Categories: The Reader

Brighten Up Your Day

This time of year, it begins to feel like winter is never going to end. I am sick of the cold weather and it can be challenging to stay upbeat and positive. Below, I have selected some titles which will hopefully help to brighten up your day. Each book is filled with fun and colourful projects that will inspire you to get creative. Cheer up and add some colour to your life!

Happy Stitch by Jodie Rackley offers 30 different felt and fabric projects to inspire some fun and creative indoor crafting. My favourite project ideas include adorable eReader and laptop cozies, embroidered tote bags, fabric lampshades and reusable felt decorative chains. The book includes templates for all of the projects, advice on supplies, and instructions for all of the techniques and embroidery stitches you will need to know for each of the projects.

100 Best Decorated Cookies: featuring 750 step-by-step photos, written by Julie Anne Hession, is filled with fun, colourful ideas for decorating cookies. What makes this book special is Hession does a fantastic job outlining tools, techniques, icing ingredients, and cookie recipe options. The author has included everything you need to make impressive looking cookies. There are also endless decorating ideas for every season and occasion.

While we are talking about delicious, sugary treats, why not also try Betty Crocker New Cake Decorating? The book includes tips for tinting your own frosting for both cakes and cupcakes. Some of my favourite ideas include the Rainbow Petal Sheet Cake, Watercolour Ombre Cake, Watermelon Cake, and the Piñata Pound Cake featured on the cover.

Crafting a Colorful Home: a room-by-room guide to personalizing your space with color, by Kristin Nicholas, is filled with photographs to inspire you, as well as specific projects that will help you infuse more colour into your home. Perfect for a snow day, projects include hanging embroidery hoop lanterns, a painted coffee table, and stamped tablecloths. For those feeling more adventurous, there is even a section on painting your own mural.

Halifax Libraries

Welcome to The Reader, a blog from the Readers' Services staff at Halifax Public Libraries. Our goal is to create a forum for book news and related discussion among leisure readers. A place for Halifax leisure readers to interact with their library and the larger community of leisure readers.

Share
Published by
Halifax Libraries

Recent Posts

Senior and driver attacked by same suspect, charges laid

HRP release: On December 6 at approximately 12:20 p.m., officers responded to a report of…

6 hours ago

Planning and Successfully Executing an Office Move in Toronto

Organising a move is always a complex undertaking, and when it comes to office moves,…

13 hours ago

Securing Tokenized Wallet Payments in Regulated Gaming

  Source: Pexels One recent trend with regulated gambling platforms in Canada has to do…

2 days ago

(UPDATED 12:55pm Dec 8) Precautionary boil order issued for 2,000 homes as watermain break disrupts service

Updated Dec 8 12:55pm Halifax Water release: The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following update regarding the water…

2 days ago

Special Weather Statement: Alberta clipper brings snow and high winds Monday (Posted Sun Dec 7 10:30 am)

Environment Canada release: 4:41 AM AST Sunday 7 December 2025 Alberta clipper to bring snow…

2 days ago

RCMP lay multiple charges after finding stolen Jeep and replica firearm

RCMP release: Colchester County District RCMP has charged a man after locating a stolen vehicle…

2 days ago