You Know, The One Where...

Old journal cover collage by Donna Kallner

Do you have conversations like this with yourself? "What was the name of that book? Really good book. It was about....something. The author was... it's on the tip of my tongue." I have to hop in the shower regularly in hopes of remembering this stuff, because it only surfaces when it's not possible to jot down specifics.

Which leads me to bibliographies. My web site is getting a makeover, and I'm trying to decide what to do about the bibliographies. I put the link into that sentence, but by next week it may lead nowhere. Not unlike  those start-and-stop conversations amongst me, myself and I.

Back when I was teaching coiling classes, some of my favorite books were out of print or hard to find. A bibliography was really useful for any student who wanted to track down those titles. As for looping? Let's just say, if you run across Odd Nordland's Primitive Scandinavian Textiles In Knotless Netting at a library sale and buy it because of my bibliography, you could show your thanks by getting a second copy for me.

Much as I would like to, I don't own every book I treasure. It's just not in the budget. I do, however, have access to a very good public library where I can arrange interlibrary loans. That's how I got this copy of Digital Textile Design by Melanie Bowles and Ceri Isaac. It's mine, all mine, until next week.

As my work has transitioned toward mixed media textiles and vessels, my thoughts about bibliographies have changed. While some of my favorite books are still long out of print, there are great new books coming out all the time. You can type into a Google Search, "you know, the one where..." and it comes up with the title. That's a little creepy, but it's also convenient.

So how useful is the bibliography? Do you get enough reading recommendations every time you visit Amazon, or should I add a tab here on the blog with titles you might find intriguing? Your comments are always appreciated!