Outside the blogs like this one, books are a great way to get new ideas and sharpen your skills. All too often, I find nothing but outdated crafting and how-to books with black and white pictures and outdated power tools.    

A while back, I set out to find books, old and new that make great additions to your own DIY library.

Here's a quick round up of some of the newer books I look to often for weekend projects, ideas and guidance.

1. Merchant & Mills Sewing Book by Carolyn N.K. Denham This is a fantastic book for any level of seamsters. With an emphasis in quality craftsmanship, this book is perfect for beginners and masters alike. It's filled with techniques for hand-sewing, machine know-how, fold-out patterns and projects. In hand, this book looks antique, but its pages are filled with brilliant illustrations and stunning, modern photographs. 

2. The Foundations of Better Woodworking by Jeff Miller If you are really into the DIY lifestyle, you'll find that you cannot accomplish much without cutting and shaping wood. It didn't take long for me to move from making a wall shelf to wanting to rebuild my kitchen cabinets from beautiful hardwoods. I'm totally in love with the overview this book gives to every aspect of wood, from tree growth to fine finishes. You'll find yourself referencing this book time and time again as you learn and grow (pun intended) in woodworking.

3. Made By Hand by Lena Corwin The cover alone tells you how much fun you're going to have with this book. It's stocked with amazing projects that put your average Pinterest craft to shame. This book is full of unique projects like knitted socks, hand dipped candles, woven camera straps and hand-printing textiles. 

4. Building with Secondhand Stuff: How to Reclaim, Revamp, Repurpose and Reuse Salvaged and Leftover Building Materials by Chris Peterson

Building With Secondhand Stuff takes the green-minded methods of salvaging and expands it into step-by-step guides for anyone interested in remodeling or updating the decor of their home. This book shows you how to go about salvaging materials, (including wood flooring, hardware, windows, doors and stonework) refinishing and reinstalling them in your own home. It also has several small project ideas you can tackle on a weekend like building a copper pipe pot rack or using a reclaimed granite slab to spruce up your kitchen island counter.

Next week, I'll have a short list of older books that will make important additions to your workshop library. What books did I leave out? I'd love to know what's in your collection!

I don't know about you guys, but it took me years to get a sense of what kinds of beers I liked and disliked...and why. Now, with some experience, I have a fairly good idea, but I was pretty impressed with this new app, Next Glass, which keeps track of which beers you enjoy and recommends others based on similar tastes.   

One of the coolest features is that you can take a photo of a beer or wine bottle and the app will then run the data and give you a score of how much they think you'll like it. You can also link up with your friends on the app so you can be the hero of every dinner party by bringing beverages everyone will love. It sounds like a fantastic way for those of you who like me would like to explore a greater variety of flavors, but don't want to have to take a blind stab in the dark with each new choice of alcohol. Available for both iOS and Android, for free.

Download it here: Next Glass

We all have a space crowded with charging cables, and the inevitable accessories that accompany our tech. this easy to make charging station allows for clean and easy access without the clutter.   While I don't have a spare wine crate around my house, I've been looking for a reason to build a box-joint jig. This wine crate charging station tutorial is a great inspiration for me to build a clean box for the cluttered mess that has become the charging station in my house. With so many devices, we tend to always be plugging in or transferring cords from outlet to outlet in search of a safe place to juice up our favorite devices.This large container provides enough room to hold multiple chargers, extra cables below, and also keep that tech corralled enough to prevent it from creeping too far into our family space.

Take a look at the tutorial for very clean step-by-step instructions, and let us know what you've done to tackle the cords in your house!

It's pretty amazing really. The Aeropress is a small, $25 plastic contraption that supposedly can produce the best cup of coffee one can make at home (or the office) without a multi-thousand dollar professional espresso machine. At its core, the Aeropress is two tubes that create a vacuum, not really all that different than those water cannon things we all played with in the 90s. But with some clever design and a key attention to detail, it's developed a cult-like following, and, in the process, made some pretty good coffee. 

Priceonomics shares a full history on the invention of the device, detailing its origins as... a frisbee. 

The AeroPress was conceived at Alan Adler’s dinner table...A long-time coffee enthusiast and self-proclaimed “one cup kinda guy,” Adler had wondered this many times himself. He’d grown increasingly frustrated with his coffee maker, which yielded 6-8 cups per brew. In typical Adler fashion, he didn’t let the problem bother him long: he set out to invent a better way to brew single cup of coffee...It struck Adler that he could use air pressure to shorten this process. After a few weeks in his garage, he’d already created a prototype: a plastic tube that used plunger-like action to compress the flavors quickly out of the grounds. He brewed his first cup with the invention, and knew he’d made something special. Immediately, he called his business manager. 

Check out the full story of Alan Adler and the Aeropress at Priceonomics: The Invention of the AeroPress

With the weather hovering between frosty and frigid, it's the perfect time to make these honey ginger throat drops for some cold weather relief.I don't know about where you're spending the winter, but the mornings at my place are downright frosty right now. With the dry, cold air, my throat is sensitive to the temperature swings, and so I'm dealing with a sore throat just about every morning. While there are plenty of sugar-laden sticky throat drops at the store, I thought it may be better to make a batch of my own. Here's a great recipe for some delicious drops from Sarah McGill.

The recipe and process are pretty straightforward to follow, and it was a lot of fun to try something new - powdered sugar molds. The process is simply a thick layer of powdered sugar and depressions that hold the molten sugar-mix as it cools, once it's hardened, the mold is just sifted away. It's quite a bit like metal casting with casting sand, which is going to be a project coming along in the spring.

Anyway the process is fast, and the drops are fantastic as long as they stray dry and relatively cool. And with this weather, that shouldn't be a problem.

Find Sarah's recipe at her website : Honey ginger throat drops

Jesus taught in parables, and Polonius advised his king "by indirections to find directions out." One of the best things about revisiting classic sports movies as an adult is suddenly realizing all the incredible themes and lessons that were way over your head as a boy, but you likely absorbed through osmosis. Whether you’ve never seen these films or can practically do them as a one-man show, here are seven classic movies about sports that are really about something else…   

Field of Dreams: Fatherhood

“If you build it, he will come,” says a mysterious voice on the wind to Iowa farmer, Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner). What follows is an iconic saga of family and Americana as Ray transforms his cornfield into a fully functional baseball field in the conscious hope that it’ll bring Shoeless Joe Jackson back from the dead. Under the surface though lies a heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of a modern man’s struggle to understand adulthood and connect with the dreams of his lost father and the simultaneous idealism and compromise of his father’s generation. The movie unfolds like a pastoral fable and never ceases to bring the tears a-flowin’.

Remember The Titans: Racism/Acceptance (duh) 

Nothing pastoral here. It’s grit and racism in this small town true story of 1971 and the undefeated high school football team that fought each game to overcome the hatred surrounding their recently integrated high school. This one is pretty obviously about something besides simply winning the championship, but it set the bar for modern sports movies by overtly taking a thematic stand on something greater than football. If you were alive if 00’s, you must have seen this movie and would recognize the majority of the high school players for their now-famous careers (Ryan Gosling, Wood Harris, Donald Faison, Kate Bosworth, Hayden Panettiere). 

Bull Durham: Manhood 

What begins as a story about the “religion of baseball” unfolds to be a tale about manhood in this unique romantic film. Kevin Costner stars (yet again) as veteran catcher Crash Davis who’s been hired to mentor hotshot pitching prodigy Nuke LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) and help mold him into major league material. In the meantime there’s a fantastic love triangle thanks to Susan Sarandon that makes this film a great one to share with a lady. Perhaps the most memorable scene is Crash’s speech to Susan Sarandon about what he believes in (and thereby what kind of man he is), although I also think this sceneis a great second place as well.   

The Natural: Integrity

Based on Bernard Malamud’s 1952 novel (albeit with a markedly different ending), The Natural tells the romanticized tale of Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) on his interrupted quest to become “the best there ever was.” Generally considered to be the best baseball film of all time, the film is an American tale of one man’s struggle to stay true to his dream for himself despite stacked odds and being surrounded by soul-corrupting evils. It’s exciting to watch an Hobbs’ perspective through the movie as it’s rare to see a character with such thorough self-knowledge. Also needing to be mentioned is the films spectacular cinematography (by Zooey Deschanel’s father) and an Aaron Copland-esque score by Randy Newman. I envy people who get to see this movie for the first time for all of its feel-good sports moments.

[N.B. I’m a firm believer in viewing the original cut of the film since the Director’s Cut includes flashbacks/forwards that take away from the power of one of the film’s most jarring and shocking scenes. Trust me.]

Rudy: Perseverance 

Rudy tells the true story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, a hopelessly small and talentless young man who dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. Throughout the film you watch Rudy face setback after setback, as he struggles to keep the faith alive to achieve the impossible for himself. Aside from stirring montages and one of the most emotionally fulfilling third act payoffs, one of the best scenes features this confrontational speech from Rudy’s janitorial boss played by Charles S. Dutton.

Rocky: Resilience 

In contrast to Rudy’s moral of perseverance, Rocky is much more about resilience – simply working hard enough and having enough guts to stand tall at the end of a truly impossible fight. When a down-and-out nobody is given an impossible shot at the boxing heavyweight championship of the world, Rocky Balboa knows he doesn’t stand a chance. Nevertheless, he brings the heart one could hope for in this stirring story of resilience.  It takes guts to make a film in which the hero doesn’t win, and it’s all the more charming when you know that Sylvester Stallone wrote this Best Picture winner that later spawned 5 sequels with a new spinoff just about to begin production.

Hoosiers: Redemption 

It’s been said that there are only two types of stories in the world: a hero goes on a journey, and a stranger comes to town. I can’t think of a more emblematic film for the latter sentiment than David Anspaugh’s 1988 film Hoosiers. Everything changes for the lone town of Hickory, Indiana when a blunt coach (the stellar Gene Hackman) with a mysterious past tries to lead the high school team to the state finals in 1954. The tale (loosely based on a true story) tells an uplifting story exemplifying the importance of fundamentals in everything while also asking important questions about manhood. Can you escape your past? Can a lost man be redeemed? How much good can a flawed man still do? Not to be missed is one of the all time best performances by Dennis Hopper as the town drunk and father of one of the starting players.

[I’ve now wasted so much time re-watching clips from every film for this article. I regret nothing.]

 Tj Cosgrove, a friend of ManMade and maker of the $15.00 photo light project,  has started a new video series called Perspective*. 

Tj says, 

Welcome to... our new show Perspective, which takes an alternative look at the items, ideas and processes that you think you understand.

Episode numero uno is a topic close to my heart, digital filmmaking. Given that this is what I do for a living and I have to research a long list of questions and queries, there should hopefully be something in the video that surprises or educates you.

Check out the video: 

See more from Tj at the Explosivo Network YouTube Channel

Each Wednesday, I post some of my favorite can't-miss links, images, and otherwise mindblowing goodies from across the web.

Finding the right pocket square is the first task, but then you got to know what to do with it... This interview with Claire Moseley O'Harrow Clothiers has some solid tips for some standard folds. See more at MensJournal.com

Mayan-style "sipping chocolate" is like hot cocoa for grownups. No marshmallows need apply. Find a great recipe at Food 52

 Speaking of hot things to drink, I like this tea 101 post at the Kaufmann Mercantile blog: Beginner’s Guide to Tea 

A modern take on the 2x4 coffee table. Get the full how-to from Emma and Trey. 

This is what happens when you have a liquid nitrogen cocktail party. 

It's getting to be a balmy 25 degrees in my neck of the woods. I can't help but thing of warmer days and summer activities. Here's a really unique project that turns an old suitcase into the ultimate picnic wingman.

 Not only does it carry all of your picnic needs, it has fold-out legs and build in speakers for playing some Kenny G during our relaxing picnic. Start building it now so it will be ready to go at the first sign of spring! 

With today's technology, you could certainly rewire the speakers to be bluetooth compatible. What about a solar panel to power the speakers and charge your phone? I think you should add a subwoofer to really spice up your outdoor romantic dinner.

Get the how-to over on Instructables.

One day my shop will be so organized that I will have the time to start classing it up. When that day comes, I will build this exceptionally classy wooden socket holder.   Sometimes I imagine what it would look like if I lived the life of a movie billionaire and was still a DIY kinda guy. I would have a shop with titanium and carbon fiber inlays, and of course a robot butler as a workshop assistant. I would also have golden screwdrivers and my sockets organized in a custom wooden case with laser engraved lettering. While it will be a while before I make this fantasy come about, I still like to look at great projects like this instructable from Joe Gadget. In this quick tutorial, Joe goes through the process of designing a wood and magnet socket holder, then proceeds to laser-cut the pieces and assemble.

Although I don't have the tools necessary to laser-cut my pieces at this time, I still find myself wondering what the rest of Joe Gadget's shop looks like if this exceptionally classy block of wood is the home for his lowly sockets.

Well done, Joe. Well done.

Looking for some new home decor inspiration? 

Check out some of the stunning images from the brick house tumblr.Often minimalistic, these images tend to tout natural lighting and clean lines throughout. I've spent a good deal of time scanning through these and cataloguing the designs I'd like to steal for my own home later on.   

This project began, as it were, with a "crazy idea" - the possibility of canoe travel without taking a canoe with you. Of building one upon arriving in a new place or country, paddling it, then leaving it there upon departure. 

And...?  It worked.    

Dr. Joe, an avid canoe-ist from Coos Bay, OR, says of his project, 

The idea of building a canoe in a short period of time seemed to open up the possibility of building the boat in a foreign country with local materials and leaving the boat when the vacation was over. I needed advice and went online to find a country, a boat to build and the skills and tools to create this project. I was overwhelmed by the information and support. There were some skeptics, my friend Pete said, “Obtaining materials in a foreign land on a set time..I would suggest not bringing a watch but, instead, a calendar.”

Matt from Jem Watercraft suggested I build a prototype and, “beat the hell out of it,” to see if it would be up to my expectations. Then he offered to draft any designs I wanted for this crazy idea. I accepted his offer and had the plans drafted in both metric and inches. I thought since I might be building this outside of the U.S.A. I might as well use metric. I loved it try dividing 14' 7 19/32" by 11 in your head. (Stubborn Americans is all I can say.)

The trick here is assembling the boat plywood panels with a butt joint, using drywall tape and epoxy putty, which is, as Joe claims, "stronger than the wood."

The whole piece is a good read, a meditation on practicality in addition to the tutorials. Dr. Joe is a good writer, and a good canoe maker, and it provides lots to think about. 

Two Canoes and a Crazy Idea[Instructables.com]

When it comes to something as potentially elitist as single malt scotch, it never hurts to hear what the experts have to say.   

J. Travis Smith and the team at Gear Patrolrecently asked the opinions of a variety of scotch experts from the owner of the Flatiron Room (and its whiskey school) to an author with ten published books on scotch to the spirits expert and editor of Distiller. The experts guide you through a variety of unique (and relatively affordable) scotches while also answering basic questions about flavor and what you ought to look for in a good single malt. 

Enjoy the full article here.

Each week in 2015, ManMade is sharing our picks for the essential tools we think every creative guy and DIYer needs. We've selected useful, long-lasting tools to help you accomplish a variety of projects, solve problems, and live a hands on lifestyle that allows you to interact with and make the things you use every day.  

Locking pliers, commonly called by the brand name Vise-Grips, are, well, basically what both names suggest: they're pliers, whose jaws lock around an object, providing a vise-like grip. Practically, they're typically used in two fashions: 

• To provide a non-slip hold on hardware, arms, rods, or objects, and used as a level for turning or bending an object
• To hold an object or piece of hardware that won't respond to a traditional wrench - such as a rusted or rounded over nut, to allow force to be applied and the object unstuck

That sounds a little like a physics lesson, but in reality, these things are awesome. There the kind of tool that you grab when nothing else will work, and are useful for creative projects involving pre-made parts or hardware, or household and auto repairs and tasks that involve annoying, stuck-in-place screws, nuts or bolts. 

They work by using an adjustable lever, that widens or closes the jaws. When the jaws are opened and the handles squeezed together, they move the lever over its center point, which locks the jaw of the pliers onto whatever they're gripping. There's an easy-to-press trigger to release the hold for one-handed operation.

They're essential for an project using metal - welding, bending sheet metal or rods, holding objects on a drill press table, etc. One of my favorite "not obvious" uses is while cooking - I take a small pair with me when camping to help move cast iron pans and dutch ovens that are covered in campfire coals. I regularly use them while grilling to grip the hot grates, and even to remove sheet and roasting pans from the oven. If you've ever been to a deep dish pizza joint, this practice is pretty similar to the clamps they use to carry the hot cast iron pans. It's heavy, but it works.

Oh, and I totally use these to crack nuts all. the. time. They're the only nutcracker I own. I've also employed them to open stuck jars and bottles. 

Locking pliers come in a variety of sizes and shapes: needle-nose, locking wrenches, and a variety of clamps to hold items still. We recommend starting with a medium-sized pair in both traditional and needle-nose plier shapes, as well as a locking c-clamp with swivel pads. 

ManMade recommended:

          IRWIN Tools VISE-GRIP 2-Piece Locking Pliers Set - $24.92

          IRWIN Tools VISE-GRIP Locking C-Clamp - $9.12

I want to give props to the internet for almost single-handedly fueling the DIY movement across America. If you need to know how to do anything, a search engine will lead you to the answer. Heck, it might even bring you here!   However, there are some things the internet cannot give us so easily. That's where books come to the rescue! I've rounded up some of my favorite books that I keep on hand for whenever I need a helping hand or a reminder to get back on the right track.

Handyman In Your Pocket - Richard A. Young and Thomas J. Glover

This little book is amazing. When I say it has everything you'd need to know when it comes to doing anything yourself I'm not kidding. It has charts, quick-reference, guides, definitions, scales and much, much more! I used to run into a problem, like "How much weight a certain length of chain can hold?" or "What gauge of cold-rolled sheet metal do I need for this table top?" This book has kept me fro furiously trying to describe to Google what I am looking for. I keep it nearby at all times.

The Impractical Cabinetmaker - James Krenov

It may seem strange to put cabinetry guide book on this blog, but there's a lot to learn about what makes up a cabinet that will transfer to anything you want to create. With this book you'll learn the importance of making things square, planning with accuracy and finishing a project with with the highest quality. Just because something is DIY doesn't mean it needs to look like you just threw it together. I recently took a cabinetry class based on Mr. Krenov's methods and I learned more about the basics of anything thing with my hands, not just fancy boxes (cabinets). 

The Drunken Botanist - Amy Stewart

I love learning where my food comes from. I believe when you learn the history and science behind how foods come to be you can easily plan where you want that food to go. Learning what composes your favorite liquors and cocktails can give you the confidents to make better drinks (and cook better foods) for you and your friends. This book is a hearty reference for mixing delicious drinks and understanding where and how our favorite spirits came to be.

The War of Art - Steven Pressfield

This book is a punch in the gut. Inspired by the writer's personal struggles with demon of resistance, The War of Art is the perfect book for the stuck and uninspired. Written in short, sometimes four-sentence chapters, this book's brevity will help you get back on your feet, fast. It will break down your walls, clear your schedule and get you back to work. Read it with caution! Don't let resistance be the reason you don't go buy The War of Art immediately. 

Leather possesses so much creative potential, particularly for everyday use and carry items that work well with a long-lasting and rugged masculine aesthetic.

And? It's not hard to get started, but does require a few specialty tools; those that sorta bridge the gap betweenthe garage toolbox and traditional sewing kit. 

Jessyratfink, a staff maker at Instructables.com, offers a great overview for getting started. It's a series of posts dedicated to techniques - the tools, cutting, folding, gluing, stitching, burnishing, dying, etc - so each process is presented in digestible chunks that allow you to learn about what's really going on. 

The series culminates in a simple project - this basic card-holder style wallet. Get the links to all the articles at her collection:

Beginner's Guide to Leatherworking [Instructables.com]

Last year, I tore out a fireplace and replaced it with two large skylights and a kitchen island. The project quickly became much more complex than I expected with some substantial hurdles, one of the largest being my wife. Her expectation versus reality meant we had a lot of conversations about how the power would “magically” appear in the island, what a bearing wall was, and mid build plenty of things changed to match her evolving taste.  I seriously began to dread the words “hey, babe . . .?” Here are a few things to plan ahead for when building to satisfy your toughest customer – your partner.

1. Get agreement up front, preferably in the form of pictures and some written goals. Specifically get everyone to say “I want it to look exactly like this.” But keep in mind that doesn’t mean you won’t be almost completely done when a quiet voice says “I thought it would be . . . different.”

2. Fix your mistakes as fast as possible, but don't be dishonest, especially about spending.  She doesn’t need to know how badly you messed it up if it looks good by the time she gets home. A few examples are the cracked roof tiles, scratched light fixture, and unexpected HVAC side project/water leak.

3. Don’t underestimate the time and mess it will take to get a big project done. Our kitchen was a demolition nightmare for months with consistant dust, errant nails and an organized (sometimes) pile of tools in the corner. She needs to know that your full time job and daily life will make the job stretch out longer than anyone likes. Giving a realistic timeline makes for less conversations that start with “you said this wouldn’t take forever…” Also, try to avoid holiday deadlines – we had a huge party at the house with a classy bowed plywood countertop. The comments were polite, but just about everyone referred to how dangerous a loose counter can be.

4. Budget in a few tool purchases so the shop gets an upgrade in the process. I got a new angle grinder, dado set-up, and most importantly a great router table and bit set for raised panel doors. By building the doors instead of buying them, I came out with a great tool for the shop (and the benefit of being able to say “I built those”).

In the end, the project turned out to be more than we hoped for, and made the kitchen a much brighter space within the house. With these tips in mind you still have a huge project in front of you, but hopefully a few less tussles along the way. Do you have any tips on keeping the peace while tackling a huge project in your house?

The majority of the injuries I sustained as a boy (and they were many) came from jumping (or falling) out of trees and poorly-constructed tree forts. If you were ever a tree fort lover, this post is for you.   

Meet Blue Forest, a specialist luxury tree house company run by two brothers with the intent of building sustainable, fantastical structures from the childish fortress to the romantic getaway. Their clients include successful business men and women, schools, celebrities, and even royalty. 

All of their designs vary based on who the tree house is for, but many of their tree houses feature drawbridges, turret towers, zip lines, and home theater systems with vibes ranging from the Swiss Family Robinson to Hogwarts to a quaint Ewok village. Absolutely watch the video below to get inspired or check them out on their website.

Collecting vinyl records is an art in and of itself, and I've been on the lookout for DIY project ideas beyond the basic wall-mounted art since I came into possession of a handful of old records.   

There are a bunch of fun ideas in this post from Top Dreamer, including a handful of unique storage ideas. The magazine rack in particular seems like a good fit for a hip studio/office and I'm also fairly smitten to the wine rack design. 

There's also the chip-bowl idea which I've seen before and it seems better in theory than I can imagine it would be in reality, but I haven't actually tried it so I can't judge. Check it out and let us know what other projects you've got for a man with too many records on his hands.

Each Wednesday, I post some of my favorite can't-miss links, images, and otherwise mindblowing goodies from across the web. 

This, my friends, is a jacuzzi suspended from Gueuroz bridge in Switzerland. Cause if you're gonna dangle something above a 620 ft drop, it might as well be a jacuzzi. 

See more of this adventure at suspended jaccuzzi, Gueuroz bridge

"A war broke out a little over five years ago that many people have never heard about. The fight raged over which brewery could create the world’s strongest beer." And so far? 67.5% ABV. Read more at Cool Material.

24 pieces of life advice from Werner Herzog at Kottke.org. "24. Get used to the bear behind you." 

petachock offers this wooden ring box with a box-joint hinge. Woodworkers who plan to propose soon - take note. 

I finally got around to seeing this over the weekend. They pulled it off. Thumbs up from me.