Don’t hate me

As the weather changes and gets cooler, many of us begin to direct our thoughts to indoor pursuits. Images of cozying up with a cat in front of the television with a bowl of chili and a knitting project float through my mind’s eye. You may imagine yourself cutting up pumpkins, watching football, or even getting ready for Christmas.

“Christmas! How dare you bring that up now! You’re worse than the department stores!” you may be growling. Well, maybe I am worse than department stores, but today I would like to offer you an alternative to the yearly holiday maddening crowds as well as the oft-overwhelming expense of showing our appreciation for our loved ones.

The First Floor of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is hosting a book display with myriad ideas for making gifts and getting your home ready for the holidays. How does an evening making Chocolate-Vanilla Parfait Cream Soap sound?  Or, if you like to burn things, bring back the lost art of pyrography.  Then, spice up your house while making Spicy Clove Candles. Here are a few other items on the display and call numbers to assist in finding similar titles in the library:

• Fold It: Beyond Traditional Origami: Greeting Cards, Books, Boxes, and More DVD TT 870.F62945 2004

• Chip Carving with Wayne Barton DVD TT 199.7.C4585 2006

• Candlemaking for the First Time TT 896.5.C365 2001

• Last-Minute Fabric Gifts: 30 Hand-Sew, Machine-Sew & No-Sew Projects TT 699.T72 2006

• Paper Art Workshop Handmade Gifts q TT 157.B56 2006

• Knit Christmas Stockings! 19 Patterns for Stockings & Ornaments q TT 825.K6233 2003

• The Big Book of Handmade Cards and Gift Wrap q TT 872.B65 2004

We have these and many, many, many more. And remember, there are only 105 crafting days until Christmas!

–Bonnie