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Get Creative or DIY Trying, for adults, from Multcolib

Science suggests that reading can spark creativity and innovation. For a literal take on this concept, check out these books about art, mending, building, doing and making.

Multnomah County Library

23 items

  • Making Things

    Finding Use, Meaning & Satisfaction in Crafting Everyday Objects

    Boyle, Erin,
    Instructions for a number of projects to reuse and repurpose materials.
    Book, 2024Berkeley, CA : Hardie Grant North America, [2024] — 745.5 B7923m 2024
  • Black Girls Gardening

    Empowering Stories and Garden Wisdom for Healing and Flourishing in Nature

    Grossman, Amber,
    Beautiful photography showcases everything from collective plots of land to gorgeous flower gardens, with stories of gardening with children as well as practical tips for starting and maintaining a garden. The author explores the advocacy, activism,…
    Book, 2025San Francisco : Chronicle Books, [2025] — 635.082 G8787b 2025
  • The Art of Cosplay and Creative Makeup

    Create Incredible Looks With Simple Techniques and Affordable Materials

    Peck, Chris (Makeup artist),
    Get out your supplies and become your own beautiful creature.
    Book, 2024Beverly, MA : Rockport Publishers, an imprint of The Quarto Group, 2024. — 646.72 P366a 2024
  • No New Things

    a Radically Simple 30-day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity

    Piper, Ashlee,
    The author offers guidance and action items for readers to take up the challenge of not buying anything. Each week focuses on an aspect of consumerism and includes visualization exercises, reflection sections, and tips to help curb spending.
    Book, 2025New York : Celadon Books, 2025. — 339.47 P6651n 2025
  • Storey's Curious Compendium of Practical and Obscure Skills

    214 Things You Can Actually Learn How to Do

    Make a water filter, dismount a horse in an emergency, navigate by the moon and stars, rewire a table lamp - you never know when you might need to Macgyver some stuff.
    Book, 2020North Adams : Storey Publishing, [2020] — 646.7 S8845 2020
  • Natural Yarn Dyes

    25 Vibrant & Sustainable Recipes

    Bauer, Anna (Textile artist),
    Experiments in color for beginners to those with some dyeing experience.
    Book, 2025Tunbridge Wells, Kent : Search Press, 2025. — 746.13 B3441n 2025
  • Dear Writer

    Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life

    Smith, Maggie, 1977-
    In 20 essays, poet Smith encourages her readers to explore attention, wonder, vision, surprise, play, vulnerability, restlessness, connection, tenacity, and hope.
    Book, 2025New York : Washington Square Press/Atria, 2025. — 153.35 S6551d 2025
  • Joyful Mending

    Visible Repairs for the Perfectly Imperfect Things We Love!

    Misumi, Noriko,
    Fix old items of clothing, linens and household objects by turning tears and flaws into beautiful features.
    Book, 2020Tokyo : Tuttle Publishing, [2020] — 646.6 M67899j 2020
  • The Joy of Pickling

    300 Flavor-packed Recipes for All Kinds of Produce From Garden or Market

    Ziedrich, Linda,
    Book, 2016Beverly, Mass : Harvard Common Press, 2016. — 641.462 Z65j 2016
  • Aguas Frescas & Paletas

    Refreshing Mexican Drinks and Frozen Treats, Traditional and Reimagined

    Sanchez, Ericka,
    Book, 2021Sanger, CA : Familius LLC, [2021] — 641.862 S2113a 2021
  • Big Moe's Big Book of BBQ

    75 Recipes From Brisket and Ribs to Cornbread and Mac and Cheese

    Cason, Moe,
    Book, 2024Washington, D.C. : National Geographic, [2024] — 641.76 C341b 2024
  • The Modern Navajo Kitchen

    Homestyle Recipes That Celebrate the Flavors and Traditions of the Diné

    Yazzie, Alana,
    Book, 2024New York, NY : Wellfleet Press, 2024. — 641.59297 Y35m 2024
  • The author offers thoughtful and clearly explained exercises to improve your daily drawing.
    Book, 2015Woodland Park, New Jersey : Three Minds Press, [2015] — 741.26 D9231p 2015
  • "Begin with a question,// like an acorn/ waiting for spring"
    Book, 2023New York, NY : Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2023] — jE ALEXANDER 2023
  • Anyone Can Play Music

    Unlock Your Musical Potential With the Laws of Brainjo

    Turknett, Josh,
    A neurologist takes a scientific approach to learning an instrument.
    Book, 2025New York : TarcherPerigee, 2025. — 784.071 T9399a 2025
  • DIY Camper & RV Reno

    Restoring and Designing Vintage, Retro, and Classic Trailers and RVs With Nailgun Nelly

    Payne, Janelle,
    A practical, visual guide to restoring that camper that's been sitting in front of your house for a while now.
    Book, 2025Beverly, MA : Cool Springs Press, an imprint of The Quarto Group, 2025. — 629.2876 P3464d 2025
  • A a thoughtful, counterintuitive book about creativity from the celebrated songwriter and leader of the band Wilco.
    Book, 2020[New York, New York] : Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, [2020] — 782.4213 T9712h 2020
  • Music producer Rubin shares a course of study that illuminates the path of the artist as a road we all can follow.
    Book, 2023New York : Penguin Press, 2023. — 153.35 R8965c 2023
  • Joy Harjo, past poet laureate of the U.S., examines the power of words and how poetry summons us toward justice and healing.
    Book, 2022New Haven : Yale University Press, [2022] — 809.93353 H2822c 2022
  • This collection inspired by Sondheim's work explores Sondheim's creative process while revealing how Sondheim’s works can enrich our own lives.
    Book, 2024New York : Atria Books, 2024. — 782.14 S363h 2024