We had the 4.30pm slot, so to help wake everyone up for our presentation, we set them the challenge of doodling a certain Sales & Marketing Director on a print out from an upcoming Ivy Kids book. The winning entry comes from an anonymous ‘Vincent’ who’s stunning line work and draftsmanship has captured a true likeness (and may have just invented the walnut movement). A huge thank you to everyone at T&H for their hospitality yesterday and great feedback on the Ivy lists, here’s a gallery of the winning doodle and the three runners-up:

The winning entry

Scary and scarier

Such pretty eyes

err…

‘Draw a Scary Halloween Mask’ pages taken from upcoming Ivy Kids title Make Faces, publishing in September

Even though the benefits of physical activity for reducing obesity and preventing chronic illnesses have been very well publicised, this has resulted in relatively little increased uptake of physical activity, with national surveys showing only one-third of the population meet UK physical activity guidelines. But research shows that exercise influences the release and uptake of chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Staying active can lift your mood, reduce stress, help you deal with negative emotions and even help with anxiety and reduce the risk of depression and dementia. One of the great things about physical activity is that there are endless possibilities and there will be an activity to suit almost everyone, so what’s your excuse?! Below are two small extracts from Einstein and the Art of Mindful Cycling and The Art of Mindful Walking to inspire you to incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine.

“Wouldn’t it be great if we could actually live more meditatively – practising as we go, on the hoof, with no distinction between the rehearsal and the performance? This is where the bicycle comes in – a dream machine that blends meditation with movement; curiosity with velocity; mindfulness with mudguards. On a bicycle, you can achieve in a few weeks an art that Buddhist monks spend decades learning, and which the great Einstein encapsulated effortlessly: mindful living. No wonder the bicycle is often called the best invention in history – it’s a simple, easy-to-use device that can inspire us to wonderful psychological heights. Now that’s what I call a miracle. Not only do bikes enable us to combine mindfulness with living, they have the same spillover effect as conventional meditation. In other words, cycling makes us feel mindful throughout the day, even after we’ve hopped off our bikes. Any cyclist will tell you how alert yet calm, and energized yet relaxed they feel after cycling, and how much easier it is to concentrate. They’ll also tell you how much happier cycling makes them feel in general, and better connected with their communities.“ Ben Irvine - Einstein and the Art of Mindful Cycling

“Walking is the simplest and most human of things. It can be a light, refreshing experience, when we open our shoulders, breathe the air, and enjoy that ‘wonderful to be alive’ feeling. Or it can create the opportunity to delve deep into our inner lives. For ‘thoughtful walking’, there is no need to worry about the thinking – thoughts will arise quite naturally. The problem comes with coping with them, and coping too with all those feelings that erupt unbidden – the angers, insecurities and doubts; the distractions, pettinesses and uninvited memories. Walking can stir things up every bit as much as it may calm things down.” Adam Ford – The Art of Mindful Walking

Michael Buble with the dolls from Karakter Uitgevers 'De Oranjes'

The sailor and child doll from the Royal navy and Royal Marines Children's Fund

The RNRMFC have put a call out for volunteer knitters to make up as many dolls as possible as part of their campaign to help families overcome the effects of post-traumatic stress, see the campaign post here if you think you’re able to help, only a small amount of wool and some of your free time required!

Published in the UK in August last year, the book is available in the US as of today, 30th April 2013.

View the Madonnalicious competition here.

View the Madonnatribe competition here.

‘Cherish’ is the Madonna iconography: a collection of more than 150 photographs alongside a lively commentary, in tribute to every key and unforgettable moment of Madonna’s life and career. Timeless and timely, this rich mosaic allows readers to experience the making of ‘Her Madgestry’ from the very beginning. Self-confessed fan David Foy explores all in this comprehensive collector’s biography, the cleverly navigated controversies, the experimental film forays, the groundbreaking moments that redefined a genre, taking the reader right up to the release of Madonna’s critically acclaimed number one album, MDNA.

Fiona Goble, the knitting genius behind the hugely popular

Fiona says, ‘In preparation for Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge’s new bundle of joy, I’m very happy to announce the arrival of my own little woolly royal. It’s been a privilege to prepare this ‘little extra’ for the Catherine and Will dolls in my book and I hope I’ve captured a good likeness!’

For a limited time only, we are offering the complete pattern (instructions for the Kate and William dolls, their new outfits, and the baby pattern itself) as a free download.

Click on the link below to download the pattern PDF:

Complete-Royal-Baby-Pattern

The baby is due in July and we’ll be leaving the pattern up until then so there’s plenty of time to get knitting!

Fiona’s talent for creating charming characters has no limits, from the traditional stories of best-selling Knitivyand Noah’s Knits to the gruesome rip’n’reassemble ghouls in Knit Your Own Zombie, her woolly designs appeal to both novices and experienced knitters alike.

Until the 31st May, local parenting magazine Families Sussex Coast are offering 3 readers the chance to win a set of 7 fabulous books from the Ivy Kids list. The bundle includes a variety of children’s activity and reference titles, enough to keep children entertained for weeks! All you have to do is head over to the competition page here on their website and answer a simple question about us, good luck!

To try your hand at one of Annelie’s raw recipes and discover that there’s no need to compromise on flavour when eating a healthy meal, check out the Taste Space blog to follow instructions for Quinoa, Avocado and Tomato Marinara Wraps and the chance to win your own copy of the book. Anna Rodgers AKA Miss Eco Glam is hosting the delicious Berry Crazy smoothie recipe on her blog too

Annelie says, ‘I hope readers learn some fantastic new recipes but that it also gives people an insight into how to stay healthy, wherever you live. The idea of making super healthy food for kids – food that ALL kids would like. It’s not about fad diets – yes it’s raw food but the philosophy is, eat the freshest, cleanest, most eco-friendly and nutritious food’.

Annelie Whitfield is now a qualified naturopath and herbalist, she has spent the last eight years running clinics, treating patients, and travelling the world in search of powerful natural remedies and recipes. This book was written while she and her young family traveled and lived in Costa Rica. It is the story of the journey accompanied by all the recipes and remedies she made and discovered along the way. Annelie presented a TV series called ‘The Kitchen Pharmacy’ (Channel 4, 2009) which showcased natural remedies for everyday ailments.

“THERE’S AN ACTIVIST IN ALL OF US AND YOU DON’T HAVE
TO SHOUT TO BE HEARD.”

That’s the message from internationally respected peace activist Satish Kumar, who has been quietly setting the agenda for global change for over fifty years. And to prove it, Satish invited ten of the activists he most admires to join him in Small World, Big Ideas to share their inspiring life stories, revealing who or what made them want to change the world and what kind of world they want to help create.

Encouraged by the themes in Small World, Big Ideas, Leaping Hare Press have teamed up with award-winning film and TV director Shelley Williams to launch the online community Smallworldbigideas.org.

We are putting out a call for each and every single one of you to discover your own inner activist and share your own big ideas for helping create a more beautiful, just, and sustainable world.

Turn inspiration into action. Experience your big idea and ‘be the change’ you want to see in the world. Share it with others on the new online community and let the stories gather strength and momentum, spreading out to inspire others.

From green activists and politicians Bob Brown and Caroline Lucas, climate change campaigner and filmmaker Franny Armstrong, conservationists Tim Flannery and Jane Goodall, environmentalists Bill McKibben and Vandana Shiva, slow food advocate Carlo Petrini, environment lawyer Polly Higgins to mind body healing pioneer Deepak Chopra, these illuminating stories serve as examples for us to take action in our own lives.

Cover illustration by Clifford Harper

The realities of the modern-day workplace can include stress, pressure and apathy, but according to the World Health Organization these strains are only on the rise in Western societies. It’s not surprising, then, that the latest survey compiled by the Mental Health Foundation (January 2013) reveals that work-related issues are the main causes of stress for 54% of Britons. However, with a thoughtful approach and an openness to change, anyone can transform their working experience, and we’re not the only ones who think so.

Anyone who’s been paying attention to the health and science news the past few weeks will have noticed the subject of mindfulness has popped up frequently, with a recent study by the University of California (as reported in Time and The Huffington Post) having found as little as 2 weeks mindfulness training can improve our capacity to focus. Workplace stress, too, has been a recurring area of interest with further studies looking into the causes and cures for this troubling status quo. (Did you know that women are more stressed than ever about a work-life balance?, that dogs in the workplace can help reduce stress levels? and that there are even a variety of apps and gadgets designed to beat stress at work?)

The publication, then, of Maria Arpa’s second book Mindfulness at Work couldn’t be more timely. An expert mediator and counsellor, Maria shares her professional and personal insights to challenge us to think about our working environment, our relationships with our colleagues and our attitude towards the rewards we expect from work. Once we have begun to understand what really causes stress and discontentment, we can begin the process of empowering ourselves through change. Maria explores the ways mindfulness can be used to cut conflict, find contentment and develop an environment where harmony and clarity rule.

Maria says, “Understanding how to resolve conflict is one of life’s greatest skills and the starting point is what is going on inside you. Connecting with that is essential before attempting to intervene in a conflict, because conflict with another person is reflecting back to you a conflict within yourself.”

She invites readers to explore the culture of the workplace and how to become mindful about their position within it. The book features practical meditation exercises throughout, culminating in a two-week plan to realize change and increase your happiness.

Maria Arpa is a London-based mediator and counsellor. She is the founder of the mediation charity, Centre for Peaceful Solutions, and is a former chair of UK Mediation. She trained with Dr Marshall Rosenberg, the US pioneer of NVC (Nonviolent Communication), has a Masters degree in mediation and conflict resolution, and is also a Reiki Master. She is the author of The Heart of Mindful Relationships (2012).