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Bookish Plants

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As much as I am looking forward to Christmas, once it’s over I miss the sunlight and the spring. I’m preparing for those dark winter months between Christmas and my garden sprouting for another year by preparing some book themed flowers in my house. I know that sounds a little crackers, but it’s all in the name. My flowers will have names which associate them with paper, books, stories… etc.

So far we have (sprouting) Amaryllis Novella and Narcissi Paperwhite… ta da!

Amaryllis and Narcissi growth

Amaryllis and Narcissi growth

Amaryllis Novella

Amaryllis Novella

Narcissi Paperwhite

Narcissi Paperwhite

 

Do you know of any plants with similarly bookish names? I am planning on making my garden a nature reserve but can see potential for extending a similar theme to my borders. William Shakespeare roses for example. I’d be really grateful for any suggestions and am willing to include fruit and veg.

Feeling Christmassy at The Book and Biscuit

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Yesterday we decorated the Christmas tree.

Book and Biscuit Christmas Tree

Book and Biscuit Christmas Tree

Before heading to Mostly Books, Abingdon, for some late night Christmas shopping and a spot of ginger cake.

Mostly Books Abingdon Late Night Opening

Mostly Books Abingdon Late Night Opening

Then we headed home and had a cup of tea and some Christmas biscuits before wrapping some presents with my little friends.

 

Guinea pigs are better at unwrapping than wrapping.

Guinea pigs are better at unwrapping than wrapping.

100 Artists for Literacy

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100 Artists for Literacy

100 Artists for Literacy.

I loved the above post on Anni Cardi’s blog, which links you to a charity Doedemee selling posters of redesigned book covers to help raise money to fight illiteracy.

Guess where I’m shopping this month! I think I’ll probably get the Wuthering Heights design for myself,  because it’s completely gorgeous AND one of my favourite books.

The posters for Alice’ Adventures in Wonderland, Anna Karenina, Wind in the Willows, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atonement and Northern Lights are also amazing. I might ask for some for my birthday/Christmas.

Crochet Rainbow Reading Blanket

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Sitting and reading for long periods can leave you a bit chilly in the winter, so since my last operation I’ve been making myself a crochet blanket using a pattern from a blog I found via craftgawker. It’s the first big crochet project I’ve made and, though it’s not perfect, it is cheerful and snuggly warm and perfect for cosying down in an arm-chair with a good book when it gets cold.

Winter is coming, as the Stark family are fond of saying, but I am prepared.

More Bookish Presents

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As you may or may not have noticed, I’ve been a bit slow to the post this month. The main reason for this is Virgin Media. Apparently they’re updating our area to broadband which is twice as fast as light soon. Sadly, this won’t matter much if their service continues to be down two weeks in every four.

Anyway, that’s why I’ve been a bit late sharing some of the lovely bookish presents I received from my family and friends this Christmas which I thought any bookworms out there might like to see. They’re pretty cute!

Alice mug

 

My friend George got me this cute mug with Alice wrestling the flamingo to play croquet. I think it might be from Whittard. It’s now my tea mug of choice, out-ranking even my Wizard of Oz mug collection.

 

 

 

 

 

Books to Check Out Journal

Jon’s mother bought me this Books to Check Out journal. It’s really handy with columns for books to read (really handy for me because I can be a bit scatty when I’m busy) and sections for favourite passages and books lent. It also has a pocket in the back which will keep my scribblings safe until I get a chance to use them sensibly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golden Shred Apron

My mother bought me this apron which I guess is based on the Golden Shred marmalade campaigns of the 50s. It reminds me of the illustrations in Enid Blyton books like The Magic Faraway Tree that I read as a child. Or maybe even the Noddy books to some extent, though those were more my little sister’s thing.

 

 

 

Book and Biscuit Biscuit Tin

Perfectly matching the theme of my blog, my superhuman cousin turned up at with this amazing box of biscuits neatly wrapped just days before she went into hospital to have my gorgeous mini-cousin Cari. The biscuits quickly evaporated (how does that work, scientists?) but the box will live on forever at my desk. With helpful little snack in case I need energy to help me think.

 

 

Penguin Postcards

Last but not least were this bumper set of Penguin post cards from Jon’s sister. I’m a big fan of the Penguin look- a great design which is both classic and contemporary, they’re a publisher’s dream. I’ve been collecting some vintage look postcards for a while with a view to framing them and using them to decorate the walls. The fanned postcards are ones I’ve picked out from the set to use for this, and the rest I’ll use in my correspondence. Now to order frames. Where did I put that measuring tape?

Home Furnishing for Bookworms

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I’ll probably be quiet for the next week at least as on Tuesday we get the keys to our new house. I’ve spent some of tonight going through the bookshelves in my flat and had filled bags with books to go to charity shops and books to go to family and friends, which has cleared some space. There are still plenty of books to pack to take to the house though, and I’m going home to my Dad’s this weekend, so will probably end up packing a lot of my old university books that I didn’t have space to keep with me before. I’m trying to be ruthless elsewhere- mostly with clothes- but at least minimalism isn’t as now as it was…

To get you into the house moving/home making mindset, I thought I’d share the exciting book related things that I am lusting over for my house (but probably can’t afford):

Literary Map of the UK

Stacked books wallpaper

Bookshelf Wallpaper

Penguin Deck Chair

Much Ado About Nothing One Page Book Poster

I’m Addicted to Bookshelf Porn

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If you’re a fan of beautiful bookshelves which are functional as well as ornamental then you have to check out Bookshelf Porn. Some are less bookshelves, more libraries, but some will work (or could be scaled down) to fit the smallest spaces ie. my flat. It’s an amazing website and everyone should check them out for some serious style inspiration. All the images below are from their fantastic website.

I could do this if I didn't need my desk for writing

I got questioned at customs for having hand luggage like this on my way to America

I have versions of this going on in my flat, much to my boyfriend’s frustration. They’re less suitable for editorial than these.

And finally, my fantasy reading seat in my future house. Do I need to have some kind of reinforcement put into the ceiling to have a chair like this? I can assure you that I’m only very small…

Proper book and biscuit porn

 

 

Bookshelf Enlightenment

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Cosy Bed

I rearranged our bedroom yesterday and today I hurt. I didn’t think things through so I had to move the bedroom bookshelf twice so that I could fit my desk where I wanted it. Having moved it into it’s second position, I no longer had anywhere to put my lamp (except on my boyfriend’s side of the bed) so I decided to get creative with the battery powered fairylights that I bought for Christmas tree.

Unfortunately I only remembered to buy enough batteries to power the one pack, but I think I’ll have a pretty nice light when I’m finished.