Drawing inspiration from the interiors and fashions of the twentieth century, this great new book is packed full of knit and crochet projects which will fit perfectly into any vintage-inspired interior. The craft skills that have traditionally been passed down through the generations from mother to daughter are as popular as ever, boosted by the current vogue for all things vintage. Creating your own bespoke home furnishings is now seen not just as an exercise in thrift, but as a creative and rewarding activity in itself. Two Tone Chic draws inspiration from the sophistication and elegance of Coco Chanel’s famous little black dress, the drama of geometric art deco shapes, and the simplicity of embellishments such as ribbons and lace. Folk Tales introduces the tradition of colour and spontaneity found in Scandinavian and Russian folk art, with its recurring motifs from the natural world, as well as joyful decorative techniques like bobbles, beads, pom poms, embroidery and applique. Birds and flowers adorn cushions, while the bright colours of Russian Dolls provide inspiration for a cosy blanket and a sumptuous floor cushion. Time for Tea brings us to the ‘make do and mend’ era of the 1950s with its floral frocks and afternoon tea parties. Pretty vintage buttons, frills and lace are all in evidence here, with floral cushions, doilies and table runners. With feature spreads on the inspiration behind each look, these projects will help you turn your house into a home. Word count: 40,000

You really are my sunshine Even on cloudy, rainy days Just seeing you chases the gloom away Sharing this message with someone you love -- of any age -- is reassuring and comforting. A wonderful gift idea for showers, birthdays, and first libraries. An adorable little mouse family and friends are used in place of people, to be any race, gender, or age. Sturdy board pages are just right for even the littlest "readers" Be my sunshine, my rainbow, bright star, and moonbeam The message of unconditional love is revealed in colorful, engaging illustrations Soft rhyming text is easy to read aloud A keepsake for generations

Noreen's first memories are of life on a farm in Kiltartan, County Galway, where her love affair with words and stories began. Neighbours, friends and relations are brought vividly to life in these pages and we see how the things she experienced and the people she met have moulded her. A past, which has all but disappeared, is relived in her keen observations and her tales will stir one's own memories of early childhood.Noreen, from an early age, knew that she wanted to travel, to live in different cultures and to form lasting bonds with the places and people she encountered. Having no set plan, instead she relied on her own intuition. This led her to teaching in Africa as a volunteer, then to living and working in France (using a language that she had been told she would never master), on to India, where she was to meet her husband, and finally to Switzerland. Throughout her life, those lessons learned in childhood have sustained her.

In this Isabel Dalhousie original short story, available exclusively in electronic format, our intrepid heroine—accused by a distraught wife of being the "other woman"—makes a surprising discovery as she attempts to defend her reputation. Summer in Edinburgh is a season of delicate sunshine and showers, picnics with loved ones in blossoming gardens, and genteel celebrations of art and music. But Isabel Dalhousie’s peaceful idyll is broken when a single meeting over coffee with fellow philosopher Dr. George McLeod brings an irate phone call from his wife, Roz, who implacably accuses Isabel of conducting an affair with her husband. Wounded by the injustice of Roz’s wild allegation and concerned both for her standing among the gossipy group of her scholarly peers and for Roz’s apparent state of hysteria, Isabel sets out to discover more about the McLeods, and to set the record straight before the bitterness in their marriage poisons her own reputation. For insight into the McLeods’ relationship she turns to Millie, who is both an old acquaintance of Isabel’s and a university colleague of George’s. In this engaging, intelligently observed story, Alexander McCall Smith’s sharp-eyed heroine is reminded once again to avoid jumping to hasty conclusions about the lives of others, and to value friendship wherever it’s found.

In fifteenth century Greece, an extraordinary friendship develops between Miguel, a refugee from post-Inquisition Spain, and David, the son of a wealthy Greek fabric merchant, despite the concerns of both Greek and Spanish Jews that the other group is not truly Jewish.

Derick Lugo had never been hiking. He didn't even know if he liked being outside all that much. He certainly couldn't imagine going more than a day without manicuring his goatee. But with a job overseas cut short and no immediate plans, this fixture of the greater New York comedy circuit began to think about what he might do with months of free time and no commitments. He had heard of the Appalachian Trail and knew of its potential for danger and adventure, but he had never seriously considered attempting to hike all 2,192 miles of it. Then again, what could go wrong for a young black man from the city trekking solo through the East Coast backwoods? The Unlikely Thru-Hiker is the story of how an unknowing ambassador of one of the AT's least common demographics, unfamiliar with both the outdoors and thru-hiking culture, sets off with an extremely overweight pack and a willfully can-do attitude to conquer the infamous trail. What follows are eye-opening lessons on preparation, humility, race relations, and nature's wild unpredictability. But this isn't a hard-nosed memoir of discouragement or intolerance. What sets Lugo apart from the typical walk in the woods is his refusal to let any challenge squash his inner Pollyanna. Through it all, he perseveres with humor, tenacity, and an unshakeable commitment to grooming--earning him the trail name "Mr. Fabulous"--that sees him from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine.

In her official second edition of The Healing Shower, Eloise Laws dedicates her book to those suffering from cancer and other chronic and life-threatening illnesses, who seek a different path and find some positiveness in what is happening, both to them and those around them. Serious illness can affect not only the sufferer, both those close family members and friends too. Often people want to help but do not want to appear pushy, or perhaps think that the sufferer just wants time and space to be alone. Eloise Laws is a breast cancer survivor and the overwhelming love and support she received, when she was going through the toughest time of her life, inspired her to write this book. Simple things, live having a meal prepared or an errand run, can make a HUGE difference. The book explains exactly what a Healing Shower is, and how it can make such a tremendous difference to you in a time of uncertainty, while also helping those around you come to terms with it. It is an inspiring and uplifting read and one which will undoubtedly provide reassurance in a time of uncertainty.