A big ol' Frump....

Recently, I've been in a big ol' frump. Nothing is really jiving me - and the fault lies solely with Maisie Dobbs.

Recently book 7 in that wonderful series came out - left me with a major cliff hanger - and now I want nothing but more Maisie. In light of her story - the world has become dull.

My crochet projects are "eh" - but I have renewed my work on the Stephen's Rugged Winter Vest - and have been quite pleased with the progress. I also have some yarn that I am dieing to make a sweater with - but I am committed to finishing current projects before taking on a new one.

On the home-front - I have decided to recover some antique furniture....I've never recovered anything before - so we'll see how that goes.

Just to the right you will see a picture of me in my frump. Well - actually - this is my great-great-great grandmother Martha and the expression on her face mirrors the expression on my soul. haha!

All in all - the frump shall pass - I just need to find a new story to sink into. Right now I'm not sure exactly what type of story I want to find - so I'm on the lookout - and happily soliciting for suggestions.

Parting shot - Reading anything good? Tell me about it, please.

Currently Reading: NOTHING!

Life in...Black & White

I've recently been set onto graphic novels - and much to my surprise - I LOVE them! (Do I feel a new addiction forming....I think maybe)

I've come to the conclusion - at least for the time being - that I only like black & white graphic novels....I tried The Watchmen and just didn't like the colors. I am currently - really sticking myself out here - trying to find another romance.....ugh - ok, cringing at my own admission.

On a more redeeming note - I did read and fall completely in love with Persepolis - which is about a girl growing up during the Iranian Revolution.

Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi) was my first successful foray into the world of graphic novels. I was reluctant. After hearing great things, I chose to give it an honest shot - I was hooked.

What has captured me the most with Persepolis was how easily I found myself identifying with Marji's character - which may seem odd since I've never worn a veil, never lived through a war, been sent to school in another country, or been overly interested in politics.

Marji's learning to understand herself and the evolution of her own thoughts and ideas is something that we can all identify with - though the circumstances are different.

My other graphic novel love these days can be blamed on my friend Domestic Scholar. She has been reading the webcomic The Red String (Gina Biggs) for several years - and now I have it saved on my RSS feeds.

The Red String is written in manga style - it is about the experiences of protagonist Miharu Ogawa as her life relates to the ancient Chinese legend about the red string of fate. The graphics are amazing and the story fun, angsty, and exciting.

In conclusion - have a little black & white fun yourself - read a graphic novel.

Currently Reading:

High Fidelity - Nick Hornby
The Long Way Down - Nick Horby
A History of the World in 6 Glasses - Tom Standage

Love, Sex, & Rock n' Roll....Tudor style

Well - it's the high life in Tudor England, even if you're losing your head.....at least according to Showtime.

Recently, during a weekend full of snow, I indulged myself in seasons 1 & 2. Though I found several things in the series a bit off putting (namely the gross historical inaccuracies) - the excellent costuming and sets easily distracted the mind's eye from such things.

Showtime's world of Tudor is everything we ever wanted Tudor England to be - oh but those rose colored glasses are so convenient aren't they?

Everyone dies well, has sex well, eats well, ignores the poor well.....wait, what poor? (I think Showtime left that demographic out.) It's a perfect world....where our King Henry is not - to put it bluntly - old, fat and stinky.

Ok - putting the tongue and cheek aside a bit - the series did spark some interesting thoughts - of legitimate historical merit.

Anne Boleyn, for instance, is remembered in history as the quintessential bad girl...."tempt the man to get what you want."

But take a moment - I believe she is much more than that. Well read, intelligent, and clever - and not the prettiest girl around - she managed to change the core of a nation....politically, religiously, and socially. She wasn't just some termagant running amuck, she was as formidable as her predecessor Catherine of Aragon and much more preferable in my opinion.

So, my question for you, Mistress Anne - did you really believe in the Reformation you helped start...or was it really a tool on your way to greatness?

And, did you want to be Henry more than you wanted Henry himself? (If so, I think your daughter accomplished that feat for you.)

My further thoughts deal with Thomas Cromwell, Thomas Cranmer, Kitty Howard, and Jane Boleyn....I'll save those for next time though.

Parting shot - Jane Seymour makes me sick - ugh!

Currently Reading:

Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi
The History of the World in Six Glasses - Tom Standage
The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Alison Weir

Rugged Winter Vests and all that....

I received a post reply last week from my dear friend, and crochet partner in crime, the Domestic Scholar - she reminded me that there is, in fact, a great English language crochet pattern writer out there - Robyn Chachula. In an effort to rectify my "oops" in forgetting about some of my favorite pattern writers out there....well, all I can say is, this post is dedicated to YOU.

I have recently purchased Robyn's crochet book Blueprint Crochet - and have been very impressed by the patterns! Everything looks so lovely and easy to wear....as further evidenced by my friend's recently completed project!

In addition to Robyn's collection of work -here are some other fantastic crochet designers :

- Doris Chan
- Josephine Woo
- Alicia Paulson

- Rebecca Jackson

Take a look at their sites and patterns - it's all wearable, up-to-date, and modern. All of these ladies are quite talented - and I look forward to working up their patterns soon.....once I swim through my amazing crochet back log!

Speaking of the back log..... I am currently working on one of Robyn's patterns, the Rugged Winter Vest. It was going well, at first, until I realized I was off by 5 stitches around the pocket area. Being mathematically challenged to the point that I would never be able to right my wrong once I made it to the arm holes....I frogged the whole thing and began again.

Things are coming along well - I am on the second major section of the pattern. I realized last week that I had dropped 2 stitches on the pockets - again - and I'm not going back to fix it this time! ha!

Currently Reading:

Blueprint Crochet - Robyn Chachula

Little Dorritt - Charles Dickens

Wicked - Gregory Maquire

The Lady Elizabeth - Alison Weir

If I had caught that part in the beginning....I might have been more interested

I'm currently reading Charles Dickens's Little Dorrit, as a somewhat favor to my fiance. Needless to say - if I had known what this book would entail - I would have pushed for a different Dickens.

I am currently up to Chapter 3 - and not enjoying this book at all. In a move of desperation - I looked up a synopsis of the novel....trust me, I had to know if this story was going anywhere. To my great surprise I completely missed a murder confession that is supposed to have taken place in the first chapter - what!

I am generally a very observant reader - but this little detail flew completely under my radar. If I had caught that part in the beginning....I might have been more interested in the novel. I still plan to keep going with this - I just hope the novel gets going soon!

Thus far, my personal commentary on Little Dorrit (who has yet to have made an appearance) is not so positive....and all I have to say is Could we not have left the Meagles family in jail....and therefore out of the 2nd and 3rd chapters?

Currently Reading:

The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Alison Weir

Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens

The Lady Elizabeth - Alison Weir

Why are they always in Japanese?

Crocheting is my main hobby - and I'm no slouch, if I do say so myself. One of the greatest challenges facing a crochet purist is finding good crochet patterns for clothing.

It seems, that each time I find a pattern in Ravelry I like it's.....Japanese! I don't read Japanese - I don't know what those symbols mean. I can't even tell if it's free! And - if the pattern isn't in Japanese.....it's in some Scandinavian language that I also....don't know.

Well - all I have to say at this point is: Props to you in Japan....and the Scandinavian countries too. You make great patterns, even if I can't read them.

16th Century is my new world

Recently I've been entranced by all things Monarchy in the 16th Century. Granted, I've always had a bit of thing for the Tudor Dynasty....but that interest has now expanded to the Aragons, Castiles, and Habsburgs of Spain and France.

The flame that ignited my renewed interest has been - unashamedly - Philippa Gregory's Boleyn themed novels. I've also migrated into the world of historian Alison Weir - as evidenced by my reading The Six Wives of Henry VIII and the purchase of Queen Isabella: She-Wolf of France.

Prior to reading Gregory's novels, my favorite Tudor wife had been Catherine Parr. She was intelligent, well read, and in some ways a lady beyond her time. I think, it can be argued that Elizabeth I became the woman she was due in part to Catherine Parr.

And, like Henry VIII - I've ousted my former favorite for a new wife - Anne of Cleves. Though there is not a lot of historical data about this wife of Henry's - the fact that she survived and excelled in the most turbulent of Tudor times speaks to her credit. Thought by Henry to be remarkably dull and rather ugly - I believe she was rather clever and perhaps (until her divorce) was simply never allowed the opportunity to come into her own.

My other newest favorite - who like dear Anne seems to have a lack of biographical information available - is Queen Joanna of Castile....also knows an Juanna la loca. Widely known for her intelligence, gift of languages, and beauty - this woman of Castilian birth went just a bit mad. I am intrigued by her lack of reserve in public life, which can perhaps be attributed to her insanity (the degree of which is rather dubious considering her father had her incarcerated in order to take away her rights as ruler in favor of himself).

For the time being I plan on giving Joanna the benefit of the doubt concerning her insanity - viewing her actions in comparison to the betrayals she suffered from her father, husband, and son - I would venture to say that this woman was seriously pissed off. As to Anne - she will be my new favorite wife.....at least for the time being.

Currently Reading:

The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Alison Weir