Happy Haul-idays with Chronicle Books

Chonicle Books is giving away a chance to win $500 worth of books for one blogger and one reader who comments on the haul-idays post. Read all about it HERE

Anyway, I spent way too much of my time looking over their books to come up with this list. I hope people really enjoy my choices. In some ways, it’s a bit like baring a piece of one’s soul to publish this.

Here are the more business oriented books:

• Lettering & Type – Creating Letters and Designing Typefaces – could always use help with this aspect of design
• The Printmaking Bible – The Complete Guide to Printing Materials and Techniques – do a bit of fabric printing and think this information would be helpful
• Creative, Inc. – The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business – can always use business help (Can someone clone me while you’re at it?!)
• The Graphic Eye – Photographs by Graphic Designers from Around the Globe – think it would be fascinating to see what catches other designers’ eyes
• The Book of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks – A Celebration of Creative Punctuation – not quite business, unless examples of what not to do. Looks like fun.

Here are the cooking and a couple great illustration books. J. otto Siebold is one of my favorite illustrators. I already own Olive, the Other Reindeer or it would be on the list.

• Michael Chiarello’s Bottega – Now, who couldn’t do with a great southern Italian meal. If only, he’d come to my house and make it. One can always dream.
• Puff – 50 Flaky, Crunchy, Delicious Appetizers, Entrees and Desserts Made with Puff Pastry – Ready made puff pastry has to be the easiest item to use for dishes for entertaining.
• Tartine – This cookbook from Tartine Bakery is gorgeous. I have been ogling this one for quite a while. Makes me want to head off to San Francisco!
• Other Goose – Re-Nurseried and Re-Rhymed Children’s Classics – As I said above, this is one of my favorite illustrators. I know it’s a kiddie book but these type of books are some of the best and least expensive art out there.
• Ramayana – Divine Loophole – This book is done by one of the Pixar animators and looks fantastic.
• Recipes Every Man Should Know – This list is truly for me. Even though the book would go to my husband and son, it is for purely selfish reasons. Once in a while, I wouldn’t mind a meal made for me that doesn’t involve pizza from a box.

Now for the largest group of books – Travel

Travel is a true joy and blessing to me (except for the hours in the car or on a plane). The sights, sounds, colors, textures, architecture, food are a designer’s dream. The beauty of a market or just visiting the local grocery store and seeing what differs from our is something I will always enjoy.

• Backroads of New England – 50 Northeast Adventures – Being from the midwest, I really look forward to being near the ocean. The few times I’ve been in New England, I’ve really enjoyed and would like to explore more.
• Wanderlust – I am fascinated to see what other people photograph while traveling.
• Village Walks: Provence and the Côte d’Azur – 50 Adventures on Foot – An area I’ve always wanted to visit.
• City Walks: Seattle – 50 Adventures on Foot
• City Walks: New York – 50 Adventures on Foot – must go back without the busloads of high school music students and see the things I want to see!
• City Walks Architecture: New York
• City Walks Architecture: Paris – one can never have enough of Paris!
• IDEO Eyes Open: London – A Field Guide for the Curious – planning a trip to London and this could come in handy
• IDEO Eyes Open: New York
• Thirty-Six Views of the Eiffel Tower – when you get a longing to be in Paris, just gaze at these views
• A Year in Japan

Well, there it is. It comes in at just under $500. Hope you’ve enjoyed it. Good luck to everyone who enters. I know it would make my day to win!

Denise