Simple times by written by Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello — Fans of Sedaris' I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence will not be disappointed by her latest guide. Now is the time to be thrifty and to embellish your life with your crafty skills while you scrimp and save. No one crafts like Amy Sedaris, but you can try to imitate her by following her instructions. BONUS: the images in this book are simultaneously gorgeous and hilarious, and there are even illustrations by renaissance guy Justin Theroux.

Illustrated guide to sewing home furnishings : expert techniques for creating custom shades, drapes, slipcovers and more — Have you ever seen a gorgeous fabric in the store but thought you didn't have the skills to make it into curtains, a pillow, or a slipcover? Look no further, this book has clear instructions that will allow you to teach yourself as you go. It includes a variety of techniques as well as instructions for calculating yardage and other seemingly tricky parts of the process.

Success with small-space gardening by Graham Clarke — Many people would like to have a garden, but find that they are limited by a lack of space. Perhaps you  have a small yard, or your homeowner association or condo board limits your options. You can still have a beautiful and even productive garden, no matter how small. This book show how to design for whatever space you have available, using clever and unusual but easily executed techniques.

Handmade beginnings : 24 sewing projects to welcome baby by Anna Maria Horner — This lovely book has a variety of projects for the mother- and father-to-be, the baby, and the baby's nursery. The creations are photographed in a simple, elegant style, and the instructions and patterns are all very clear and easy to parse even for a beginning sewer.

As the holiday season continues on into the month remember to include reading of This Old House magazine. The Dec/2010 issue of TOH includes several informative articles on inexpensive homeowner gifts and their assessment of the best product picks for 2010. This Old House is part of the library's print magazine collection and is published monthly.

The tulip anthology photographs by Ron Van Dongen; foreword by Anna Pavord; edited by Billie Lythberg — Tulips are one of the most ubiquitous flowers seen in spring, and they have been written about, cultivated, and sought after for ages. This gorgeous oversize book presents color photos accompanied by information, poetry, and facts.

Don't settle for an average home when you can have a fabulous home with the advice decorator Marleen Prater of Remix Designs. Marleen will share her secrets for affordable re-mixed decorating to have your home looking its very best for the holidays. Join us on Thursday, December 16 at 7:00PM in the Community Room. No registration is necessary.

The Dec/2010 issue of U.S. News contains 50 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2011. Articles concerning your health, money, career, mind and the world are included. Please note this will be the last issue of U.S. News & World Report. This magazine will no longer be published as a print or digital replica magazine. The U.S. Media group will continue to publish the usnews.com website.

How to grow practically everything by Zia Allaway, Lia Leendertz — This hefty volume is truly chock full of ideas for gardening projects. From creating garden beds to container gardening to edibles to attracting wildlife, this book really covers a lot of ground (ha!). Beginners will find the introductory sections useful, while more seasoned gardeners will be able to jump in to the particular project that suits their interest.

The renowned Joe Gagnon, aka The Appliance Doctor, tells us how to spend our money wisely when purchasing large appliances, so we get the most bang for our hard-earned bucks. The doctor also shares when it is time to replace or repair an appliance, based on his years of expertise. We all know and love Joe Gagnon from radio and newspaper columns — now is your opportunity to meet and talk in person on Thursday, December 2 at 7:00PM in the Community Room. No registration needed.

Great gardens of America by Tim Richardson ; photographs by Andrea Jones — From New York to California, Ohio to Florida, this beautiful book features full-color photographs of gardens all over the United States and Canada. The gardens range from formal to meadow to whimsical, and you'll not only get ideas for your own garden, but perhaps even ideas of places you'd like to visit.

I am an excellent armchair decorator. This does not mean that I like to decorate armchairs. No, I like to sit in my cozy chair, poring over lovely oversized books on interior decorating, and fantsize over the house I might someday have. And this month's bumper crop of design books offers plenty to dream about.

Alexa Hampton: the language of interior design by Alexa Hampton

Timeless elegance: the houses of David Easton by David Easton with Annette Tapert

A virtual cornucopia of foods and other items for your Thanksgiving feast will be available to buy at Canton's Fall Harvest Market this Sunday, November 21, from 9:00AM to 2:00PM at the Cady-Boyer Barn, in Preservation Park at 500 N. Ridge Rd. (approx. 1/4 mile north of Cherry Hill Rd.). Nearly two dozen local Michigan farmers and vendors will offer market favorites, including: turkeys, pie pumpkins, farm eggs, apples, spices, cider, natural meats, stuffing, artisan breads, salad greens, winter squash, sausage, pasta, honey, pies and other baked goods, pierogi, flower arrangements, dog treats and much more. Some vendors are taking pre-orders for your convenience.

Romantic gardens : nature, art, and landscape design by Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Elizabeth S. Eustis, John Bidwell — Gardening season is winding down here, but we can always go to a book like this to tide us over. The authors focus on gardens of all types in the Romantic period and include drawings, paintings, and hand-drawn landscape plans of the era. Art lovers and history buffs will enjoy this just as much as gardeners.

Jeffrey Bilhuber's design basics: expert solutions for designing the house of your dreams by Jeffrey Bilhuber with Annette Tapert; foreword by Anna Wintour

Interior inspirations by Roger Banks-Pye; Colefax and Fowler; photography by James Merrell

Decorating details: projects and ideas for a more comfortable, more beautiful home: the best of Martha Stewart living by Stewart, Martha

Do you believe you can make a difference and help change the world?

Stephen Forrest will talk about his experiences with his "off-the-grid" house in Vermont. Forrest is Vice President of Research at the University of Michigan as well as a Professor of Engineering, Computer Science, and Physics.

Dr. Forrest will speak at the Hatcher Library Gallery at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor on Tuesday, October 26, from 5:30-7:00PM.

The nonstop garden : a step-by-step guide to smart plant choices and four-season landscapes by Stephanie Cohen & Jennifer Benner — We would all love for our gardens to be bursting with color and interest all year long, but it takes a little planning to achieve. Cohen and Benner offer a number of strategies for designing a year-round garden and have included ten design plans for those just starting as well as loads of suggestions for trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and more.

Guide to Michigan vegetable gardening by James A. Fizzell

This is the ultimate guide to veg gardening in Michigan and includes just about everything you could ever want to know about growing your own food here in MI. In addition to full sections on virtually all the vegetables you might want to grow, this book also includes up-to-date county extension information, a hardiness zone (we're 6a here in Canton) map, and freeze. frost and precipitation details. Definitely recommended for local gardeners at all levels of experience.

Incredible edibles : 43 fun things to grow in the city by Sonia Day ; photography Barrie Murdock

If you're looking for a few good edibles to grow, this book is a great place to start. Even if you only have a patio, balcony, or other limited area, almost all of these 43 plants are doable. These edibles are also versatile ingredients for a home cook, and are for the most part quite easy to grow. Large, crisp photographs make this book a winner.

Starter vegetable gardens : 24 no-fail plans for small organic gardens by Barbara Pleasant ; photography by John Gruen

For experienced or beginner gardeners, this book has a wealth of resources for planning your veggie patch. As advertised in the title, there are 24 garden plans, but there is also a ton of really useful information about many of the plants you may want to grow. For instance, did you know that mulching your potato plants with straw can help deter Colorado Potato Beetles? See page 116 for more on that, and don't miss all the other great info included in this book.