution, photography has never been so popular, and whether you shoot on a phone or a top-spec DSLR or CSC camera, the urge to improve is relentless. In this book, author Chris Gatcum asks the questions that every photographer will have in mind at some point in their image-making journey, and then answers them in a clear, concise, straightforward and inspirational manner. Laid out in intuitive sections, this book tackles the questions that are on every photographer’s mind, as well as those that they haven’t thought of yet. And with a clear progression through each chapter, from the simple to more complex, the book asks and answers questions to satisfy the complete novice as well as the advanced practitioner.
Enjoy!
The photo director for National Geographic, David Griffin knows the power of photography to connect us to our world. In this Ted Talk filled with glorious images, he talks about how we all use photos to tell our stories.
“They” say that taking the perfect photo of an egg is one of the hardest things for a photographer to do. If you could take one brilliant photo, what would your subject be?
This month on the blog we’re diving into the wonderful world of acquiring new skills. This week it’s photography. Whether you’re a complete novice, or have been snapping for a while, we’ll have something for you.
He’s covered animals, plants, marine life and the climate and remains at the top of his game being the voice of our planet. Which Attenborough series has been your favourite over the years?
