etsy love- reading

3D letter S from repurposed book, Book Bundles, Simply Tote Bag, book necklace, Recycled Book Pages Garland, Secret Whisper Earrings, BEAUSOLEIL Black Frame Reading Eyeglasses imported from France, Cozy Wingback Chair, Pale Cream Whimsical Victorian Romance Dress, Patterns and Pages 8 x 8 Print.

We all know how much it's been raining, and rain inspires me to curl up in an armchair with a cat and a cup of tea and a book. Not very productive but very satisfying. (Considering what the rain has been doing to other folk, very very lucky too).

I'm averaging 3 books a week, but am all out until we go into town next week and visit the library. I shall have to do some work. Or re-read Pride and Prejudice. Either way.

books I am reading

I am always reading several books at once, the one I pick up depending on my mood and how long I have time to read and where I am. Does anyone else do that? I thought I'd share what I'm reading right now.

Farewell My Lovely, Raymond Chandler

An old-school detective story, with a main character who drinks whisky and calls women 'dames'. I love these reprinted penguins too.

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Anne Tyler
Do you know Anne Tyler? Oh you should, she is oh-so-good. This one has themes of family and what it means and the entire dysfunctional-ness of it all, and how everyone is just trying to do their best, but it doesn't always work. Oh I don't do it justice at all. Read it.

The Dream Life of Sukhonav- Olga Grushin

Oh awesome. I haven't even finished it and I already want to read it again. A beautifully written novel about a guy who abandoned his life as an artist to fit in with communist Russia and is now an important minister, but of course it comes back to bite him in the bum. (This is not how it is written on the back cover, mind).

An Illustrated Life
A peek in artists, illustrators and designers everyday sketchbooks. Lots of cool pictures and bits from each contributor on what their sketchbooks means to them, how they use it etc. Very inspiring.


Cartoon Modern
A book on the cartoonists and animation houses of the 50's and how they influenced modern design. More cool pictures including cartoon advertisements and interesting subject matter.

Mr Darcy Takes a Wife, Linda Berdoll

A sequel to Pride and Prejudice. Interesting, well written in perfect prose, and oh-my giggling unexpected rude bits! Oh Mr Darcy! If you like Pride and Prejudice (and Oh I DO) then do read a bit of this. Try not to read it in public if you have a tendency to blush.

.

.

.

what are you reading right now?

magazine love

I DO like a good magazine. So pretty. So interesting. So informative. Not the ones that you get at the Doctors office, or supermarket queue. Not the ones that make me worry about my figure or the shade of my eyeshadow or trap me with tantalising bits about so-and-so's love triangle or baby adoption. But the ones that make me smiley, uplifted, inspired and a bit-more-knowledgeable about interesting-y things. Here are some I like very much.

Amelia's Magazine

(art, fashion, music, earth)

.

Frankie

(fashion, art/craft, music, creative people)

.

Antler Magazine

(art, design, literature and culture)

.

Peppermint

(indie art and design)

.

Condiment

(food, creativity and community)
.

A cloth-covered button

(fashion, art, writing, design culture)

.

dumbo feather pass it on

(creative interviews & autobiographies)

. Postmodern Ink

(tattoos, art, culture, lifestyle)

.

MixTape

(art/craft, eco-awareness and pop culture kitsch)

. Slow

(for those who think life's too fast)
.

Cosmos

(the science of everything)

.

Organic Gardener Magazine

(um, organic gardening.)
.

And on my list of magazines I will probably never read..

Government News, Planet Muscle, Great Walks, British Chess Magazine, Playstation Official Magazine, Your Trading Edge, Helicopter News, The Classic Motorcycle, The Death Mook (although this one looks fascinating), Practical Fishkeeping, Poker Player, OK! Magazine

.

.

But I will browse and think about them- isn't it fascinating the number of interests in the world? People are interested in all kinds of things, and I find that interesting, don't you?

.

Do you have any favourite magazines?

reading is cool

(print from this etsy shop)

.

damn straight. I'm goin' to the library.

I want them all

I've just come across this picture on this lovely blog.

When I was a little girl I had this book on tape, and reading it invokes memories of a warm rich voice washing over me with adventurous tales and tantrums and friendship. I love it. I used to make rice mixed with butter and pepper; or apple, honey and cheese cubes (don't ask) and curl up with a book and a cushion behind the chair in the sunroom, where the 70's orange glass walls would turn everything warm and yellow. I bought a copy a few years ago, but it was not as gorgeous as this beautifully bound one. Look at those blossoms!

You can see it here, along with other gorgeous books. I want to run my fingertips over the fabric and embossed letters. I want them all.

in totally unrelated but strangely fascinating news, this fish has a transparent head.

In the mood for a good book. Turn down the lights, pull up the doona, have a cat or two (or three... oops). I need to find another one to start now, after the last one looked promising but unexpectedly turned to CHEESE with a lame plot involving seperated-at-birth twins.. Puhleeese.

When I was at school I would spend hours, days, entire weekends reading. Hundreds of books a year. But then kids books are often excellent, adults books can be tiresome, or a bore, or full of self-importance. Best to avoid those ones.

My usual method is reading the first sentence. Or the first page. If I don't feel compelled to turn the page, it will probably never work between us. A friend of mine tests by reading the last page; I've heard some people just read the blurb, but it's like believing a resume.. better off meeting the person.



(which reminds me of the culmination of many conversations with a bestie of mine. Three questions you should ask yourself of any guy- 'would I employ him?', 'does he have a good hip to shoulder ratio?' (trust us on this one) and 'does he spend more time on his hair than I do on mine?'. The answers should let you know how to continue. With caution or wild abandon!)

Bought these beautiful lilies on my way home from work on thursday, they've filled half the house with flowery smells, and are amazing shade of pink. and I don't usually like pink.
Also kudos to the florist dude, who lets me pull up on my bike and pick up flowers like a drive-thru..


another go at stitch sketching, I think my favourite so far.. thinking of doing a whole zoo animal series? and framing in a row? I thought about using colour or 'colouring in' with stitches like the green bird, but I kinda like the simplicity.


Yesterday riding through the park I stopped to take shots of this..


'seed plants not war'... a close up of the little soldiers

I love that I live in a place with random creativity and notions.. (I watered the little tomato plant too, see the tiny green tomato?)

my to-read book pile next to my bed. I cleaned out my bookshelves recently and have 2 big boxes of books I've either read or if I-haven't-by-now-probably-never-will.. I've kept my favourites and made this pile. Now.must.not.go.to.library.or.bookstore...

It's a beautiful saturday. I think I will go to the park and read the paper, watch clouds and not think about boys at all.. at all...