Happiness is .......

Happiness is finding a book that I read as a teenager and also then finding the other great one he wrote , which, I had been told , was a really hard to come by  book .
  They arrived in the post today  and  I cant describe to you how good these two old paperback books feel in my hands !  Goosebumps !
 That beautiful old familiar picture on the cover and so much wholesome wisdom and goodness inside !
   It is going to be interesting reading again after all these years .

The Vision of Glory   John Stewart Collis

The Worm Forgives the Plough   John Stewart Collis

Jake's Bones

Here we are on the beach again, beach combing and looking at our brilliant new book !
 Me and my little grandson reading the best educational children's book I,ve seen for a very long time " Jake's Bones " written by Jake McGowan -Lowe .Published by Ticktock.
  Jake who is 12 years old has been interested in wildlife and collecting bones he finds whilst out on nature walks , woods and beaches . He shows how he puts the bones together as complete skeletons of the different animals  . It is such a fascinating hobby and a great introduction to biology in general .
 We love that dinosaur on the front cover !

A Schole- House For The Needle

..... and so while I await my gold threads.... I am here doing a little lesson from a delightful facsimile of a book dated 1632 A SCHOLE-HOUSE FOR THE NEEDLE by Richard Shorleyker .

  If you love embroidery or lace making ....then you will love this sweet book .

" Gentle readers I would haue you knowe , that the diverfities of examples , which you fhall find in this Scholole-house for the Needle , are only but Patternes , which ferue but to helpe and inlarge your inventions : but for the difpofing of them into forme and order of workes , that I haue left to your owne skils and vnderftandings ; whofe ingenious , & well practifed wits , will fo readily ,  ( I doubt not ) compofe them into fuch beautifull formes , as will be able to giue content , both to the workers , and wearers of them . "

Thanks to John and Elizabeth Mason who found the original book at a jumble sale in Newport , Shropshire during the 1940's...for a few pence !.....and together with the Victoria and Albert Museum who also have a copy , put together all but the frontispiece and two pages at the end of the book complete book .
  Full of the most delightful patterns and a joy to learn and create small projects from , a joy to work my fingers the very same patterns 17th century fingers have worked !