Review of "Emily" by Dilys Gater

I borrowed three books from the library about the Brontes for the January Challenge. I just finished "Emily" by Dilys Gater which told the story of the Brontes from childhood, including their Gondal and Angria writings, their trials and tribulations at trying to live outside Haworth, illnesses, time abroad in Belgium, and the death in September of Branwell followed by Emily's decline late in the year. What a crying shame that the reviewers didn't appreciate Wuthering Heights during her lifetime, it was altogether too dark for the reviewers to commend it. Sad too, that Charlotte (who had the trustworthy and pleasant publishers) got such great reviews for Jane Eyre (and 500 pounds at least for it), while Anne and Emily's publishers gave them a pittance. For the last challenge I read a book on their father's life, amazing fellow too, he spent most of his life in his study, even had his meals solitarily there, and went to bed early while the girls did their writing unbeknownst to him. Amazing too how he had cataract surgery so long ago, but how sad it must have been for him to lose all his children so young.

It was an easy book to read, and I enjoyed reading it even though I knew the ending would be very sad!!

Now I'm trying to decide on the February challenge: Charles Dickens. I have read a few of his books (e.g. Oliver Twist, David Copperfield) but it would be nice to read one of his less famous books. Perhaps Bleak House, but I do have this on DVD to watch too. I'll keep you posted!

WIPocalypse 2012

I joined Measi's great challenge (I favour this sort rather than the sort where you start a huge number of projects!! Guess why: well, I have SO many projects on the go...and never seem to finish any of them).

So I chose just 3 projects to start with:
1. Persian bookmark
2. The Token by LongDogs (to finish pages 1 and 2)
3. A new start: Cherry Blossom biscornu by The Sweetheart Tree.

So, drum roll, don't fall over please! I have JUST finished the Persian bookmark!!! My first finish for months and months, thank you so much Measi, I needed a kick-start and now really feel like I have accomplished something!!

For the next week, I think I'll progress on projects 2 and 3 then will go through my stash and find another SMALL project to finish.

Happy Stitching
Julie

2012 Wipocalypse

Well as most of my goals seem to vanish quietly without being achieved, I am going to just post three goals for the WIPocalypse.

1. Persian bookmark by Anchor
2. Cherry Blossoms biscornu by Sweetheart Tree (can you believe it, my first biscornu!!).
3. The Token by LongDogs, to finish pages 1 and 2.

Then when I finish one of them I'll add another one!!

Thanks so much to Measi for organising the

2012 Wipocalypse!!

 

cheers

Julie in Oz where it is 40 C  :(

Honiton lace win!!

I was thrilled to find that I had won the Best Lace exhibit in a local show (the Geelong Show) with a Honiton piece. It also won first prize in its section. Honiton lace for those that don't know is the finest English lace, made with thread size 180 (the larger the number the finer the thread). The bobbins used don't have spangles (beads at the bottom), their ends are just pointy as it is a freeform lace (rather than making a long strip) and you need to join sections, this is accomplished by drawing one bobbin thread through a previous stitch forming a loop, and putting the second bobbin through the loop (thus easier with a pointy end) and tightening. Not many people do this type of lace here, but the results are worth the effort.

Lucky win for me!!

I was so excited last night as I received a prize from The Needlework Show from Darlene Lara, the designer for The Marking Samplar. It had travelled from Knoxville, Tennessee, took 3 weeks Airmail. Funny how you can travel to USA from Australia in 1.5 days but mail can take up to 4 weeks.

Anyway it is a most darling sampler, a miniature sampler reproduced by Darlene from the original made by Mary Clark in 1848. Here it is below for you see.

Aren't I a lucky girl!!

Thank you so much Darlene, I was really touched to receive this!!

Finished a UFO in Bedfordshire lace

I've finally finished a UFO lace piece (Beds lace). The photo shows this piece (the central edging) which will be stitched together with the 2 edgings outside this edging. Now I will make the central piece which probably isn't so hard to make, but has a lot more bobbins!!

Recently I've begun trying Milanese lace, which is a free lace, with not too many bobbins!!

Staff Arts and Crafts competition 2011

Here are this years entries:

The miniature bears are called Bruno and Brunhilde, the Christmas tree is made from parchment paper (Pergamano), the decorations are bobbin lace, embroidery and a Mill Hill cross stitch ornament.

It was fun putting these together, now to add another post as I actually finished a piece of lace today!!