The Bird's NestSometimes a birthday present is so unexpected
and yet so thoughtfully chosen
that you catch your breath
when you undo the wrapping.
The FarmyardMy father-in-law, Thomas, is a bibliophile
and gave me the tiniest slip of a book
wood engravings by Gwen Raverat
published by R.D. & J.M. Carr
The Quince Tree Press
ChildrenGwen Raverat was a granddaughter of Charles Darwin
and later in life published 'Period Piece',
a memoir of her Cambridge childhood,
one of my parents' favourite books.
AprilShe was an exceptionally talented artist,
specialising in wood engraving,
who trained at the Slade
and then lived in France with her husband
until his early death in 1925.
The BalconyThe exquisite wood engravings featured
include examples from her time in France
and her later book illustrations.
In the LoftThe ones I have selected remind m
of my family home in Cornwall.
There are days when I wish I could be closer.
I had a dove
15 comments:
Alice - oh boy - they are absolutely gorgeous - they took MY breath away..
so beautiful, so english!
sometimes I imagine I live a life where I just sit quietly somewhere and make things like that.
i know JUST the person who would love to see these...
These are so sweet. Thank you for sharing. Did you have a dove?
These are really beautiful.
Oh Alice, such beautiful images, very inspiring.
They are so beautiful. What a wonderful thoughtful gift.
I am so glad you liked this little book (I seem to remember giving you Period Piece some years ago - also one of my favourites: I bought my copy on the day of publication over 50 years ago, I seem to remember!) I have some more of the little books printed by J L Carr which may wing their way to you eventually. There is a good biography of him called 'The last Englishman'by Byron Rogers who also wrote an excellent biography of teh poet R S Thomas 'The Man Who Went Into the West'.
I lost myself in some wonderful daydreams there...
Magical!
What a lovely gift to cherish always.
Truly exquisite - lucky you!
Those are so beautiful. If I could only swop your father in law for mine, because I keep getting really anonymous in-law gifts which make me seethe rather than catch my breath.
Maybe he could just have a word, father in law to father in law...
Those are just beautiful. They remind me of my grandparents house. I love wood engravings. Have you read Consequences by Penelope Lively?
Oh, Alice, these are beautiful. What a wonderful gift!
SO beautiful.
Thank you.
I love woodcuts. These are beautiful images.
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