Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Show and Tell...and Questions

Wednesday...midway through the week. I figured I would share stash I've accumulated over the last month. I took advantage of time at a stitchy get together and a fabulous blog sale. Here are a couple of those mesh bags to cart projects around. I figured this was better and more secure than the old drawstring Gap and Apple bags I've been using! I scored two of Valerie Lejeune's books, Repertoire des Frises and Repertoire des Alphabets. These are tough to come by so I am happy to add them to my library. There's also a few overdyeds and these lovely scissors! I've seen these scissors all over stitchy blogland and have been coveting them for awhile. I finally figured out how to get them. If anyone is curious, they are an eBay.fr find. They will run about $22 with the international postage. If anyone has problems locating them, let me know and I'll put you in touch with the seller.
And here are some charts I added to the evergrowing stash...Brightneedle Pretty in Pink, Drawn Thread Too Tiny Samplers, La D Da Love is Patient and The Sampler Girl My Everything. There's also a cut of Antigue Ivory belfast because almost anything looks good on it! I bought the last two charts because I decided that as so many people want to have a sampler wall...I want to have a "Love" wall...whether I'm in or out of love. I haven't got anything to put up to start one but at some point, I'll be ready to start!

With this last purchase, I have to now put myself on a stash diet for the rest of the year. The whole new tires (2) purchase last night didn't help the cause any. Time to tighten the belts especially as talks about furloughs and layoffs start to resurface at work. I have the feeling some tough decisions will be coming around in November. Time to save a little bit of money...just in case.

And here is a shot of dinner. This was the dish I wanted to make on Monday..you know...before the whole flat tire stole two of my evenings. I saw the recipe on eating/sf and it's called Corn and Sweet Pepper Hash. I couldn't find any sweet peppers to save my life so I just used red bell pepper. I alsolutely love corn...and I have a unique way of eating it...to avoid the whole corn in the teeth problem. Since I had 3 ears wasting away in the fridge, this seemed a good way to use them and have a healthy dinner. I used 3 ears and 1 red bell pepper.
This and some yellow squash was dinner and it was a nice, light, healthy meal on a nice summer night. Mmmmm.....corn! Dessert will be either yogurt, rice pudding or fresh figs...decisions, decisions!

So onto questions..

I'm leaving on vacation in 2.5 weeks...time is flying! I am struggling to get through The Queen's Fool to return it by it's due date this weekend. Time to get new books.

I am looking for a Jane Austen book recommendation. I've never read one before. Which one is your favorite? The must read?

And I'd love a ChickLit (i.e. fluffy and funny) book recommendation too!

And for those Facebook fans out there...what in the world is Mafia Wars?! It is worth looking at? I'm scared to try it out because I don't want it to suck all my free time...need time for my shows and stitching!

Hope everyone is enjoying their evening. I'm about to peel off the computer to watch some CSI:NY and read a little more of my book.

Remember to enjoy and relax.

Until next time...

11 comments:

Theresa said...

Wow~ Lovely stash you have there~~ And your dinner looks delicious!!!

I can't really help you with your book questions, since I have never read a Jane Austen, either... Well, not in English anyways.... But I do like the story of Pride and Prejudice, and Emma~ Hum....Maybe I should put them on my reading list, too~~~

Jennifer said...

My advice is to stay as far away from Mafia Wars and the other facebook apps like that - HUGE time suckers. If you happen to see my husband wandering aimlessly around Vampire Wars, send him home. LOL

Chick Lit Authors to get you started - Sophie Kinsella (Shopaholic books), Jane Green, Jennifer Weiner, Wendy Markham, Megan Crane, Cathy Kelly. Look up any one of these authors on Amazon for their catalogs, and check out the suggestions for other books. I like to browse through and find books that sound interesting to me. Also, the publisher Red Dress Ink has some decent books. Check them out as well. If you're looking for funny, try Laurie Notaro and Jennifer Lancaster

And I absolutely must mention the book written by my best friend from grad school - The Hard Way by Julie Luongo. It's not light and fluffy, but I guess it could technically be considered chick lit. It's a series of interconnected short stories about the main character, Lucy.

Edgar said...

What great stash!! What a super corn dinner - something I think I need to try! I would suggest for JA books either "Pride and Prejudice" or "Sense and Sensibility" - both are superior works.

Natasha said...

Great stash Valerie :) I remeber you making a mad dash for the mesh bags LOL

I depise ALL the FB APs only becasue I am a farmville Junkie.Yes I admit it..I want my crops to die so I can spend all my free time stitching LOL

Anyway I agree with edgar Sense and sensibility. I love that book as for chick lit all the authors that Jennifer recomended are fun to read quick humor with out to much thinking ;) Jane Green she my favorite. Also Jennifer Weiner

Are you going somewhere exciting for your VaCa? Check out GoodReads.com a good way to track what you have read and want to read and also you can read the jackets from the books before buying or checking out.
HTH
Take Care :0)

Cheryl said...

Gotta try Jane Green for Chick Lit!
My fav JA is Persuasion but Pride and Prejudice a close 2nd.

Melissa said...

You got some wonderful stash, Valerie! I have a couple of the Valerie Lejeune books as well and love them! I have Repertoire des Frises and Valerie Lejeune's books, Repertoire des Motifs.

As for Jane Austen books, my favorites are definitely Persuasion followed very closing by Pride & Prejudice. I <3 Mr. Darcy. :)

I got sucked into Mafia Wars back in June and have become quite addicted to it. I have zero idea what is so appealing about it, but I can't seem to stop playing it. LOL

Jennifer said...

That is some awesome stash! I love your new scissors.

As for Jane Austen, my favorites are Pride and Prejudice and also Persuasion. (And there are really good movie adaptations of those too.)

As for chicklit, I've been reading a lot of Georgette Heyer lately, she wrote a lot of fun Regency romances. The Corinthian and The Grand Sophy are really good.

Marjorie said...

I have to agree with those who said it before, you can't go wrong with either Persuasion or Pride and Prejudice. Take care though, you'll become an Austen addict.

So where did you find those scissors?

samplerlover said...

What a great collection of stash you have there. Love your scissors.

I love all of JA's wonderful books, but my 3 favorites are Emma, Persuasion and of course Pride and Prejudice.

I bought a wonderful book yesterday that is simply beautiful it is called Jane Austens Sewing Box by Jennifer Forest. It has a lot of Regency craft projects in it, but if you are a JA lover, the photos and portions from her letters and books is worthwhile buying it alone. I discovered that Amazon.com has it and I found it quite curious that a new copy of it is $39.22 but a used copy is $98.88. Very interesting.

How wonderful that you are going to Rhode Island and are able to see some of these wonderful samplers. That is something I would love to do. Think of me while you there lol. - Sandra.

Carol R said...

Love the Valerie Lejeune books and such beautiful scissors too.

Not long til your trip .. enjoy!

Meari said...

Nice stashing! I LOVE those scissors.