From a photo tour of Brooke Tucker's exquisite miniature rooms and the Golden Christmas room created for this book, to tips and techniques for building the Golden Christmas room, this book is ideal for both collectors and crafters. Includes easy-to-follow photographs, illustrations, and a list of materials for popular miniatures projects. By Brooke Tucker. 8 1/4 x 10 3/4; 128 pgs.; 120 b&w and 60 color photos; hardcover.
The husband and wife team behind Giannetti Home welcome readers into their gorgeous farm residence blending modern style with French antiques. When Brooke and Steve Giannetti decided to leave their suburban Santa Monica home to build a new life on a farm, they traveled to Belgium and France for design inspiration. In Patina Farm they share their collaborative process, as well as the enviable result of their team effort and creativity: an idyllic farm in California’s Ojai Valley. With two hundred gorgeous photographs and Steve’s architectural drawings, Brooke takes readers through their inspirations, thought process, and materials selections. Readers are given a full tour of the family home, guesthouse, lush gardens, and delightful animal quarters.
A tale of grit and real teamwork in the wilds of Antarctica when the hunger for knowledge reigns supreme. Anything can happen in a pure wilderness experienced by few humans—a place where unseen menace waits everywhere. This story is an unembellished account of a scientist and his team exploring the last place on Earth. But, unlike most recent books on Antarctica, the reader becomes embedded with geologist Bruce Luyendyk’s team. They share the challenges, companionship, failures, bravery, and success brought to light from scientific research pursued in an unforgiving place, Marie Byrd Land, or Mighty Bad Land. The geologists make surprising discoveries. Luyendyk realizes that vast submarine plateaus in the southwest Pacific are continental pieces that broke away from the Marie Byrd Land sector of Gondwana. He coined “Zealandia” to describe this newly recognized submerged continent. Only the tops of its mountains poke above sea level to host the nation of New Zealand. This stunning revelation of a submerged eighth continent promises economic and geopolitical consequences reverberating into the twenty-first century. The story occurs in the 1990s and fills a gap in the timeline of Antarctic exploration between the Heroic Age, the age of military exploration, and before the modern era of science. Danger is exponentially greater, isolation a constant threat without GPS, satellite phones, and the internet. As the expedition’s leader, Luyendyk stands up to his demons that surface under the extreme duress of his experience, like nearly losing two team members.
In 'The Big Book of Christmas Treasure Tales', Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson compiles an expansive anthology of the most beloved Yuletide narratives, encompassing a variety of genres including novels, short stories, poems, and carols that have shaped the literary canon of Christmas. Readers will discover a rich tapestry of festive classics, from the poignant 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry to the venerable verses of 'Ring Out, Wild Bells' by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Bjørnson's curatorial finesse is evident as he interweaves timeless works with lesser-known gems, all while capturing the diverse cultural essence of Christmas through the prism of literature. The collection is presented with an eye for both literary quality and seasonal charm, offering an immersive experience into the spirit of the holiday. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, a revered figure in Norwegian literature and a Nobel laureate, perhaps found inspiration for creating this collection from his own engagement with themes of identity, community, and tradition — concepts deeply entwined with the Christmas season. His personal literary footprint, characterized by a poetic realism and national romanticism, echoes through the selections, hinting at the universal longing for warmth, generosity, and connection during the holiday period. By encompassing works from international literary greats, Bjørnson underscores the shared human experiences central to Christmas, transcending any one tradition or geography. 'The Big Book of Christmas Treasure Tales' is a must-read for aficionados of classic literature and anyone looking to rekindle their holiday spirit. It is a literary hearth around which readers of all ages can gather, finding solace and joy in tales that celebrate the profound simplicity and deep complexities of the human experience. It is an invitation to revisit the storied past of Christmas traditions and to instill new memories with the turn of each page. For the literary connoisseur and the Christmas enthusiast alike, this anthology is a treasured addition to any winter library, promising to delight and inspire for generations to come.
The Santa's Library: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends is a monumental anthology that weaves together a tapestry of narratives from a wide spectrum of literary traditions, highlighting the universal themes of love, generosity, and the human spirit that are particularly reflective during the Christmas season. This collection spans the gamut from the timeless eloquence of William Shakespeare to the poignant simplicity of Hans Christian Andersen, offering readers a rich variety of literary styles including the gothic, the fantastical, the poetic, and the realist. It stands as a testament to the enduring allure of Christmas storytelling, with standout pieces that encapsulate the joy, sorrow, humor, and reflection that the holiday evokes, providing a comprehensive overview of Christmas literature's evolution and its cultural significance across different periods and societies. The contributing authors and editors, renowned figures in their own rights like Charles Dickens, known for his quintessential Christmas stories, and Emily Dickinson, with her introspective poetics, represent a convergence of historical, cultural, and literary movements from Romanticism to Victorian literature, and beyond. Together, they harmonize to capture the multifaceted essence of Christmas, each contributing their unique voice to the exploration of themes such as redemption, faith, and the social injustices of their times. This anthology situates itself within a rich literary and cultural context, offering insights into how Christmas has served as a canvas for authors to project their hopes, criticisms, and dreams, thus enriching the reader's understanding of the broader human experience through the prism of Christmas narratives. The Santa's Library: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends is an indispensable volume for anyone interested in the cultural history of Christmas, the evolution of holiday literature, and the remarkable breadth of insight such a multitude of perspectives brings to the festive season. It invites readers to delve into the depths of human emotion and societal values encapsulated in these stories, carols, and legends. This anthology is not just a celebration of Christmas but a journey through the myriad ways in which this holiday has been immortalized in print. It is an educational treasure trove that promises to enlighten, entertain, and inspire readers with the spirit of Christmas, making it a perfect addition to any literary collection.
