Sew Kawaii: 22 Simple Sewing Projects for Cool Kids of All Ages, by Choly Knight

 Sew Kawaii: 22 Simple Sewing Projects for Cool Kids of All Ages, by Choly Knight, 176 pages
As a lover of all things "kawaii," I thought that these projects were very cute, but dare I say it, almost too cutesy for me.  They were mainly plush, stuffed toys or clothing- perfect if you know a young fan of anime/manga/Hello Kitty or maybe if you are a young fan at heart.  The best thing in here for me was a sushi quilt- each block in the quilt was a different type of sushi roll.  The directions aren't as step-by-step as a novice like me really needed, but you can figure most of it out.

Sewing in a Straight Line, by Brett Bara

 Sewing in a Straight Line, by Brett Bara, 160 pages

This was a really good book of projects for someone with very very very limited (read: no) skill with a sewing machine.  The one-hour skirt definitely took me longer than an hour, but it was absolutely accessible and even though I'll probably never wear it, it gave me some confidence to try other projects.  There are some basic quilt patterns in here that even I could attempt (although it will take far longer than an hour).  I would highly recommend this to someone who doesn't know how to sew but would like to try to learn.

The Hobo Handbook by Josh Mack

The Hobo Handbook: A Field Guide to Living by your Own Rules by Josh Mack, 240 pages

The title says it all. This is a how-to book for being a hobo, which is different from a vagabond and a bum.  The book provides the reader with the insight to being a hobo, which is much more than strapping on a bindle and hopping on the next freight train.  No, hobo culture is rich and deep, go so far as to having the National Hobo Convention, held annually since 1889, and a Hobo Code of Ethics, decided upon and approved at the first convention.  And although hoboing may be a dying trend, they are still out there.  The modern hobo exists and has adapted to modern society.  Instead of thumbing for rides or hopping freights, the hobo will be more likely to use the internet to find a ride.

The book was full of information.  Granted I'm not overly sure how useful most of it will be, but it was definitely an entertaining read.

101 Essential Tips: Hiking

101 Essential Tips: Hiking by Hugh McManners a DK publication, 72 pages.

Hiking is a wonderful form of outdoor exercise. This little book contains 101 tips on how to make an enjoyable start in a lifelong pursuit. The book is broken into six sections from “Preparing to Walk” through “Personal Safety”. Though I would have liked to see more in the sections on knots, I found the book to be a good read.

The Vegetable Gardener's Book of Building Projects, by Cindy A Littlefield

The Vegetable Gardener's Book of Building Projects, by Cindy A Littlefield, 151 pages

I've been doing a bit of wood-working lately, and I'm anxiously looking forward to planting my veggie garden, so this was the perfect book to read on a slow weekend.  All of the projects in this book are pretty straightforward, easy enough to do with basic tools (the most complex tool required is a jigsaw), and all are pretty practical projects.  Very easy for a non-handy-type to read (after all, I read it).  There are some neat compost containers, raised beds and cold frames that I am contemplating.