Simple Pleasures

Candles — that is, their ability to transform the most ordinary occasion into something richly atmospheric and magical.


(lovely photo by Joanna Henderson)

Dutch Book Covers

De Gouden Haan by Marietje Witteveen, 1940

Levend Speelgoed. Een Grappige Droom by B.E. van Osselen-van Delden, 1903

De Koningin der Poppen, printed in Amsterdam, 1867

De Circus by Ant. L. de Rop, 1890

Eerste en Laatste by El Pintor, 1943

Verkeers-Prentenboek by Willy Planck, 1926

These are just a few examples from the amazingly extensive collection of Dutch children's book covers from the Memory of the Netherlands site, in the Picture Books From 1810 To 1950 section, which I discovered via this great post on the always wonderful BibliOdyssey.

Giveaway Winner!

I've run the random number generator, and I'm happy to announce that Anna (of the blog What Anna Loves) is the winner of a lovely full sized (200 ml), beautifully packaged Osmanthus Replenishing Body Lotion by Ormonde Jayne, the chic London-based boutique perfumery! Congratulations Anna — and thanks so much to everyone who participated, too. Thanks again to Sarah of Ormonde Jayne for this generous donation!