One thing that I do for all classes is ask everyone to go around and list a guilty-pleasure tv show (though what is there to be guilty about if it brings you pleasure) and a good book you’ve recently read or a podcast to share.
Not only does this exercise help to break the ice and get everyone talking but it also results in an amazing list of recommendations and things to check out. I’ve been meaning to share them after each class. Here’s what was said at yesterday’s Textural Wall Hanging class along with pictures from the day:
Books Recommended:
- The Astonishing Color of After – A YA book about a half-Taiwanese girl going through emotional family stuff and their history.
- Color: A Natural History of the Palette – What was said about it: “You learn about colors like ochre and where it originated from and how it evolved and all the different colors of ochre that there actually are.”
- Open Book by Jessica Simpson
- The Dutch House, because Ann Patchett
- An interesting article from a weekly Spoonflower email about a woman who does historical research related to sewing. (Will try to find the link to the email)
- Yes, Please – the autobiography of Amy Poehler because she’s funny. Interesting insight into the improv process and we love her mission to empower girls. (Side note, my tween daughter loves watching Making It. It’s a sweet crafting challenge show and perfect for watching together as a family curled up on the couch.)
- City of Girls – What was said about it: “I love books about bad women. This one touches on a woman in war, showbiz and NYC.”
- Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert’s (author of the above title) book on creativity and the process that challenges preconceived notions about what it means to be an artist but also a professional. Mostly, she encourages us to get over ourselves and just do it. Highly recommend listening to her read it on audiobook.
- Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self Delusion – What was said about it: “The interesting ways that our economy has been influenced by social media, different essays about how we use these modern things instead of connecting as actual people.”
- The Desire Map
- Matter & Desire: An Erotic Ecology
- Average Is The New Awesome
Guilty-Pleasure / Bingeable TV Shows:
- The Bachelor
- CBS Sunday Morning
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (not the Sabrina The Teenage Witch we grew up with)
- Grace and Frankie
- Gray’s Anatomy
- Love Is Blind
- Dickinson
- YouTube: BuzzFeed Unsolved
Podcasts:
- 90% Invisible Podcast
- Over The Road podcast – What was said: “A new podcast about long haul trucking witha trucker host with a smooth 60 minutes voice, talking about all the lingo and the jargon.”
- My Favorite Murder
- Song Exploder – What was said: “They interview musical artists and talk through their process of making their songs. It is interesting to go into their artist process and compare with others artists process and the equipment they use etc.”
- The Ezra Klein Show
Did you miss this class? We might host another on a Friday evening in March. Would you be interested? If so, email me to find out more. What is a good book you have recently read and your favorite bingeable/distracted watching and scrolling type show? I’d love to hear your picks in the comments section.
Photos by Michelle Smith Creative for Gather Goods Co
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