Heart Stones

by Josie Iselin

A heart stone is one of nature's gifts. Heart stones are not rare or precious in the typical sense--a good scour of a beach with any stones at all will usually turn up one or two heart-shaped stones. But heart stones, lifted from their obscurity, with all of their cracks and blemishes, lopsided and imperfect, are simply the best find on any beach. Beachcombers collect them, keep them as talismans, and give them to friends and lovers.

Josie Iselin, author of Abrams' very popular Beach Stones , has put together a magical collection of 100 heart stones, and each one expresses a universal feeling. Love, passion, admiration, obsession, reassurance, joy, intrigue, comfort, wonder, and many other human emotions seem to be portrayed in these homely but appealing objects. This little book can bring great pleasure to anyone who has ever sought inspiration and solace in nature.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Photography

96 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2007

About the author

Josie Iselin is the photographer, author and designer of many books, with new projects always in development in her San Francisco studio, Loving Blind Productions. Her recent books focus on the spectacular forms of seaweed we find at the beach. Her newest book, The Curious World of Seaweed, features sixteen visually rich narratives of our iconic West Coast seaweeds and kelps. It is due out by Heyday in August 2019.

Josie's mission is to produce well-researched and well-designed books that combine art and science, leaving the reader with new information about, and an appreciation for, the world around them. Her writing and art focused on seaweeds, kelp and sea otter put her on the forefront of ocean activism, presenting and working with scientists and groups working to preserve the kelp forests of our Pacific Coast.

Josie holds a BA in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard and an MFA from San Francisco State University. For over twenty years Josie has used her flatbed scanner and computer exclusively for generating imagery. She is still captivated by the fluidity with which this technique allows her to render and design with three-dimensional objects. As a fine artist, Josie exhibits large-scale prints at select galleries, museums, hospitals and other public spaces. She has designed a line of luxury scarves and shower curtains. Synthesizing the scientific stories of our coast is her overriding passion, bringing thoughtfulness and stewardship to this extraordinary place of discovery. Visit her website at josieiselin.com.

Reviews

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love heart stones and collect them myself.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to have heart stones too! I'll never look at rocks in quite the same way again. I found this little gem at the Wilmington Library yesterday and although it only takes about a minute and a half to go through it's very worth it.
When I thumbed through it in the library and saw that opposite most of the pages with heart rock had a word I thought that part would annoy me. It didn't! It was all very fitting and I could tell Iselin didn't just sit down and think up the words. I believe they came to her. They fit so well, each and every one.
From now on, whether I'm on the beach or walking down the road I will be keeping my eye out for heart rocks. I can envision the prettiest little display of heart rocks somewhere in the house!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s not to love about heart stones? I’ve been collecting heart stones since my dad gave me my first one when I was 5 years old. Over the years, I have collected many with the help of my children, my friends and family, and even my students. Sadly, one of my exes threw my box of heart stones away during a move, so I had a to start over again at 50, but I’ve started a nice collection again. I look for and find heart stones everywhere I go. The pictures in this book are lovely and something I will look at again and again.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! So excited to find this book at our Friends of the San Rafael Library bookstore yesterday!! Heart shaped rocks (and other hearts found,) have deep meaning for me! Delighted by this little book of treasures - and by a local photographer, no less! Yay 🖤

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in a little free library. I love it because I'm such a beachcomber. This is being re-gifted to a friend.

[Liz Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the photographs but I thought the choice of words was sometimes odd and I know the theme was simplicity, but I couldn't help but wish at least some explanation. Maybe some sort of preface or an explanation of thoughts in the end. All the same, the pictures were beautiful.

[Bobbi Siegmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely Valentine's Day gift to me from my husband in 2008. And now I have started my own collection!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Single words on white space-could lend itself to poetry or other inspirational writing based on word given, like love, history, home, puzzle, etc.

[k8beeZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so adorable and has really lovely pictures!!!! You dont find Heart Stones, they find you.