Stomping Grounds happens to have a number of book sets on hand at the moment.  Normally our sets are scattered around the shop according to topic so that, for instance, the Mark Twain set would be shelved with literature, the set of Darwin would be shelved with science, etc.  But I got a hankering to see how the many sets we’ve recently acquired would look if they were all shelved in one place. 

They would look exactly like this:

Those of you who follow Stomping Grounds on Facebook may recall that, about a month ago, we shared an article about book sculptor Brian Dettmer.  Here are a couple of examples of what Dettmer does:

(here’s more)

And here’s how he explains the process of making these sculptures:

Its here!  Stomping Grounds’ first anniversary has arrived. 

With so many challenges facing small business, especially in this economic climate, we are proud to have survived and thrived.  It’s a commonly held belief (based on SBA statistics) that 50% of start-up businesses fail within the first twelve months.  We wouldn’t still be here without you.  So, first, we’d like to say thanks.

Our sidewalk sign shown with a graphic taken from a 1910 postcard sent from Geneva, NY.

Like a life that was passing out, quietly succumbed the Seneca to the fetters of Old Winter. All day Saturday the mists had risen from the surface, but on Sunday it lay a placid expanse without even this evidence of animation. Viewed from the heights near nightfall, a white waste met the vision, where but a few hours before the whitecaps had tumbled into view.

John Corbin, from The Watkins Express newspaper, 1912.

We don’t have a television at home, so I didn’t know about Portandia until a friend sent me a link for the “Put a Bird on It” sketch.  (thanks, beth e.)

Like most people who see the sketch for the first time, I enjoyed the subtle sense of superiority I felt over all those pour souls lost in the spinning vortex of random bird application, and I snickered accordingly.

You can find many bird junkies hawking their wares on Etsy.com.  (Yes, totally intended.)

Check the bookshelves of your local Salvation Army, or browse through the stacks at the nearest antique store.  Chances are you will find a book written by Mary Jane Holmes.  Millions of Holmes’ books were sold during the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, and, because they were cherished by her fans, examples of them turn up frequently.  The bindings on Holmes’ books t

May there not be something in the Gothic Romance peculiarly suited to the views of a genius, and to the ends of poetry? And may not the philosophical moderns have gone too far in their perpetual ridicule and contempt of it?

Bishop Richard Hurd, 1720-1808.

When Stomping Grounds opened back in March of 2011 our used book section was confined mainly to the southeast corner of the store.  A few additional books were scattered about here and there, and a couple of rarities were on display in lighted cases.  But offering used and rare books was only a small part of our overall business concept.