Only 5 days to go!

The shop is busy with cheerful customers and with the Christmas tunes on loop- I’m beginning to feel in a festive mood. There’s been a steady stream of boxes to unpack full of exciting new books and beautiful glass bowls in pale jewel-like colours and even more parcels to wrap up again in time for the Christmas post.

In amongst the books, Horatio Blood’s toy theatres contribute a sense of old fashioned Christmas cheer, their bright colours and exuberant characters conjuring up a spirit of fireside fun and jolly times. Beautifully detailed and complete with scenery and characters, from the fashionable couples in the front row, to the double bass player in the orchestral pit, these traditional toys will provide hours of fun and endless possibilities. So gather the family together and let the show begin!

Lovely new prints by Jenny Capon in store...

We have some beautiful and very sweet illustrations in the shop by artist Jenny Capon, which are fine giclee prints. Jenny is a freelance artist and illustrator living and working in London. She has recently completed an MA in Illustration at Camberwell College of Art and she makes pictures for children and grown ups that feature a collection of creatures and imagery from in and around London. Her series of birds are especially lovely, featuring different areas of London (see right).
They are reasonably priced at around £45-£60 and would make really great Christmas presents too!

Maharajas' Jewels

I read this after visiting the V&A's current Maharajas exhibition. The book is an amazing companion to the show - a very lavish illustrated account of the Maharajas and their jewels, from the fifteenth century onwards. Full of photographs of incredible pieces of jewelery, it also showcases contemporary portrait painting, interiors, and nineteenth-century photography. A fascinating and rich account of this very interesting history.

Autumn leaves

If you've walked past the shop in the last couple of days then you will have seen the beautiful new leaf prints in our windows. This limited edition series, by the photographer Michael Swallow, is the perfect escape from the cold wet of autumn. Brilliantly coloured, delicate and detailed, they are a stunning group of images.

Swallow's work is also featured in Lewis Blackwell's new book The Life and Love of Trees. This book is another great find, a breath-taking, lovingly-crafted collection of photos of trees from around the world. At £35 for a signed copy, it's the perfect Christmas present!

New title all the way from the USA: World in Vogue

Now, we all know that Vogue books are great, but this new one (especially over from the USA, so you won't find it everywhere) is really gorgeous!
This one-of-a-kind book of 300 photographs has literally everyone you would probably invite to the perfect party, from the most celebrated actors, artists and models to First Ladies, and social figures, drawing on stories that have appeared in the pages of Vogue over the past four decades, as well as photographs from those stories that have never been published.
These trendsetters and newsmakers are captured by our favourite photographers(again, all the best names!) Cecil Beaton, Jonathan Becker, Eric Boman, Horst P. Horst, Edward Steichen, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, François Halard, Helmut Newton, Stephen Meisel, Snowdon, Toni Frissell, Bruce Weber, Herb Ritts, and Annie Leibovitz. Not only did these photographers take dazzling portraits—in studios or on location—that caught these iconic figures in classic, playful, or dramatic moments but they also documented their parties, such as Capote's Black and White Ball at the Plaza, the glamorous wedding of Plum Sykes in Yorkshire and the gardens of Valentino’s seventeenth-century Château de Wideville, outside Paris.

To order your copy of this exclusive book (£60) call us on 020 7730 4235 or email shop@pottertonbookslondon.co.uk

New Photography Books

We have a fantastic range of photography titles in stock at the moment. Not only are we hosting the launch of Lewis Blackwell's stunning new book The Life and Love of Trees on the 19th of November, we also have an excellent selection of out-of-print photography books in stock. My current favourite is this one, Nothing Personal. A collaboration between Richard Avedon and James Baldwin, it offers not only a stunning collection of photographs but also a brilliant piece of writing from one of the twentieth-century's greats.

Fornasetti: La Bottega Fantastica and L'Artista Alchemista

Just arrived in stock, this incredible two-volume account of Fornasetti's life and practice is my dream Christmas present. From tea-cups to thimbles and hat stands to textiles, its 3000 luscious pictures provide at once a kind of artist's journal and a rich archive of the fantastic and the sublime.

New Autumn Catalogue Online...

We have created a beautiful online catalogue of all our new titles in stock this Autumn, giving you the chance to see what we've got in store and do a bit of online browsing for you-know-what (yes, Christmas is around the corner!)
We hope you enjoy, and don't forget that you can contact us regarding any of the books you see on our website by emailing shop@pottertonbookslondon.co.uk or calling 020 7730 4235.

Go to our online catalogue

Interior Design Yearbook 2010

If you've looked at our new autumn catalogue, you'll know that the shop is brimming with exciting new books!
This one, just out from the British Institute of Interior Design, is the Interior Design Yearbook for 2010. As well as contributions by leading designers such as Giorgio Armani, Sally Storey and David Wright, the book provides a detailed and very up-to-date directory of suppliers, and an extensive company index. At only £15, it is the essential reference for all interior professionals.

New Limited Prints in Stock from Mark Hearld & More..!

We are very excited to have more of Mark's lovely work in the shop, and as always it is beautiful!
We also have some new limited edition prints from The Bookroom Art Press, including work from Ravilious, Cyril Power, Lill Tschudi and William Nicholson.
We have updated our Potterton Artist's Link on the website, so have a look at the website or come by the shop and take a peek yourself!

Birds and Books: Our Beautiful Windows..!

The weather is lovely right now, so take the opportunity to take a stroll and come and look at our BEAUTIFUL windows! We are always making the effort to put something exciting in our new window space next door and at the moment we have a lovely display by Tim Gosling, promoting his new book, Gosling: Classic Designs for Contemporary Interiors.
In addition we have a fantastic window display by Jorja Wilkinson Design - it's stunning! She is a textile designer from North Yorkshire who designs prints based on birds and flowers, all created in her 1930s Cricket Pavillion studio.
We have some gorgeous cushions in the shop at the moment with her textile designs on them, and she can tailor her designs to suit your interiors!
Our windows are always changing, so literally watch this space for more exciting displays!

Hot off the Press...

Recently published is a fantastic comprehensive guide to all the best design hotspots in London, and guess who is in it... well, of course we are!
The London Design Guide offers tailor-made walking tours with suggestions for restaurants, bars, cafes, museums and speciality shops (like us), all selected with the design-savvy visitor in mind.
The London Design Guide quotes us as being "simply inspirational" and "a draw for smart local professionals - in fact anyone seeking a conversation piece for a coffee table or to give as a gift. It is also worth keeping an eye out for the regular signings and book events - a cut above the rest."
Well, we can't say we're not pleased with that! Bragging aside, this is a wonderfully practical and resourceful guide for any design enthusiast, so come in and get your copy! It's only £10 and really worth the spend.
Also hot off the press is Tim Gosling's new book, Gosling: Classic Design for Contemporary Interiors. We will be working alongside Tim to create a lovely window display during the Decorex Fair weekend (27-30 September) and he has kindly agreed to sign copies of his lovely new book for our customers! If you would like to reserve a copy to be signed you can call us on 020 7730 4235 or email shop@pottertonbookslondon.co.uk.

Carleton Varney just popped by...

We got a visit from Carleton Varney on his trip to London just now and he has kindly signed our two copies of his books with lovely little illustrations! To get your unique copy of either 'Houses in My Heart' or 'Dorothy Draper: In The Pink' drop by the shop or email shop@pottertonbookslondon.co.uk before they get snapped up!

Mark Hearld is back for his second Christmas exhibition at Pottertons..!

Mark Hearld is back this Christmas due to popular demand, after his sell-out success at Potterton Books’ 2008 exhibition. Since last year Mark has flourished, undertaking many exciting new ventures, from film set design to illustrating books. Following his exposure at his first London exhibition at Potterton’s, Mark’s beautiful, illustrative work is sure to be in as high demand as ever, making the perfect gift this Christmas.

The exhibition will also feature the work of up-and-coming artist, Horatio Blood. His work is influenced by the 'penny plain, twopence coloured' imagery of the English toy theatre. He is a preserver of the nineteenth century toy theatre tradition and has a knack for authentic hand colouring, he also makes wooden theatres in the traditional manner. He has written on the history of the subject and has mounted exhibitions devoted to it.

The exhibition will run from 4th – 24th December and there will be an opening preview on Thursday 3rd December.

More information is available on our website pottertonbookslondon.co.uk. To receive an invitation to the preview, go to our website and fill in the mailing list, mentioning Mark in the 'Interests' section. Alternatively, contact the shop for an invitation – 020 7730 4235 or shop@pottertonbookslondon.co.uk.

Gillies Jones Glass at Potterton's...

These beautiful and elegant glass bowls are crafted by hand. Made from the very best raw materials, each one is hand blown and decorated in their studio in North Yorkshire. The bold and modern designs feature bright colours and graphic patterns. Gillies Jones only create a limited number each year, so they make a special and unique gift for any occasion.

We have a limited number of different coloured, opaque bowls in stock at £80 each and some patterned like the one above for £125.

NEW BETA-PLUS HOME SERIES!

They're back - your much-loved publishers have created an ingenious little set of 10 titles covering all aspects of interior design, from Classic Living, Small Spaces to Bathrooms and Children's Rooms. They are beautifully done for the bargain price of £10.95 each or we can offer a special discount that you can't beat - £95 for the set of 10! Come by the shop and take a look at them all, or order your copies on 020 7730 4235 or email shop@pottertonbookslondon.co.uk.

Chelsea Arts Festival This June...

This June the Chelsea Arts Festival will be taking place with many events to choose from—we will be working alongside the festival, supporting a talk by Sotheby’s Chairman, James Stourton on ‘The Great Art Collectors of Our Time’.
His talk focuses on the astonishing collections created since 1945 & explores the motivation behind them, including those of collecting dynasties such as the Rothschilds, Gettys, Rockefellers, Peggy Guggenheim, Yves Saint Laurent, Picasso and Charles Saatchi. We will be selling copies of his book at the event.

Talk—James Stourton ‘Great Collectors of our Time: Art collecting since 1945.’ 10.45am on 16th June at the Royal Court Theatre Cafe.
Tickets are £13 and are available at the Chelsea Arts Festival Box Office on 0845 890 2435.

We will also be hosting a Summer Exhibition during the festival of the work of internationally renowned painter and muralist, Graham Rust. The exhibition will run from 13th—24th June and will include original work and prints. We will be featuring the exhibition in our June newsletter but please contact us now for more information.

New Art Exhibition - 'The Pleasure Gardens of London' with artist Ed Kluz

With the sun shining and flowers blooming, one could not be in doubt of British summertime around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than some inspired artwork!

This May we are holding a very exciting art exhibition, 'The Pleasure Gardens of London' from 15th - 31st May to coincide with the Chelsea Flower Show. The artist, Ed Kluz is from Yorkshire and he seeks out the eccentric, the lost and the overlooked buildings of our architectural heritage. These inspire his beautiful screenprints and collages, which will be exhibited alongside a choice selection of Ed's favourite titles and inspired books from our shop.

Please contact the shop if you would like to receive an invitation – 020 7730 4235 or shop@pottertonbookslondon.co.uk. Also, if you go to our website and click on the link 'Potterton's Artists' you can read information on Ed's work and see more of his beautiful images.

JOHN MINSHAW DESIGNS - THE INTERIORS BOOK OF 2009!

We are very excited at the moment in the shop, as we have a new book coming out that is what we believe to be 'The' interiors book of 2009. John Minshaw's new book, 'John Minshaw Designs' displays the finest of British contemporary interiors and we will be working exclusively with John Minshaw to bring you this fantastic title.

John Minshaw will be creating a special window-display in our London shop to celebrate the launch of his book on 23rd April. We also have limited quantities of the book available now to purchase from the shop and signed copies will be available to pre-order. The book is also exclusively available in a deluxe grey cloth slipcase for £50, making it a perfect gift or a book to keep & treasure for yourself.

About the Book:

This beautifully illustrated book is a joy to look at, and simply a must-have for anyone searching for the finest examples of contemporary British interior design. The sumptuous photographs capture the understated beauty of John Minshaw’s interiors, with their clean, accomplished spaces and architectural finesse. This book covers ten projects, spanning twenty years, offering a summary of Minshaw's work.

Minshaw says he came to interiors by default. But it is clear that his early training in fine art influences much of his work. “My style is to buy good antiques and design bespoke cabinetry, then put them into pared-down interiors,” he says – a design ethic that is a neat contrast to the clichéd froufrou swags and tails so often associated with interior design.

Little Chelsea Antiques Fair

The Little Chelsea Antiques Fair is set to be a great event this year; while it is low key, it will be bustling with new visitors and fully booked with 56 dealers! Of course, we will be making an appearance, taking a choice selection of decorative arts, antiques, interior design and textile books, so come along and have a look at what's on offer! The fair is at Chelsea Town Hall on the King's Road and runs Monday 16th - Tuesday 17th March, just in time to get that Mother's Day gift!

NEW YVES SAINT LAURENT BOOK NOW IN STORE!

After a long-awaited arrival, the new Yves Saint Laurent book is finally here! They are going like hot cakes already and we have only had them a day, so come in and grab a copy before they all go!

DISPLAY COPY OF 'THE PRIVATE WORLD OF YVES SAINT LAURENT & PIERRE BERGE'!

Following the earlier post on our blog about this book, we now have a display copy to show you! Come by the shop and see for yourself to order a copy!

Just to let you know...

A quick note to mention that we have two exciting new titles coming soon!
There's 'John Minshaw Designs', focusing on ten of his most significant projects, with stunning photography coming out in April!
Being published next month is a new book on Saladino called 'Villa'; a beautifully illustrated book that looks at his 'dream house' and its gardens in the California Hills that he has painstakingly transformed and refashioned.
We have display copies of the books in the shop for you to look at and pre-order instore, or alternatively request your copy via email at shop@pottertonbooks.co.uk or 0207 730 4235.

Fabulous new book on Yves Saint Laurent out soon!

We are very excited about a gorgeous new book coming out at the end of the month and just want to tell you a bit about it..!

'The Private World of Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Berge' unveils the private realm of YSL and his lifelong friend and business partner, Pierre Berge. The book looks at the sumptuous interiors of YSL's home, focusing on the prolific 40-year collection of art and objects.
These include important works by Picasso, Matisse, and Mondrian, Old Master paintings by Goya, Ingres and Gericault, and masterpieces of furniture, sculpture and silver from the Renaissance to Art Deco.
Following the death of Yves Saint Laurent last year, the collection is to be dispersed in what is sure to be an historic auction at the Grand Palais in Paris. Ivan Terestchenko’s beautiful photographs of the interiors of the homes of Yves Saint Laurent – from Paris to Tangier, from Deauville to Marrakech - capture these exquisite pieces in situ for one last time.

Praise for the book: “This book, revealing a rare union of passion, taste and supreme connoisseurship, stands as a monument to two of the greatest taste-makers of our time.”

A legendary designer; a legendary collection; legendary interiors.

To pre-order your copy at £60, please send your details to shop@pottertonbookslondon.co.uk or call the shop directly on 0207 730 4235.

A Happy New Year To All...

Firstly, a happy new year to everyone! We have been busy getting ready for the year ahead and we're happy to tell you that we have got 5 new Beta-Plus titles on their way, expected at the end of the month!

Compendium Architectural Antiques;
Compendium Colour & Textiles;
Compendium Floor & Wall Coverings;
Compendium Classic Living;
Compendium Kitchens - £45 each.

We also have news that we were featured in Stella Magazine! If you go to our homepage pottertonbookslondon.co.uk and then click on the link for 'press', you can see the feature there. If you're looking for some inspiration for a new year project or a bit of a bargain (or both!) then we have some great titles in our sale stock so pop by and have a look at what's in.