If you love jewelry and history

Then you have to read Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession and how desire shapes the World.  I've been reading it over the past several weeks and it's fascinating how much jewelry has influenced and changed our world.

There is no denying that what has shaped humans and culture is our handmade objects, our inventiveness specifically with ceramics and jewelry.  It is how anthropologists and archaeologists have learned about our past.

I'm loving this book for the drama and the fact that I learn about jewelry and historical facts, such as how the French Revolution began. I'm making it a goal to read more this year and take time to learn more of the history behind jewelry so this was a perfect match!

As always thank you for reading and have a lovely weekend!

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How Animals Grieve

This morning as I was perusing posts on FB I saw one that caught my eye, a brief interview on NPR about this wonderful book by anthropologist Barbara J. King, How Animals Grieve. 

The research and King's statements on the many and various ways that animals can have emotions is very interesting to me.  Animals can experience pain, just as humans can but I think when it comes to grief, happiness and jealousy it can be trickier to discern.  I've always felt that you must have very large respect and caution with animals because as much as we'd like to think we are communicating with them, they are also instinctual and do not have the thought capacity that we do.

This post could go on and I probably wouldn't make much sense (since I'm not the best at writing philosophically); nonetheless it is fascinating to muse and think about.  I plan on buying the book soon, and hopefully read at the beach this summer.  I hope that this post gives you pause for thought and thank you for reading!

Cover of King's book. 

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habit forming

I'm trying to get some Summer reading in but it's been hard! This week I was busy every night, nonetheless I'm determined.

If you've got a creative block or need some ideas on a breakthrough I highly recommend Twyla Tharps's The Creative Habit. I got it yesterday in the mail and I haven't been able to put it down.

Twyla gives simple yet provoking methods for catching those droplets of inspiration. I'm only on chapter 2 and I'm already analyzing my own habits and rituals.

The Creative Habit is a great book for any kind of profession, not just 'creative' professions. Because honestly, creativity is needed in almost anything you do on a daily basis.

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