Friday Finds

Every Friday I post about interesting things I’ve come across in the blogosphere:

• For Christmas this year the Greek Virgo bought me a new ring.  My previous ring fell apart.  Check out the Etsy Shop.
• My heart broke reading Dear Penelope by James Altucher.  It is a very touching post written to another blogger who makes me think.  May peace find you, Penelope Trunk. 
• Cool graph from Visual News depicting earth’s history in 24 hour period.  Fascinating.  (They always have great stuff.)
• Sharon Sews shared a great new (to me) website Sew Can She.  Tons of sewing tutorials.
• Lazy Stitching made me laugh with her pattern buying flow chart.

Happy Reading.

Sewing Blogs to Recommend

Last month Tilly blogged about sewing blogs, specifically what would we recommend and if we had criteria for picking them.

Tilly put a lot of thought into this post and it really got me thinking:  What makes or break a sewing blog for me?

I thought.

Then – bingo – it hit me and it is one simple thing: email feeder.

I prefer the convenience of reading blog posts in my email box.  Of course, I love having a sewist who inspires me too.  I also think Tina’s comment summed it up nicely for me:
Tell me ….

WHAT you made,
in WHICH fabric,
using WHO'S pattern!

So without further ado … my favorite sewing blogs in no particular order:

• Sewaholic
  
• Sew Weekly
  
• Coletterrie
  
• Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing
  
• Tilly and the Buttons
  
• Miss Celie’s Pants
  
• SEWN
  
• Magical Effects of Thinking
  
• Sewin’ in the Rain
  
• Handmade Jane

Check them out.  You may find some cool new blogs to read.

You know the vacation is over when

the view out your window goes from this …

(Nice, France)

to this …

(Denver, Colorado)

Welcome home!

Why aren't there classes like this in Denver?

I subscribe to a number of blogs.  One of them is Whipstich Fabrics a fabric shop in Atlanta which also offers classes.  I discovered it through Motherhood Uncensored's post which mentions Whipstitch and where her daughter took a sewing class.

Whipstich Fabrics sends out a newsletter which includes her upcoming classes.  Here are twoI would love to take:

1 - Sewing Knits without a Serger.  Self-explanatory and only $145 (two sessions) a bargain in my book.

2 - Patternmaking.  Learn to draft a pattern for that outfit you have in your head but can't find a pattern for.  $185 for three sessions PLUS the text (I didn't get a lot of of this book but it could have been because you need someone to explain it.  Read my review here.)

So why aren't there classes like these in Denver?

source: Wren

Picture This: How Pictures Work

Picture This: How Pictures Work by Molly Bang

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I discovered this book on Penelope Trunk's website.  I don't usually go for books like this and almost didn't read it before returning it to the library.  But I am sure glad I did.  And be sure to read the whole thing (i.e. the introduction) it explains it all.

This was such a fascinating book and you will never look at art, pictures, etc. the same.  I inhaled this book.  I wish I could renew it to be able to read it again and again and refer back to it.  It's that amazing. 

It's not difficult reading but there are some serious concepts in it that will change how you think about perspective. 

Seriously, one should read this in grade school, high school, college, our 30s, 40s, 50s, etc. 

This would make a great book club pick.  It's not a long read but thought provoking.  Everyone could bring one of their favorite pictures, artwork whatever and talk about how it speaks to them and how they think about it after reading the book.  Wouldn't that be a fun book club, different than the usual stuff?

If your library doesn't own this book buy it - it's only $11 on Amazon.

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An Ode to Jillian Michaels

Jillian Michaels I loathe to like you.

Jillian Michaels (from now on will be known as "JM") I aspire to hate you.

JM you make my hammies & buttocks sing.  Soaring to the previously unreachable soprano's aria of high C.  Every time I walk, I attempt to sit, or basically any time I start or end any normal human movement. 

I hate you.  I love you. Won't you shut up already about how I can't phone it in.  Do you really think I'm bringing my mobile with me to these torture sessions?

Seriously, go to the library or WM or Costco or wherever you prefer to deposit your paycheck and pick up her newest exercise DVD: Ripped in 30 Days.

source: www.jillianmichaels.com

I completed workout one yesterday and thought it went really well.  I got up a good sweat, moved around a lot.  Yes.  A new one to add into the rotation.  Good job JM.

I went on with my life: work, errands, bookmobile, dinner, walk, veg on the couch, etc.

** fast forward to this AM **

My lovely alarm chirps promptly at 4:45 am (yes - you read it correctly) and I bound out of bed for a new day and my daily exercise.  And my legs won't move.

I ponder this for a moment (I may have actually fallen back asleep) and try again.  O.M.G.  What in the blazes is wrong with my legs!?  Have I suffered from some mysterious side effect of the West Nile Virus?

(I did go on a walk yesterday and the Denver Post had an article about how it is remotely possible to be bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus.  Note: I did not read the article.  Not even a skim, just a glance at the headline & picture.)

Oh heavens no ... it was my dear, beloved exercise demon coach JM who had done this to me.  (Mental note: return JM secret society decoder ring pronto.)  That b*&/!.

So how do I respond to this dilemma you ponder?

I did another JM workout because I am a masochist.  There -  I said it.  Someone send me a link to a meetup of others like me (either recovering or still into it; I could go either way).

Now to be nice to my body I did the JM Yoga Meltdown DVD because you don't really work out your hamstrings in yoga.  Right?

source: www.jillianmichaels.com

crickets

Oh, crap, is it time to get up again?

HA!  I'll be amazed if I can move after sitting on my backside all morning at the library.  I hope no one needs help with the printers.  Dammit, law students, you are on your own with your fancy duplex print job.  You already have one degree.  Didn't that include a class on how to use technology?

Oh - that's right - you were too busy drinking the night before thus hungover (and probably still wasted) to make it to your Tuesday 10am tech class.  Sorry, I forgot what it's like to be twenty and entitled.

So ... JM ... will I see you tomorrow?  Will I still love you when I can't get off the floor?  You betcha!

And that's all I've got to say about that.

Sacred Hearts

Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book took me 10 days to listen to.  Wow - that's a long time for me. 



This was a very thought provoking book for me.  I oscillated between liking it a lot and really hating it.  The writing was fine.  The characters were fine.  However, the restrictions and structure of convent life similtaneously enthralled & repulsed me. 



At certain points the idea of living with a bunch of women in a community was very appealing.  Then, I'd think about it a bit more and realize it would awful.  Then, I would wonder how could I find something so appealing then so loathsome.  I don't know.  But I think it is worth exploring and discussing.



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