XMAS CAME EARLY

Christmas came early this year for me. Just like Santa my lovely Dutch publisher Librero sent me a parcel with a few copies of the Dutch version of Crochet for Men. I'm so happy. I can't understand a word and at the same time I can...as it was me who wrote the book.

Thanks again to all the lovely people at Librero!  

BOOZE

I know how he feels.

This cool book is by two cool ladies and two cool gentlemen. The writers are June Dutton and Edith Vanocur. The designers are John Astrop and Eric Hill. It was published by Determined Production Inc in 1967. I think the illustrations are wonderful and I'm planning on making as many drinks from this book as I can but first I have to get out of bed.  

MY HOUSE

I've just finished reading a very interesting book called Girls in the Song which documents the women from some of rock music's most famous songs. Obviously I stopped at the photo from 1969 of Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash - I'm digging your crocheted hat, Joni.

Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

BOOK LOVE - EN RÄT EN AVIG

This book made me chuckle when I saw it. I found it in the local library when I was in Sweden over Christmas. A man that is knitting on the cover of a book? I am impressed. They were very forward-thinking in the 70s - the book seems to follow a cool family where mom plays the saxophone and dad knits. I don't think I will grow my beard and hair that long though.

BRODERA VITT PÅ VITT

Embroider white on white. 

How brilliant is that cover? I don't know how to embroider and wouldn't be able to do it to save my own life but I do like that cover. It was published in the sixties - hence the black and white photography. Love its retro appeal.  

PETER AND THE WOLF

If you in the mood for a children's story then check this one out. Peter and the Wolf. When one of my friends from Sweden came to stay she fell in love with this book, and so did I. Love the reversible back and front cover. I took a few quick snapshot of it before she flew away, like the bird in the story.

MERRIMENT

Me and my whole family have been cracking up over this comic strip all xmas. Every time we have seen a gnome decoration we have quoted the old lady and the boy. It is by the Swedish cartoonist Hans Lindström.

Hope the joke is not lost in translation..

Old Lady:

My lord what are you boys up to?

Boy:

What does it look like. We are beating the crap out of the bastard and taking his sack! 

Hope you share my and my family's twisted sense of humor.

The third season

As autumn is upon us I am learning about the changing seasons with Derek Jervis book, aptly called The Seasons. The illustrations by Joan Beales is wonderful - if I believed in cutting up books I would frame them. If you want to see more of her work head over to the London Transport Museum.

Love and Marriage

I got a marriage proposal the other day in my comment bar by the lovely Neasa so I thought it would be fitting to share this book with you all. The reason why I bought it had more to do with the book design than the subject matter. Having said that it is a fascinating read. Especially the chapter on sex before marriage - none of that if you please. The urges have to be "controlled" and the person that can't do that would be "a pitiable object in our highly organized society". 

The whole book is so patronizing and sexist there are few words to describe it, but I have learnt something. If you are gonna have any chance at marriage with me Neasa you better be neatly but not loudly dressed. Because apparently that's what really counts.

Steven Russ continued

More of Steven Russ work for Penguin from my bookshelf.

The score is far to small to play from but the packaging is amazing.

Browning

It is going to be one of those weeks when I don't have much time for the blog. 

Will be full up with work but the week will pass quickly. Touch wood.

Think I will be reading the penguin poetry book on Browning because of its book designer Steven Russ.
Every time I see his designs either for penguin poet or music series I have to pick it up.

Better Sight Without Glasses

I don't wear glasses but when my eyesight is going I will try the exercises prescribed by Harry Benjamin in his book Better Sight Without Glasses. First published 1929 it is a complete self-treatment system for defective vision.

I bought the book because I loved the illustrations. Especially the one where the woman has to swing from side to side. "The gentle swaying, or swinging, has the effect of relaxing the whole nervous system, and should be practiced two or three times a day for five to ten minutes each time, or whenever the eyes feel tired and aching." No wonder the woman in the last illustration looks like she is going to be sick.

Summer reading

Have been working hard lately so it is quite nice to have some time of.

Love reading childhood classics like the Moomins.
The boy inside my head would just love to lie in a hammock reading all summer long.
But the grown up man says "you can't afford it!"

Squirrel tales

Last summer outside my parents house in Bergslagen we had a family of red squirrels dancing around in the old elm tree. Reminded me when I bought this classic book. 

Yes I did check if all of them still had their tails left. 

365 games to make and play

What can I say, I love old craft books from the 70s. Who wouldn't want a Giraffe Scissor Case or a Crocodile Letter Holder. Brilliant imagination.