Put away the digital device and pick up a pencil and paper – research shows that we remember things better when we write them down. But don’t just throw away your notes… Why not save them in a pocket diary?
During the 19th century, patented pocket diaries, pocket books, and pocket writing tablets proliferated. This small and gorgeous papier-mâché binding, inlayed with mother-of-pearl, covers erasable paper, making for a rather stylish writing tablet (circa 1850).
Pantone has released their color of the year, Ultra Violet – a great excuse to post some violet collections!
Learn about the importance purple played in changing history in our online exhibition, Color in a New Light, where you can learn about Perkin Mauve (photo courtesy of @nmnh).
Meissner Tapeten By Hermann Meissner (Firm). Berlin: Hermann Meissner Tapeten-Fabrik, 1930.
This 1930 modern wallpaper sample book, highlighting Bauhaus and Art Deco style patterns has a lovely example of Ultra Violet used in wallpaper. (One of our adopted books, too!)
This design from Bijutsukai, v.2 (1901), a Japanese design periodical from the Meiji era is pretty close, don’t you think?
And this cover of Bairei gafu, v.1, which has awesome bird illustrations is quite a lovely shade of purple, even if it isn’t quite Ultra Violet.
This ad from Street Railway Journal, v.15 (1899) was printed using a shade close to Ultra Violet.
If you’re looking to incorporate the shade in your decor, consider Gazettte du bon tonfor inspiration. This boudoir is from tome 1, 1921.
Finally, some winter wear befitting this year’s color of the year. It’s from Enrico Sacchetti’s Robes et femmes, a 1913 satirical look at the avant-garde designs of Paul Poiret and Paul Iribe.
May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.
CS Lewis was born on this day in 1898. A poet, academic, critic and theologian, Lewis is best known for his novels, particularly the timelessly popular Chronicles of Narnia.
This delightful map of Narnia and its surrounding lands was drawn by Lewis himself and now resides in the Bodleian archives, preserving a privileged insight into Lewis’ world-making processes.
Lewis did not intend for his own illustration to be published in his books, intending instead that a professional artist would create a more polished interpretation. Pauline Baynes was introduced to Lewis by his fellow Inkling JRR Tolkien, and she redrafted the map for publication in Prince Caspian, the second book of the series.
In a letter with further instructions for Baynes, dated 8 January 1951, Lewis described the finished look he was hoping for.
My idea was that the map should be more like a medieval map than an Ordnance Survey – mountains and castles drawn – perhaps winds blowing at the corners – and a few heraldic-looking ships, whales and dolphins in the sea.
For those who do not know Narnia quite so well, here are some of the more interesting places on the map.
Aslan’s How: The mound covering what was once the Stone Table where Aslan was sacrificed.
Beruna: One of the four named towns in Narnia. Strategically built at the confluence of rivers, Beruna became the site of two great battles.
Cair Paravel: The capital of the Kingdom of Narnia, and the location of the Royal Castle where High King Peter, Queen Susan, Queen Lucy and King Edmund havetheir thrones.
Dancing Lawn: The ritual site for old Narnians, and the meeting place after Prince Caspian flees from Miraz’s castle.
Lantern Waste: The location of The Lantern of Ever Lighted Lamp, the lamppost where Lucy and Mr Tumnus first meet after she passes through the wardrobe. Lantern Waste is also where Digory, Polly, Jadis and their companions witnessed the creation of Narnia.
Miraz’s Castle: Where Prince Caspian is raised by Miraz, his uncle and un-rightful ruler of Narnia.
Trufflehunter’s Cave: The home of Trufflehunter the badger, first talking animal that Prince Caspian meets and later a Knight in the Order of the Lion.
These owls had enough motivation this morning to get their “eye lashes” just right!
The Spotted Screech Owls (Otus trichopsis (whiskered screech owl)) can be found from southeastern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico
down to northern Nicaragua. Oddly, Rex Brasher depicted these owls perched on a Wafer Ash which is not native to the hot, dry climates of Arizona and New Mexico.
Just another hand-colored print by the American naturalist and artist Rex Brasher from his massive 12-volume set Birds and Trees of North America, published by Brasher himself in a signed limited edition of 100 copies between 1929 and 1932.
Many of our friends in Wisconsin will be familiar with what is now the We Energies Cookie Book. Milwaukee’s electric and gas companies started producing yearly books of holiday recipes in the late 1920s and stopped the tradition in the 1970s. We Energies, part of the
WEC Energy Group, revived the tradition in 2006, much to the joy of many Milwaukeeans.
Our 1955 edition features classic recipes like Bachelor Buttons, Rocks, Speculatius, Dandy Snaps, Date Kisses, and the ever popular Nut Balls. It is interesting to note that “cookie” in this edition is spelled “cooky” throughout most of the text, which seems a little kooky to us now!
As a matter of course, the company also exhorts us to “Be modern” and “cook electrically.”
Laid into our copy is Vol. 21 no. 2 of Food Talks, published by the Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Co. in Manitowoc, WI (a city our spellcheck insists is spelled incorrectly), and a 1958 Betty Crocker Holiday Cooking Almanac that promises to show you how to capture warmth and joy (possibly from your guests? Take all the warmth and joy for yourself! Ho ho ho!).
We hope you enjoy these recipes! We might have to try some ourselves for our Special Collections holiday party. After all, “a gift you bake is a gift from the heart.”
