June 29, 2015

At the Museum

Here is another scrapbook page of out trip to NYC in 2011. Every time I feel I'm falling further behind, I tell myself I'll have lots to keep me busy when I retire.

Pebbles Lakeside paper; October Afternoon rub-ons; American Crafts card stock; unknown flowers, brads and tickets.

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June 27, 2015

Summer wreath

Summer has been here longer than the official week, but I finally finished the wreath I've been wanting to make since last year.
Most of the embellishments I used were from the American Crafts Mayberry collection. Other: Pebbles layered felt; Prima paper flowers; Jillibean Soup butterfly pins; My Little Bit of Whimsy ice cream pin, K&Co. chipboard stickers, Eyelet Outlet brads; unknown tulle and foam circle.

I also made seasonal wreaths for spring and fall to go with the store-bought winter one. Now my set is complete.

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June 17, 2015

Spring reading

Last year I gushed about how much I loved Charlie N. Holmberg's Magician series. I was so excited Master Magician came out this month that I read it as soon as it arrived. This third book was everything I wanted it to be and more. I already pre-ordered her new novel, Followed by Frost, and I can't wait to discover another of her magical worlds.

I don't usually read contemporary YA, but Premeditated by Josin L. McQuein kept the promise made by the book's description, which I read as a query letter long ago. Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl was cute and enjoyable, although I didn't find the narrative voice as historical as I would have liked. Another cute story I enjoyed earlier this year was Fairy Godmothers, Inc. by Jenniffer Wardell, which I forgot to mention in my previous post.

Not sure why it took me so long to pick up Mary Robinette Kowal's Shades of Milk and Honey, but I'm glad I listened to it narrated by the author. It's no secret that I love novels inspired by Jane Austen's work, but I had never read any with magic in it. To immerse myself in a Regency world with glamour was delightful. I also listened to the next two books in the Kowal's Glamourist Histories, Glamour in Glass and Without a Summer. Jane is such a layered character, and I loved the dash of espionage and intrigue in these later books. Without a doubt, I found another series to love, but I forced myself to take a break before reading the last two books--just to stretch my enjoyment.

I'm currently reading Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein, which I started enjoying after I got over the main character's childhood trauma. The paranoia of motherhood attacks when I least expect. On my long commute, I'm listening to Graceling by Kristin Cashore, which is an amazing production performed by David Baker and the full cast family.

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