Bookshelf Tuesday - favourite eye candy

Today's books are two of my favourites. They are so well read that my favourite pages fall open! Both books are not really that new, but they are a feast for your eyes. I gain constant inspiration from looking at these books, and still spot new little details in the wonderful photos. So grab a cup of tea and enjoy a browse....

Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers and Ali Hanan ISBN 184172937

The blurb for this book actually says it well "Full of creative and affordable ideas, (the book) gives you all the information and advice you need to create a distinctively original home." I have only given you a very tiny taste of the beautiful ideas/photos contained within. The book has two parts: The first dealing with finding second-hand pieces, and, the second part is about Putting It All Together. If you are a second hand market, thrift store junkie this book is great to help you pull together a 'style' that incorporates your own treasures.

childhood treasure:handmade gifts for babies and children by Caroline Zoob ISBN 1841724777

This book is my absolute favourite! If I had to grab one book from my collection this would be the one - that's how favourite it is. Desert island material. Once again the photos and styling are just gorgeous, and the ideas are wonderful. Childhood treasures goes one step further and actually provides 10 projects that you just want to make! Do you think I've gushed enough?! The projects included are, A cross-stitch sampler, a floral pelmet, cot quilt, log-cabin cushion, alphabet sorter, mister rabbit, painted treasure box, fairy wings, Christmas stocking, and a covered notebook. Within the text there are also numerous little guides to make more projects like the cut-out dolls - Make runs of cardboard dolls and then cut out lots of tiny squares in a variety of fabrics. Let each child draw the faces and design their own clothes using the patches. Miss L and I spent an afternoon together last year doing this project, and the finished runs of girls and boys are still up on her bedroom wall. It was such a fun thing to do together and even possible for a 3 year old to handle. We used yarn bits to give the girls and boys hair too. I have also started the little dolls quilt idea - Use pretty faded florals or old nursery fabrics to make pillows and quilts for dolls' beds. Decorate them with embroidered words for the lucky 'poupee' who will be sleeping in the bed. This book is about reusing, appreciating and making treasures for children to keep and pass on to their own children. I think this sentence sums up what Caroline Zoob and Childhood Treasures is all about : "There is no point in collecting lots of old toys just to put them high on a shelf simply as a decorative statement."

Now excuse me as I go back to my own tea and some happy browsing....