Our friends Jim and Becca wrote an awesome book on the craft of cheese making in Wisconsin. This would make an amazing valentine’s gift for the cheese nerd (like me!) in your life ($18 at Amazon). Add a box of cheese from the University of Wisconsin-Madison ($19) and they’ll love you forever.  I have personally sampled the aged cheddar and can give it the AGDS seal of approval.  I love Jim and Becca for many reasons but one of my favorite is that they created Febgiving, the celebration of thanksgiving in February.  This year Febgiving is celebrated Feb. 14 and 20th. I can’t wait.

I hope to have a library like this someday; rumpled and packed with knowledge and evidence of a life well lived.  Jacques Derrida’s library photographed by Andrew Bush, found via I’m Revolting.  Oh, and I love the little fold down desk.

The cover of this book on silhouettes has me intrigued.   See silhouette animals here, an amazing family silhouette portrait here and great silhouette pens here.

This book looks delicious!

I wish I’d written this! It looks delicious! I’ve also been eying this and this. What craft books are you buying/eyeing?

I’ve been reading up a storm lately and there is nothing like a good book (especially in the fall, when its cold out and I’m reading in bed!).  I particularly enjoyed The Man Who Made Vermeers by Jonathan Lopez. The story of a decidedly sordid Dutch painter who forged Vermeers, it is a great read (I finished it quickly), entertaining and also a true window into the history of Europe between the world wars. I highly recommend it and, as it happens, so does The New Yorker! They just gave it a great review in this week’s issue. PS For those living in NYC, Lopez will be speaking at the Met at 6pm on November 14th (which is a Friday, so you can go for cocktails and then a great lecture!)

I’m a huge fan of Black*Effiel and my favorite posts are the one she does on children’s books. See them all here.