Sunday 21 September 2014

Slipping between

It is only a scrubby field but one silent, thundery afternoon it was full of magic


Most of the colours were muted but something about the quality of the light made the leaves already touched by Autumn  glow like jewels.




The more I wandered and looked the more beauty I found








I couldn't decide what attracted me most, the delicate seed-heads





or the Fireweed


I went further into the tangle until I felt as if I was in a fairy-tale and maybe outside the castle where a Sleeping Beauty slept


A combination of spider's webs and drifting willow-herb and thistle-down had captured the berries and twigs and wrapped them in silvery white






All was silent and I seemed the to be the only person in the world.
Finally I turned to go and glimpsed my beautiful Cathedral rising up out of the mist,



In Autumn the veil between this world and the next seems to lessen and we glimpse through.

Friday 12 September 2014

"Pretty Books, Pretty Books, Come Buy My Pretty Books!"

Grand Leather Bindings Collection £100


Kiss the Book
As many of you know, I'm an Antiquarian Bookseller, the purveyor of old and dusty volumes...
It is not an easy way to make a living and indeed I have three other jobs in order to make ends meet.
However that is what I am. I can't stop being a 'Booklady'.  The finding, buying and selling books is part of my life.
I  have never lost the pleasure of the chase, the excitement I feel when I discover a rare and interesting book.
I then love to see a kindred spirit find that volume on my shelf, pick it up joyously, treat themselves and leave, clutching it to their chest  in high delight.
Sadly that doesn't happen enough. You have to sell so many books just to cover the basic costs, let alone make a livable profit.
So I have come up with a new plan. I will still keep my stock but am venturing out into a changing world.


This is my post from my Facebook page of  'Kiss the Book' my company.
I though I would share it with you.

My new venture for Kiss the Book.

Most people buying my books are collectors or readers who are after a specific title. 
However, there are many people who enjoy the purely visual pleasure of a selection or shelf of beautiful, unusual old volumes.
For them I have created "The Collections"

These are luscious little piles of books. They contain leather bindings, soft faded cloth coverings, gilt edges, gilt titles and sometimes even intricate gilt decoration. They are well loved, worn and so beautiful! They come in jewel colours- ruby, emerald, sapphire and gold.

Ruby Collection £15

Emerald Collection £15

Sapphire Collection £15

Gold Collection £15


I am also gathering little bespoke Collections for the lover of Gardening, Nature, Poetry, children's Books... the list is growing.
These make an indulgent treat for yourself or a unique and thoughtful present.


Children's Collection £15

Gardener's Collection £20


I can create a bespoke "Little Collection" to suit you and your home.

A home is made beautiful by books

These "Little Collections" can be found at-
' Vintage et al' in Silver Street in Warminster,BA12 8PS 01985 848472,
Dairy House Antiques Station Rd, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9AN 01747 853317
Or at 'Kiss the Book' in Salisbury by prior arrangement-
Jane@kissthebook.com 01722 329 410




If you are on facebook, please do come and have a look at my page as well.

And who knows, maybe the people who buy these little collections for their looks may find unexpected pleasure in their contents?

(Oops can't seem to change the font...)