The December Books

I guess I read a bit more than anticipated in December, wrapping up the year with mostly mysteries, which are my "comfort food,"  along with one dearly loved re-read. (OK, I read that book one chapter a month but I finished this month!) Five books -- I'll take it. And they were all worth the time.

 

A Treasure from Vivian Swift

Certain artists make my heart sing. Vivian Swift, author of "Le Road Trip" and "When Wanderer's Cease to Roam" is one of them.

So, when I learned last year that the author/illustrator of two of my favorite books had a blog, I had to follow! And in almost every one, Vivian offered a watercolor lesson, demonstrating her technique of creating magical illustrations. (Right now Vivian's blog is in "hibernation" as she finishes her current "Secret Garden" book, but please take a look at the archives, especially if you are interested in painting. For example, here she shows how to paint an autumn leaf.) Below, a spread from "Le Road Trip."

In one of her posts shortly before her hiatus, Vivian told us How To Paint a Cat. And guess who she used as a model!

Vivian painted sweet Lizzie -- and after, she was kind enough to send me her original and the preliminary sketch she did for the painting. I was overwhelmed! And delighted, too!

She captured my sweet girl so perfectly down to the tiniest detail and the curious, alert look in her eyes. (I think eyes are SO hard to do!) I finally found a perfect frame, so now Lizzie and Vivian are on permanent display!

I'm so very grateful for Vivian's generosity! I'm eagerly awaiting her next book and her blog return with new posts. Till then, I'll cherish this, her wonderful books and keep mining her blog for new painting ideas and techniques!

Paris In July: Le Road Trip

If you are expecting even one critical word about Vivian Swift's wonderful book "Le Road Trip: A Traveler's Journal of Love and France," stop reading and go somewhere else, because you won't get it.

In fact, I think I lack enough superlatives for this beautiful book with magical illustrations and a witty and informative text to really do it justice.

Vivian and her husband James did a month in France for their honeymoon. The book follows that journey and along the way highlights Vivian's travel guidelines, some favorite spots and some lovely observations on love and traveling together.

Best of all, every page is illustrated with her beautiful watercolors -- and I don't mean one per page -- that happens, but it's rare. We're talking lots of fabulous images.

Along the way you will discover delicious dinners, snacks, cafes and the terrific French bread...

...spots well known to those who travel to France (or long to)...

...and places that might not be on your itinerary -- yet.

You'll find delicious quotes...

...and terrific travel tips.

But most of all, you will simply swoon at a love story in words and pictures.

A late addition to this post: On Vivian's blog, she just posted how she puts her books together. It's fascinating -- check it out HERE.

(A note -- when I first got this book, Rick grabbed it before me. Later, when I had it at the lake, I found him reading and savoring it as well. It really crosses all the lines -- just so long as one loves France, art and love.)

This post is part of Paris in July. Please visit Tamara at Thyme for Tea or Karen at Bookbath for more links about the City of Light (and France, too).