First book of the year

Every year I get at least one book for Christmas and as I no longer buy as many books as I used to, this always feels like a bit of a treat for me.

This year much to my delight, I was given,  Tim Winton's latest - Eyrie.

Tim Winton tends to polarise readers across the country,
There are those who can't fathom why he is revered as one of the country's greatest writers and there are others who hang on his every written word.
I am somewhere in the middle.

It's been five years since his last novel, Breath, which I didn't enjoy at all and which made me a little wary about Eyrie at first.
However, with memories of The Turning and also Cloudstreet, my two favourite of his novels large in my mind,  I delved on in.

Surprisingly, for me at least, it turned into quite the page-turner and rather than savouring his prose-like style, I ploughed through quickly, felt quite sad when I quickly reached the end.
Winton is known for his incredibly descriptive way of writing and using similes far more than most novelists. As I was reading it I did think that it would be near impossible for a reader from any country other than Australia to understand his writing - it is so very colloquial.

I also felt that there were a few references that dated the story - as someone in their 40's I got them but there would be many readers younger than me that might have been left a little baffled by some of the content.

The story centres around down-on-his-luck environmental campaigner, Tom Keely, and the reintroduction into his life of someone he knew as a child and who now has run into difficult times.
Barely able to control his own life which is spiralling out of control, Tom takes the woman, Gemma and her young grandson, Kai under his wing.

That's about as much as I will tell you as I don't want to give anything away - least of all the ending!

Suffice to say I really enjoyed this book.
I love the descriptive means by which Winton writes - he has a way of making me feel like I am actually there with him on a beach or watching a bird soar through the sky.
As a character I found the flawed Tom Keely likeable and I wanted him to 'have a win'.

There are a number of thinly-veiled, or in some cases not at all veiled, barbs at the mining industry in WA, Winton's home state, and the impact of this on the environment.

If you get the chance grab this book and settle in for an interesting read.

I'm now about to dive into Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas, author of The Slap.

How about you - what are you reading??
All recommendations greatly appreciated.

On the bedside table...

I make no secret of it, I love a good book - there's nothing better than having a book you can't wait to get to each day, stealing moments when you can read...

...while you stir the dinner, waiting for the kids to get their shoes on, or stealing a page or two while you eat your lunch, and THE ROSIE PROJECT was one such book for me.

Cover image from Text Publishing.

It was suggested by a friend and when I looked it up at my library I was 111th on the reserve list... WHHAAAATTT!!

My friend then also mentioned Overdrive, and electronic catalogue of books that libraries make available to members.

I waited for two days and then got notification that it was available and had read and returned it before I would even have received it from the regular system.  It is so quick and easy to use and I really don't know why libraries are not promoting it more, mine had never mentioned it to me...

So now I am onto my third Overdrive book and enjoying not having to wait so long to read popular new release titles.

Onto the book...
The Rosie Project is the story of Don, a University Associate Professor and, obviously, his quest to find a suitable life partner.
The character Don is a quirky and rather eccentric personality who would definitely be on the Autism Spectrum with his need for order and organisation including schedules for meals, shopping and life in general as well as his self-expressed social awkwardness.

If you enjoy the character Sheldon Cooper from the tv sitcom The Big Bang then you will love The Rosie Project as Don bears a number of similarities to Sheldon, but I feel he is far more lovable!

Are you an e-book reader?? Have you discovered Overdrive? Got any good reads to recommend to me??

Joining in with Blogtoberfest.  Jump on board.

Could. Not. Put. It. Down.

I love it when I find a book that is so good all I want to do is hide myself away and read.

(Of course finding it during the school holidays was not ideal given this, at times, almost overpowering urge!)

This is one such book. It's an 'Oooh a red light, I can squeeze in a paragraph or two', 'read-while-you-stir-the-porridge', 'just-one-more-chapter-then-I'll-go-to-sleep' kind of book.

It was literally the thriller of the year, well so far at least.

There were times when I both loved and hated each of the lead characters, sometimes both at the same time...

The author is apparently working on the screenplay.

All I can say is I will be keeping an eye out for further works by Gillian Flynn.

Secret hideaways

Remember the joy of building a simple cubby using sheets and towels??

Well the joy in doing that is the same now as always, as my girls and two of their cousins were happy to illustrate at a family event earlier this week.

The 'doorway' where you could be asked for your password.

A few large pieces of fabric and some towels to sit on, combined with some pegs and pieces of rope and voila - a secret hideaway.

What lies beneath - if you have the right password of course!

Inside they had a treasure trove of books they were reading to and with each other, including a book of Guinness World Records that provided much delight!

"Can you believe this man is blowing up a hot water bottle Mum!!"

And in case of the need for a quick getaway there was another entrance/exit of course!

Then again yesterday - some sheets, chairs and books to hold the sheets in place and it was storytime on blankets and pillows.

Gotta love the chance to 'wind down' that the school holidays provide.

How sad I am that on Monday it's back to the routine of uniforms and lunches - but I know it serves us all well, in some ways.

How about you - are you a school holiday lover or hater??

Unless...

If you're a fan, you will know the title of this post refers to a line from the book/movie The Lorax by Dr Seuss, a lovely tale about caring for our environment and planet written decades before it was 'fashionable' or spoken about much.

Miss G's special friend turned five today (happy birthday gorgeous boy!) and celebrated with an amazing Lorax party (keep an eye on Wendy's blog for the details, soon I am sure).

Miss G had chosen this green for a dress and when the party theme was announced I knew it would make a perfect Lorax dress.

I may have to prise this dress off for washing...

I planned on applique for the Truffula trees in fabric but when we were in art with the older girls a few weeks back the small kid spotted the wool tops being used and announced they would be perfect.

I remembered I had some gorgeous Corriedale wool tops from Winterwood in my stash and so put them to good use - dry felting them onto some wool felt first, then stitching them into position by hand.

She was right, they are just the thing for fluffy truffula trees!

A long-sleeved T will make this dress transseasonal

The Lorax character was not part of the original plan but again the little Miss spoke up and said he was needed, so I traced the character and then cut him in some wool felt (again from Winterwood) and then I stitched on his face and used fabric glue to secure him to the dress.

Every green dress needs a pink zip right??!!

For a pop of fun and colour I added an exposed zip on the back. I've never done this before but it worked a treat and I will definitely do it again.

I used this tutorial at My Little Nook and it was fabulously easy to follow.

And also for fun I embroidered another line from the movie along the hemline in orange thread...
"I am the Lorax I speak for the trees"

The tree trunks were created using black fabric marker on white fabric then Vleisofixed to the dress before being edgestitched, all prior to putting the hem binding on - yeah it was a fiddly dress to make!

She loves it and it might be hard to get it off her to wash so if you see us around wearing it you'll know why...

The pattern I used for the dress is a great basic A-line that can be embellished as you choose.

I have made her one before but not shown you as it's something I tested for Toni - but she said it would be OK to share it with you.

A basic dress like this gives you the freedom to embellish or use a feature fabric for the entire dress and keep it simple.

There's been lots of 'grown-up' sewing happening too - I will be back much sooner than last time to share some new things with you.

In the meantime remember this:

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

Oh Ian how I love thee!!

Aaah - no, that's not my husband's name... hope he doesn't read this and get the wrong idea!

It is of course author, Ian McEwan, of whom I speak so adoringly.

He's just been keeping me company on a recent week in the sunshine, in the form of his latest book - Sweet Tooth.

I LOVED this book - from the first page to the last.

It was the sort of book that has you saying "just one more page" when you know you should be putting it down and going off to do something else; like making a meal, playing with a kid or talking to a husband... you know, the important life stuff!

This book was much more like Atonement than On Chesil Beach, it was more fast-paced, had a sense of intrigue, there was a twist that kept you reading to the very last word and then left you with a litle moment of "I wonder" at the end.

Loved it.

It's set in 1970's London, with the main character Serena Frome (pronounced to rhyme with Plume), a Cambridge graduate and recent employee of MI5, the Military Intelligence section of the UK Secret Service, taking on her first 'real' assignment.

I love a good espionage novel, so something that takes you inside the supposedly glamourous world of the spy had me from the start.  What you find instead is how banal and embedded in paperwork much of what they did in a day's work actually is.

It's also interesting to read of the place of women in the service at this time, and to realise how very much has changed since the beginning of my lifetime to now, in the way women are treated within the workplace.

Serena's project is particularly interesting as she is part of what was termed, the Cultural Cold War. The US was at loggerheads with the (then) USSR - and one of the jobs of MI5 was to foster writers who supported the view that the world of Communism was not all the Russians said it was cracked up to be - but rather provided citizens with a fairly bleak and barren lifestyle.
It was a competition of who was the greater nation, from a cultural perspective.

The aim was to give these writers financial support that they might then produce works that criticised communism and the USSR, but this was done in a way that the writers did not know where the funding was coming from - it was not a directive of what they had to write - rather choosing the right writers to begin with and hoping they produces work with the right views!

I found the information about the cultural Cold War to be really interesting as it is something of which I knew very little, and as I have said before, it's always nice to learn something new from a book, be it fiction or non-fiction.

Can't recommend this book highly enough.

On another note - I bought this book from a fabulous Melbourne eastern suburbs bookstore that I hadn't visited in some time, having sourced my reading material of late from a mix of e-books, library and online purchases.

It reminded me what a pleasure it is to shop in a real 'bricks and mortar' store.
One where there are reviews for books written on the shelves, where the staff are knowledgeable about the books they sell, and have and will offer an educated opinion on what is on offer.
Thank you Tim's.

What about you?
Where do you source your books? Are you an online shopper or do you have a favourite special store you frequent?

And what book is on your bedside table at the moment?
All recommendations gratefully accepted!

Books eight and nine...

Wow that actually feels a bit depressing to write that these are only books eight and nine for the year - there was once a time (in another life!!) when I would have read that many books in as many weeks...

Anyway - I digress...

Books eight and nine - a mix of fiction and non-fiction.

First up - Forbidden Lessons in a Kabul Guesthouse by Suraya Sadeed.

Despite the title leading you to think it may be some sordid lesson that a young girl is taught I had read the cover notes on this one to know that it was not going to be the case - but that rather the lessons that are forbidden are actual teaching or class/school lessons.

This book is all about one woman's efforts in securing aid for the people of Afghanistan.  Providing the most basic of needs such as blankets and food and education - things we take for granted every day.

It talks of how the Taliban invaded the country and took away the most basic of rights from al the women in the country and details her struggle as an Afghani born woman living in America when the two countries are suddenly at war.

I often find biographies to be a little self-indulgent (which I guess they are by nature), you know - lots of "I did this, then I did that" sort of stuff.
This one had a little of that but it also contained a really interesting insight into the country of Afghanistan and a little of its history and also talked of how the country was almost inadvertently caught up in the war with the USA because it was where Osama Bin Laden chose to hide out.

It made me feel very grateful to live where I do - in a country where, as a woman and mother of daughters, I know that we are free to live, learn and exist in a free and open manner - not feeling that we need to be hidden away or that we are in some way lesser citizens than our male counterparts.

I also really enjoyed learning a few facts about a country that I know little of, always a lovely 'side-effect' of reading a book!

Then it was on to a work of fiction by another favourite author (I know, there are a few!).
While Chesil Beach is a real stretch of coastline in the UK, On Chesil Beach is a work of fiction by the wonderful Ian McEwan - who you might best know him from the book and subsequent movie Atonement.

This is not written in the page-turning style of Atonement - but more a slow paced reflection of lives and relationships, and how things that remain unsaid may sometimes better have been spoken.

It details the events of the much anticipated (by the groom) and much dreaded (by the bride) wedding night of a young couple in the early 1960's - as the sexual revolution is awakening.
What should be the beginning of their new life together actually marks the end.

Ian McEwan has a way of getting inside his character's heads so that as you read this book you can feel the pain that each of these young people is experiencing, and you squirm with them when you read what is happening in their relationship - wishing that each could know what is going on inside the head of the other!

While very different books I really enjoyed both of these, and depending on your interests, they are both worth a look.

Triple treat

I've been a bit slack updating my reading list for the year so thought I had better do a quick update on what's been on the bedside table of late.

I alluded in my first post to the book I was reading as being my favourite to date and it was wonderful.

Classic Australian author Peter Carey wrote one of my all-time favourite books - Oscar and Lucinda and I know with one of his books I will always get a read that I can really sink my teeth into filled with emotion and intrigue.

This was no exception.

The Chemistry of Tears follows a story within a story - about a young Horologist (check it out and learn something new for the day!), Catherine who while grieving the sudden death of her married lover, is attempting to piece together a clockwork 'toy' or automaton that had been commissioned many years earlier by a man named Henry Brandling, for his sick son.

Throughout the course of the book you get to know these two characters and, for want of a better pun, find out what makes them tick. (click on the Horologist link and you will get it!!).

If you are not afraid of a book that is a solid and hearty read rather than a light and frivolous one, then grab a copy of this book.

Next up I read a trilogy by Jo Nesbo - The Oslo Trilogy; made up of the following three books; The Devil's Star, The Redbreast and Nemesis.

I bought this through the Kindle store on Amazon and read them on my iPad and while I am still a fan of the written word coming in book form it was a convenient way to lug around what would have been a big physical book.

     

I had earlier read another of Jo Nesbo's books and and they are a fast and exciting read - very much along the lines of the Millenium series.

There's a brash but loveable alcoholic cop called Harry Hole (unfortunate name I know!) and he is an intense and honest character who is seeking to solve the crime of his police partner's death several years earlier, along with trapping a serial murderer and not getting himself into too much trouble along the way.

These books are quick and thrilling to read but no literary masterpiece!

And the most recent read was the latest release from another favourite author - Anne Tyler. 

One of the very first posts I wrote on this blog way back in 2007 was on another of her books 'Digging to America".

In that post I explain why she is a perennial favourite of mine, and it still stands.

This book didn't disappoint.  She writes in such a personal way - you feel you know her eccentric and quirky characters.

This one deals with a man suddenly widowed and how he believes he sees and can communicate with his late wife.

It brings him to a series of realisations about him and his own strengths and weaknesses, and about the relationship he and his wife had.

Don't go in expecting a fast-paced thriller - this is not what Anne Tyler is about.

Instead expect her to build such depth of character that you feel you are in the person's life - if just for a short time.

So there you have it - the list so far.

Rudely, I didn't get back to the ladies who commented when I first posted this list so I will now.

Jacinta recommended 'The Book Thief' and I second her recommendation - it was a wonderful book that I thoroughly enjoyed, quite intriguing.

Add it to your list!

Lizzie had the great idea of listening to books on her iPhone, while quilting - now that's what I call multi-tasking!!

As a librarian, Bronwyn has the book world at her fingertips - got any recommendations for us Bronwyn??

Amy is aiming to tackle 50 books this year and with a new baby on the way might find herself in for midnight reading!

Megan also enjoyed The Help - and I agree with her - read the book first. I find all too often that movies don't do books justice.

AJ - what have you been reading?? It's tricky to fit in reading time along with all else that family life brings.

Feel free to leave your recommendations in the comments - I love hearing what other people are reading too.

Shirt graffiti

We've been having lots of conversations here lately about what constitutes art, as opposed to graffiti.

I'm not sure into which category the girls would put me painting all over their T-shirts - but I suspect it's graffiti!

I have a new tool to assist me in 'graffitiing' old and/or plain T's - this book, Stencil Me In.

It comes with 28 reusable stencils of varying size, in lots of great designs that will suit children and adults.

Images that can be used on a variety of projects - be they cushions, bags, clothing or of course you can use them on surfaces other than textiles!

I decided to try something new this time to assist with a clean finish.
I sprayed the back of the stencil with quilt basting spray to hold it in position.

It worked a treat - even for this very intricate design - I am really pleased with how sharp the results are.

Quilt basting spray is repositionable too - so if you put it in the wrong spot - just peel it off and try again.

I'm off to get  few more paint colours as I can see this book being experimented with a lot in the coming months.

A feathered friend

I thought I'd share another of our favourite books with you, a bright, fun and colourful one.

Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clement (an Aussie author), is a charming tale of a small bird who is plain and simple and unhappy in her skin, well, feathers really!

She visits Zelda - the local birdy beautician who prescribes an array of cosmetic add-ons for Phoebe to make her 'dazzling'.

It includes having a song and dance routine to attract attention.

But it almost all ends badly, with her new accoutrements being too much for a small bird to handle.

Until someone special, saves her from herself.

My girls love this book for the fabulous pictures, the sections of repetitive wording where they can join in as Phoebe selects her various new feathers and the fun sounds in the text such as 'thunk' and 'crash' - that add impact to the story-telling.

I love it for the sweet poignancy of the story pointing out that we all don't have to be glamazons in order to be attractive.

Check it out at your local library or bookshop.

When is a cat not a cat...

You've probably worked out books are big in this house.

I thought I'd share another one with you.

Miss A was given this one for her birthday and it is completely adorable.

Millicent and Meer become friends when Meer drops from the sky and lands in Millicent's sandpit.

She wants a cat and just happens to read on the crate he was in that he is a Kat called Meer!

Things don't quite work out for the two friends when Meer proves to be a bit of an 'uncatty' cat.

In the end the two become three and everyone is happy.
But you'll have to buy or borrow the book to find out how - I don't want to spoil it for you!

This book is quick to read and fun as well and the illustrations are fabulous bright collages with cute and quirky details.

Everyone here from the 2 year old to the 43 year old love it.

Go on, add it to your library.

PS - When is a cat not a cat?
When he's a meerkat of course!

Anticipation...

I seriously can not wait for this book to be released.

Photo credit Nikki M

It is of course, the much anticipated first publication from the lovely Nicole Mallalieu, handbag, purse, wrap skirt and pattern-free top maker extraordinaire!

Now that the date is getting closer (May 1st, unless you pop down to the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melb next week), I can show you something I made from it.

I was lucky enough to be able to test out a pattern last year and so decided to test it three times over by doing the toiletry bag as a Christmas gift for each of our three girls.

What else to make small children's toiletry bags in other than Red Riding Hood with spots (Little Red was a gift from Cass - thanks Cass!), everyone's favourite quirky pig Olivia and some red gingham, and very sweet mini-babushkas on pink with Michael Miller Ta Dot.

The thing I love about all of Nikki's patterns is that she provides so many cool tips and techniques in everything she does, so you go away feeling like you have learned something and developed skills.

In this one, there is the most amazing method for turning corners on the ends of the bag - you have to try it to believe it, it works so well.

It creates a beautifully finished, professional looking item and these were in fact the smash-hit of Christmas. Even now the smallest child tries to carry hers around the house with her - much like it's a handbag.

If probably didn't hurt that I filled it with 'cool' stuff like a fold-away travel toothbrush.

Miss A cleaned her teeth five times on Christmas Day!

This book is a must for any seamstress/sewing loving gal so add it to your wish list today.

If you'd like to win yourself a copy, head on over to Cam's blog and enter before May 1st - or go on down to the AQC and you can get one signed by the clever author herself.

In case you can't get there visit Nikki's blog for details on how to pre-order yourself a copy and to see some more sneak peeks of what's inside.

What are you waiting for, go on!

Enjoying the year

If like me, living in the southern hemisphere, you find it frustrating to pick up a children's book and find it filled with references to 'Fall', 'Thanksgiving' and 'Halloween' as major events in a calendar year, then you will love this new book written by Jane Goodwin and illustrated by the super-talented Anna Walker.

All Through The Year follows one little family through the course of a year showing the children doing everything that seasonally matches the Aussie year.

Playing at the beach in January, starting school in February, making breakfast for Mother's Day in May and through a series of other fun days such as going to the snow in July, splashing in September puddles wearing footy scarves and preparing for the school concert and end of year packing up at school in November.

Ideal to read to children of all ages they will delight in finding the little details in each of the pictures.

And at the end of the year you see how much the baby, the puppy, the children and the garden have grown.

Grab yourself a copy and settle down for a good betime read.

Indoctrination

It's never too early to start encouraging your children to take an interest in the things you love.

Like getting them to support a decent football team, listen to music you grew up on, or enjoy the music you like to listen to now, and also to instill a love of your favourite hobbies.

Two of my favourite things to do are read and sew, so you can imagine how happy I was when my friend "blogless Judy" found this little gem at the library a few weeks ago.

This book is, quite simply, adorable.

It's the story of a little girl whose Grandmother sews her a special dress each year using fabric from her 'stacks of material' (aka The Stash).

She takes her measurements and then the book talks about how Grandma goes about making the dress, showing all the tools of the trade as they go.

Later the dress is taken apart and refashioned, then handed on to someone else to love (OK so I gave away the ending but it's a kids book - you knew there'd be a 'lesson' and a happy ending!).

For those of you good with two sticks and wool - there's even a little something in there for you - Grandma knits a little cardi to go over the top of the dress as well.

The background in some of the pictures includes cut up pattern pieces and it's bright, colourful and easy to read.

I'm telling you - this book is a winner! (even if it's themed a little too close for comfort to something I one day hoped to write about...).

You can see the author details in the first pic, so don't just sit there, go and reserve it at your local library - or request (no demand!) they get it in.

PS - how do you like my new wider blog with bigger pics?? Pop over to this post at Leonie's to see how it's done.

My Creative Space

This week I am back at the machine with a vengeance!

Kate has been inspiring me with her versions of the Dortje pants.
So I grabbed some cord and poplin and have set to work to make some pants for kinder.


Yep - they are kinda bright - but I think that clothes for play should be fun and colourful as well as comfortable and practical.

I don't believe in children being dressed as miniature adults - there's plenty of time for that later in their lives.

Now is the time for them to embrace being bold, bright and full of fun.
That's my philosophy anyway.

With regard to the same/same look of the pants - don't blame me - the girls picked the colours themselves.
That said - it makes it a much faster process when the same colour overlocker and top-stitching cotton can be used!
There is method to their madness after all.

I also want to tackle a few Insa skirts and Imke tops from this fabulous book, which is where the pants pattern is from.

But they might be a while away, so don't hold your breath waiting!

Go on over and visit some of the creative spaces on Kirsty's huge list of players.

There's sure to be something there for everyone!