The Space Between Us - Thrity Umrigar - This summer while on vacation in Detroit, I noticed that my sister-in-law was reading a book that she couldn't put down. I've only ever seen her read newspapers and magazines since we're usually so busy when we get together. She was even losing sleep to read! This was big, so as soon as I got home I read The Space Between Us. I love stories and novels about life in India. (Maybe if I ever do one of those Genome Studies cheek swabs, I'll find that my ancestors came from that part of the world 15 centuries ago!) This novel is about the lives of different women in different generations and varied economic circumstances. Thrity Umrigar knows her people well; she shares the special dialects, expressions and idioms of Indian speech. She includes the reader as an insider to this culture and its conflicts between the old ways and ideas and modern life.
On a simpler note, don't miss it if stories about women are what you love.
A Freewheelin' Time -A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties - Suze Rotolo - Suze is an artist who lead an unusual life from an early age, including her family life, school life and work life. She's most famously known as Bob Dylan's girlfriend who appears with him on the cover of his 1963 The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan album. I enjoyed reading her recollections of that life and those times.
The Dream (A Memoir) - Harry Bernstein - Harry Bernstein is a wonderful author. His story, simp
ly and completely told is about his mother's dream to make a good and better life for her family by moving to America from England in the early part of the 20th century. His tale involves the grandparents, parents and children in his familly; an independent lot with enough people and personalities to keep you turning the pages. His grandfather was an especially fascinating person. Harry wrote this book in his 90s, and he writes with simplicity and eloquence, reminiscent of the best William Sayoran family novels.
So what's going on in my life that I haven't been minding my blog?
I'm creating my website, but it's slow-going.
I took a pattern drafting class, so that I could learn how to make custom clothing for myself. This six week class was really for very beginning sewers. The instructor was a perfectionist which I thought would help me to flourish, but at this stage of the game, I want to be told verbally about perfection, not have to use class time to do simple sewing steps over and over and over again.
As a result, I'm planning to get together with two friends during the time that class would meet, so that we can complete the muslin sloper pattern that we cut out in class. Our plan is to carefully teach ourselves how to taylor, fit and sew a skirt perfectly custom made to our measurements. I've got all the instruction books, and one of the friends is excellent at following written directions. The other friend is a practical idea person, and I'm the one who knows quite a bit (after all) about sewing. We'll give my sewing machines a workout.
I also have the dining room table covered with beads and completed earrings that I've been busy making. The plan here, is to sell jewelry on that unfinished website! Or somewhere.
My designs are simple and pretty, (if I do say so!) made mostly with coin pearls and other fresh water pearls. I'll post some photos here in the next day or two. My next step is to make some bracelets and necklaces.
Then, to really complicate things, I've got fabric galore to use in a myriad of projects. Including the fabric I bought at Vogue Fabrics today when I went there to take a small class in Madeira Applique. I need to Madeira Applique something fast so that I don't forget how to do it! The instructor said that one of the most important things is a pretty sewing area. Not too cluttered, but one that invites you over to the machine to sew. I'm about halfway there. My computer screen is also a TV, and with iTunes, it's my music center too. However the computer really eats up my time, and adds to the paper chaos of the room. At least after this blog I can return Freewheelin and The Dream to the library, thus removing them from my desk.
Then there's the economic crisis and the election. And all the TV Shows waiting to be seen on the DVR. And going to sales on the weekend. And making healthy tasty things to eat. And making unhealthy tasty things to eat. And the garden which is in a current state of extreme neglect. And sailing sometimes, too. Keeping up with the pictures I take. Figuring out iPhoto, iWeb, iTunes (I actually have this one figured out) iDVD (haven't even tried it yet, so this is filler).
When people tell me that they are bored or don't know what to do with themselves, you now know why I cringe. Probably no one reading this is one of those people, but if you are, then go get yourself some projects! Read something! Go for a walk! Get some projects! Watch a movie! Do something creative on your computer! Organize something! Yeah. Just please don't call me and tell me you have nothing to do. There is always something. You can come over and clean my house for one, because I clean my own house, too, except that I don't. Whew! Did I need a little rant or what?
On a simpler note, don't miss it if stories about women are what you love.
A Freewheelin' Time -A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties - Suze Rotolo - Suze is an artist who lead an unusual life from an early age, including her family life, school life and work life. She's most famously known as Bob Dylan's girlfriend who appears with him on the cover of his 1963 The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan album. I enjoyed reading her recollections of that life and those times. The Dream (A Memoir) - Harry Bernstein - Harry Bernstein is a wonderful author. His story, simp
ly and completely told is about his mother's dream to make a good and better life for her family by moving to America from England in the early part of the 20th century. His tale involves the grandparents, parents and children in his familly; an independent lot with enough people and personalities to keep you turning the pages. His grandfather was an especially fascinating person. Harry wrote this book in his 90s, and he writes with simplicity and eloquence, reminiscent of the best William Sayoran family novels.So what's going on in my life that I haven't been minding my blog?
I'm creating my website, but it's slow-going.
I took a pattern drafting class, so that I could learn how to make custom clothing for myself. This six week class was really for very beginning sewers. The instructor was a perfectionist which I thought would help me to flourish, but at this stage of the game, I want to be told verbally about perfection, not have to use class time to do simple sewing steps over and over and over again.
As a result, I'm planning to get together with two friends during the time that class would meet, so that we can complete the muslin sloper pattern that we cut out in class. Our plan is to carefully teach ourselves how to taylor, fit and sew a skirt perfectly custom made to our measurements. I've got all the instruction books, and one of the friends is excellent at following written directions. The other friend is a practical idea person, and I'm the one who knows quite a bit (after all) about sewing. We'll give my sewing machines a workout.
I also have the dining room table covered with beads and completed earrings that I've been busy making. The plan here, is to sell jewelry on that unfinished website! Or somewhere.
My designs are simple and pretty, (if I do say so!) made mostly with coin pearls and other fresh water pearls. I'll post some photos here in the next day or two. My next step is to make some bracelets and necklaces.
Then, to really complicate things, I've got fabric galore to use in a myriad of projects. Including the fabric I bought at Vogue Fabrics today when I went there to take a small class in Madeira Applique. I need to Madeira Applique something fast so that I don't forget how to do it! The instructor said that one of the most important things is a pretty sewing area. Not too cluttered, but one that invites you over to the machine to sew. I'm about halfway there. My computer screen is also a TV, and with iTunes, it's my music center too. However the computer really eats up my time, and adds to the paper chaos of the room. At least after this blog I can return Freewheelin and The Dream to the library, thus removing them from my desk.
Then there's the economic crisis and the election. And all the TV Shows waiting to be seen on the DVR. And going to sales on the weekend. And making healthy tasty things to eat. And making unhealthy tasty things to eat. And the garden which is in a current state of extreme neglect. And sailing sometimes, too. Keeping up with the pictures I take. Figuring out iPhoto, iWeb, iTunes (I actually have this one figured out) iDVD (haven't even tried it yet, so this is filler).
When people tell me that they are bored or don't know what to do with themselves, you now know why I cringe. Probably no one reading this is one of those people, but if you are, then go get yourself some projects! Read something! Go for a walk! Get some projects! Watch a movie! Do something creative on your computer! Organize something! Yeah. Just please don't call me and tell me you have nothing to do. There is always something. You can come over and clean my house for one, because I clean my own house, too, except that I don't. Whew! Did I need a little rant or what?
