A painting called “self portrait as a lava bomb” by Ilana Halperin. A dark blue shape is beautifully interwoven with orange streaks of lava

A painting of rocks with whimsical human names

A photo of the front of the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, with a poster of the cast of the High Life Musical above the door.

The stairs at the National Library of Scotland, with a design celebrating their centenary. Open books are shaped like hearts.

Had a brilliant weekend in Edinburgh catching up with old friends. Also loved the Ilana Halperin exhibition at the Fruitmarket, Dear Library at @natlibscot.bsky.social
& the joyful High Life Musical. Oh dearie me.

Oh I love this!

A Paolozzi sculpture of Blake’s Newton, similar to the one outside the British Library

Snap!

A mural of a woman reading, with green trousers and a white t shirt

Graffiti saying “Look after each other”

The outside of Lighthouse Books in Edinburgh. Georgian windows and a green painted shop front.

A piece of art with text saying “what if it all works out?” on a copy of the New York Times.

Edinburgh

Nothing says Friday like thirty 1950s bus tickets from Milwaukee. www.presentandcorrect.com/blogs/blog/g...

A typographic carnival.

A burgundy hardback book (“Nonesuch” by Francis Spufford) is on a tray table. A purple cup of coffee sits to the right.

Edinburgh here I come.

On the way to see my bestie in Edinburgh!

It was fab, wasn’t it?

A view inside the Royal Albert Hall. The ceiling is shrouded in indigo lighting, with a crowd illuminated in gold.

Fantastic to witness Belle and Sebastian play Tigermilk in full and conjure a fantastic atmosphere @royalalberthall.bsky.social last night.

A book called The Little Book of Fairies by Carolyne Larrington, published by the British Library. It has a purple band down teh side and an old fashioned fairy painting of a very elaborate green fairy. It looks like it might be a stage costume. Victorian? Older? I'm not sure, I'll have to read the book to find out!

Original art for a picture book by Erika Meza. It shows a girl with light brown skin and long dark brown plaits, wearing a pink dress and white trainers. The text at the bottom reads, "...The hero will be ME." It's in a frame on the wall of the exhibition.

An elaborate pop up book with mermaids behind a glass case. You can see the reflection of my fingers and phone taking the photo, drat, I thought I'd avoided that.

Signposts inside the exhibition pointing to dragons, happily ever after, helpful elves, swimming selkies and talking animals.

The Fairy tales exhibition at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social is immense fun. Lots for adults, lots for small children (less for medium children, but they might consider themselves too old for fairy tales anyway, even tho they're not). Came away with a book - @profcarolyne.bsky.social's on fairies

Bookplate of daffodils by Anne Pratt

🌼 Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!🌼Happy St. David's Day!🌼

Daffodils have been a national symbol of Wales since the 19th century.

This bookplate of daffodils is from ‘Flowering Plants, Grasses, Sedges and Ferns of Great Britain’ by the botanical illustrator Anne Pratt (1806-1893).

The British Library from the Manuscripts Room

Visiting The Good Place.

A small tan and white Lhasa Apso is perched on someone’s legs. The person is lying on a sofa, with a copy of “The Stone Book” by Alan Garner

Saturday reading.

we have that within which passes show on the post-literate world, the crassness of language and why Hamnet was always going to be hard to film. plus! what is 'just enough internet'? and the stationery renaissance

this is not about current events.

it's a bit about Hamnet and a lot about how hard it is to write about things that are too tender and sacred for language, and how the internet of video might make harder.

it's just about art, if you want some art today.

naomialderman.substack.com/p/we-have-th...

O Wert Thou In The Cauld Blast by Robert Burns - read by Professor Peter Mackay, Scotland's Makar – our national poet. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Happy #BurnsNight from everyone at the University of St Andrews.

#EverToExcel

Our latest PhD Placement opportunities - come and work at the British Library for 3-6 months to develop your research and professional skills. 8 projects available, deadline for applications 27 February.

www.bl.uk/services/res...

It turns out that readers in the UK still love libraries. Authors love libraries and readers because they get a small payment - Public Lending Right - every time a book is borrowed. Thank you, libraries and readers, you've made my day! #libraries #PLR #TinyJoys

Public Lending Right (PLR) - authors, illustrators - British Library Published authors, illustrators, editors, translators or audiobook narrators could could receive up to £6,600 per year from public library loans.

It's PLR statement day! Reminder that if you have a book in libraries in the UK and Ireland you can sign up to get your Public Lending Right - a little bit of money every time someone borrows one of your books! www.bl.uk/services/plr

H/t to @mayfaircynic.bsky.social who suggested the Secret Maps exhibit at the British Library.

Where else would you see a beautiful map of the world, an Enigma Machine, an AirTag and Lady Mountbatten’s underpants.

I went to the Secret Maps exhibition at the British Library last night, and it was GREAT. Hurry along before it closes in a week or so!

This submarine cable linked Cornwall to India, in 1870. Usually I'm too interested in the ancient world to be impressed by the modern one, but that is pretty cool

A copy of “The Dark is Rising” by Susan Cooper. A cartoon image of a boy with a mysterious rider behind him and a full moon.

“This night will be bad, and tomorrow will be beyond imagining.” #TheDarkIsRising.

Today's Lines at Lunchtime is 'Another Night Before Christmas' by Carol Ann Duffy!

#LinesAtLunchtime #Libraries #BookSky #CarolAnnDuffy #Poetry

A very delicate, finely-detailed mixed-media illustration looking down through winter trees passed a herd of deer towards a wooded valley and golden winter sunrise

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Window 20
‘Winter Sunrise’
Artist: SR Badmin

OMG. this is art

a living room with a fireplace and the words cozy time on the bottom Alt: a cartoon style living room with a fireplace, 2 comfortable chairs, 2 sleeping cats, a bookshelf and the words cozy time.

Wishing you a cozy warm spot to read, watch movies, and enjoy a quiet moment of peace.

A big warm hug of a thread, plus amazing artwork, cats, cultural history and a happy ending. 🧑‍🍳’s kiss.

Person viewing an exhibition related to Jane Austen, featuring displays of historical clothing and documents.

Jane Austen was born 250 years ago today ✨

Our new display, Dancing with Austen, explores how dance shaped her social world and drove the plots of her novels.

Now on display at the Weston Library.

#JaneAusten

British Library catalogue search page displaying the new main catalogue, designed to make finding and requesting published items easier.

We’re excited to share our new main catalogue, making it easier for you to find and request the majority of our published collection. We’ve also launched an interim version of our Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Find out how to start searching and requesting on our website bit.ly/BLNewCatalogues

75 Years of the BNB (and bewitching Narnia books) Marking 75 years of the British National Bibliography (BNB).

British Library: 75 Years of the British National Bibliography / BNB (and bewitching Narnia books)

www.bl.uk/stories/blogs/posts/75-y...

I’m sorry to hear the studio is closing, but this is an incredibly thoughtful, honest and values-driven post, which sums up what I admire about your work!