Saturday 14 March 2009

A Novel Life

I did a bit of stitching on Tuesday evening and <- this is what I was working on. If you remember the last update on this one, you'll know that I've only done a bit more on the bottom row, but it's a much nicer and truer photo than the last one I posted, so it's nice to get that aspect of it, if nothing else.

I've been doing rather a lot of reading lately. I read Trollope's 'Framley Parsonage' which I'd started just before falling ill, then went on to finish Ann Radcliffe's 'The Italian', an 18th century gothic novel I'd not touched for 4 years!! I've also read Mary Elizabeth Braddon's 'Aurora Floyd', which pleasantly surprised me. I'd really enjoyed 'Lady Audley's Secret' last month, but I was afraid AF was going to be just a re-hash of LAS. It wasn't though, the heroine is basically innocent, just a bit dim at times!! I'm now on to the last 2 tales in the World's Classics collection of Elizabeth Gaskell's shorter works called 'The Moorland Cottage and Other Stories' and have also borrowed MEB's 'The Doctor's Wife' from the Uni. I decided to read as many books as I could from the Uni library's great literatre collection as it saves lots of money buying them and means that I can 'save' my own resources for taing away when we go to Taiwan and I want something to read. I have lots of late 16th-early 20th fiction that I haven't read yet, but there are an awful lot of titles that I don't have, but want to read. Another perk of working at the Uni, (where, yes, I've decided to stay doing what I do now and anymore casual bits and bobs that seem decent, esp as the pay for even those is really good and I can use the libraries etc.)

My College teacher 'phoned the other night and I talked about catching up with her, so that felt a bit better and I feel more motivated. She gave me some good suggestions and now I feel that I can move forward again. Uni term finishes for a month this coming Weds, so I can work more or less full-time on my C&G over the 4-5 week period. That should see me well caught up and even on with my folder etc. I've decided that it's workday time only though and that evenings and weekends will be spent on personal projects, unless, of course, I'm enjoying a piece greatly and want to carry on with it.=) So, there should be more personal stitching coming up, including finishing this band sampler and a hardanger cushion with pink/purple hand-dyed Caron threads on white Oslo fabric. Looking forward to that as it works up lovely and fast. May do some more cross stitch after that too. Stay tuned, progress and photos coming up!

8 comments:

Odile said...

Very beautifull. Fabric and threads are splendid. Very good week end.

Anonymous said...

Hi, elizI know that you have the kindness to write a comment about my treillis stitch on blog's Elizabeth quieter moments, thanks.
Yours is one of my favorites, I like your stumpwork and also your translation of garden' s photo in textile work.
The world woven by the women is wonderful: thanks for sharing
Anne
http://quilt007.free.fr

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

hello Elizabeth, I hope you are feeling better soon. Your English novels sound very interesting. I wished we had a good library that I could use sooo you are very fortunately, to have access to the uni one.

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your lovely comment on my begginners stumpwork project. Hugs Judy

MargB said...

The stitching is beautiful and I liked your book list as well. i managed to find a secondhand copy of Cranford the other day - never read Gaskell and I enjoyed Judy Dench and co in the TV production and decided I needed to read the original.
I hope the quiet reading time provides a cure.

SheilasEmbroidery said...

Whow you have done a lot of reading. So pleased that despite being sick you sound much more positive about work and your C&G course. It takes a lot to keep up when you are working as well. Looking forward to seeing some of your college pieces.

Susan Elliott said...

Well, it just stinks to lose eight days of your life to sickness but it sounds like you made good use of it with your reading! Your ship will be righted soon enough. Hang in there.

Carmen said...

so sorry for the eight day of sickness, i hope you feel better soon, and with energy.

the stitching work,like always,beautiful.

que tengas una muy buena semana :D

Kate said...

Hey Elizabeth, I hope you finally manage to shake this bug soon. It sounds like being sick is really getting you down. It is an excellent excuse to catch up on some good books though. :)

 
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