Mystery books

Since season 2 of BBC's Sherlock was so ridiculously excellent and I can't wait for season 3 -- I will showcase my vintage books in the detective-crime-mystery genre.
Observe, if you will...

The suspects

The Tom Thomson Mystery, William T. Little, 1970

Ole Tommy's skull

The Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1987

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love how Signet Classic books have a line drawing and bio of the author.

There's another Sherlock-related book that I featured in October's look at my horror books. Check it out here.  

The High Wire, 1965; Slow Burner, 1965, The Unquiet Sleep, 1964 -- all by William Haggard

The Efford Tangle, George Goodchild -- no date! It makes my anger rise like the tides when there is no date printed in a book. This book is really old - guessing,  I'd place it early-mid 50s.

A Caribbean Mystery, Agatha Christie, 1981. This book always brings back a distinct memory of reading it at my gramma's house (it was her book) while drinking ovaltine and eating arrowroot cookies. It was quite the amalgamation of elderly goodness.

Perry Mason Solves The Case of the Bigamous Spouse, Erle Stanley Gardner, 1964. This is one sexy book -- the silver spine, the crimson page edges, not to mention the babe draped across the settee.

Look at this conniving dame... she's gotta be up to no good.

Easy manicure idea

This is how my nails look this week. I've painted them a solid colour but wanted a bit of flash, so painted just a stripe of sparkle polish on the outside of each nail. It gives a hint of shimmer when the nails catch the light.

Nail polishes used for this manicure: O.P.I.'s Ski Teal We Drop, Love & Beauty (Forever 21 brand) in Peach, and Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri top coat (I am so happy to have it - it dries nail polish in a wink. Such a time saver and great in preventing freshly painted nails from getting smudged.)

How do you intend to better yourself?

January is notorious for being the time of the year to better yourself (or at least intend to). 
So, let us take a look at some of my vintage books aimed towards the goal of self improvement.

The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking, Dale Carnegie, 1962

It was this happy face that made me buy this book. How could you deny?!   

30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary, Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis, 1943

The New Book of Etiquette, Lillian Eichler, annoyingly there is no date on this book! Well, on the copyright page it says: Copyright MCMXXXIV which is 1934.... this book looks more 50s/60s to me, so I'm not sure. Could be 1934 though. After doing a quick google search, the original printing was 1924. 

This amazing mid-century magazine ad was bookmarked inside. 

That TV!

Brilliant.

Sketch Away

I came across a great artist this week who has really inspired me to start sketching more. 

Suhita Shirodkar's blog and and etsy shop called "Sketch Away" feature vibrant moments of life from her travels portrayed in ink and watercolour. 

I love the frenetic energy that she captures so well with quick line strokes and messy paint splashes. She doesn't colour within the lines, serving as a reminder that, much like playing hooky or jay walking, breaking the rules can be so exciting.

I have to admit that a blank page intimidates me. A feeling of slight apprehension comes over me when I open up a fresh page in my sketch book. A plain piece of paper provides so many possibilities, but also great potential to really screw it up. There is a sense of freedom and fun in Suhita's art, and I want to start letting loose and enjoy sketching. It's obvious from her lively pieces that Suhita sure does.

(click on pictures to go to the etsy shop link)