Fashion writer Camilla Morton reimagines one of my favorite “Once Upon a Time” stories: The Elves and the Shoemaker by blending it with the real-life story of Manolo Blahnik. Accompanied by gorgeous illustrations drawn by the designers himself, it os the perfect book to imagine how fairy tales come true.
I love Paper Art - especially in combination with books. Rob Ryan tells this lovely tale entirely through exquisite cut-paper illustrations! Each page of Ryan's book can stand alone as a striking art piece. The story is a simple yet timeless tale of love. It is a fairy tale about a lonesome young man looking for meaning in his life. He wanders through page after page searching for his soulmate in a cut-out landscape of beautifully designed art.
Don't miss Rob's website and the lovely shop on etsy!
If you know already about London's landmarks, parks and palaces this book shows you the places Londoners’ themselves love. Saska Graville takes you on a journey to the very heart of London, as if you were staying with a Londoner. There are plenty one-off shops, street markets (and is NOT the one on Portobello Road...), cosy pubs and fantastic restaurants to choose from. London can be quite overwhelming if you don't know where to go, so Saska Graville breaks it down village by village, and a selection of the most stylish places. 17 Interviews with local shop and cafe owners draw you deep into London's soul.
The book is covered with beautifully Photographs of all listings that give you a feel for the places being suggested. It is so much fun just to flick through the book and do a little bit of armchair travelling.
how is your summer shaping up so far? Although the weather here in Munich is quite stormy and wet these days, I'm in a really good summer mood. Summer is the perfect time for not taking things o seriously - I even enjoy books that are light and breezy.
Here are my FAB 5 Summer Reads-best enjoyed under a shady tree or at the beach with a sparkling glass of icecold lemon water.
(ONE) : A Year on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball
(TWO): Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart
(THREE): Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
(FOUR): The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
(FIVE): Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Yes, I mean it. Read it again. Remember this certain enchantment swirling around the book, remember how it used to wrap you up in it's beauty. Rereading this classic novel feels like being a 10 year old again, sitting under a shady cherry tree where nothing else matters than your book and the puffy clouds on the blue sky. I wish I had my own secret garden inside a stone wall. If you'd like to buy the book with that enchanting cover, you could do it here.
This is a slow book for lazy summer days, a gentle reading fun for light hearted moments. The English countryside setting in a sleepy village is relaxing and lends the novel its particular charm. It takes place in the little English village of Edgecombe St. Mary and the prejudices between generations, social classes, religions, and cultures are well alive.
Retired Major Ernest Pettigrew leads a quiet life valuing the proper things: honor, duty, and good cup of tea. When his younger brother suddenly dies he becomes friends with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani widow of the local food shop owner. Drawn together by their grief and their mutual interest in literature, they soon find their friendship leading to much more.
The village is not a welcoming place for those seen as foreigners, and there are plenty of barriers that threatens the tender relationship. In the end, love overcomes all the gossip, prejudice and intolerance. It is a book lose the book with a sigh kind.
Do you know that certain enchantment in summertime you can't quite put your finger on? Usually I'm not that into "magic realism" novels, but this one turned out to be just right for a charming summer read.
Generations of Waverleys tended a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small house. It is a quite magical garden with a temperamental apple tree that is rumored to bear prophetic fruit and magical edible flowers.
The book is filled with quirky characters that I couldn't help but love: Claire, the caterer, prepares dishes made with rather magical flowers. Her sister Sydney with her ability to style and cut hair that spells her customers into feeling self confident. Her daughter Bay, who knows exactley where things belong. And Evanelle, the cousin, who is known for distributing unexpected objects to people who might need it one day.
My absolutely favorite however turned out to be the grumpy old apple tree which is throwing apples around that show what the biggest event in someones life might be. GARDEN SPELLS is a delightful story of family, relationships and of course a little romance, with a little enchantment thrown in for good measure.If you'd like to buy the book, you can do it here.
Do you remember your lazy, innocent, adventurous childhood summers? The summers of bare feet, ice cream and never ending sunny days? If you'd like to recall your precious memories I deeply recommend to read this book yourself-or at least read a couple of pages of your daughter's book. It will bring you right back to your greatest summer ever.
For those of you who haven't met the Penderwicks yet (there are two previous books (The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy and The Penderwicks on Gardam Street) I'm happy to introduce you to the 4 Penderwick girls: there’s responsible and mature Rosalind, the oldest ; Skye the tomboy; dreamy, artistic Jane; and shy little sister Batty, who won't go anywhere without her butterfly wings. The characters are so unique and clear on the page that one wouldn't wonder if they hopped out of the book. They live with their widowed father (who gets married in book #2) in New England.
So in a nutshell "The Penderwicks at Point Mouette" the family was being torn apart for the very first time. It is off to the beach for Rosalind and off to Main for the rest of the gang. That means a huge responsibility for Skye feeling a little bit overwhelmed by her responsibilities as now oldest sister. But when you get to know the Penderwicks you know it is about a lot more than that.
The book is charmingly innocent, but not too sweet and unrealistic. Jeanne Birdsall does a wonderful job of capturing children's emotions. She describes vividly the ever day challenges and beauty of life, inevitably causing yourself to stop reading from time to time and reflect. Pour yourself a glass of lemonade and enjoy the summer! If you'd like to buy the book, you can do it here.
In all the huzzle and the buzzle of our daily activities sometimes all we need is a little reminder what is really important. To pause. To enjoy the little moments. To celebrate. Not only a special occasion but the beautiful person you are, your kindness, your sparkling soul. Or that of a beloved one, of course.
So here is a little gift book for yourself or someone you want to say some kind words. I love the lovely and clean illustrations by Jill Labieniec! Here you can check out her lovely blog or visit her etsy-shop. And if you'd like to buy the book - you know where to...right here.
Photos taken by cocoabandit.blogspot.de
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