The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

It's been a long cold winter here in Canada and most people I know are starting to go a bit stir crazy.  I imagine that the kids are feeling the same.  If it's too cold to send them out, then I recommend sitting them down with a copy of Maile Meloy's The Apothecary.  They will quickly become lost in the world of Janie and Benjamin  and their magical potions. 

It's 1952 and Janie and her parents have quietly moved to England to escape the scrutiny of those suspecting them of being communist sympathisers  or some other foolishness of McCarthy and his cronies.  She wants nothing to do with moving, with England, with a damp house and a uniform for a new school.  Nothing about the move appeals to her until she meets fellow student Benjamin Burrows.  He is the son of the local apothecary and an aspiring spy.

Now throw in a suspected Russian spy, a mysterious book of potions and some seedy characters and your kids will forget about being stuck inside. 

Once your kids have finished this book, you'll want to read it yourself.  I found that the child characters were well developed and believable. The adult characters in the book seemed to fit two categories, those that were there because they had to (Janie had to have parents so that she could move to England) and those who were important to the story line and thus had more developed characters.  All in all, it was the children who carried the plot and made this story come alive for me.  It would be a suitable book to read aloud to your younger children who still enjoy being read to.

Scattered throughout are wonderful illustrations by Ian Schoenherr.   As well as adding to the story, they will help young readers make that transition from fully illustrated books to  the more traditional chapter book. 

It was interesting to note that several books about England at war time  rely on magic to help turn the course war and politics to Englands' advantage.  The first that came to mind was the movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which was based on the books The Magic Bed Knob  and Bonfires and Broomsticks by author Mary Norton.  Great movie, I highly recommend watching that with your family.  The next that came to mind was Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark.  At the time it was published it was billed as the Harry Potter book for adults.  I felt that I failed on that aspect and that it would have been readable as a short story instead of the long drawn out tomb that it was. 

The Apprentices is the sequel to this novel. 

Visit Maile Meloy's site to learn more about this book as well as her adult novels.

Trailer for The Apothecary:



Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for my review copy.

Tangled Thursday - String 58

String 58 is awesome.  It was easy to draw and fun to fill.  I liked the almost symmetry of it.  Tangles used: twisted ribbons, weave, intersection, lollipop, nipa, and flying geese.

I definitely need to play with this one again.  If I had managed my time better, I would have played with this at the sewing machine.  Perhaps next week.

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com

Next weeks challenge will be posed by Tami at Just One More Thing. 

Did you get a chance to draw with string 58, or spend some time tangling last week.  Post on your blog and then come back here and add your name to Mr. Linky.

Needlework Tuesday - Sun dress completed but where is the sun

It may be frigid outside with super freezing temperatures, however, I was thinking sun and finishing up this sundress for daughter.  She cut it out months ago and then it sat.  I gave in and did the stitching.  It still needs the hem, but it's finished.  It is from New Look pattern 6789.  I won't recommend this pattern as the shaping for the bust is done incorrectly.  I had to take off the top band, straighten out weird bulge and then re-attach the top band and re-do the top stitching.   Yet to decide whether to add more ribbon around the bottom just above the hem.  Daughter is quite pleased with the outcome and is searching for her next dress.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

As requested, here's the photo of me modelling my wingspan scarf.  If you are thinking of stitching this scarf/shawl, check at Ravelry for a variety of patterns. Wingspan patterns at Ravelry.

A few weeks back, a friend asked if I could repair her husband's headband.  On inspection, I realised it was too far gone, but offered to knit a new one.  I used a pattern from Patons  - Beginner Ear Warmer.  It was simple to knit and finished it in one evening while watching tv.   I used a skein of  Berroco Vintage DK, which is a wool/acrylic yarn.  A beautiful yarn to knit with which I'll definitely be using again.

 

 

 

Daughter consented to model this ear warmer.

It's crazy quilt time.  I signed up with Carli at Good Earth Quilting for her 2014 Crazy Quilt Along.  I haven't done any traditional crazy quilting before, but it has been on my list for ages.  First, we are doing a winter themed block.  shown are the fabrics and colours I have selected. 

We are working with a muslin base that is 12 1/2 inches square.  All of our stitching  is to be by hand.  I am using a wide assortment of fabrics include some almost shear, raw silk, unknowns and cotton.

 

Curves are appliqued on top.

 

 

My block is now pieced and I have started to embellish.  I have beads, buttons and a huge assortment of embroidery threads.  Might even add some silk ribbon.  I'll post pictures on Tuesdays so you can follow along with me.  Suggestions of online resources and suitable books would be appreciated.  I am also looking for an affordable copy of  A Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches by Carole Samples.   Let me know if you have a copy that you're not going to use.

 

Next week I should have a new tea cosy to share with you, along with the January rows of my Temperature Scarf.   I have also started a new feature on my other blog.  My challenge this year is to create 350 fabric postcards.  Shelly, at Prairie Moon Quilts is again hosting her 350 block challenge.  I am stitching fabric postcards instead.   Next week I'll show a summary photo of the cards I made during January , though for now, here's a link to the introduction on my postcard blog, Send a Postcard a Week.

 

I hope that you had  a chance to do some stitching this past week.  Add your link to Mr. Linky and I'll be sure to drop by, visit and leave comment.

 

 

Wasteland by Susan Kim and Laurence Klaven

Two set of beings populate the earth, the humans and the seemingly more resilient variants.  We don't know what has befallen the world, but that the environment is hostile and humans generally succumb to disease by the time they are nineteen.

Esther questions why the rest of the humans can't be friends with the variants as she is with her friend Skar.  They play together every chance they can, but always in secret, away from the eyes of any other.  Even with this interaction, Esther doesn't know the secrets of the variants.

I found this a very easy to read story and found myself caught up in Esther's plight.  I wanted her to succeed and be happy within her community.  Caleb coming to town added more hope for her to accomplish this goal.

It didn't really bother me that I didn't know what happened to this world.  There were enough clues that referred to a global catastrophe, but the details of what happened, didn't really have an impact of how the community was dealing with the present.  Perhaps in the next books of the trilogy we'll learn more history.  I was more curious about how the variants lived and why they seemed so much more adapted to the harsh physical world. 

The variants have developed a hunter gatherer society, and the humans have become scavengers.  There is very little book learning and most of the technological knowledge has been lost.  Hardly anyone reads.  I am left to ponder whether this community of Prin is representative of neighbouring settlements, or have they been so isolated that they have developed along a unique path.

I felt that there was enough to the story for both teens and adults.  Not all the stories I read need to be complex and lengthy.  This one was easy to read and most enjoyable.  I'm looking forward to Wanderers, the next story in this trilogy.

Book trailer for Wasteland.



The Wasteland Trilogy

1 Wasteland
2 Wanderers  - publication date March 25, 2014
3 title unknown at this time

Thanks to Harper Teen for use of the cover image.

Website for author Laurence Klaven

Feed by Mira Grant

It was the summer of 2014 when the dead started coming back.  They came back as a sort of thinking zombie, and they were hungry.

Feed takes place 26 years after this rising.  Daily life has changed forever; people are no longer carefree, they must watch their surrounding as at every step.  Some things never change, one of them being politicians who will manipulate any situation to benefit themselves.

One major societal change, is that bloggers, currently a fringe media, has moved to the forefront of reporting.  You want to know the truth about what's happening now, you turn to the bloggers.  In Feed, sibling bloggers,  Georgia and Shawn, have earned high ratings for their blogging and are constantly in search of even higher ratings.  Their chance at the big times could come with the upcoming  presidential campaign.

This book has a very slow start, taking over 100 pages to set the plot and introduce the characters and explain the virus.  I would have stopped reading if it had been the selection for my next book club meeting.  Fortunately it did pick up in the next chapter.  After that, it became a good book well worth reading.

My favourite line in the book comes from one of Georgia's blog posts, "don't play with dead things".  Sums up the approach for staying alive in this new world.

In a world turned up side down by the virus, I would expect people to become more caring toward each other.  Georgia and Shawn were adopted by their parents when they were quite young.  The parents had lost their child in the early days of the rising.  It's clearly obvious that the parents motivation for the adoption was not just their parental instincts, rather they were also looking for ratings for their blogs.

I can live with parents with slightly underhanded motivation, but politicians with devious plans.  That I despise.  Too bad I can't get into details on that, as I don't want to spoil the story.

Feed is the first book in the Newsflesh Trilogy.  The next books are Deadline and Blackout.  There are also three short stories/novellas that tell about the time of the rising.
Thanks to author Mira Grant for use of the cover image.

Tangled Thursday - Paisley Power

This week's challenge was posed by Elaine.  All she said was 'Paisleys' and left the rest up to us.  I did an online search of images and found that paisley are essentially tear drops with a curve.  They are of Persian design and were introduced to the west in the 18th and 19th centuries.  In the Persian language they are known as Boteh Jegheh. The name Paisley is attributed to the city of Paisley in central Scotland where many textiles are manufactured.

My first attempt is shown at left, measures 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. 

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com

 

 I wanted to do something a little different this week and knowing of the textile history of paisley, textiles seemed to be the way to go.  I have been making fabric postcards recently and figured that a single paisley would fit perfectly on the 4 x 6  inch size.  First a rough sketch of some designs I could do free motion on the sewing machine.  

I already had the base of the postcard made and thought that black rayon thread would show up.  It didn't.   I used a sliver of soap to draw the outline and started by stitching the outline.  From there I started to fill in the design.

 

I tried photographing it at an angle with no flash and a longer exposure to see if the threads showed better.

 

This time I thought I would change thread colour and try to go over the stitching lines more than once.  Still very faint.

 

the threads show a little better at this lighting and angle, but still not enough.  Time to try something drastic.

 

 

Black thread on pink fabric.  A winning combination.

 

Our next challenge will be posed by Marie at Daisy's Book Journal.

 

You are invited to add a link to your paisley or other Zentangle post.

 

 

 

Prophecy: Child of Light by Felicity Heaton

There is no love lost between vampires and humans, even if most humans don't know of the others existence.  The seven vampire families would happily take over the world, but for an ages old prophecy predicts that one will come who will change that outcome.   As a whole, they have been on the watch for she who would fulfil that rule.

Prophecy has grown up within her families secure compound and knows nothing of the vampire world outside her household.  One night she decides she's had enough and ventures out.  She literally runs into Valentine, a member of an opposing family.

First off, I have to say, that the cover image doesn't reflect the story line.  I would have preferred an image of Prophecy and Valentine dressed for the Ball.  The cover infers sexual content, but really its sexual yearnings.  Before they can form a relationship, both of them have to learn more about themselves.  They come from opposing families and relationships between families are outlawed.  They have to learn enough about themselves so they can overcome these ingrained prejudices.



My interpretation of Prophecy's amulet
 

I loved the detailed physical and place descriptions in this book, particularly of the unique amulet that Prophecy is given.  I could almost imagine myself running through the streets and across the bridges as they travelled through Venice.

Life long prejudices, dis-regard for the human race, and fierce loyalties are all strong themes in this story and are what make it worth reading.  I'm still not cognisant of the actual prophecy, but I think that is part of the story line, and that it will become clearer as story and Prophecy's understanding of her place within the vampires grows.


Thanks to author Felicity Heaton for use of the cover image.

Needlework Tuesday -It's Afghan Time

We have certainly had our share of frigid temperatures this winter.  Another cold snap has moved into our area.  It's a great time to sit with my current project draped across my lap, particularly when it's a thick, cuddly afghan.  This one was started earlier last year, and then got pushed aside for more urgent projects.  Time to get back at it.  Would love to see it finished in time for the recipient's birthday.  I have a row and a bit to do of the long strip and 18 of the square motifs.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.







I've been waiting a while to show you this capelet.  I knit it for my mother, but since she reads my blog, you had to wait till it was delivered.  It was her birthday last week and now I can assume it is draped over her shoulders, helping to keep her warm.

The pattern is from the book Winter Warmers by Red Heart. It contains 13 Easy to Knit and Crochet Accessories.  There is a crocodile stitch scarf and some cabled mittens that I want to stitch.

 

My second wingspan scarf/shawl if completed.  It is knit from two balls of Tarantella from Elann.com.  This one is for myself.  It can be worn as either a scarf, or more loosely draped around the shoulders and secured with a shawl pin.

Next project is the Red Heart Checkerboard Textures Throw Crochet Along.  It features a combination of large granny squares and textured blocks.  I am planning to use this variegated yarn for the granny squares, and then use some co-ordinating solids for the others.

I'm still working on the dress for daughter.  Had to do some re-stitching in the bust area, but that is now resolved and have a facing to stitch down and then the hem.  yippee.

For those experiencing the current cold snap, how are you keeping warm?  And for those in the much warmer portions of the world, I hope that you are safe from the wild fires raging in too many areas, what are you doing to keep cool?

Leave a comment and then add your link to Mr. Linky.  I'd love to visit with you and check out your current needlework.

The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos

Read this book, now.  If it's currently on your wish list, move it to the top, and if it's not, then it really should be.

Several times while reading, I had to remind myself that it was fiction and not a biography.  The descriptions of situations and Harry's emotional responses seemed so real and appropriate for a teenage boy.

Harry has led an unusual life and when completing his application for university, he find that the tiny space available to add supplementary information about himself,  is too small.  Instead of the allotted  250 words, he starts writing the story of his life, spanning some 200 plus pages.  Through his words, we learn of the tragic accident which left him physically scarred and which impacted him long after ward.

Why do I recommend this book.  For the most part, we all live safe predictable lives.  We feel sorry for ourselves when something bad happens to us.  Bad might be failing a test we didn't study for, missing out on a sale price on  a desired piece of clothing, or sprouting  a pimple the day before school photos.  This story will help put your views back in perspective.  From a parents point of view, it serves as a reminder to value your children for who they are, not who we want them to be or who they might have grown up to be if only some malady or mishap hadn't happened. 

Website for author Len Vlahos
Thanks to Egmont USA for my ebook review copy.

Tangled Thursday - Sun, Sun, Sun, here we come!

 

Last week I challenged my friends to tangle a sun or a sunny feeling.  This was the perfect time to add some warm colours.  I used some sharpie markers in orange and yellow.  They aren't as fine as the pigma pens, but some times you have to work with what you have.  A browse through a book about mandalas inspired me for the middle and then I used Arrows and Twisted Ribbons  for my sun's rays.  I am quite pleased with the result.s

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com

 

My second sun is much simpler of just one tangle, Starburst., oops, and then a bit of beadlines.  OK, two tangles. It only seems sunny due to the colours used, if I'd used cool blues then it would have made me think of a star.

 

It's Elaine's turn to suggest our next challenge.  I'll update once I hear from her.

 

 

 Last week I told you I was reading Prophecy: Child of Light (Vampires Realm Romance) by Felicity Heaton.  There is quite a bit of descriptive imagery in the book that lends itself to Zentangle style drawing.  This is my first attempt at depicting the amulet that Prophecy is given by the three witches.  The finger rings work, but the 'star' on top of the hand it totally wrong.  It looks more like tendons to me.  Time to try again.

Having all the rings the same, was a bit too boring, much more fun to have different ones for each finger and a much more different pattern for the bracelet.  Next I drew the star and then attached it to the jewelry.  I am much happier with this version.  The star could be a wee bit larger, and probably chains as opposed to wires to connect with the rings, but I'm not going to quibble about these.


Did you do some tangling this past week.  Whether it's a sun or not, visit Mr. Linky below and join in the fun.  I'll be sure to visit your blog and leave a comment.

Needlework Tuesday - Do you sew Garments?

A new year needs a very new project.  It's been ages since I've sewn a garment more complex than boxer shorts, in fact, I don't think I've shown such an item on my blog.  Quite a few months ago, daughter cut out the pieces for a dress with full intentions of sewing it herself.  Well, I just couldn't leave it sitting in a heap any longer.  I want to see her wearing it, so I carried it to my sewing area and have started working on it. I'm at the point of attaching the narrow contrast ribbon.  Bonus is that she chose a lovely cotton and I get all the scraps for my quilting. It does have a zipper, but other than that, it's straight forward sewing, so I have hopes of it being completed by next week's post.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

One of the fun aspects of blogging, is visiting other blogs.  I find it a very inspiring as well as relaxing activity.  Just before Christmas, I received gifts that I had won at two of these blogs.

 

I was introduced to Nero's Post and Patch during a blog hop.   Teje is located in Greece and posts all sorts of needlework.  She also has over a dozen helpful tutorials. 

Thanks Teje for the wonderful fabrics.  My daughter has her eyes on the top one featuring the handbags.

That same week, I received a second package, this time from Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilts.  My prize was for participating in the 2013 version of the 350 Block Challenge.  This year's challenge has been launched, and this year I am planning to join in, though I will mostly be sewing fabric postcards instead of blocks. (or at least that is my plan at the moment).

Thank-you to Shelly for the terrific fabrics and thread.


I thought I was finished with my wingspan scarf when I realised that I needed to knit 8 triangle segments and had only completed 7.  You can see on the right hand needle tip that I have just started the eight triangle.  I am getting excited about this project, as I get to keep it for my own use.

The weather here has been all over the place which means that the temperatures have ranged widely.  Should make for some very interesting colours for my temperature scarf.  I'll have an update on that at the beginning of February. 

Have you started your year with a new project,  use Mr. Linky to share and I'll be sure to drop by for a visit.

 

Tangled Thursday - Drawing on a New Year

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com

I'm a bit slow getting started this morning, I'll blame it on the cold weather and the snow.  Lots of snow.  I'm located in the zone that first had the ice storm around December 22, 2013 and this past week we've had over 25cm (a foot ) of snow and more ice.  Did I mention that it's been cold, -25C the other morning.  That was the morning I was outside cleaning first the snow and then the ice off the solar panels that I bought for hubby for Christmas.  Fortunately we are having a bit of sunshine, but not enough to melt the snow off the panels on the roof.   darn. 

This brings me to our challenge for next week, SUN.  Draw a sun and fill it with tangles, or draw tangles in the shape of a sun, do what you need to make the sun shine.  Add some sunny colours if you want, but make it hot and sunny.

In the meantime,  I am reading Prophecy: Child of Light (Vampires Realm Romance) by Felicity Heaton.  Just before the mid point of the book, character Prophecy receives an amulet from the three witches.  It is described as rings that slip onto her fingers that are attached by wires to a bracelet that encircles her wrist.  On the palm side there are more wires that support a blue gem.  This is something that I have to draw.  Last night as I fell asleep, I was imagining how these wires would be interwoven atop her hand, was there a tangle that I could use ...  And then I woke up.  Time for the sketch book and I'll be back with a drawing next week along with the SUN.

Were your fingers busy over the holidays, share your recent Zentangle inspired post below.

Needlework Tuesday - Knitting up a Storm

I had some spare time on my hands before Christmas and decided it was the perfect time to try out this quick pattern for a bottle cosy.  It was designed to keep a bottle of champagne chilly, but that's not how it's getting used.  pattern is from 50 Knitted Gifts for Year-Round Giving  from Sixth and Spring Books.  I received the pattern for free in an email from the company.  Visit their site to sign up for their newsletter.  I knit only 4 pattern repeats as my bottle must be smaller than the champagne bottle shown in the pattern image.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

A simple request from daughter for a knit headband to keep her ears warm, promises to turn in to a year long adventure. A quick search of the internet turned up dozens of free patterns that I want to try.  I decided that I would start with one by my friend Paulina, Julie's Cabled Headband.  We have been local book club friends for a few years and I didn't even realise that she had this pattern on her blog.    You can find it at Ravelry or on her blog.  First time I knit it, I followed the directions and knit a narrow section for the back of the head. See the second photo.

 

 

Daughter says this won't keep her ears warm enough, and asked for a modification.  This time, I used this cool yarn that we are calling cookies and cream and cast on the full number of stitches and started right into the cable pattern.  She loves how it turned out.  Next time this will be made with a wool or wool blend for a bit more added wind protection.  These are made with worsted weight yarns.

 

Daughter's friend was over and she mentioned that she had asked for a headband for Christmas but hadn't received one.  Of course, I offered to knit one.  She wanted something a bit narrower but one that would still cover the ears.  And since I enjoy knitting cables I found this one called XOXO Headband and is available for free on Ravelry.  I wanted to work with yarn on hand, and used some worsted weight.  The buttons are purely decorative, though the pattern instructs to make button holes.

 

From ear cosies, I moved on to the teapot.  I have been meaning to stitch some of these for ages, and finally got my start.  I intend to knit at least one new one each month this year.  No, I don't really need that many, so I will probably end up giving many of them away.  I wanted to start with an easy one and this certainly fit.  The Pumpkin Tea Cosy pattern is available free on Ravelry and is from  Buttons and Beeswax. I knit this is acrylic worsted weight.  It's easily washed and keeps the pot warm enough.    Next up, is the Purple Teacozy of Sex, it looks like a button up purple sweater.  I down loaded it when it was a free pattern, it is now for sale for $2.00. 

I'd welcome suggestions of teacosy patterns to knit or crochet in future months.

Progress on my second wingspan scarf is going very well.  This one is for me to keep. 

The temperature scarves and coming along nicely.  The one on the left is for Waterloo, Ontario, the one on the right is a mystery location which I will reveal when I it's finished.  It's been fun to compare the two locations.  The orange and the purple represent about a 30C range.  I didn't quite get to the end of the month, I'm two days short as the historic function wasn't working on the Weather Network today. 

One final last minute project.  A friend's daughter is far away from home for university and she is really missing the farm animals of home.  I felt that a few funky chickens would be a fun reminder.  Pillow cases are a wonderful gift for any age and they take only a short time to stitch. 

Along with the tea cosies and headbands, I plan to stick with more one ball projects as well as work up some kits that I already have in my possession.  Instead of piecing, I'll be working on machine quilting all those tops I completed last year. 

 Do you have plans for your year of Stitching?  Leave a comment and I'll drop by to encourage you.

Feel free to add a link to your current stitching post.