Living Artfully: Create the Life You Imagine

This sweet little ""why-to"" (as opposed to ""how-to"") is full of homespun ideas for welcoming a new baby, cheering up a sick friend, and celebrating a birthday or a wedding or a new home. More importantly, artist and author Magsamen's book is designed to kick-start the creative process in an easy, everyday way, demonstrating the imagination's ability to provide strength and relief. For the most part, ideas are cheery, easily accomplished, and frivolously smile-inducing: ""hang wind chimes from the nearest tree to your bedroom window,"" ""knit a scarf,"" or ""make Friday game night."" Magsamen devotes the balance of the work to stories about neighbors and quotes from famous people that are equal parts inspiration and sentiment. Once in a while the author's suggestions sound precious or anachronous in a Martha Stewart way-suggesting a world in which moms cook daily breakfasts, maintain ""sewing rooms"" and have the time and money to ""build a koi pond"" in the garden. Still, the bountiful enthusiasm and goodwill in these pages make the book a charming self-help, with a real generosity of spirit.