Papadakis – serie

A traditional meadow full of wild flowers is a rare sight today but it is not too late to restore them and to create new ones. Charles Flower is passionate about restoring the countryside. After the appalling destruction provoked by modern farming methods during the 1970s and 1980s he pioneered practical methods of wild flower restoration on his own farm, where he grows wild flower seed crops and runs restoration workshops. We have been through many painful years of seeing our meadows destroyed but Charles Flower has proved that it is possible to plan for diversity, harvest seed, propagate it and create new meadows, woods, hedges and ponds so that wild flowers can be successfully re-established not only in the countryside but also in our gardens, thus ensuring a supply of nectar over a long period – from the woodland primrose in March through to fleabane in the wet meadow in September – that will entice back countless butterflies and other insects. This book is full of practical advice amassed by someone who has devoted all his energy to good management of the countryside for over 20 years. It recounts the story of how he has helped restore the flowers – and thus ensure the return of wildlife – to numerous gardens, farms and estates, a story documented by glorious photographs that cannot fail to inspire.

Hats can be stylish and outlandish, formal and conservative; they can denote status and authority or simply offer protection against the elements; they can hide the wearer or draw full attention to them. Hats have been part of our social and cultural history for as far back as we have records, and have appeared throughout the centuries in many different forms, styles and materials. The Hat Book explores from the very first tomb-painting of a straw hat to nineteenth century bonnets with ribbons, flowers and bows; from the social etiquette of top hats and bowler hats to the haute couture fashion statements of Philip Treacy and Isabella Blow. Including iconic and famous hats such as the Stetson, the Fedora, the beret, the cloche, Elsa Schiaparelli’s shoe hat and Jackie Kennedy’s pillbox hat, The Hat Book is a playful compendium of the most fashionable, fascinating and intriguing hats the world has ever seen.

Illustrated by world-renowned food photographer Jean Cazals, TeaTime takes you on a sumptuous journey round 50 of London’s unique and brilliant tea-hotspots, capturing the ambience of world famous venues such as The Ritz and The Savoy, those that offer a modern twist on traditional afternoon tea such as the Primrose Bakery and The Berkeley, or the more down-to-earth like La Fromagerie and Daylesford Organic, and the indulgent Melt and Cocomaya. Although the British only invented the custom about 160 years ago, it has become part of our cultural DNA and a habit that we have exported around the World. TeaTime includes more than 30 mouth-watering recipes from a selection of London’s best afternoon teas made by the chefs from grand and boutique hotels, and chic bars and cafés.

Spirit of the Amazon is the work of photojournalist Sue Cunningham and writer Patrick Cunningham. It is a celebration of cultural difference and a call for better stewardship of the world. Sue's stunning photographs demonstrate the spiritual and material value of the Xingu tribes to all mankind; they keep the forest alive and they protect the climate of South America and the rest of the world. Their spiritual connection to their environment and the wider Earth shows us an alternative way to connect to the natural richness of the planet, built on foundations completely different from those of global materialism. During their expedition by boat, the authors followed the course of the Xingu river, a tributary of the Amazon, travelling 2,500 km through the heart of Brazil. They visited forty-eight tribal villages in this remote part of the Amazon, accessible only by small plane or by negotiating the rapids of the Xingu. This is the story of the tribal communities they met; their daily lives, their connection to the land and to the rivers, the threats which pervade each day of their lives. It is also a validation of their importance to the rest of the world; why these small, remote and often secretive indigenous communities are so important to our own lives and to our shared planet. It is a celebration of their vibrant cultures, their rituals and their rites of passage, of cultures very different from each other, but with a shared spiritual basis which respects the trees, the rivers and the rain. And it is a call for the world to protect them, their lands and their forests and rivers from the destruction which our avaricious greed for natural resources drives ever closer and deeper into their realm.

This title looks back upon and celebrates 40 years of Kiki's business, her life, and her remarkable story. From the delicate shimmer of amethysts to the radiant sparkle of citrines and peridots, Kiki’s signature pieces have graced the ears and necks of style icons across generations – including HRH Catherine, Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla, and Princess Diana.“The eternal challenge for a designer is to make pieces which are relevant and modern as well as timeless … The fact that Kiki McDonough has achieved this in countless collections over forty years is nothing short of a triumph” - Carol Woolton, jewellery historian and British Vogue Jewellery Editor On the eve of her jewellery business’s 40th anniversary, Kiki McDonough opens the vault to share the remarkable journey behind one of Britain’s most beloved jewellery designers. What began in 1985 with a single concession in a friend’s store has since blossomed into a globally celebrated brand, known for its vibrant use of coloured gemstones, timeless elegance, and deep connection with the women who wear it.With over 200 stunning photographs, this beautifully curated book is both a visual feast and an inspiring portrait of a female-founded and female-led company that changed the face of modern jewellery. Through rich imagery and candid storytelling, Kiki reflects on four decades of creativity, determination, and evolution. She takes us behind the scenes of her design process, shares memories from the early, chaotic days of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and explores how her work continues to resonate with modern women around the world. Her mission has always been simple yet revolutionary: jewellery should be bought by women, for women, pieces that speak to their style, their confidence, their joy. More than a retrospective, it’s a celebration of a legacy still in the making – a story as colourful and joyful as Kiki’s exquisite jewellery.