ALLEGRA HICKS Book Review ...(Via Made by Girl)

I'm a BOOK FANATIC!  I own a ton of them & STILL find myself buying more!! It's really hard not to when so many amazing titles keep popping up all over the place.

I also get BOOKS sent to me by publishing companies, but when I'm in IMPATIENT I'll buy a copy myself! 

Today, I'm reviewing ALLEGRA HICKS, 'An Eye For Design' by Abrams Books.  I love textiles & am always so INSPIRED by them... this book was a must-have for me! This title contains 224 pages of full COLOR and is only $26.

Here's a little info on Allegra Hicks: She's a London-based fashion & lifestyle designer whose line of luxury  homewares, and accessories is sold all over the world in department stores and boutiques as well as in her namesake store in London! She's quite well known for her unique textile designs, which she uses in her interiors as well as her popular fashion line.

The minute I SAW THE COVER of ALLEGRA Hicks, I fell in L-O-V-E.  Don't you just love a book cover that reminds you of textile?? Very appropriate in this case.
Another book cover that remind me of textiles is 'Glamorous Rooms' by Jan Showers (Leopard Print cover) which I blogged about here.

images by jen

You can buy your copy of Allegra Hicks here.

Visit Nordisk Eksotisk...Book Review (Via Made By Girl)

Authors, Iben & Niels Ahlberg sent this gorgeous & inspiring book to me from Denmark! I knew you all would LOVE it... so I'd like to share some images with you! 


VISIT Nordisk Eksotisk is the first title in the Visit Series about Scandinavian Interiors. There will be another title published at the end of November as well (can't wait!) The 'Visit' book is in Danish but it ALSO includes an insert with English text, which is convenient since I DON'T speak Danish!! I've already started reading mine....it explains all the pages and what you're seeing in detail!

The book showcases their own home as well as a few others. I'm already feeling INSPIRED flipping through all the pages. I love the touches of solid black furniture & lighting you see throughout, especially up against the stark white walls.

I'm so ENAMORED with this book & is now one of my favorites. It has 163 pages of cull-color and definitely worth a look! For more on this book, you can also read my previous post here.

If you're interested in PURCHASING a copy of the book click here.

              images via visit

Interiors Now! by Angelika Taschen... (Book Review)

If you're looking for a new coffee table book, look no further.  I just bought Interiors Now! by Taschen and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to own this book! Let's be real, I'm a HUGE FAN of Taschen to begin with, so this book was a must-have for me! It is the first volume (more to come) and I'm certain the rest will be just as lovely as this one. 


First off.... this book has 416 pages of FULL COLOR photographs, all interiors! Featuring residences, studios and getaways from California to Germany to Sweden! With plenty of diversity & style to inspire you! Seriously, you need to get this book, buy your copy here.

images of book pages by jen ramos

images via taschen

Anyone else have this book?? What did you think of it?

BIG Book of Small, Cool Spaces.....(Review)

I was super excited when Maxwell's new book, "BIG BOOK OF SMALL, COOL SPACES" arrived in the mail today! This book is 304 pages long (which I think is so awesome) and completely full of colorful photos!  For those of you scratching your head wondering who who Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan is, he's co-founder of Apartment Therapy, one of the most popular interior design sources. Maxwell is also a P/T Interior Designer so this book just makes sense. He concentrates on how to transform a tiny space into a fabulous space!  I can see how useful this book would be for people living in cities like New York, San Francisco and even Japan. In big cities like these space is very limited & you definitely want to make the best of what you DO have. 

(image above by jen)

It's a SHAME this book wasn't published back when I was living in Manhattan, NYC in a studio apartment!  How ideal would it have been to be able to tuck an office with vintage doors into an unused bedroom corner??  


This is a great coffee table book as well, highly recommend it. ......And that folks, is my review. 

(images above via apartment therapy)

BUY your copy here for less than $20.

Interior Design books ....My Weakness.

When was the last time you bought a good coffee table book? I feel like I'm ALWAYS BUYING one or two books month. Whether they are old or new releases...I buy them.  It's one of my weaknesses, what can I say? Below are a few I purchased this month.

Books Do Furnish A Room by Leslie Geddes-Brown

The title of this book alone.... stretched across the page drew me in! This book reveals how books can enhance the look & atmosphere of any home. It talks about different ways of arranging as well as stylish storage & lighting solutions. My favorite part was the tips it provided on how to combine books with other objects in the home - giving it some added interest! 

Published by Merrell

Glamorous Rooms by Jan Showers
with foreword by Michael Kors.

And to my surprise, look what was peeking under the Glamorous Rooms jacket cover !! Don't you just love this faux leopard print? Very CHIC!

Monochrome by Paula Rice Jackson
Published by Random House Books

I'm still WAITING for the arrival of 3 or 4 more books. They really put me in a good mood and of course I love to share these titles with all of you!  If you're shopping for coffee table books, I'd definitely recommend either of these.

Are you fascinated with books too?  Do you have any of these?  I'm a real SUCKER for interior design books, especially if it has an appealing photo on the cover!  The Glamorous Rooms cover really did it for me, I had to get it for my collection! 




images by jen ramos 

Book Review: "Fall to Pieces".......A Memoir

I love reading books & today I'm reading "Fall To Pieces" by Mary Forsberg Weiland. It's a memoir that chronicles her early life as a model, mother & wife of Scott Weiland, (former Stone Temple Pilots lead singer). This book is quite candid & very honest.....she definitely offers a window into her soul and the intense lifestyle she lived. The book is basically about Mary's journey into drug & alcohol addiction, along with a common condition called bi-polar disorder.

I found it interesting that the first time she met Scott Weiland (an aspiring musician at the time) was when she was just 16. He showed up to drive her to & from her modeling gigs for $8 an hour. You can get a copy of Mary's book here.

Click on the image for a larger version. The book cover design is so fitting to her story....very creative! 

images: Jen Ramos

I Sold Andy Warhol (too soon)...

I'm currently reading, "I Sold Andy Warhol. (too soon)" by Richard Polsky. For any of you that have ever been intrigued by how someone acquires artwork for $1,500 from an average artist to a $2,000,000 Andy Warhol, would be amazed if you knew what really occurs 'behind-the-scenes'!

Mr. Polsky tells it like its is & delves into what it's like to search for affordable art in a rich man's market. At one point, Richard Polsky decided to put his much-loved, hard-won Warhol, "Fright Wig," up for auction at Christie's; the market for contemporary art was robust & he was hoping to turn a profit. His instinct seemed to be on target: his picture sold for $375,000. But if only Polsky had waited....

(Below) - Self-portrait (Fright Wig) by Andy Warhol (1986).
Estimated Price = $1,500,000-$2,000,000.
The portrait was finished in the months preceding his death.

Book image from The Wall Street Journal

(50% off these book titles) 'Making Stuff For Kids' & .....

'Black Dog Publishing' was generous enough to offer readers of MadeByGirl an amazing discount of 50% off each of these two book titles below! ! Costing you ONLY $12.48 for each book, instead of $24.95! To take advantage of this discount email Jessica at: Jess@blackdogonline.com with your shipping address & letting her know you'd like the 'MadeByGirl 50% discount'.

Offer is valid until August 31st, 2009.

Above: 'Making Stuff For Kids' - Following on from the success of Making Stuff (below), Making Stuff For Kids is a vibrant & exciting new craft book featuring a ton of new & clever ideas to make with kids! Image via here.

Above: 'Making Stuff'- is a great craft book! Crafting has become such a trend & it's only getting bigger. This book is ideal for all experienced & wanna - be crafters.

How to live large on LESS....City Chic (Book Review)

With the economy affecting so many of us these days, it sucks to have to worry about even the smallest of purchases! A few years ago, we never used to worry this much, remember?? So, this is where this lovely book, City Chic, comes in, sent to me by Source Books....thanks! So, all of us modern women want to live nicely & be able to afford the things we have worked for right?? This book talks about how money may be an object, but it shouldn't be an obstacle.

With plenty of tips & tricks for:

• Home Decorating (big ideas for small places)
• Cash saving culinary tips and price saving pantry ideas.
• Behind the seams: Shopping, tailoring & dry-cleaning , DIY style.
• Go Green: Save the environment & your checking account
• How to use the web to your advantage
  
• How to creatively cheat at looking chic
  
• and much more!!

Plain & simple, City Chic by Nina Wildorf, is an insider's guide on how to squeeze the most style out of a small salary! I read this book this past weekend & recommend it! Get your copy here. ($14.99).

A man's guide to looking good...(Book review)

The Handbook of Style: A Man's Guide to Looking Good from the Editors of Esquire Magazine and published by Hearst Books is a must-have for all men. This book is not about trends but more about style. Think Fred Astaire in two-tone shoes, Cary Grant in impeccably tailored suits, Al Capone in pinstripes, Mick Jagger in skinny pants, the Beatles in Chelsea boots, or even Albert Einstein in his V-Neck sweater over an open-collar shirt. All these men have one thing in common, "Taste".


All men have the potential to create their own individual look to distinguish himself amongst the crowd and women love men who know how to dress themselves. The book is packed with handy illustrations and begins with a discussion on how to buy a suit, then goes on to discuss the anatomy of 'The Perfect Suit' (the only suit you'll need for work, weddings, funerals, parties & everything in between). After reading through most of the Handbook of Style I have a much better understanding and appreciation for a man's wardrobe....plus it gives me an advantage when I buy clothing as a gift for my guy. If you're familiar with Esquire's 'The BIG Black Book' (which was very successful) then you'll love this one!

*The Handbook of Style from the Editors of Esquire*

Published by Hearst Books
Pages: 240
Price: $14.95 or less on Amazon.

Thanks again to my contact for sending this book out to me.

DUMPED! (Book Review)

Who likes getting DUMPED?? - I bet most people would say "not me". I've had my share of relationships, some worked out while others ended in heartbreak. Getting over being dumped isn't easy....your ego is bruised, your heart hurts & so on. Have you ever had someone you were seeing tell you" it's not you" OR "I think we should be just friends"...and at that point you were probably thinking you just want to slash their tires.

Well, this book is all about helping you solve all your evil urges. By assisting dumpees Sam & Samantha navigate through a jungle of post-break up mazes, word searches and crossword puzzles, you will get over your traumatic breakup in no time! Dumped by Josh Lewis is a sarcastic, funny (173 page) workbook perfect for sorting through all the crazy wreckage associated with break-ups. Great way to get even without appearing psychotic or vindictive, it takes your mind off your troubles with fun & games galore. Makes a great gift, you can buy your copy here.

Photo by Jen Ramos

The Creative Entrepreneur...(Book Review)

Thanks to my contact over at Quayside Publishing for sending The Creative Entrepreneur by Lisa Sonora Beam for me to review. This book is a step-by-step method of business development for creatives from all walks of life who want to turn their passion into actual business opportunities.

It CHALLENGES you to think & rearrange your priorities while teaching you how to develop a personal & business strategy to get results you want. So, if you lack practical business knowledge or are facing emotional & psychological blockage while on your entrepreneurial journey, this book may just give you some insight to move past it.

In the 'Creative Entrepreneur' A DIY Visual Guide for Making Business Ideas Real Lisa teaches:

• A unique creative process for developing & testing ideas.
• How to easily assess business ideas to see if they will work before investing time & money $$ in them.
• Ways to develop a positive & productive relationship to the creative process that is essential to business viability & success and much more!

*The Creative Entrepreneur is perfect for creative types!

Photo by: Jen Ramos