Thursday 3 November 2011

Books Galore


I've had a splurge on books just recently. It all started when The Book People catalogue dropped through my letterbox and there were a number of books in there that caught my eye. The Book People has some brilliant reductions on books, you can buy many quite new titles at a fraction of the retail price.


The first book I just had to have was Cute & Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench. The cover of the book caught my eye, the jam pot covers are so lovely. The book is ideal for someone who has just learnt to crochet, like me, as it explains techniques and explains the stitches. The recommended retail price of this book is £12.99 but I got it for the bargain price of £3.99.

The 35 projects included in the book range from Starting Out, for the more easy ones, followed by Practice Makes Perfect, getting a little more difficult, then ending with Confident Crocheting.

This bag is in the Starting Out section, perhaps I could manage that.


I love this cushion, I'll definitely give this one a go.


The second book which caught my eye was The Knitter's Year by Debbie Bliss. This book contains 52 seasonal knits, the projects are grouped by season. The idea of the book is that there's a project for each week of the year. There's lots of different types of projects, not just garments but also things like a cushion, lavender bags, pencil case and bunny egg cosies. There's some great ideas in the book for gifts. This book cost me £4.99, much less than the £18.99 recommended retail price.


This mug cosy is cute, and the pattern for the tea cosy in the background of the picture is also included in the book.


I could do with some of these fingerless gloves for when I'm gardening at the moment now that the weather's turning colder.


I couldn't place my order without including this next book, The Vintage Tea Party Book by Angel Adoree. The book contains recipes for tea parties held at all times of day, from brunch, afternoon and through to evening. This book has a recommended retail price of £20.00 but I paid £7.99.


There's some wonderful photos in the book to accompany the recipes.




Not only does the book contain recipes but it includes all the information you need to make your tea party special. There's samples of invitations, information on where to source props and even instructions on how to apply fake eyelashes.

The book shows some ideas for hair decorations...


...and even gives instructions on how to play parlour games.


There's so much more to this book that I thought when I ordered it.

I was thrilled when my delivery of books arrived, but it didn't stop there. Last weekend I visited a few charity shops and managed to pick up another couple of books.

The first was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I've heard a few bloggers mention how good this book is, and the reviews on Amazon seem to confirm this. I'm certainly looking forward to reading it. I paid £1.49.


The second charity shop book purchase was The Illustrated Lark Rise To Candleford by Flora Thompson. I'd seen this book in a charity shop whilst I was on holiday in Cornwall earlier this year but I left it behind as I thought the price tag of £7.00 was a bit steep. I picked up this copy for £1.99.


I absolutely loved Lark Rise To Candleford when it was on television and I'm so looking forward to reading the book, especially as it's so beautifully illustrated.



So that's my recent purchases. Plenty there to keep me occupied now that the dark evenings have come round once again.

14 comments:

  1. Both good ways to buy books! Flighty xx

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  2. What bargains. I could do with the Tea Party one - we're just off to a real one this afternoon and I've nearly emptied my wardrobe deciding what to wear - I've not quite decided yet! I have baked scones, of course, and the Date Square tray bake from the Virtual Tea Party.

    I also had a disaster with a project with granny squares so I could turn them into a bag as in your photo. Hope you have lots of happy reading.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  3. You got some fantastic bargains there Jo!
    The crochet book looks fab - Nicki Trench has a blog too if you're interested.
    All your other buys look great too, all such good value!
    The Book People have been a fav of mine since Bella was little.I have bought loads of good value childrens books over the years from them, as well as books for presents and for me as they offer such great mark downs.
    Thanks for sharing these!

    Gill xx

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  4. Spooky - I have a book post prepared too! Great books! xxx

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  5. Gosh I can't believe what a deal you got, I'm going to have to check them out! I've just recently bought Cute and Easy Crochet, what a lovely book it is!

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  6. The Book people are a really good company aren't they. Love the book you ordered, the tea cup cosy is just fab!
    Great book finds in the charity shops too. Hope you enjoy the Book Thief, I thought it was amazing.
    Lisa x

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  7. Wow, lucky you getting the Illustrated Lark Rise to Candleford at such a bargain price! It's one the I'd have snapped up as well, well done!

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  8. Hi Jo,

    Great book purchases!

    We have that copy of Larkrise to Candleford. Aren't the pictures gorgeous. We've read a page to each other in the evenings and looked up the meaning of the old fashioned words in the dictionary. Just brilliant!

    Sft x

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  9. Oh my I may have accidently bought a few books (ahem make that a set of 48!)
    You are a terrible enabler!!
    x

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  10. Those book people catalogues are dangerous!!!

    Victoria xx

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  11. Oh I am quite giddy with excitement for you about those wonderful books. I too have the Vintage Tea Party - bought on impulse when I was over in England in August - I found it totally whacky and it is standing proudly on my bookcase.

    I wish I could crochet! I will learn soon. That book looks wonderful. I knitted a similar tea cosy with roses and leaves on it and I LOVE it.

    Have a wonderful week surrounded by those books of yours!

    Stephanie

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  12. Thank you for all your lovely comments, I appreciate them all.

    Mum - I think the granny square bag looks lovely, you must give it a try.

    Gill - I shall look up Nicki Trench's blog. I too bought lots of excellent value children's books from The Book People when my two were young, they have some great titles.

    Lisa - I've just started The Book Thief, I'm enjoying it already, though I'm only reading a couple of chapters each night in bed so it will probably last me a while.

    Caro - I was thrilled to bits to find Lark Rise to Candleford, I enjoyed the television series so much, I can't wait to read it.

    Sft - The illustrations are just wonderful, scenes of bygone days, dreamy.

    Priddy Priddy - Sorry about that, isn't it terrible when you follow links on blogs? Enjoy the books.

    Stephanie - The Vintage Tea Party is so much more than I expected it to be, I'm enjoying it very much. I've only recently learnt to crochet, there's some very helpful guides on You Tube.

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  13. Bad Jo, Bad. You are not supposed to go tempting me with the very reduced prices at the Book People. I is saving up for a Kindle Fire (when Amazon get their finger out and get their cloud system set up over here) I is not to go spending money on any old thing that could be wrapped up and given to me by my husband/children/mother for Christmas...... No, wait, that just might work as a justification!
    Thanks, Jo for a couple of great recommendations. Christmas presents it is, then.

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  14. I can see that you're easily tempted, Angel Jem, especially when you can find a reason to justify your purchase. Go ahead, I say, they're all lovely books.

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