Australian Illustrations

Found some beautiful children's book illustrations on Bibliodyssey today... Thought I'd share some of my favorites.

These two are by Australian illustrator Margaret Clark, and were produced in the mid-1920's. I love the moon peeking over the horizon and smiling at the unseeing sprites below!

Florist Shop, Margaret Clark

The Spirit of Mischief, Margaret Clark

Makes me want to take a trip to the antique book store in Scottsdale and see what tresures they have!

Beautiful books, part two

Remember those beautiful books I posted about a few weeks ago?

...

I found them at an online Canadian bookseller called Chapters via another blog (now I can't remember which blog, and that makes me sad) and treated myself!

They are even more gorgeous in person...

Photos copyright Bloom Creatives 2009. All rights reserved.

Despite the fact that I already own five of the ten in much less beautiful formats, I bought the full set. How could I not when they are just so perfect? And they are meant to be a set, as they are all numbered along their spines.

They have found a home on my bookshelf in our master bedroom for now... They may end up in our guest room when we redo it. After I read them all, of course!

(If you'd like to purchase these special edition Penguin Classics for yourself, click the bookseller's link above and search for "Penguin Classics Deluxe Hardback.")

Beautiful books

How gorgeous are these books? Penguin Classics released this hardcover series of classic literature through Waterstone's in the UK, but it is now unfortunately out of print. Rumor has it that Penguin plans to release a North American paperback series in time for Mother's Day, but to me that defeats the purpose of the beautiful designs - the texture of the fabric covers holds much of the allure. These would definitely be a great eBay find!

(Sorry for the delay in posting... I just came back from a particularly draining 9-day gig.)