Clare Gaylard Glass 

Three books for my birthday today, gifts that keep giving.

At Easter we visited The Ashmolean in Oxford and found an exhibition of Kenneth Coates art. He is a bit of a Renaissance Man on a fine scale, Jewellery, precious stones and metals, fine drawing, sculpture and the inspiration behind each piece gathered into one complete object. Top right.

Artist Marina Bychkova expresses herself through the unusual medium of iconic porcelain dolls, each one an idea or story given shape through her incredible skills with a dizzying range of media. I'm waiting but happily for this one as it's a signed copy! 

Les Tres Riche Heures de Duc du Berry: my parents had the wonderful cloth-bound facsimilie, each page gilded. The fine detail and scope.. God casting the rebel angels down to Hell.... utterly fascinated me as a child. Another sibling has the family copy, now I have my own.