{tinza's tiny good things #9}

{quote from NYC library}

Today's #tinygoodthings is all about reading & books & libraries. I was reminded that a year ago I was in NYC, visiting the New York Public Library and took a snap of this quote. There is nothing quite like a good book... and I'm also in love with libraries. So here are a few pics of some of my fave I have visited. Can't wait to see more once lockdown is over and we've put COVID-19 behind us!

Perhaps these grand libraries aren't such a 'tiny thing' but a good quote and a good book surely are the little pleasures that make life enjoyable!

x

L

{NYC library}

{Univeridade de Coimbra royal library}

{Oxborough Hall}

{Trinity Hall, Cambridge's oldest chained library}

{Kenwood House}

{book published!}

I realise I've been frightfully absent from blogging... but since my last post, my book has come out!
So it's very exciting news. Thanks to all my faithful followers who have come on the journey with me: from reading about frustrations in academia to accompanying me on my research trips to Italy!
The book is finally out in the UK and will be out shortly in North America! (apparently even Target is going to stock it!)
So you can have a look at Collecting Art in the Italian Renaissance Court over at Cambridge University Press (where you can use the 20% discount code: CLARK2018) or you can preview it on google books & Amazon!
My official book launch isn't until October, but I've been celebrating ever since it came out at the end of June!

{presenting on my book at the National Gallery in June}

xo
L

{quotable thursdays}

It's international women's month, so today I'm choosing a short & punchy quote:

{she persisted}

That quote could simply read 'she persisted' and it would reveal the strength of so many women, past and present, who have persisted in the face of adversity. Whether it's famine, abuse, discrimination, or simply the challenges of everyday life.
Last weekend I had a group of amazing women over for brunch. We met through poppy loves bookclub in London and I invited them out for a 'day in the country'. We brunched and chatted and then went for a country walk. By the end of the day, I felt lighter, happier, and simply positive.

{all laughs!}

 It's wonderful what happens when you surround yourself with amazing women.
Thanks to all the inspiring women in my life!
xx
L

{quotable thursdays}

Hello Thursday! How did you get here so fast?!
Hope you all are having a good week. I've been working so hard this summer that I feel like it's come and gone with no vacation. boohoo...
But, this week I'm putting the final revisions on my book before it goes out again for review...
I have to agree with the quote below:

{until it's done}

Having printed out the entire manuscript, I was able to spend some of my time outside this week in my garden, which also reminded me that: 

{flowers}

With my shed looking all lovely, of course there are flowers to see: 

 

I'm off to my cousins for a  minibreak this weekend.

Hope you have something fab planned too.

xo

L

{bookshelves}

If you read my blog regularly, you'll know I'm obsessed with books and bookshelves. In a dream world I'd have a library in my house, but in my small little Victorian ex-worker's cottage called Chota House there isn't much room for a whole library. However, after getting inspiration from a lot of magazines and images on pinterest (boards 'on books and things' and 'fireplaces'), my father designed and executed some lovely built-ins for my living room.
With the floors done, this room is almost complete (just waiting for some picture rails) (...& eventually new curtains)!

The previous owners had used brown carpet everywhere, and filled the space with a lot of furniture, without creating any form of flow. I've tried to create a cozy space around the fireplace, with built-in bookshelves, a sofa, and a lovely French chair. It's the perfect place to curl up and read on cold winter's night!

{before (former owner's arrangement) & after!}

{BEFORE (former owners' arrangement)}

{AFTER!}

{after!}

& just a few pics of the work in progress to underline how much work it indeed did take!

{initial carpet removal}

{prepping the floors}

{work in progress!}

{cabinets going in}

but now...it finally feels like home!:

 

stay tuned for more renos!
xo
L

{quotable thursdays}

{start reading young}

As I spend this week and next completing edits on my book, here is something to remember in all circumstances:

{speak well}

One simple way to acquire this is just to simply read a lot.

{& you can still be elegant reading! right Holly Golightly?}

xo

L

{quotable thursdays}

Today's quote is a medieval riddle:

An enemy ended my life, took away

My bodily strength; then he dipped me

In water and drew me out again,

And put me in the sun where I soon shed

All my hair. The knife’s sharp edge

Bit into me once my blemishes had been scraped away;

Fingers folded me and the bird’s feather

Often moved across my brown surface,

Sprinkling useful drops; it swallowed the wood dye

(Part of the stream) and again travelled over me,

Leaving black tracks. Then a man bound me,

He stretched skin over me and adorned me

With gold; thus I am enriched by the wondrous work

Of smiths, wound about with shining metal….

(trans. K. Crossley-Holland, The Exeter Book Riddles, Penguin Classics, revised edition 1993- I found it on the web here))

Can you guess what it is?

It is a book! Of course in the Middle Ages books were made from animal skin (made into parchment).

{Antonello da Messina, St Jerome in His Study, National Gallery, London. Wikimedia commons)

I realise that this is a day late, but yesterday was World Book Day and I had a very busy day of back to back meetings so couldn't get up a quote but wanted to make sure I celebrated books!

If you read my blog regularly you'll know I love books!

{reading}

Happy Reading!

xo

L

{quotable thursdays}

{library love}

{the library at Oxborough Hall--I took this pic last year when we visited}

{love books!}

for more pics of books & libraries, check out my pinterest board.

xo,
L

{quotable quotes}

{via la maison boheme}

Anyone that knows me well knows I love books. Because of all my travels my books are in boxes in some storage unit somewhere...but one day I long for the feeling of walking into a big library with all my books--old friends that have carried me through research, writing, plane flights, coach rides, nights up reading in bed, insomnia, lazy summer days, poolside entertainment.... I might like to rephrase Plato, if I may, and say that anyone who has read a library of books has a splendid soul.

{that's the kind of library I'd like to have--comfy yet elegant couches & an elegant chandelier. This image & the below image via la maison boheme}

{via zsazsa bellagio}

{flirtation in the library, via zsa zsa bellagio}

{gorgeous, via zsa zsa bellagio}

{lovely library, via la maison boheme}

{style in the library via terrier & lobster}

{perfect library for reading in bed, via little emma english home}

{Mr. Bennet's study in Pride & Prejudice--love it!! via apartment therapy}

now go & read a book!

xo

L
p.s.: I am just finishing Remains of the Day, but am in need of a good book recommendation. A light-ish summer read, preferably a period-read, maybe Victorian or Edwardian...I'm feeling like an Austen novel but have read them at least 5 times & am itching for something new!