Cathy Teesdale

Like her counter-part, Brandon Stanton’s book Humans of New York, Teesdale travels the streets of London taking photos of interesting individuals and taking short interviews.  Many are mundane – mums in the sun with babies, people on the way to work.  More often though, they are extremely …

Danny Wallace

The rise of social media makes the idea of losing track of friends seem a bit quaint. But even if you are “friends” with some of your former classmates, co-workers or other pals on Facebook or Twitter, its not the same thing as seeing them in the flesh …

The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations

Micro Nations

Micronations, sometimes also referred to as model countries and new country projects, are small, self-proclaimed entities that claim to be independent sovereign states but which are not acknowledged as such by any recognized sovereign state, or by any supranational organization. Wikipedia

As with every new hobby, I needed All The Books from the library. A few of my particular favorites included:

Paper Cut by Owen Gildersleeve

Helen MusselwhiteThis collection of works by paper artists includes short interviews on the artist’s design background, how they got started in paper art, and a few …

Lark Books

Most people hearing the words “seed beads” probably think of Native American clothing and hippie bracelets. The master beadweavers in this book go far beyond the traditional decorations.  From modern covered vases, kimonos, sculptures , plants, flowers and sea creatures these pieces of art are fantastically detailed and …

The Urban HermitSam Macdonald

Sam Macdonald was a fat, broke failure. His social life consisted of sitting on a bar-stool all night. His apartment, he noted, was the “brownest” place he had ever lived. Mustering the reserves of a truly desperate man, he decided to go on a starvation diet to loose …

The Year of YesMaria Dahvana Headley

I’m not sure what made me pick this book up. Like the musical Avenue Q, it is on the surface remarkably funny – chock full of those embarrassing/funny stories that happen to frequently. However, once you look through the veneer of humor Headley’s story is both sad …