What on earth is it?
A delightful tea set? A charming sake server? A vehicle for warmed schnapps? A sambucca sipper? An unusual gift for that friend who has everything? You can decide what it is. Please let us know what you settle on.
It's a delicate ensemble with glorious gold decorative markings and gold handles and edging. The porcelain has a delicately marbled sheen which is a lovely detail. The set comprises a serving platter, five cups, and the crowning glory of the elephant pot with attractive domed lid.
Whatever it is, you've got to have it. Pop on in to our Dunedin shop and buy it now. Be quick as it will surely be snapped up in no time at all.
The Miles Kelly Book of Lists (and answers to yesterday's quiz)
The Miles Kelly Book of Lists
This little book is a very useful item. No household should be without one. It's exactly what you need for so many things. You can effortlessly organise fundraising quiz nights for months and months. You can run team competitions in the classroom without the usual planning or preparation. You can drive your friends and family to distraction for weeks on end. You can make the average car journey really unendurable and ruin many a quiet family evening in front of the tele!
On the plus side, it's a very attractive little book and it really is packed with interesting facts and fascinating trivia. It is a goldmine of information and is very easy to use. You could while away many a happy hour just dipping into it.
Answers: 1) Tatooine 2) 29 3) Gordon Sumner 4) Melbourne 5) Frank Bruno
6) Christian Science 7) Tiffany 8) Edouard Manet 9) Robert Kennedy 10) A parliament
Facts, Statistics and Trivia
See how you get on with these questions:
- What is the name of Luke Skywalker's home planet?
- How old was Marc Bolan when he died?
- What is the full name of Sting?
- What was the capital of Australia before Canberra?
- Whose autobiography is called 'From Hero to Zero"?
- What religion was founded by Mary Baker Eddy?
- What's Richard Gere's middle name?
- Who painted A Bar at the Folies Bergeres?
- Who did Sirhan Sirhan assassinate?
- What is the collective name for a group of owls?
This book is stuffed full of fascinating lists of facts and statistics and trivia covering just about every subject imaginable from tv and film to sport and geography, and from the bizarre to the unimaginably dull.
See you all tomorrow then.
Architecture
Whether you're a Frank Lloyd Wright or an Arnold Newman fan or you need a book on designing public toilets, whether you're planning an extension to your own home or thinking of renovating an old New Zealand villa, whether you're a student of architectural history or writing a paper on 19th Century European architecture, whether you're converting or building from scratch, you can be pretty sure you'll find something of interest in our stock.
We have books covering just about every aspect of architecture you can think of: from carved stone cathedrals, horizon-dominating skyscrapers, airy glass & steel work spaces, Hindu temples in glorious colour, geodesic domes, fabulous sports arenas to Gothic palaces and functional seats of government.
If you haven't yet become a fan of architecture and architects, maybe now is a good time to start. The choice is limitless.
Crafts
There are so many different handcrafts to choose from that deciding what to try can be a bit bewildering. However, the wonderful diversity on offer means that there is probably something for you whether you're a novice or a professional.
Think of sewing, knitting, embroidery, quilting, weaving, basketry, straw work or crochet and then consider all the different varieties within each of those fields and you could try a new handcraft every year without ever getting bored.
Our books cover step-by-step instructions, planning, design, basic principles, colours, patterns, fabrics & materials, practical tips, helpful hints and a huge wealth of useful advice on every aspect of whichever craft you decide to have a go at.
Come in and browse our selection in the shop or have a look at our online stock and get knitting, weaving, sewing, embroidering, tatting or quilting today. Don't delay or you won't get all your Christmas presents made in time!
Inventions from the Shed
Inventions from the Shed by Jim Hopkins and Julie Riley
Do you think you possess the iconic Kiwi ingenuity? Whether you're a budding inventor looking for some inspiration or just enjoy stories of everyday New Zealanders creating something extraordinary, this book makes for an interesting read or a great bragging point to share with your overseas friends.
It features more than 100 original inventions for farming, fishing, computers, transport, office work, building, parenting, extreme sports, everyday life and more - all designed and built by Kiwis in their own shed.
Stop by for some ideas on your way to grab a piece of 4x2 and some number 8 wire and get inventing!
New Zealand Books
We have so many New Zealand new arrivals in our Dunedin store that we have dedicated a whole new table to them.
Whether you're looking for local histories, biographies, quality literature or NZ specific books on anything from gardening and geography to art and engineering, chances are we'll have what you are after!
Not in Dunedin? We have over 13,000 New Zealand titles listed online and more being added every week.
Bags and Purses
There is a bag museum in Amsterdam called (informatively but rather unimaginatively) 'The Museum of Bags and Purses'.
This book equally imaginatively titled 'Bags' offers an overview of some of the bags in that collection. It covers the history, the uses, and the design of all sorts of bags over the last 500 years. Included are pouches, wallets, chatelaines, reticules, travel bags, minaudieres, vanity cases, evening bags, designer bags and more. This is a must for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
If you just happen to be an inveterate collector of handbags then this will give you material for justifying your next unnecessary purchase. You can learn all sorts of useful information from this book as well as trivia like what kind of bags Madonna prefers.
Then you could move on to Michael Tonello's (much more imaginatively named) book 'Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World's Most Coveted Bag''.