Selena Francis-Bryden's DIY Fashion

Selena Francis-Bryden will be signing copies of her new book DIY Fashion in store on Thursday 7th October from 6.30pm. Containing more than 40 projects, none of which require prior skill or a sewing machine, these are clothes that anyone of any age can make.

Selena Francis-Bryden has sold clothes at London’s Portobello Market for many years. She has made clothing for many celebrities and her work has featured in Sex and the City.

A (Long Overdue) News Update

Massive apologies to our dedicated customers and online followers--if you've been into the shop recently, you may have noticed we've had a major refit (which has kept has very busy)!

Talking of refits, we're also currently in the process of totally revamping our website--expect to see some major changes in the next week or so! Meanwhile, you may be interested in some of the events taking place at our new sister shop in England's Lane. They have a number of exciting readings/signings programmed this winter which we strongly recommend to you (you may even see some of us there)! For details, simply click the link above, or give them a call on 020 7586 9764.

Snap up some prizes!

Forget the World Cup...the big event around here is almost upon us once more--yep, it's almost Jester Festival time again and while cynics might pour scorn, we reckon we are so lucky to live in an area with true community as its heart, so bring it on!!

As part of the run-up, those lovely bods at the Friends of Hampstead Cemetery have just launched this year's photo competition.

With prizes ranging from 2 nights in Brighton with return travel included, a Canon digital camera and a handmade leather portfolio, there's everything to play for (sorry, i have been watching a lot of football recently).

The judges are looking for entrants to submit 3 prints by hand or post by 27th June. The subject is 'street life' and entries will be judged on creative content rather than technical expertise....heck, you can even submit mobile shots!

Send your prints to The Lodge, Hampstead Cemetery, 69 Fortune Green Road, NW6 1DR, where there will also be an exhibition of entries on JF weekend (3rd & 4th July). Good luck!!

TV Book Club looks at holiday reading

More 4's Book Club returns later this month (27th) with a special strand examining holiday reading.

The eight-part series, fronted by Jo Brand and Dave Spikey, will go out on Sunday evenings, with repeats the following day on C4. Each week the presenters will be joined by two other celebrity presenters and a guest to critique one title per show.

Launching with Kathryn Stockett's The Help, the series will then move on to: The Man Who Disappeared (Clare Morrall), The Legacy (Katherine Webb), The Bed I Made (Lucie Whitehouse--my own personal favourite among the list), Stone's Fall (Iain Pears), Ellis Island (Kate Kerrigan), The Devil's Acre (Matthew Pamplin and The Weight Of Silence (Heather Gudenkauf).

But, if you can't catch the show, help is at hand: just pop into the shop for up to the minute recommendations on summer reading and pretty much any other genre you can shake a stick at, from our friendly and helpful team.

Award-winning play at the Cock Tavern

We're truly blessed with culture in this part of town, and, if you get your skates on, you can just catch a brand new production of Abhishek Majumdar's An Arrangement of Shoes, right on our doorstep at the Cock Tavern in Kilburn.

The one-woman show, which opens tonight at 9.30 and runs through to the 12th, tells the story of Rukhsar's journey to recommect with her past following the death of her grandfather.

Full of energy and affection, she takes the audience on a journey through her own history and also of recent times, including the first Gulf War and its far reaching ramifications.

Tickets cost £8 from www.cocktaverntheatre.com or 08444 771 000.

P-p-p-pick up a Penguin...or a Puffin

Can there be anything more instantly evocative than seeing the cover of a much-loved, and probably long-lost, children's book?

All I know is that when I clapped eyes on the cover art of The Wolves Of Willoughby Chase I was instantly transported back to 70s Leeds and reading under the eiderdown (don't worry: you won't be...that was my own childhood flashback).

Those clever peeps at Puffin are clearly aware of the nostlagia-fest that old book covers evoke as they've just collated a consummate collection, Puffin By Design,, an impressive visual feast whether you're nostlagic or not--it's simply book design at its best.

Puffin By Design is a sister companion to the equally essential Penguin By Design. You'll find both on our non-fiction table, close by the Penguin mugs and postcards.

Do you spell well?

...I'm on the erratic side when it comes to spelling I'm afraid (and thanks to eagle-eyed customers who have bothered to point out my boo-boos before), but I hope that both my daughters can do better and I suppose that's why Mike Dibb's sweet little book, Spellwell, particlarly caught my eye.

It's a tiny little thing of charm: showing children how words that sound the same can be spelt differently; the format's an adorable series of short rhymes with key words picked out in colour and lovely line drawings by Roddy Maude-Roxby.

The book's a welcome piece of whimsy to playfully back up what goes on in your child's classroom...and its charm is such that it would make a delightful gift for anyone who appreciates thoughtfully put together publications.

You'll find it on our front counter, priced at £5.99. Take a look: you'll fall under its spell (sic).