Floral Fiction

I am a relentless advocate for shamelessly reveling in having the books with pretty covers if given the option. Why read the Pride and Prejudice with the bland cover when there are so many lovely options? Children are no different and may even choose to read a title they previously shunned if the cover entices them. Penguin Publishers seem to know this and have once again struck gold with their new line of children's classics, "In Bloom." As of now, they have four titles out and all are worth having regardless of your age. All are also available in the Apples and Spindles Bookshop. Take a peek and consider these for Christmas either as a gift or for yourself!

A Lock of Poe's Hair

There are so many ideas I have for posts, but I thought "What would be most festive just before Thanksgiving?" After much thought, I decided that Poe was really the way to go before getting the family together for a big meal and football. After all, he lived in New England, which is where the pilgrims landed, so it's a perfect fit!

So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am thankful that I've moved back to the Austin area so that I have easy access to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, one of the best Humanities collections in the world. I wandered around the exhibits between classes when I was a student, amazed that at any time I could pop over and see everything from photographs by the glorious Julia Margaret Cameron to an original Gutenberg Bible. It was like having tangible access to history. I still check the exhibit schedule every few months and I am convinced that my son shares my gothic sensibility because I went to see a Poe exhibit there when I was 24 hours pregnant with him. Poe is just powerful enough to work his way into genetics through osmosis.

The Poe collection at the Harry Ransom Center is full of letters, manuscripts, and personal effects...really personal. Like a lock of his oily, creepy hair. It's fantastic! Here are a few other things you can see next time they haul out all their bits and pieces of Poe...

Poe's writing desk

Detail from their original manuscript for "The Raven." 

Poe portrait by Arthur Garfield Learned - Image includes reference to "The Raven" and "Annabelle Lee," as well as the demons that haunted him.

The lock of Poe's hair.

And so it begins...

There are so many possibilities when starting a blog, so many potential directions. Apples and Spindles has been a photography project of mine for almost a year, but it's always been more than that to me, a more complete way of thinking about and seeing the enchanted pockets of beauty, history and art in our world. It is my pleasure to share with you the way I embrace them. I hope you enjoy...

My photo, "Pink Books," is one of many book photos I've done in the last year. I've been a librarian for 15 years so such things were inevitable. 

The beautiful Annabelle modeling my necklace for my jewelry line, Bronte's Attic.

My beautiful friend, Lisa, modeling for me just because it's fun!

Me, testing the outdoor light for a photoshoot.