The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Short Stories – A gift from my mother. This is a beautiful two-volume set containing all of the Sherlock Holmes short stories, and featuring the silhouette of the Great Detective himself on the spines of both books (a third volume of novels completes the image). The outside and covers of each volume are decorated with vintage color illustrations, and the text is heavily annotated, and accompanied not only by vintage black-and-white illustrations, but black-and-white photographs of actual locations mentioned in the tales, taken around the time Holmes and Watson would have seen them. This set is so gorgeous I’m almost afraid to touch it (and the designer in me is totally thrilled that they chose a lovely Arts & Crafts typeface for the titles; I will have to discover just which one it is).

Bead on a Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry – This book teaches basic wire working skills, starting with “Working with Jewelry Pliers” and moving on to more difficult techniques. I’m working on getting my toolkit together, in a pared-down version, and can’t wait to get started hammering, twisting and wrapping! I’m most excited to finally be able to make my own clasps and other findings, sometimes the most expensive parts of a jewelry project.

The Mind of the Maker – I’m not totally sure how to describe this book, so I’ll grab something from the back cover copy:

This classic, with a new introduction by Madeleine L’Engle, is by turns an entrancing mediation on language; a piercing commentary on the nature of art and why so much of what we read, hear, and see falls short; and a brilliant examination of the fundamental tenets of Christianity. The Mind of the Maker will be relished by those already in love with Dorothy L. Sayers and those who have not yet met her.

A mystery writer, a witty and perceptive theologian, culture critic, and playwright, Dorothy Sayers sheds new,unexpected light on a specific set of statements made in the Christian creeds. She examines anew such ideas as the image of God, the Trinity, free will, and evil, and in these pages a wholly revitalized understanding of them emerges. The author finds the key in the parallels between the creation of God and the human creative process. She continually refers to each in a way that illuminates both.

I’m resisting the urge to put other books down for that one, but I will be good and wait, hehe.