Guess who? (Picture taken in Surrey in the late 1960's)
Well it has been a very busy week all round! Unfortunately not much of it being Christmas related. I still haven't written my Christmas cards...
In December, I bring out all the Christmas books including my daughter's. I love the illustrations and stories. They portray idyllic scenes which definitely help you get in to the Christmas mood!
The Snow Children
I've had this book since I was around 7 years old. I was very much in to Martine books as a child.
I thought they looked idyllic and Martine always seemed to have such a great time what ever she did.
The Snowman, I watch this film every Christmas. The music is so beautiful. One of my favourite scenes is as they fly over snow covered villages.
Beatrix potter
Angelina Ballerina
Angelina Ballerina. I like this scene, it looks so cosy as Mother & daughter make mince pies
Advent calendar
I also get inspirations for food and decorating the house from books such as this one.
I also get inspirations for food and decorating the house from books such as this one
Christmas Memories
| So can you hear those softest sounds from out the snow filled sky A jingling and as a jangling as Santa’s sleigh glides by? So can you hear feel those joyous sounds as day replaces night A present here a present there and children’s eyes so bright? So do you think at Christmas time of when you were a child When magic and your simple faith had your whole soul beguiled? So when your children have grown up or maybe moved away We should all rejoice with memories of those entrancing days. David Keig |
I wish you all a good week ahead
A bientôt!
Isabelle X
41 comments:
Ah lovely! I too like Christmas books,I have not sen the snow babies before,but it looks wonderful!
We really enjoyed that Tolkein book with the boys a few years ago - shuch a sweet little series of letters. Thanks for those festive pictures.
All those books are so beautiful, I agree, the Christmas books are the best. There are some really nice books out now too!
It was a magical time back then, wasn't it?
Hugs,
Margaret B
Such a lovely post! love childrens books too- and its lovely u share the same as myself and sweet pea have- my daughter loves Angelina Ballerina and that christmas illustration! really cozy, warm and detailed ;0)x
ive always loved the Snow man.
and Beatrix Potter illustrations are just such a joy!
And ive never heared of the snow babies? that must be a wonderful story ;0)xxxx
"merry Christmas"
What a lovely post. Christmas is such a nostalgic time, isn't it? I remember going to see FC at a department store when I was about five or six and being disgusted that it COULDN'T be the REAL FC because the real FC didn't wear glasses like Uncle Percy wore (as in your photo). I think that's when the doubts began to creep in. Happily things got better and now at the age of 49 I have no doubts at all!
What a delicious post!
I loved the illustrations in the top book and those gorgeous little snowmen in the cupcake cases...... just lovely. Thank You!
Hello Isabelle,
The music from The Snowman is really beautiful !
I do love the stories of Beatrix Potter.
On a trip to England I bought a book with the complete story collection of Peter Rabbit and Friends. The illustrations are so beautiful.
Have a nice week,
Sylvia
I could swear that is the same Father Christmas who I met when I was five years old. It was a terrifying experience but most memorable for my gift was a china tea set.. I so wish I still owned!
I share your love of childhood Christmas illustrations.. especially The Snow Children... magical.
Bon Noel!
Michele xx
Hi Isabelle!
My little ritual is to watch The Snowman and then The Bear, Oh like you I just love Howard Blake's music, absoloutely beautiful and in the bear can you believe the little girl is voiced by a sweet young girl called Charlotte Church!
The cover of the Tolkein book is divine, must look out for it,
Love Sarah x
It must be Christmas book day .... I had the grands staying over last night and at half seven this morning was looking at the Snowman, the Jolly Christmas Postman and The Twelve Days of Christmas .... just can't beat it and I can't bare to part with any of them x
Your post made me feel so nostalgic.Don't you just want to 'jump' into the pages of those books and be transported into that magical world?A sweet pic of you with FC.
Bellaboo
What a nostalgic post, I'm intrigued by the Tolkein book. Also the snow effect you have on your blog really helps set the scene. Classic photo of you and FC - wonderful!
Kate x
What charming illustrations! I just love Christmas books! We have a stack of them that we pull off the shelf each year and we put them under the Christmas tree to read. ;)
Hello Isabelle
I bought a postcard of the Snow babies in Holland a few weeks ago, because I thought it was beautiful, will now try to bet hold of the book.
Have you read/got the the Jolly Christmas postman? - a lovely festive book for little people.
Lx
what a beautiful post, I love the ski-ing one
you know it's Christmas when the books come out!
Sarah
Oh Isabelle, what an entrancing post! You haven't changed that much in the face. I still can see you there. I just took my daughter to see Angelina Ballerina in concert in Sydney. The English National Ballet I think it was were performing. It was lovely I have always hankered after Angelina's cozy home and cheese pies her Mother makes! I must look into the Martine books. They are very similar in style to Debbie books I bought for Daisy from the 80's. I will look at the illustrator to see if it is the same. I love reading A Christmas Carol at this time of year. I have never head of the Snowman, I'll look him up too. My old Christmas standbys (although not that old or as nostalgic as you are Jamie Oliver and Nigella's Christmas specials).
I have also not finished my Christmas cards. I have my old dermatis back on my hands from overload I think. I have been staying up too late trying to get everything done and paying for it. Thank you for my lovely comment on my bookclub post. I am also a loner and am happiest at home. My daughter is the same. I do get drained when I am around a lot of people. I am exhausted at the moment as I've had to work more days than usual in my part-time real life job and it has worn me out. I am a writer who likes her solitude very much! My daughter is always pleased when we stay home so she can 'tell her stories in peace' The book club and craft group are a little different as it is something I love and so we all have something in common.
Thank you for another lovely post. Such food for the spirit at this time of year. I did need a buck up! xx
A truly lovely post. The poem bought a tear to my eye.
We have a box full of Christmas books too!
Lisa x
thank you for your comment on my blog! Sorry that you couldn't get to the Flea yesterday, I will post the dates on my blog soon so that you can put them firmly on the calendar! Love the Martine book, I think I have seen similar books on my trips to France.
Have a good week, Lizzie x
I love you. From your husband. xxx
ohhh blog love coming right back at you! I love the martine books, we didn't get them out here in australia but they are soooo cute! My mum's a french teacher so I bet she'd love them!
lovely blog too,
Corrie:)
I have to say that you don't look entirely happy in the top photo! I remember having our photo taken at Christmas in places like Selfridges and Harrods when we were small, and I remember one year being very uncomfortable with a huge parrot on me arm - I think there was even a monkey once! It wouldn't be allowed nowadays! I also used to have to wear those velvet-collared coats all buttoned up to the neck, which I hated - but now I think they look so sweet!
I am just like you with the Christmas books - the old favourites come out year after year.
Pomona x
Hello Isabelle! The3se Xmas illustrations are enchanting! You made so lovely decorations!!!
Happy new week!
Vale
Beautiful post. Lovely book illustrations and a beautiful photo of a little girl meeting Father Christmas! x
Lovely, I love childrens books and the christmassy ones a bit extra. Full of memories and dreams!
Anna x
I jut love those illustrations
'Ooooohhhh' you have the same advent calender as us - I'm loving the little woodland pictures that are revealed each morning.
I'm so excited to come across your gorgeous blog! And all the beautiful Christmas books. I have a similar one to your Martine, but it's Mary goes Travelling. It must be the English version. The illustrations are divine, I will try to blog about it soon so you can have a look if you are visiting. Take care and I look forward to seeing more of you & your life through your blog xo
Thank you for your visit Suzy and for your kind birthday wishes. I'm so glad to have found your lovely blog! This is a lovely post full of nostalgia and the magic of Christmas seen through a child's eyes - I love all the illustrations. Great picture of Santa and his reindeer in your previous post too!
Jeanne x
What a lovely post, Isabelle.
I still have my daughter's Snowman duvet and pillowcase tucked away in the back of the airing cupboard. Some things just have to be kept!
Sue x
Hi Isabelle,
How lovely - lots of calm wintery sceens...here at home, everything is bonkers!!
Hope you feel much better VERY soon,
Niki x
Oooops...that's 'scenes' - I told you everything was bonkers...I'm trying to type far too quickly!! So much still to do...
N x
I keep complaining to my mum that we don't have one photo of my brother and I with Father Christmas and I clearly had a deprived childhood!!!
You have a wonderful collection of Christmas books
Victoria xx
Oh Isabelle, these illustrations are magical. I love these kinds of sweet books too. I am finding it more difficult to find the beautifull pictures of times gone by however. It seems that so many books published here in the US are lacking in lovely artwork. I enjoyed seeing pretty little things here today.
hugs
thank you for your comment on my hair. I would be so excited if I could look as darling as you do in your length!
Isabelle, I absolutely adore all these sweet little Christmas book illustrations. It brings out the little girl in me and makes me smile. Thanks for posting these!
I love your Christmas book collection Isabelle. We have lots too and strangely none of ours are the same as yours!
Hope you have a great Christmas honey. See you in the New Year x
My darling I wish you and yours all the joy, love, hope, blessings, peace, laughter, miracles, good health and boundless wealth during this holiday season and always.
Love & Hugs
Duchess
Oh, so lovely! Wonderful christmas books and illustrations!
So magic !!!!!!!!!!!
Bonjour, je suis nouvelle lectrice de votre blog.
J'aime beaucoup ce que vous faîtes !
Et voilà que j'aperçois "Martine à la montagne", que de souvenirs. J'aimais lire ces illustrés, Martine a une vie tellement charmante. Depuis 2 ans, je me suis mise à collectionner tous les "Martine" anciens (années 1960), ce n'est pas si facile que ça à trouver, beaucoup datent des année 1980 dans les vide-greniers.
Je me suis permise d'écrire en français car j'ai lu que vous aviez vécu en France. Je me "débrouille" en anglais (le lis presque parfaitement) mais, j'exprime mieux ce que je ressens dans ma langue natale, lol.
Bonne continuation de France !
Hi Isabelle....
Thrilled to have found your lovely blog...
I'll be back!
Warm blessings,
Spencer
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