I haven’t gotten much done on my Queen of the Needle this month. The little verse here is stitched using ONE thread at a time, not the usual one whole stitch. I have to be careful when working this. I am also working on my bookmark for the Secret Stitcher Bookmark Exchange so I’m not going to say anything about that right now.
I do have a small finish. This is a Shepherd’s Bush, and I framed it myself as you can see. I need to redo it though, the crooked is driving me crazy! And this picture makes it look wrinkled, which it isn’t. I have no idea how that came to be! So I will show it again at some point looking better I hope.
Although I never mentioned this, I have a slight, very slight heart problem. It stems from a heart murmur and for the most part, there is nothing to it. However, once in a while it rears its ugly head and my blood pressure skyrockets, I have chest pains, dizzy spells, and the ensuing panic that a heart attack is imminent. Yes, this was the month for heart fun. So I didn’t go down to L.A. as planned for the Festival of Books and I missed some school as well. Sigh.
A real bummer. But last Saturday Jim and I went to B&N and came home with a few books to make up for the loss. I’ve already read and reviewed The Dud Avocado and a couple of those ghost stories as well. Among the authors of The Virago Book of Ghost Stories are Charlotte Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell, May Sinclair, and Edith Wharton. I enjoyed The Old Nurse’s Story by Elizabeth Gaskell and will be reviewing it soon.Â
I don’t know anything about The Birthday Present by Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell) but anything by Vine is so hard to find that I just grabbed it when I saw it. The top book is Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple, and is about a good marriage being destroyed when a young woman arrives on the scene. These should keep me busy for a while. Hopefully I will fully recover soon and get on with my life.
Filed under: Cross Stitch Exchanges, Just Nan, New Books, Shepherd's Bush, Stitch-a-long | Tagged: Cross Stitch Exchanges, Finishes, New Books, Queen of the Needle, Stitch-a-long |
Bunny Stuff 
My mother does beautiful work like that shown above. It was highly valued in the era of my literary interest, the 1930s, and I think is still highly prized today.
Hi Shelley! I’m sure they are highly prized today, those works of art are treasures! I noticed that you joined the 1930’s Mini Challenge. That is going to be fun! Looking forward to reading your reviews!
I have Someone at a Distance too and plan to read it in May.
That needlework is beautiful. I used to be sort of crafty but the lack of time has put a crimp in that.
I lov those cross stitches, I sometimes dabble in cross stitch myself but tend to do more machine sewing. Really lovely though
Oooh, the Virago book of ghost stories is excellent! And Someone at a Distance and The Dud Avocado are two I’ve been meaning to get my hands on.
Ti – Thanks! Yes,it is hard to find time. I will be reading Someone at a Distance soon and looking forward to your reveiw on it!
Jessica – I like machine sewing too but did more of it when my girls were small. I’d love to see some pictures of your work!
Nymeth – I didn’t know you read the ghost stories. I am really enjoying them! I think you’d like the other two books also!
Love your stitching works! They are beautiful!
You have a lovely haul there! And I have The Virago book in my pile too, but just haven’t got around to reading it yet… am waiting for the right mood, hehe. Someone at a Distance sounds good so I might want to look out for it.
Hope you get better soon!
Thanks Melody, I’m taking it easy. This way I can get more reading and stitching done! The Virago stories are very well written but not super scary so far. I’ve only read a couple. I’ll read a few more than do a review. I can’t wait to read Someone at a Distance.
Take care, Jaimie. I think all the stuff you’re doing such as the cross stitch and reading are great for your heart. Love that Bulb piece!
Thanks Alice! The Bulb is in a series of months and all of them are so cute. Yes, cross stitch is so meditative and calming, it is good for the heart.
Your stitching looks great and I love the SB piece you framed.
I hope that you are feeling well.
Thanks Suzanne, I’m feeling much better now. I have several other SB’s in my wishlist. They are nice and small and so cute!
Take care of yourself. Books: the best medicine?
I agree Shelley!! Books are the best medicine!