Recycling

Recycling is so very 'now'.  But recycling has been going on for ever.  Then again, recycling can mean something quite different depending on the era.

This book was published in 1915. 

WW1 was raging and recycling was a necessity for most people, so, it was often a topic of interest, especially for women trying to make ends meet.  I find the difference in how we 'express' ourselves in different eras interesting.  Back in 1915 we 'explained' what we meant with a lot more words.

A good example was the 'Preface'.

War is a hard, stern teacher, and its lessons are bitter in the learning; yet some of its teaching we badly needed - and not the least important of its main lessons is the one it inculcated on the criminality of waste.

To so many of us "waste" was a word with a comparative meaning. What was waste in one woman was not necessarily waste in another, we argued.  It was wrong for the factory girl to let her skirts drop off her for lack of mending: but not wrong for the better-off women to discard their clothes directly they showed the least sign of wear, because they could afford to buy more, we said; and besides, it made it good for trade - that was a favourite argument used by the extravagent to excuse their wanton waste.

Harsh words indeed.

On reading this book I had no idea that you could use old crockery for beads.  It seems like a lot of work.  We can purchase beads at a very cheap price today, maybe this is something that will change over the next 100 years?

What I was looking for was drawings, rather like those of Margaret Clarke, to use in my 1920's quilt.  The only thing I found was these illustrations in advertisements.

I might use the faces of the girls looking over the wall and the flowers on the cover could translate into an applique.  Or maybe these?

 

What I can't see myself doing is turning the collars of my husbands shirts.  If he wants that he can do it himself!

I had not looked for this to arrive.

I joined the "Making Light" club on Kate Davies site last year.  I knew there would be a book but as it was coming from Scotland, and that meant that it would take some time to arrive,  I just put it into 'in the future' filing in my brain.

But it has just arrived in the post and it is one beautiful book.  The photography is stunning, the script sparkling and the patterns included all very doable.  I may knit more than just the one I have selected.

The book has arrived

So my "Essentail Stitch Guides - Canvaswork" has arrived.

It doesn't have the range of stitches that the older books have but the colour photos are so much better.  There is an image of a sampler that has been worked for each stitch.  (I love how this is stitched in one colour.)

And although there isn't the number of different stitches there is plenty here.  The illustrations and instructions are clear.  And they include a line drawing and a picture of the stitched out sample.  Each one of these has a line of the pattern in another colour, great to show contrast.

And then there are illustrations of what you could do for inspiration.

I really like this book.  Well worth the wait.

Some books are just....

A while back  I got a book from the library that I thought might be interesting.

Oh boy, is it good?  It has me chasing all different threads of information. (Excuse the pun.).  One thread has been the poetry and music.   I have dug out my Treble Recorder and have started to play again.  I was in a recorder group back in High School but haven't really played much since then.  I thought I might try the piano again but my hand and arm aren't up to it physically, but I can play the recorder.  The new research into early music and in particular that of Ancient Greece I find really exciting. 

I studied Ancient History as part of my second teaching area back when I did a teaching degree.  But this book has ignited my interest more then anything I studied then and I liked Ancient History.  I think it is because the author has now revealed the whole picture not just part of it.  She has put women back into the account not just the men and this gives a fuller understanding of what happened.  It helps explain the why.    I think I will have to buy my own copy of this one.  One month isn't going to be long enough to chase all the new information in it.

Needlepoint books

I have been working my canvas work from an old copy of "The needlepoint book" byJo Ippolito Christensen which I borrowed from the Guild Library.  It is a good book but the presentation is out of date.  How we 'read' has changed so much since this book was written.

In a digital world digital books and especially the use of images, and how we relate to those images, has made subtle changes in all of us.   So, I still want a paper book that I can keep open and refer too without loosing the image because the screen turns off.  After a search of the book reviews I decided to purchase the RSN's guide to Canvaswork.

I read the review from Mary Corbett and was amused by the approach of the Americans in contrast to the English.  Both have their own version which they believe is the best and I'm sure that if I look at books from Europe they will tell me that this is the only way to stitch.    Still, until I can recover my stitching skills I think this is the book for me.  The order is on the way.

Running Around

Oh boy!  I have had to come up to town to open the town-house for the electricians.  I couldn't work the key in the lock, or find the switchbox and I hate the $5,500 fences. They are durable, but look terrible and far too expensive for what they are.

There is no water pressure to clean the pavers, which I had to sweep because the were covered in leaves. My husband comes up to town twice a week for rowing, this is his total pre-occupation and my son is computer nerd! He never goes in the back garden.  Now it is raining, hard.  Not my day!!

But I have had a couple of very enjoyable books.

"Trees in Winter" arrived in the post and I read it in one sitting.  I just love his lino prints.  How he gets to include so much detail is amazing.

The other book is so rich in detail it is going to take some time to get through and I want to visit her sources for myself.

I have never heard of some of the sources or the concepts raised before.  But I don't doubt what she is saying.  An eye opener this one and it needs to be widely read.  (I hope it will be included in the reading for Women's Studies at the Universities.). I have it for a month from the library but I think I would like it for my own library.

 

Books on my list

I think I have now read every one of the Marjory Allingham's Albert Campion  books .

I know there are some others that her husband, who was also a writter, finished after her death, and others that were written by Ripley and I may read these in the future, but for now I can say I have finished this series.

The last one I read was "The mind readers" , published in the 1960's, and it is curious to read what was seen as acceptable back then.  (And I was a young women in the late 60's!). These books could almost be classed as a record of social mores over this period and they paint a vivid picture of society and London and it's surrounds over this period.   I was in London in the early 1970's so there is a lot that was familiar to me but the period between the late 1900s through the 40's was an eye opener.   I have to admit I like her writting better than Agatha Christie and have a feeling that her books will make a come back in popularity at some point.

Now, onto my next book.

AI

The past year has seen a plethora of 'fake'.

Fake emails trying to scam me.

Fake phone calls and messages trying to scam me.

Now I have found a "fake book".  This turned up in my Email and then I saw it again on Facebook.

They are impersonation Sue Briscoe who's books are the benchmark for Sashiko stitching.  Even embroidery is not safe from these scammers.  You will find lots of AI altered embroidery on instagram and facebook,  all fake.

Who would have thought they would target this area?  Maybe because most practitioners are of a certain age or are women and they think they are an easy target?

WIPW

It is really spring now and although the weather did become cold for a bit, I am starting my spring cleaning.  That means emptying every cupboard and draws. Washing the contents, sorting those things that have to go out and getting ready for summer.  I have set myself 2 draws a day in the kitchen and 2 draws a day in the sewing room, to start.   Now that may not sound a lot but I do need time to sew, draw and read.

For the sewing part I am doing the hand stitching of the bindings on the place mats, there are 18 in total.( I can only manage one a day with my lack on movement in my wrist.)

And I am in the planning stages for a new Donation Quilt.  This one is for a teenage boy.

I am reading another Marjory Allingham novel. I am up to No 15 of the Campion series.

As you can see we are now in the 1950's, mid century modern.  I would like to get back to some embroidery but one thing at a time.

A bit of reflection

I don't think I have had a run of adverse events in years as those that have dogged me since my cancer returned at the end of last year.  It has been a constant struggle just to get from one day to the next.  But I am learning how to accept the circumstances that have come to me.  At first I 'raged' against fate but now I find myself accepting what is given to me and continuing on the best I can.

One thing that has brought me great pleasure has been my garden and this year the Camellias have been beautiful.

I have some interesting books to read, especially the Marjory Allingham books but I also found  "The Remarkable Mrs Reiby" by Grantlee Kieza.

This is the true story of the woman who graces our $20 notes.  My ancestor, who decided to settle in Australia, was an officer in the 73rd Regiment.  He was a mounted soldier so wore a blue jacket rather than the red. This was the first Australian Light Horse Brigade.   He transferred from the 73rd to be part of the mounted troop who became the Govenor's (Macquarie) body guard.  (The rest of the 73rd were sent back to England.)  The book gives a vivid description of what life would have been like for him and his family at that time.

But the most precious thing I have come to appreciate more and more are my friends.  They are a true blessing.

A week alone

Yes, all alone, except for the dog.  My husband has gone to Tangalooma Island with  his ex business partner for the week. 

He has a holiday apartment over there.  I'm not sure if there are any whales at this time of year but it used to be a whaling station in the old days as it sits on the whale migration route

The resort is situated on Moreton Island, which is some way out in the bay but you look back to the mainland and see the city skyline.  It is remote and beautiful.  (The website has some great photos and information.)

I took day trip excursions there when I was a high school teacher.  It is quite a 'wild place'.

I have taken this time to struggle with the computer, work in the garden. walk the dog and have commenced quilting the last quilt.  I hope to have this completed by the time he returns.  It took 2 full days to get it all tacked together, by which time my wrist said "that's enough, I give up".  So then I sat and read my next Marjory Allingham book "Flowers for the judge".  This was published in 1936 and there is a notable change in the writting.  A lot more modern in the use of the English language and her use of suspense sees a change, but the story is just as enjoyable.

So, it has been a kind of holiday for me as well.  I am enjoying this time.