A Work in Progress

It Was Only a Matter of Time...

I found this ad in a scrapbooking magazine I picked up over the weekend.  I really am not surprised--it was only a matter of time before someone really started capitalizing on the whole ATC craze.  I know there are all sorts of things that you can buy to make your ATCs, but this is the first time I have seen a commercially made storage system--so to speak.  Mine are in plain old boring baseball trading card holders--a white binder with clear sleeves!  I like the kind of boxes and books to put the cards in that are homemade actually.  The tin is kind of cute.  I am not sure what the paper pads in the lower right hand corner are meant for.  Hmm, what will be next!

Life is Good if You're a Cat!

Ahhh Yes, a new box to lay on.  How completely  undignified, but I will post this picture of Chispa here anyway.  I won't tell her it's here, so she won't be peeved at me.  I pulled out my box of needlework charts last night, and of course both cats had to swarm.  Why is it not possible to pull out anything at all without having a cat lay all over it?  I know I am under the misguided thinking that this belongs to me.  Someday I will learn, I guess.

I have joined a new exchange in one of my stitching groups.  The theme is Sampler Houses.  Samplers always seem to  have a house of some sort on them (along with an alphabet usually), and we are to make a fob or other accessory with a house on it.  So I pulled out my stash of charts to see what I have.  I found quite a few charts, and have narrowed them down to a few.  This is a nice different theme, so it will be fun.  It has to be stitched and ready to go by July 25, so I thought I better get going on it!

This weekend I decided to work on reading one of my own books that has been neglected for a while.  I pulled from the bottom of my reading stack, With No One as Witness by Elizabeth George.  Her books are always long ones, so I will be working on this one for a little while.  I have been reading my library books, as due dates are approaching for several of them.  The George book is really good.  Her last couple have been a bit disappointing, but she seems to be back in her stride.  I'll take it with me later, but then tomorrow it is back to library books.

Pretty soon I will be off to my sister's house to celebrate Father's Day.  Another weekend that has sped by!!

Summer Craft Projects

 

Since I have out my Create and Decorate magazines, I have been flipping through them, and found some projects I would love to do.  Of course considering how slowly I work, some of them may just be armchair projects...

I would love to have a table like this--with the doors that open out.  At the library our archivist has this huge case with the "doors" opening out, and I think it might be called a lawyer's bookcase.  I could be wrong, but for some reason that sticks in my mind.  I have seen some stitcher's online albums, and many have really cool glass enclosed cases where they display their smaller needlework items.  Now that is really what I would *love* to have.  I wonder how much something like that would cost.  This (the seond photo down on the lesft) is exactly what I would want.  Of course the stitcher who owns this is French, and I wonder if this might be an antique.  But it is lovely and slim and would fit in my room here perfectly, so I will have to keep an eye out for something similar!

The bulletin board with the ribbon, however, is something I might just be able to do.  I have a plain old utilitarian board here in my room, but this would be so much more attractive!  All the directions are in the magazine, I wonder how hard it would be to make it?

Yes, a penny rug.  I always am talking about them, and I am never making them...But isn't this darling?  Just perfect for the upcoming holiday.  It is a matter of finding somewhere that sells the wool, and of course the ever elusive free time....I wish I could take a little vacation and not have any other chores to do except read, and do needlework--cross stitch, penny rugs, and the backpack I mentioned yesterday....

Cool Backpack

Lately my friend, Vero, has been showing some gorgeous patchwork projects on her blog.  Her mother is a very talented quilter and made her a lovely bag recently.  I have noticed a lot of discussion lately about patchwork, so this has piqued my curiosity to see what patterns I have on hand.  I am only a very novice quilter, but as long as a pattern is not terribly complicated I can pull out the sewing machine and give it a try. 

This is a great magazine, but I have trouble finding it quite often.  Neither bookstore I go to carries it, but I can find it at Michaels usually.  I have been trying to stay away from there, as I can never leave without buying something, but I may have to stop by this weekend and buy the latest issue.  If you have not seen Create & Decorate before, they have all sorts of crafts.  My favorites are the penny rugs, mini quilts, primitive stitchery, and rug hooking patterns.  I also like the paper crafts, which they sometimes have.  I have to pass on all the painting stuff as I know my limits!!  This is the only magazine I have found that does have penny rug designs.  The only problem there is finding a source for the wool!

This backpack design is from a much older issue, and I have always kept it hoping to make it eventually.  I like the combination of lovely fabric and wool with stitching on it.  I don't think I could find the same fabric at this point as this issue is over three years old now.  I am sure, however, that if I went to a local quilt store they would help me pick out a comparable design.  This would definitely be a sewing challenge for me as I have only made very simple things--my few beinner quilts, and small cushions, etc for my needlework projects.  Too bad they don't show the back of the backpack.  I wonder if Connecting Threads has any books or kits of a similar nature?  They tend to sell mostly quilting supplies, but there are also some other crafty items in their catalog.

Another project to add to my wish list...

But Will It Live Up to the Hype?

Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian has certainly been hyped.  It will be intersting to see if it lives up to all the talk.  It was just released a few days ago--I saw it in the bookstore.  And it happens to be #3 on the Amazon Top Seller List.  I have requested it from my public library.  I lucked out as I was one of the first people to put a hold on it.  There will be five copies circulating and I am #5 in line!  I believe that at the moment there are about 60+ people on the list.  Someone over at Bookslut gave it a thumbs up, and most of the Amazon reviewers (though to be honest I read the reviews out of curiosity and with a grain of salt as I don't always agree) have given it good marks.  So now I am looking forward to it.  I think once I get my hands on it, it will end up going to the top of my reading stack (especially since I won't be able to renew it).  And if you are really in a Dracula mood check out Dracula Blogged!

Earlier I mentioned the reissue of Rona Jaffe's The Best of Everything, which I recently purchased.  There was an interesting article in the NYT last Sunday.  If you are interested in reading it click here. To get to the article you will have to be logged in, but they only require your name and email address--well worth it to get to their Book Review section.  At the moment I am reading Sudden Rain, which I am thoroughly enjoying.  To be honest the writing does have a slightly dated feel to it, but in a good way.  You really feel like it is 1972!  I have a feeling the Jaffe book is going to be the same, and I hope to get to this one soon.  I must be feeling nostalgic, though the Jaffe is definitely before my time!

Buy Two Get One Free

Yesterday when I went to the bookstore, I of course also left with books along with my magazines!  I hit both bookstores by my work as I had coupons for both and it has been so long I was in need of a good fix.  Borders always has these buy two get one free deals, but I never manage to find three books that I both want and don't already have.  Yesterday, however, was a sucess.  I found three that I either have wanted or that looked interesting.  I have been collecting Arturo Perez-Reverte's books since he came out with The Flanders Panel (which I read and liked).  I recently read The Club Dumas (skip the movie that starrs Johnny Depp--even though I rather like him...).  So I had to get The Queen of the South, which is his newest just out in paperback.  I have several to read in between, but I will get to this one eventually.

The Alphabet Sisters is a book I keep looking at every time I see it at the bookstore.  It looks like it could be good, and it does have a cool cover.  Since I was essentially getting it at a discount, I thought I would give it a try.  I am not sure anything else by her has been published here, though she does have several books out.  If it is really good, this could be a good excuse to hit Amazon.co.uk!  I have been pretty good, but every once and a while I get the urge to order something good and British that hasn't been published here.

Ruth Reichl is another author I am familiar with, but I have never read any of her stuff.  I have looked at this one before as well.  Even though cooking is not my favorite thing to do (though I don't mind baking), I do enjoy reading about it.  Comfort Me with Apples is the second book of her memoirs.  Is it just me, or are there other people who feel the need to read things in order?  I need to break this habit really.  Now I want to get the first volume, Tender at the Bone.  I have read it is really good as well.  Of course when I went to Amazon to look up her books, I found several that I must have now.  She has edited other food collections.  And then there is the series of Modern Library books on Food, of which I had to add several more titles to my wish list.  Maybe this is just another way to have a good reason to buy yet another book!  It is really so important to read things in order as they build upon each other....

I did have a few other purchases as well.  After reading Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani last year, I picked up her newer one, which just came out in paper, The Queen of Big Time.  And I have my name on the list at the library for her soon to be released, Rococo.  I finally purchased Coastliners by Joanne Harris.  Chocolat is one of my favorite books, and I hope this one is as good.  And finally, last but not least I bought a new one by Sarah Dunant, Transgressions.  I wish she would write more of her Hannah Wolfe mysteries.  This looks like it could be an interesting thriller.  All in all a good haul.  So much for staying away from the bookstore!

The Essence of Frivolity

I love magazines, but really they can be quite frivolous.  I broke down finally and used my last chunk of my last gift certificate (but I had an additional coupon!!).  I was looking for Victoria magazine, but I couldn't find it.  Do they still publish it, and I just missed it?  I love that magazine, even though neither I nor my house will ever resemble anything in those pages! ( I can dream...)  I did find this one, however--Violet.  This is a new one to me.  I don't think (well, I pretty much know) I am not the target audience for this one.  The magazine opens up to a two page spread of an advertisement for a Hummer!!!  Aside from the fact that they start at just $29,500 (more than I make in an entire year of work!!!), I have certain moral, social, whatever other problems with this sort of vehicle (this coming from someone who walks practically everywhere--so you get my drift!).  I think I am the right age group, just not the right income bracket!  Nonetheless, I really admire Juliette Binoche, who is on the cover.  The clincher, though, for me is this magazine used ATCs as part of their design.

The design of this magazine is really cool, even though I feel like a bit of an interloper (no kids, not rich, not terribly trendy...).  The magazine is divided up into chapters and each one has a contents page and a different ATC (such as this one)--all by mixed-media artist Jeanette Janson.  Then again--I have been making ATCs for a few years now, so maybe I am trendier than I thought! It is oversized, has some interesting articles, and even fiction.  The fashion spreads are of children rather than skinny, perfect models.  So maybe there are some redeeming qualities (despite the recipe for lobster!).  I am sure I will enjoy looking through this one...Violet--modern family living/you've group up but you haven't grown old...

Yay--a new Somerset Studio is out, too.  I am happy to say, I am the target audience on this one.  I really love this magazine. Some interesting highlights:  Board Books Reconstructed (altered board books--lots of cool stuff), Artist Portfolio of Lynne Perrella (artista extraordinaire!!), and always my favorite is the Expressions section, which is art (the theme for this issue was "portals") submitted by readers.  This magazine is always chock full of great ideas and excellent art!!  They also always include "artist's papers", which you can tear out and use in your own art.  So, I guess not all magazines are frivolous.

I also picked up good old Mother Jones, and Just Cross Stitch (the June issue has an article on Kathy Barrick-Dieter, who is one of my favorite needlework designers!  I have a nice variety of magazines to read over the next few days.  Frivolous or not, I love magazines.  ( I bought books, too, but it is too late to share those, so I will next time around).

Summer Booked by 3

There is a new Booked by 3 up on Shelly's Book Shelf so I thought I would share my answers.

1. Do you have seasonal reading habits, ie: read different types of books in the summer than the rest of the year?

I do have certain seasonal reads.  For example I want to re-read Martha Grimes' "Hotel Paradise" and "Cold Flat Junction" this summer.  They are great summer reads--maybe because they are set in a hotel and they have a kind of vaction-y feel to them.  Last fall I read Bram Stoker's "Dracula" just in time for Halloween.  Maybe this year I will read Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein".  I also tend to read books that have a cold or snowy locations during winter.  Of course I will pretty much read whatever I want whenever, but sometimes it is fun to read books that reflect  the season.

2. Do you read one book at a time or do you have two or more books going at once?

Oh yeah--I read more than one book at a time.  I think I have a few too many books going at the moment as a matter of fact.  Though I tend to just stick to one or two when I get far into them and can't put them down.  I try to rotate them, and then I have to watch due dates for library books...I just need a few more hours in the day!  Sometimes I look at all the stacks and think I will never get through them, and then they all sound so good, so I have to read more than one.

3. Do you read anywhere and anytime you can or do you have a set reading time and/or reading place?

I try and read whenever and wherever I can.  I take a book on the bus to and from work, and I read at lunchtime and when I am walking on the treadmill.  Sometimes I read before bed, but usually I am too tired and end up falling asleep!  Of course I also have to fit in stitching time, but books are portable and can be dragged around much more easily than needlework can. 

A Multitude of Chunkies

Since it has been a bit of a chunky week--in more ways than one, I thought I would share my collection of books.  Here they are in all their glory.  It would be hard to choose a favorite.  The Mystical Wings book on the far left was my first, and that is a favorite theme of mine.  Some are chunkier than others.  Some books don't even come close to closing.  And there is all sorts of little charms and ribbons popping out of the books.  They are nice sources of inspiration art-wise.  And of course they are just fun to look at.  There was originally only one Yahoo Group (rather exclusive too) creating these, but now they are all over the place.  Once I am caught up on my last project---which I am still working on, I am sure I will get the itch to participate in more.  Soon I am sure I will feel the call of my paints and paste once again...

Bathing Beauties!

My Bathing Beauties Chunky Book arrived this week--all ready in their suits for summer fun!  I am not sure who did the cover art.  It was hosted by Donna Cartagena, so I am guessing this is her page.  Last year I hosted an artist trading card swap with the theme "At the Seaside", and Gillian Allen was kind enough to post the pictures of the cards on her Art-e-Zine website (where you can find oodles of gorgeous art and loads of inspiration!

Here is my page.  I don't know where I got my image of the ladies in bathing suits, but I had been wanting to use it for something, and this was the perfect project.  The background is from a vintage reproduction postcard of Nice.  I also had some scrapbooking paper that reminded me of wet sand.  This was a fun book to work on. 

I hope that the other artists won't mind if I share a few of the pages here.  All the art is really great--as always!  This page is by Dana Gibbons.  You may not be able to tell, but there is a piece of raffia (is that what the stuff is called?), with a little seashell attached to it.  Yet another row of bathing girls!  The background has an ad for clothspins!

Tina Shoaga created this page.  I have several of Tina's ATCs and I think her art is great!  I love the colors in the background on this one.  I wonder if she bought paper like that or used watercolors to create washes--anyway, it is a nice contrast to the bathing suits!  The woman in blue even has a set of pink beads on.  Not the most practical suit for swimming, but she certainly looked fashionable!

Another Bathing Queen. This page is by Evaly Jerome.  She attached ribbons and tiny seashell buttons to the bottom of her pages.  I like all the starfish touches she added--down to the starfish earrings.  All the pages in these books also have art on the verso side.  This is mainly where the artist has their name and email address, but it is also decorated in some way.  So really you get double the art.

Okay, one more and then I better stop.  If I can find some time, I should put more of the art in an album.  This page is by Rita Bellanca, another artist I have traded with before.  And she does wonderful work!  I love the blue on this page.  It might be rubber stamp inks, I'm not sure.  There is also some gold in there as well.  I have seen other artists use the inks to create reall cool washes, which I have never been able to do myself!  I hope you enjoyed a little sampling of pages!