One thing I always ask for for Christmas is books. I love to read, and although I stick to a good novel for my daily dose, I also like having some beautiful design & DIY books around for when the feeling strikes. In researching this post, I found a million books I’d love to add to my collection, so this will be Part 1 of the You Can Afford It Friday book round-up, and Part 2 will be up on January 1. (I’ll be taking next Friday off cause that’s Christmas… can you believe it?).

[1] The Map as Art: Contemporary Artists Explore Typography, $45 [2] The Printmaking Bible: The Complete Guide to Printing Materials and Techniques, $50 [3] Sketchbooks: The Hidden Art of Designers, Illustrators, and Creatives, $30 [4] Stencil 101 Decor: Customize Walls, Floors, and Furniture with Oversized Stencil Art, $24.95 [5] The Pattern Sourcebook: A Century of Surface Design, $35 [6] Postcard, $29.95 [7] Reprodepot Pattern Book: Flora and Reprodepot Pattern Book: Folk (225 Vintage Inspired Textile Designs), $24.95 each [8] 1000 Fonts: An Illustrated Guide to Finding the Right Typeface, $29.95 [9] Appliqué Your Way, $19.95

See you on the 1st! As always with OK Great features, if you have a submission we’d love to hear about it. You Can Afford It Fridays submissions or round-up ideas can be sent to me (Ellie) at mintdesignblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

Tags: Art, books, design, DIY, gift guide, Illustration, round-up