Jill Martinson

With the holidays drawing near, it’s the perfect time to create handmade gifts. Smiley Library has a large crafting collection suitable for all skill levels and interests. Our books will be sure to spark ideas for those who appreciate quilting, jewelry making, sewing, rock painting, origami, paper craft, embroidery, and so many other endeavors. Adding a personal touch to your gifts is fun, thoughtful, and one-of-a-kind.

I love the idea of enjoying the outdoors while collecting supplies for a crafting creation. “52 Nature Craft Projects” by Barbora Kurcova showcases designs using nature’s beauty. Instead of buying store-bought wrapping paper, scout out acorns and fir branches, dip them into paint and press their shapes onto brown paper. Tie it up with a pretty ribbon for a unique gift wrap. If you’re looking for a beautiful autumn present, try the Conker Wreath project, made of acorns, pine cones, and foraged fall treasures. The Twig Letter project, which details how to bend twigs into a chosen letter, creates a striking and personalized initial to hang on a door or wall. If you decide to head out to the San Bernardino National Forest, check with the local ranger station first to see what rules apply for collecting forest items, such as pine cones or greenery. A permit may be required. Other outdoor places to find supplies may be Christmas tree lots or perhaps, even your own backyard. Kurcova’s book is filled with projects that are enjoyable, natural, and best of all simple.

“Mini Amigurumi Animals: 26 Tiny Creatures to Crochet” by Sarah Abbondio is perfect for crochet fans who have a little leftover yarn they need to use. These cute creatures will be great toppers for presents, tree ornaments, or additions to a key ring. Clear instructions and patterns are provided. Although the book is written in UK crochet terms, Abbondio provides equivalent terms for those in the U.S. With so many different animals to choose from, you’ll be sure to find a favorite or two. Make a whole troop of monkeys, a skulk of foxes, a tower of giraffes, or a scurry of squirrels.

For those with a newborn or infant in their lives, “One-Stitch Baby Knits: 22 Easy Patterns for Adorable Garments and Accessories Using Garter Stitch” by Val Pierce will help you create something truly special. Pierce takes you step-by-step through each project, incorporating color pictures and skill level ratings so you know which project to tackle first. The Striped Yoke Cardigan and Sleepy Cow Hat and Drawstring Mittens are darling.

On order and available for checkout soon, knitters will also enjoy “Knit Hats with Woolly Wormhead: Styles for the Whole Family” by Woolly Wormhead. Her innovative hats have such a fun sense of fashion and flair. This is definitely one to look out for.

Don’t worry if you’re brand new to a certain craft; just find something that interests you and begin. If all else fails, you can always strive to get your project into a book like “CraftFail: When Homemade Goes Terribly Wrong” by Heather Mann.

For my first needle felting project, I tried sculpting a bee and for some reason, it came out looking like it had a head of short spiky hair. Basically, it had a “buzz cut,” which in retrospect is quite the appropriate hairdo for a bee.

Photography is an expressive, creative, and enjoyably challenging way to capture a moment in time and I’ve always appreciated the process of striving for that perfect shot. Whether you’re using a DSLR, mirrorless, point and shoot, smart phone or film camera, the first step to taking great photographs is to become educated about your gear. Smiley Library’s photography books will not only teach you how to use your equipment, but will help with technique, composition and taking the best possible pictures you can. Here are a few of our latest offerings.

There is a real knack for taking natural-looking photographs that convey personality, especially with a camera-shy kid or one who is unamused and completely “over” getting her picture taken. Tamara Lackey takes you along on her own photo shoots in “The Posing Playbook for Photographing Kids,” all while describing the process she uses to get outstanding images. Personality types, gear, lighting, composition, shooting indoors and out is all explored and explained. Whether you are photographing your own kids or others, you’ll want to incorporate her valuable ideas and take images with charisma.

Filled with stunning photographs and innovative ideas, Glenn Randall’s “The Art, Science, and Craft of Great Landscape Photography” is an enlightening book of outdoor photography. An intermediate to advanced book geared towards those who already have a basic understanding of photography, Randall analyzes the science behind capturing beautiful nature photographs. He shares his principles of scouting, such as acquainting yourself with an area and having an image in mind, before heading out to a shoot. He details how to determine the positions of the sun and moon to best set up your shots. From the formation of rainbows to capturing the Milky Way, there is a lot to learn here and this is one book that you’ll want to devote some time to explore.

Pet photography is so much fun and those blessed with animal friends love to show off pictures of their goofy smiles and silly antics. “How to Take Awesome Photos of Cats” by Andrew Marttila is loaded with helpful suggestions and photos of animated feline furballs. Marttila investigates cat behavior as well, while teaching you all the photography basics you’ll need to enhance your skills. Don’t worry, I’m currently on the hunt for a book to teach my fellow dog lovers how to get awesome photos too.

Smiley Library is continually expanding its circulating collections and searching for the best books we can find. Here are even more brand-new additions to our photography collection ready for you to take home and enjoy.

• “Digital Photographer’s Handbook” by Tom Ang
• “Digital SLR Photography All-in-One for Dummies” by Robert Correll
• “National Geographic Photo Basics: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Great Photography” by Joel Sartore
• “Smartphone Photography in Easy Steps: Covers iPhones and Android Phones” by Nick Vandome

One, two, three…say cheese!

Smiley Library was fortunate to recently add a great selection of music books representing diverse genres to our circulating collection. Jazz enthusiasts enjoyed “Straighten Up and Fly Right: the Life and Music of Nat King Cole” by Will Friedwald. Country music lovers learned the background stories behind the songs in the autobiography “Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics” available in both print and audio. Popular music listeners got a peek into Jeff Buckley’s thoughts and inspirations in “Jeff Buckley: His Own Voice: Journals, Objects and Ephemera.”

The following items highlight music from a much earlier time period, including the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras. This rich musical history dates from the 1600s through around 1900, with familiar names like Vivaldi, Beethoven and Liszt. Take a closer look at our classical music books and compact discs available for checkout.

Exceptionally detailed and entertaining, “Mozart: the Reign of Love” by Jan Swafford will tell you absolutely everything you want to know about the Austrian composer born in 1756 who died at the young age of 35. Wolfgang Mozart was a musical prodigy performing in front of royal courts at an early age. At seven, his father Leopold showcased his and his sister Nannerl’s talents, touring them across Europe for three years, traveling thousands of miles and stopping in 88 cities. At eight, Mozart wrote his first symphony, his first opera at 11. Swafford provides a comprehensive overview of Mozart’s musical influences, tours in Italy and time in Vienna. His personal life, marriage, friendships and frustrations are fully explored. From the progression of his career to the keys he wrote his operas in, even Mozart aficionados will learn something new and acquire an appreciation of the man behind the music.

Interesting short entries, biographical backgrounds and beautiful pictures comprise “Composers: Their Lives and Works” by DK Publishing. Featured composers commence in the 11^th century with Italian monk, Guido d’Arezzo, considered the inventor of modern musical staff notation. You’ll proceed throughout history, examining key works and visiting various time periods before reaching the final entry with British composer Judith Weir, born in 1954. This is a wonderful book to peruse and quite a resource for those new to classical music.

Your education won’t be complete without taking time to listen to the expressive and beautiful pieces classical music offers. Smiley Library’s circulating compact disc collection is the perfect way to become acquainted with this passionate music and broaden your aural pallet. Vivladi’s Four Seasons, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake are just a few of the pieces you can check out on CD.

If you get the chance to attend a live performance, it’s such a rewarding experience. The Redlands Bowl is presenting fantastic concerts in 2021, both virtual and live. In-person concerts include classical, taiko drumming, Latin big band, the music of India and Brazil. For information and updates, visit www.redlandsbowl.org.

Founded in 1950, the Redlands Symphony has continually provided outstanding, high-quality performances for the community. Definitely make time to hear them once they are back in the concert hall again. www.redlandssymphony.com

When visiting the Smiley Library this coming July, note the display case next to the main circulation desk. It’s dedicated to classical music, and we’ll have some of our favorite books ready for you to take home.

Welcome to the theater! You’re just in time for the previews. I see that you’ve got your popcorn and drinks. I’ll show you to your seats.

New books celebrating the cinema are ready for circulation at Smiley Library. You’ll get to meet notable actors and directors, learn a bit about old Hollywood, and receive great DVD suggestions too. Hurry now, the lights are dimming and the curtain is just opening. Please sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

It’s hard to think of Alfred Hitchcock without picturing the infamous “shower scene” with Janet Leigh from the movie Psycho. If you’ve watched some of his classics, you’ll enjoy reading the history behind each masterpiece in “Alfred Hitchcock: The Complete Films.” This guide covers the early silent years to his final film in 1976. Brief background stories of his 53 movies along with accompanying stills give insight into one of the most prominent men in film. This would be a fun book to become acquainted with his prolific films, many of which may be brand new to you and some you may wish to add to your watch list.

Matthew McConaughey admirers will enjoy this next book. From his supporting role in Dazed and Confused to his Oscar-winning performance in Dallas Buyers Club, McConaughey has starred in numerous movies becoming a well-known celebrity. Now, with his first memoir “Greenlights” on the Los Angeles and New York Times bestseller lists, he’s proven to be just as popular as an author. Through a collection of candid personal stories, poems, and experiences drawn from a journal he has kept for the last 36 years, he shares insights explaining what it means to have “greenlights” in your life; affirmations you’re heading in the right direction. Full of stories from his childhood, world travels, career and family, he analyzes the moments that life gave him the go-ahead, and how to recognize and embrace that. An entertaining examination into a life as only Matthew could tell it.

Take a step back in years to old Hollywood with personalities like Rudolph Valentino, Olivia De Havilland, Clark Gable, and Mary Pickford. “This Was Hollywood: Forgotten Stars and Stories” by Carla Valderrama is the perfect overview of Hollywood during its Golden Age. Full of interesting history, trivia and a touch of scandal, even classic movie buffs will find a treasury of remarkable facts to learn here. Did you know Rita Hayworth was a “painfully shy” girl with long black hair dancing in a nightclub act with her father in Tijuana before becoming a Hollywood screen idol? Learn about the incredible talent of the Nicholas Brothers, dancing at the legendary Cotton Club. I’m sure you’ve heard of Rin Tin Tin, but how about Puzzums, “the most human cat in pictures?” This charming book has a wonderful “old school” vibe with abundant vintage photos and graphics.

Additional New Books Celebrating the Big Screen:

• “Apropos of Nothing” by Woody Allen
• “The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood” by Sam Wasson
• “Chasing the Light: Writing, Directing, and Surviving Platoon, Midnight Express, Scarface, Salvador, and the Movie Game” by Oliver Stone
• “The Film Book: A Complete Guide to the World of Film” by Ronald Bergan
• “The Films of Martin Scorsese: Gangsters, Greed, and Guilt” by Eric San Juan Martin
• “Forbidden Hollywood: The Pre-Code Era (1930-1934): When Sin Ruled the Movies” by Mark A. Vieira
• “The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan” by Tom Shone
• “Ripped from the Headlines!: The Shocking True Stories Behind the Movies’ Most Memorable Crimes” by Harold Schechter

Many films and works from the directors mentioned above are available for viewing from our extensive DVD collection. Familiar favorites like Psycho, Taxi Driver, Dallas Buyers Club, Batman Begins, Platoon, and Annie Hall as well as other classics, new releases, documentaries, musicals, adult and children’s titles are ready for you to check out, take home and enjoy.

In addition to our DVDs, you can stream classic, independent, foreign and educational films for free with a Smiley Library card through our Kanopy database. There are so many great films to watch here; I highly recommend taking a look.

For many years, the simple act of tending plants has brought a touch of joy into my life. Swirls of sweet peas climbing a trellis, fragrant rosemary plucked and ready to enrich a tomato sauce, a cheeky little gopher munching away in the carrot patch. Oh wait, that last example didn’t exactly incite a joyous feeling! Nevertheless, late winter is the perfect time to start planning your spring garden and I definitely hear mine beckoning. You can even mail order your plants, like I did with my olive trees, no thicker than a pencil when they arrived, now fruitful and towering as an impressive grove. Your efforts will result in a beautiful garden ready to emerge and befriend you for another season.

“Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden” by Jessica Walliser is an informative book explaining how pairing certain vegetables in your garden will improve soil, yield a more productive crop, attract beneficial insects and strengthen resistance to disease. Her organic approach and suggestions are all backed by studies. Lure pests away from your harvest crops by trap cropping. If aphids are attacking your collards, try drawing them off by interplanting calendula. This will deter aphids from eating the collards and attract beneficial bugs to control the aphid population. Other suggestions include cover crops to improve soil and living mulches to discourage weeds. This interesting book offers creative ways to produce a thriving vegetable garden.

No matter where they live, all gardeners experience challenges along their growing pathways. In my own garden, I’ve had a late frost turn my lettuce bed into an icy tundra right out of the movie Frozen. Disappointing, yes, but I did let it go. It’s always interesting to see how fellow gardeners respond to their own challenges. Although based out of Novia Scotia, Niki Jabbour’s “Growing Under Cover: Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free Vegetable Garden” has innovative solutions, even for us Californians. Here are some of her great takeaways. Make a cold frame for starting seeds using a recycled window sash. Plastic PVC pipe or metal tubes can be used to make small and large hoop frames, perfect for wind and pest protection. Shade cloth extends the spring season and more importantly for us, prevents sun scald on leaves and vegetables once the heat begins. While our weather may be quite different, it’s how we respond to it that makes each garden special. Many of these ideas, thoughts, and tips will give you the confidence to start your own special garden. Niki clearly has found a way to make growing under cover work for her. You can too.

There is nothing like using home-grown herbs to enhance your culinary creations. They smell great and taste so fresh. “Grow Your Own Herbs: the 40 Best Culinary Varieties for Home Gardens” by Susan Belsinger and Arthur O. Tucker is the perfect gardening book for anyone who loves to cook. The authors provide an overview of each herb, the type of conditions they grow in and a color photograph for identification. They include plant characteristics and flavors, harvesting and preserving ideas, and suggestions on how to use them in your cooking. There are appetizing recipes too, like herb pastes, herb vinegar and herb butter. Garlic, basil, cilantro and mint may be familiar names, but have you tried stevia, lovage, or saffron? Whether you grow them inside on a sunny windowsill or outside, they’ll add amazing flavor to all your dishes.

Enjoy these gardening books and a large selection of others, available through our Books to Go service. The details are on our website at www.akspl.org. Start gardening now; it’s time to get growing!