On our radar: Santa’s Greatest Secret

Santa's Greatest Secret, Lyndon Jeremiah

A friend of mine sent me this video today, it’s so wonderful! Santa’s Greatest Secret was written (and narrated here) by Lyndon Jeremiah with illustrations created by Jennie Harmer.

We may be floating around in Crimbo Limbo right now, but please keep the book in mind as a present for the younger kids next Christmas.

Auction alert: Auction of Books for charity

David Gentleman's London by David Gentleman

There’ll be an online-only auction of books being sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Hospice charity. It will be held by Chaucer Auctions on Wednesday 2nd November 2022 from 10am.

300 lots of vintage books on subjects such as art & design, fashion & jewellery, music and nature. We’ve selected 8 lots below that we’d love for our own library. Soft and hardback books by illustrators that we admire and have featured here on our blog, including David Gentleman and John Burningham.

Chaucer’s buyer’s premium stands at 19.95% with an added online commission of 3%.

We combine shipping on all lots. Single book £5.99 UK, £7.99 Europe, £9.99 ROW. We can ship a parcel up to 20kg which will take approx. 40 books in UK £12, EUROPE £39.99, ROW, £59.99

Online bidding is also available via Invaluable, Live Auctioneers and The Saleroom. Please check each of these websites individually to find any additional fees that they charge.

David Gentleman's London by David Gentleman

Lot 4: David Gentleman’s London by David Gentleman 1986 First Paperback Edition
Softback Book with 192 pages. Published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

England by John Burningham

Lot 15: England by John Burningham 1992 First Edition Hardback Book
Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

Industrial Design by Raymond Loewy

Lot 21: Industrial Design by Raymond Loewy 1979 First UK Edition Hardback Book
With 250 pages. Published by Faber and Faber Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

British Butterflies and Moths by W Furneaux

Lot 44: British Butterflies and Moths by W Furneaux 1923 Fifth Edition Hardback Book
With 350 pages. Published by The Library Press Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

Lots 103 & 104: A History Of Everyday Things in England 1733 – 1942 by M and C H B Quennell 1945 Third Edition Hardback Book
With 214 pages. Published by B T Batsford Ltd some ageing good condition.
A History Of Everyday Things in England 1066 – 1799 by M and C H B Quennell 1945 Eighth Edition Hardback Book
With 224 pages published by B T Batsford Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimates: £6 – £8

The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics 2

Lot 265: The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics 2 Edited by Alan Aldridge 1971 First Edition Softback Book
With 123 pages. Published by Dell Publishing Co Inc New York some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £40 – £60

And Miss Carter Wore Pink by Helen Bradley

Lot 275: And Miss Carter Wore Pink by Helen Bradley 1971 First Edition Hardback Book
With 31 pages. Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

Bookmarks: Our Isles

Cover of Our Isles by Angus D. Birditt & Lilly Hedley

One of life’s simple pleasures is taking a bit of quiet time with a cup of coffee, a few biscuits and a good book… and we’ve been enjoying this wonderful little tome over the last few days.

A few weeks ago, we featured printmaker, Lilly Hedley in our Designer Desire series. While researching her and her work, we discovered that she and her partner, Angus D. Birditt, recently collaborated on, amongst many other things, a book. Our Isles is a lovely project which interweaves Angus’ poetry with Lilly’s illustrations.

'At Home' poem & illustration

The heart of home is where they flee
Amongst their thoughts to unwind and see,
At one with self, content to be
In space to find and wander free.

'The Butcher' poem & illustration 'The Baker' poem & illustration

Having both spent their entire lives in the countryside, the pair direct their attentions towards many of Britain’s rural occupations, pastimes and craftspeople.

'The Brewer' poem & illustration 'The Blacksmith' poem & illustration

There’s the butcher, the baker… alas, no candlestick-maker! I think ‘The Printmaker’ may be an autobiographical addition!

'The Printmaker' poem & illustration

Our Isles is divided into sections according to types of occupations; for instance, ‘With Tool in Hand’ encompasses tradespeople such as the potter, the thatcher and the farrier.

'With Tool to Hand' section in 'Our Isles' book

‘Amid Tides & Water’ includes professions such sailor, fisherman and salt harvester.

'Amid Tides & Water' section in 'Our Isles' book

All of Angus’ poems take the form of double couplet AABB rhyming quatrains. They’re absolutely charming – and very accessible to those not overly accustomed to reading poetry. They perfectly capture the traditions, inspirations, routines and skills of the people intrinsic to countryside life.

Hen-keeping linocut and poem

Lilly’s monochrome linocut prints are absolutely beautiful. Some have a very contemporary look, others, an almost medieval feel.

Linocut of a falcon

At the rear of the book is a short glossary; it explains terms particular to the different trades. For instance, a ‘yealm’ is a bundle of organised straw in the thatching industry. And, ‘Goddes Good’ or ‘God is Good’, is an archaic term for yeast that is added during the brewing process.

Glossasry from Our Isles

[ Many thanks to Pavilion Books for the review copy of Our Isles ]

For the Love of Colour

Anna Starmer's "Love Colour - Choosing colours to live with" book with fan of paint chips | H is for Home

You’ve all heard of Movember and Dry January – but this month we’re celebrating Double December. That’s right, we have two competitions running this month! Yesterday, we launched our £100 gift voucher comp; today, we’re giving away a copy of Love Colour by Anna Starmer, published by Quarto in October. We do spoil you!

Love Colour title page

Love Colour with swatch book in its pocket Love Colour with swatch book

Followers of our blog will know that colour is often at the centre of what we write about. We published a long-running series entitled, ‘Tuesday Huesday‘ and we have a ‘Colour Combos‘ board on Pinterest that gives us interior inspiration.

"Hue & Tone" in Love Colour by Anna Starmer

"Mood & Emotion" in Love Colour by Anna Starmer

Love Colour is a beautifully illustrated book that offers guidance and inspiration on how to effectively use colour indoors and out. It’s an especially useful source of information if you lack experience in interior decoration. Additionally, if your previous decorating activity consisted of painting everything magnolia or off-white, but you yearn to be more adventurous, this book will give you the confidence to take the plunge.

Collection of painted doors

"How to use this book" in Love Colour by Anna Starmer

Starmer includes colour charts showing ranges of hues and shades available; I don’t think I ever just refer to something as ‘yellow’ or ‘orange’; that’s never descriptive enough! It’s always ‘saffron’, ‘buttermilk’ or ‘tangerine’. My favourite colour is purple, but that’s too simple a statement. I favour the bold ‘violet’ and ‘royal’ end of the spectrum rather than the softer ‘mauve’ or ‘lavender’, and I’m not too keen on the dark, reddish ‘claret’ or ‘plum’.

Yellow swatches

Large red painting on the wall of a neutral decorated house

If you’re interested in décor, you’re probably aware of the current huge popularity of using grey and black in interiors. Farrow & Ball’s ‘Railings‘ and ‘Downpipe‘ are bestsellers; but what accent colours and objects do you team them with? Love Colour lets you know.

White mantlepiece with black painted wall

"Natural" in Love Colour by Anna Starmer

Even if you want to stick to simple neutrals and naturals, there are so many options and ideas. Starmer offers this tip:

Layer upon layer of surface and texture happily blend within this gentle set of colours… They serve as strong foundations on which to build… Keep your highlight colours within the natural spectrum, using autumnal yellows and oranges, or orange-hued reds and terracottas, to complement the natural browns within a scheme.

Grid of grey interior and exterior details

Purple mood board

To win a copy of Love Colour, comment below saying what some of your current favourite matching/clashing colour combos in interiors are. Me? I love splashes of hot pink with lime green and tangerine orange in a living room but prefer more calming shades in a bedroom!

This comp is open to UK, EU and US residents. Good luck!

Love Colour – Choosing colours to live with

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