Book Reviews

Book Reviews

If you wish to create a review please email it to feedback@nostalgia-stonehouse.co.uk
Internet Reviews
2008
23rd December		Review by Violet Cottage (Tabitha)

18th November		Review by Cynthia's Cottage Design

12th November		Review by The Fabric of My Life

Emailed Reviews
2010
20th January		"I am afraid that I bought your book and am now deviating from my pattern of intended jobs to reread or read again for the third time yet another page. I probably have one of the largest collections of style books in the world but I have rarely read and certainly never reread their entire texts. With yours I savour each paragraph because not only do you write well but you bring back such wonderful sensual memories of childhood and life. I find it so curious that you can express such a personal passion for the past in a way that speaks to somebody so much older than yourself. You have very special talents."

20th January		"Your book arrived safely yesterday and it is really wonderful. I think you must have been able to see my grinning face down in Shepton Mallet I was so excited - just like Christmas again. It really is inspirational. My head is now full of ideas which I must jot down in my ideas book, before they disappear!"

8th January		"Just wanted to let you know that I have read your blog for about a year now. It is wonderful. I just received your book as a gift. WOW! Every page is filled with such beautiful pictures. I have to admit that I haven't gotten much done since the book arrived. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys looking at lovely pictures of things from the past. It is such a treat! I love it!!! Thank you! Any chance for a 2nd Volume?? :)"
2009
13th July		"I have received a copy of your scrumptious book Living with Nostalgia (an early birthday present). It is a total cornucopia of colour and I love every single page of it. As a lover of all things vintage this inspires me to collect, collect and collect. Just don’t tell my husband.... My sisters comment when looking through the book was “This is just what I want my home to look like”, mind you not sure her husband would agree – must be a girl thing. Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful look at things of a bygone age, now I must get back to perusing the pages – where was I? "

3rd June		"I just received your glorious book, Living With Nostalgia. It arrived in impeccable condition which is a wonderful event in itself. But the book. . .each picture is more awe-inspiring than the last. As a photo stylist for home decor publications for over 20 years, I must tell you that your photos are so beautifully composed. My sister and I will be enjoying your book for years to come as we surround ourselves with your reminders of yesteryear. We own so many of the same collections! It is truly amazing. What joy to turn the pages and recall how and where we discovered those beloved pieces of the past. Like you, we spend our free time looking for junk. It is a labour of love as you well know. But oh, the dividends. Thank you for sharing your talents and your lifetime of collecting. A work of this magnitude has taken years to perfect and we sincerely thank you. You are a gift from the Creator, a multitalented treasure."

19th April		"I received your wonderful book on Friday. I had purchased it for myself as a treat for my 40th Birthday. It is absolutely gorgeous, the most beautiful book I have ever bought. The photographs are lovely and so inspiring. I have enjoyed reading your blog and looking at your wonderful handmade and vintage items for some time. Your website was one of those that inspired myself and my friend to set up our own website. We have both been avid collectors of all things vintage for sometime and had had the occasional stall at the local collectors fair here in Northampton as well as buying and selling on eBay and more recently on Etsy. We sell things to justify buying things we want for ourselves. My friend also does altered art and I have recently bought myself a sewing machine to have a go at making things. I have promised to take your book in to work tomorrow for my friend to borrow as she can't wait to get her hands on it ! I suspect she will end up ordering one for herself. Once again many thanks for producing such a wonderful book."

4th March		"I wanted to tell you that i received your book that I ordered and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it so very much. I have been reading it every night and it is the BEST decorating book I have received in a very long time. great job!"

29th January		"Been to see a friends today and given her your book as a late Christmas present - she was so excited, she said it was by far the best book and present she had ever had I wish you could have seen how excited she was."

27th January		"I treated myself to your book and it is one of the best ever! The amount of photographs and the quality is superb. The book lives at the side of my chair in the sitting room and is constantly dipped into. My Mum also purchased one and is just as thrilled. It is truly inspirational and unique, well done"

24th January		"I received my copy of your book today and it exceeded all my expectations. I am somewhat of a "Book addict" and yours is the most beautiful, most creative and most awe inspiring book I have ever had. I will probably wear it out looking at it. It is so much to read and see. The photos are fantastic and just makes me drool over all the collectibles. I am so thankful I found your beautiful blog and thus found your book. Thank you for bringing a spot of sunshine in this winter time to me."

19th January		"I want to let you known, that you're book is so LOVELY! It is the most beautiful book I've ever bought! Thank you, that I can enjoy your lovely ideas on collectibles."

18th January		"I would like to congratulate you on your book - I bought as my Christmas present - and absolutely love it .The photographs are wonderful - I keep it on my bedside table and often 'drool' (not literally , you understand!!) over them when I am having that first cup of tea - a brilliant way to start the day."

15th January		"Your book is really fantastic, the shear quantity of beautiful photographs make it an exceptional book. I have many books on interior design etc.. and I can honestly say yours is my absolute favourite! You really put your heart and soul in it and it shows."

9th January		"I finally got 5 minutes to myself yesterday evening.. I sat down with a glass of wine and your wonderful book.. within minutes I was lost in the text (loved the descriptions of your childhood and how you came to love the things you do..) The pictures are sumptuous and so beautiful....and you can imagine my surprise when I came across a photo of my stall at Shepton last Spring! I was bowled over that you would include my stand in your gorgeous book. Thank you so much, I am chuffed to bits!"

5th January		"I bought this for myself as a Christmas gift and had to be really strict that I didn't open it before the big day and I'm so glad that I didn't because it really is stunning. I'm also reading very s-l-o-w-l-y so that it will last longer. Everyone else's review is much the same as how I also feel about your lovely book - only down side was looking at the bank statement [eek!] - so hope that Blurb is letting you have a considerable chunk of that figure and I also hope it will be hugely successful and you'll be able to make a start on the next volume soon ..."

5th January		"I’ve just taken delivery of your beautiful book which I ordered from Blurb just before Christmas. It’s truly exquisite. The love and thought you put into every page must have been tremendous and I just wanted you to know that it’s really appreciated. I now want to rush home and play with pretty fabric and perhaps sew on some vintage lace and, perhaps, a sequin or two :-)"

3rd January		"I received your fabulous book as a Christmas present and what a book it is, it actually brings a lump to my throat just looking at the superb photography. I nearly lost it to my 16 year old niece who loves vintage too, so we compromised and I let her have it to herself on boxing day... I now have it back. Your family most be very proud of you, good luck for the coming year although I know you will be very successful with your creations, as I know there are none finer."
2008
22nd December		"My copy sits on my little table by the side of my chair, still at the top of the pile, and I just never seem to tire of browsing those wonderful photographs ~ it's a lovely book to read at any time, but on those dull and miserable days (whether that be me when I'm a bit low or our drizzly winter weather!) it's like sitting in the warm and soft glow of firelight and candles. Blimey, must be the Christmas season that's making me wax so lyrically ~ I'd best toddle off before I turn into some sort of 'book groupie'!"

8th December		"I live in New Zealand, have been reading your blog for the last 18 months, love it. Ordered your book just over a week ago & have already received it, I sooo love it, the pictures are wonderful, I won't ever tire of looking at them .Keep up your wonderful blog, I love to see that other people all around the world have the same passions. Once again love the book"

26th November		"I bought your book recently, sounds sad but I carried it around with me for the first few days, now it sits by my bed and I have flick through every night...helps me to dream of nice things. Well done for creating something special, you are a very talented woman."

26th November		"I purchased your book several weeks ago and want to say how much I am enjoying it. I look at it every day when I have five minutes to myself and it just confirms how talented you are, plus the lovely friends you have with such lovely homes. It has given me inspiration as well as an escape from the hectic lifestyle I lead."

21st November		"I wish I could hop on a plane and fly over to England to give you a big hug to express my thanks and appreciation for the absolutely stunning book you have created. I have never paid so much money for a decorating/collecting book before, but I couldn’t stop myself this time after reading about your book on your blog and seeing all of the gorgeous photos from the book. I just knew I had to have a copy of your book for myself and now I do. I consider it to be an early Christmas present to myself. My copy of “Living with Nostalgia” arrived at my home yesterday and I am in heaven. The book is even more beautiful than I could have imagined and I am thrilled that you were able to create such a wonderful masterpiece. This is what decorating and collecting books should be about. If you are not offered a book deal for what you have created, I will be totally shocked. Any book publisher that would pass up on your book would have to be insane. I pray that you will be offered a real book deal in the near future and I wish you the best of luck. I’m off now to go enjoy my wonderful new book…"

19th November		"I have been a collector of books on interior decorating for many, many years and have accumulated well over 150 books. I can honestly say that your book is already in my personal top 10, mainly because of the personal approach. I want to see real interiors that may not always be the fashion du jour, but they represent the personality, interests and taste of the owner instead of the vision of a stylist. Again, job very well done. Your book will certainly continue to be an inspiration."

18th November		"I just wanted to let you know your GORGEOUS /FABULOUS/ STUNNING :) BOOK arrived this morning!! I just heated up some tea and sat down to glance through it and I was blown away, it is so beautiful, I was pulled into a cottage world .....and what a great collection of photographs and not to mention all the ideas it is packed with!! You did a fabulous job and you were so right when you said it has more photos than most books ever do!! I don't want to read the whole thing in one sitting, it will be my treat to myself everyday , a little at a time :) I want to savour it and let it linger about in all its pretties!! Thank you so much for giving us a "get-away" without leaving the sofa , quilt and cup of tea behind!!"

15th November		"There it was, wrapped in it's brown parcel, sitting, waiting in the mailbox for me. BLURB printed on the outside. This had to be it. I took the parcel inside and sat it on the bench, made lunch, then unwrapped the parcel. There it was, glossy cover, just waiting to be opened...not yet...too many things to do. Maybe later when I had more time... Early evening and now, having resisted the temptation to peek, I could finally sit, quietly, alone with the book and savour the contents... Three days later I am in raptures, what a fabulous book, everything I love is encapsulated in between the covers. Glorious photos that inspire and make the fingers itch to be creative and tweak the existing things I own...to make, create and attain with all the lovely pre-loved and re-loved things around me. Thank you so much for such inspiration and ideas."

13th November		"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your book. I ordered it straightaway. I had never heard of Blurb, in fact I didn't even know it was possible to have a book published privately. I was absolutely surprised that it arrived within only 3 weeks and I love it !! All the pictures are wonderful, including those of your friends homes. You did a marvellous job and should be very proud of yourself."

13th November		"I wanted to say I received my copy of your book last week and am very pleased with it. Lots of lovely photographs, great advice and I love the creative ideas. I find a lot of the 'vintage' books a bit dry and boring, but certainly not yours! Where DO you get all your ideas from?"

11th November		"I absolutely love the book! lately I have been slightly disappointed with some of the 'vintage' books on sale, I could certainly not say this of yours! It is beautifully photographed and the wording is readable and elegant, you have obviously worked extremely hard, I wish you every success"

7th November		"I've just received your book and it is absolutely gorgeous, the most beautiful book I have ever seen by far. I shall treasure it for ever and am looking forward to many hours of pleasure feasting my eyes on all it's beauty. Highly, highly recommended, I adore it"

6th November		"Just thought I would let you know that your book has arrived today, really good service and delivery. I've only flipped through the pages yet but it looks absolutely amazing !! Well done for producing what looks like one of the best books I have ever bought, and I do have rather a lot of books in my collection. All those photographs, it's just wonderful"

5th November		"Just a small word to tell you how much I love your book! I (already) received it this weekend and ... so marvellous! Like your blog I follow for a while ; I'm very glad to "meet" you and your wonderful work ... you're an artist, a great artist. Thanks to share your talent. Apologize if I write with some mistakes, my English is not very fine ;-) but simply with my heart ...from Belgium."

4th November		"Congratulations! Your book is an absolute triumph. I love it. Lady, you are flying! Not enough adjectives to describe it really, but it has to be the best 'vintage' information book I've ever seen. What makes it really fab is that anyone with a degree of creativity can do it. Even if you don't have time to do the 'makes', there's so much info about sourcing different types of collectables cheaply (a crucial factor for most of us mortals) as opposed to so many publications where things cost an arm and a leg! Just fab."

3rd November		"Congrats on hitting the best sellers list! That is fabulous!!! I just got my copies and it is beyond wonderful. I could look at that book a hundred times and see something new each time. I am looking forward to sitting down and actually reading it soon. Right now I just browse through and drool over all the gorgeous pictures"

1st November		"I just had to email to let you know how thrilled I am with your beautiful book! It arrived yesterday and I managed to resist opening it until lunchtime (!!) but then spent the rest of the afternoon totally immersed in page after page of the most gorgeous pictures and your totally inspiring writing. I have quite a collection of home decor-type books but I can truthfully tell you that Living with Nostalgia has knocked my current joint favourites (Victorian Chic by Anita Louise Crane and Mary Engelbreit's Home Sweet Home) at the top of my list back into joint second place! It is a book I will be finding myself returning to time and time again and is most definitely well worth the price. I really do hope that you have allowed yourself a well-deserved decent profit margin, Niki, as it obviously took a lot of your time and effort to produce."

31st October		"Your book is GORGEOUS, WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, GREAT, ...... SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!... What can I add more??!!?? I’ll curl with it all the afternoon in front of the fire. Thank you for having written it, I absolutely love your style, and now THIS is the most precious piece of my collection. Thanks also for your constant inspiration!"