Booklove~ Vivian Swift~.Art~

..and then there were 3..:)

How did that sneak in?

And these?

Ahem..and these?

I have lots of book loves..too many in fact..

I had taken lots of little vignettes of where they are in our home and what they mean to me..but that would just confuse the issue..so..

in Cliff Notes..

I love my mom's books the best..top pic..

I love books w/ tea..

I have book sections of cookbooks..favorite art books..favorite sentimental gifts to me books..
favorite photo books..the last ones up there..many more..but I don't want you to fall asleep:)

And...
I don't want to weigh this post down w/ too many topics..

so let's talk about books that feature art that inspires us..

Of course Monet inspires me..and Matisse..but I can't sit down and try and ..copy  them to try and learn..

...but give me Susan Branch..and Jana Kolpen..

by the way..Have you read The Fairy Tale Girl/Susan Branch?

You should:)

and..tada..now for ..

..Vivian Swift..who even teaches us how to paint her "Triscuits"..via her BLOG..

(she does..I promise..go see..)

I had Vivian's  2 previous books..which I love..

so when I heard she was publishing a 3rd..I was on the lookout..since last year.

It is no secret that I have a love of gardening..so I knew I had to have this book for more reasons than one~


I had to wait a lot longer for mine..

Amazon Canada had specified a release date of March 16th..so I was on pins and needles..especially since my US friends had theirs already...

March 16th came and went..

oh well ...it gave me a chance to win a real life Triscuit   ( thank you VS)..while tapping my fingers..
...and it gave me the chance to look over the previous 2:)

And practice:)

VS is inimitable..but she gives us tips and tricks to TRY..

I love that..

When I started in real estate..I found the agents that had nothing to worry about because their careers were proven..were the first to share..
they were agents that had a proven track record..that were not envious of anyone..and that were confident in all they did.
:)
so they shared ..

..that's what Vivian does..

..and how cute IS my Triscuit that I won..fair and square?:);)

I say this in jest as Jacques picked my lucky number that won..well ours was the closest to the actual winning Top Cat picked number..



It came in a big box..:) With such a dear address label that has a VS self portrait in black and white..so cute..so cute I want to try and do one..I may take Carol's sketch of me..leaving her artist's name of course..and add:)

I would Love to do that:)


Then  there was bubble wrap..and tissues and a card..and the artwork.

Look how   precious.

It really is the size of a Triscuit..my macaron can sit atop and cover it..imagine painting so perfectly clear with so much detail so small....♥

So..now I have the VS trilogy:)

I have perused it and can tell you that she had me at the first page and the mention of her favorite gardener.

Forget about 50 Shades Of Grey trilogy....it never interested me..but these? 

I was in from the get go..I even offered books 1 and 2 as gifts at one point I loved them so..

I can look at these books over and over again..
You never tire of books like these.


I am not great at re~reading novels..Susan Branch..the books above ,I can..Vivian's I can again and again and again.
I can't tell you how many lovely quiet moments her books have given me..they are fun..cute..well written w/ doses of humor and wit and facts.
Not just picture books..

I LOVE books like these..Have I said that?

Keepers..special shelves..areas in the house..go~ to spots to look at pretty and to be happy you are lucky enough to have books like these.

I never give them away..mine..books that came to me via way of a gift I never give away either.

Too me..they came bundled up w/ thought and meaning.

So I selfishly keep them.
♥