Today's blog comes from Janet Millett, Central Library staff:

Here’s my dog Phoebe. She loves a good romp in the snow. However, when the snow is wet and sticky, her curls pick it up and it gets to the point where walking becomes an ordeal. Hence you see the dejected look on her face (despite our amusement!) Perhaps she knew that a bath was in store; it’s the only way to get rid of the ice balls in a timely manner.

It occurred to me that maybe a dog coat and booties would save us both a lot of grief. I’m always keen to take on some new projects as it’s great to have something to do on wintery nights. So with that in mind, I had a look at our catalogue.

Happily I found some great resources. Stylish Knits for Dogs: 36 Projects to Knit in a Weekend offers knitwear that you can customize to your hearts delight.

Pet Projects: the Animal Knits Bible shows you how to create whimsical party collars for your pooch as well as cozy cushions, pet beds and even a blanket for the birdcage.

Vogue Knits for Pets has many other inspirational ideas that would also look great in the home. A dozy-looking beagle lies on a very stylish Fair Isle dog bed. When you make it yourself, you can make sure that it co-ordinates with the drapes.

It’s fun to discover custom-designed solutions for all your pet’s accessory needs. And something to keep you occupied on those cold wintery nights.

Jan Millett

Earlier this year, with the help of a contractor, I updated the bathrooms in my condo with new sinks, taps, countertops and (low-flush) toilets. Although I considered changing the towel bars, I decided that I liked the existing ones well enough. What I really wanted was an additional bar for a hand towel mounted on the side of the sink cabinet.

I could have chosen a fashionable towel ring, but that would have hung the towel below comfortable arm's reach.

Although Totem still carries the older style of towel bar in my bathroom, the smallest size (18 inches) was too long for the hand towels I wanted to hang there. In addition, the position of the toilet would have made it very difficult to install without removing the tank. I soon figured out that it would be fairly easy to cut the longer one down to the perfect size.

You need a hacksaw and a file to do this. Here’s how.

1. Determine the perfect length and mark it on the bar.
2. Wrap a piece of masking tape around the bar, centered over top of your mark.
3. Remark the cut line on top of the tape.
4. Notch the bar with a hacksaw on this mark and then saw through the bar. The tape will prevent damage to the bar if the saw slips.
5. When the bar is cut, remove the tape and file off the rough edges. (Be careful; they can be very sharp.) The end supports will cover slight imperfections in the cut.
6. When you mount the bar according to the package instructions, wrap a thin bead of plumber’s putty inside the end supports (see it in the picture above) to keep the bar from rattling.

The library has some terrific books specifically geared to women who want to learn how to use tools and tackle home improvement projects. (Good for the guys, too.)

Marie’s Home Improvement Guide and Chix Can Fix both describe the use of a hacksaw. A mini-model like mine is an inexpensive and easy tool to master – useful for cutting down curtain rods as well.

Google “using a hacksaw” for helpful sites and YouTube demos like this one.

Today's blog comes from Candace Weir, Central Library staff:

I love to look at books with pretty photos of interesting things: homey things that become treasures that are a joy to use. Things Chinese, a new addition to the CPL collection, is one of those books. It covers objects as diverse as cricket cages and dragons.

Chinese furnishings are some of the most delectable eye candy imaginable. There are door pulls shaped like carp and pottery stools incised with plum blossoms. Pottery abounds; pillows are actually made of it.

If I ever win the lottery, I plan to acquire a collection of Chinese beds: canopy or couch bed – doesn’t matter. I’m thinking a Chinese screen as well – and there will need to be a calligraphy painting to accent them, like one of these by local artist Simon Wong.

How many of us bought our dishes in Chinatown when we were students? My favourite was and remains the rice pattern chinaware with its translucent patterns and blue brushwork. Who hasn’t marveled at the intricate paper cuts, or wondered about the Scholars’ Rocks and wished that we could wear the sleek silk dresses with their clever knotted closures?

My personal collection includes a wedding basket, chopsticks, lots of calligraphy brushes and tea with a purple clay teapot to make it in. I once found a Chairman Mao cigarette case, much to the glee of a chain-smoking relative.

This book details it all.

Candace

“God is in the details” is an oft-quoted saying attributed Mies van der Rohe, the architect of modern glass, steel and concrete buildings.

Charles Faudree loves details too; however, Faudree’s world is lush and layered. He’s an American interior designer whose traditional decor has been featured in prominent shelter magazines like House Beautiful and Veranda.

In his newest book, Faudree zeroes in on the details that contribute to the lavish look.

Think carefully crafted still life of beautiful objects (or, if you prefer, objets). A collection of bronze dogs sits on a rare upholstery-topped table; real life fur-ball, Cavalier King Charles spaniel, lolls nearby on the sofa.

Draperies are trimmed with tassels; lampshades are edged with braid and baubles. Walls are papered or studded with pretty collections of china and dog portraits. In an entrance hall, an antique French floor clock sets the tone.

If you love traditional interiors filled with lots of lovely things, this book is for you.

If you are attracted to the look of pared-back modernism but rue the lack of money and a hip facade, this book’s for you. It’s Lonely in the Modern World is a tongue-in-chic poke at the pretentions of modernism.

Authors Talbott and Quinn created the popular website, Unhappy Hipsters. They borrow slick pics from Dwell magazine, and supply witty new captions designed to deliver “a kick to the groin of misappropriated modernism”.

Anyone who browses Dwell - or other books and magazines devoted to modernism - learns that it is rife with clichés and rules. There are materials favoured whether or not the application is practical. There are vacuous pronouncements from design gurus and, of course, all the right designer labels.

It’s great fodder for satire. The authors will make you think twice about a passion for concrete countertops, exposed ductwork and plywood. You will learn how to eco-speak and choose the right canine for your lifestyle.

Is there is someone lurking about your life dressed in black, wearing young architect’s glasses and a discreet (but edgy) tattoo?

They’ll love it too.

My recent infatuation with 18^th Century Britain began with Mary Delany’s biography by poet Molly Peacock. Delany was an artist who created an impressive collection of botanical collages which are housed today in the British museum. Next came Joyner’s Dream, a novel with companion CD by Sylvia Tyson.

Recently, a friend (and former CPL colleague) recommended Garrow’s Law, a British television series; I was eager to check it out.

William Garrow (1760 - 1840) was an English barrister who transformed the rights of the accused in the British courtroom. At the time of his practice, English society was a rough place, plagued with violent crime. Policing was accomplished by “thief takers” – essentially bounty hunters – who were rewarded by convictions. Conviction brought severe punishment (flogging, branding or hanging) for crimes considered minor today.

The system also encouraged the admission of dubious evidence and severely limited a barrister’s ability to defend a client. It was plagued with political corruption and interference masked by a veneer of formal manners and restrictive social convention. To me, evil in a cloak of good manners is even more sinister.18th Century English life portrayed by Hogarth

Bonus: Garrow had an unconventional personal life that adds romance to the story.

This historical drama reveals both how far we have come and how much things stay the same.

To further immerse yourself in the English society that Garrow inherited, take a look at the many books we have about artist William Hogarth (1697-1764). Hogarth satirized the corruption, hypocrisy and prejudice of English society in works like the Harlot’s Progress and the Rake’s Progress.

Explore the setting of domestic life with The English House by James Chamber and The Town House in Georgian London by Rachel Stewart.

Over the holiday season, my head and heart were in the 18^th century with books, music and film.

A few weeks ago, on CKUA , I heard Peter North interviewing Sylvia Tyson about her recent novel, Joyner’s Dream, and its companion CD. Their lively discussion and the clever concept caught my fancy.

Tyson’s tale is a family saga that begins in England in 1780 and follows the family fortunes to North America and present-day Toronto. The story is revealed through entries in a secret journal that is hidden in a cask that contains a violin passed down through the generations. Larceny - and a talent for music - are family traits.

Tyson wrote the names and descriptions of songs and melodies played by her characters and woven into the story. “My Darling Evelyinda” is a bawdy song from the pubs. “Old Horse” accompanies a fertility ritual at community celebrations.

After writing the book, she researched the music of the period and wrote songs in the historical style for a companion disc, Joyner’s Dream, the Kingsfold Suite.

And what wonderful music it is. She is accompanied by her long-time musical friends from Quartette. The arrangements by Terry McKenna are magical. McKenna is a specialist in ancient plucked instruments, and performs with Tafelmusik, Opera Atelier, the Canadian Opera Company and the Stratford Festival.

Tyson spins a very entertaining tale and then provides the soundtrack for it – a wonderful combination that transports you back to life in another century.

Next blog: Garrow’s Law.

The world is a scary place.

“Two hundred million people … have been affected by natural disasters and hazards in the last decade…Ninety-eight percent of these victims are in the developing world.”

This sobering information comes from the introduction to Beyond Shelter: Architecture and Human Dignity. The book presents 25 reports from the field by experts who work on disaster prevention and recovery.

After a disaster, designers face the challenge of “building back better” while working quickly and within the capacity and rhythms of the community.

In Banda Aceh, Indonesia, following the earthquake of 2004, 190 temporary barracks were built by the military. The sites selected were chosen by fear of new quakes and tsunamis. However, these sites were so remote that refugees could not return to work or assist with reconstruction.

When project planners began working with the community, women were initially excluded. Residents were opposed to building traditional stilt houses which are climatically efficient and earthquake safe. They favoured modern houses with masonry walls that are often fatal during an earthquake or tsunami.

Providing the building materials threatened to exhaust local resources which could potentially cause a secondary environmental disaster. And the construction boom sent the price of materials soaring.

The story of reconstruction outlines the enormous complexity faced, the solutions that evolved and what the project team learned from the experience.

The book is a call-to-action to the architectural and design communities to provide leadership and innovative solutions to enormous global problems. It's a fascinating read.