Before turning my attention to Christmas,
just one more brief post-European-trip-post.
The seeing, eating and experiencing of other cultures are super…lovely images, but how wonderful to bring home mementos of the trip! It’s Christmas a little early in our household.
Crazy Daisy
It was like radar, seeing this little cup on the reduced price display. Of course every favoured cup needs a little buddy—one for cappuccino and one for tea. How very sorted and organized, don’t you think? And who can resist the name ‘Crazy Daisy’!
Lovin’ Spoonful
Thanks must go to Little Cotton Rabbits for mentioning Spiralling Store on her blog. One peek at this little lovin’ spoonful sugar bowl and I knew without a doubt one would be residing in my kitchen. Would it be crazy to say that things taste just a bit sweeter for having come out of this pleasing little pudge?
I think he looks right at home!
Fidra
Fidra-Bookshop-Owner-Vanessa, who really knows her stuff, placed a copy of I Capture The Castle, by Dodie Smith, into my hands for Kate. Perhaps a little old for her, I decided to read it first.
And now, it is I who am captured. More like captivated, I should say, by the writing of this woman. Penned in the late 1940s, she weaves a tale of a bohemian family who live in rather humble means in a castle. You might know her by another well-known story, The Hundred and One Dalmatians. It’s not your typical young adult fare and gives pause to many thoughts in the reading of it. Will definitely need to enquire whether Vanessa ships internationally!
Now this, my friends, is a scarf!
The wonderful thing about not being a felter is that I then become the recipient of extraordinary Christmas pressies from Felter-Friend-Holly-AKA-Winona-Queen. Wow, what a stunner! Nuno felting at its finest, I must say. The silk changes colour from slate to amethyst depending upon the light, with just a little sparkle and a hint of Lily Munster to give it that extra something. I absolutely love it!
Sigh… the holiday is over but overflowing with treasures captured in these remembrances. Now, I’m ready for Christmas.
‘I Capture the Castle’ is one of my all-time favorite books! And there is a wonderful, fairly recent movie adaptation as well.
Fidra Books sounds very interesting–a bit like a Persephone Books for children’s literature. Will definitely be finding out more!
And I love your new mug and teacup.
K x
20 Dec 2008 at 5:39 pm
i do not remember that book..will have to look it up. love the cuppa’s! and what a cute pudge! how nice of your friend to share her gifts. I know what you mean though, my mom’s boyfriends mother is a fabulous art quilter. But she has never made mom or i one even when my daughter was born….she says”but you can make one yourself”, she doesn’t get it’s not the same! We are having a literal blizzard here…snow 2″ per hour, sustained winds 40-60 mph with gusts to 90….we’re due for 10-24 inches in the next 24 hours. Yup, xmas is here!! (now as long as we keep power!)
20 Dec 2008 at 10:48 pm
Hi Cheryl,
We sooo have the same taste in things, I love the cups and Capture The Castle is wonderful and the recent film version is good too. One Day we really are going to have to get together for tea, cakes and Knitting. Husband and I spent some time in Edinburgh, during the Festival this summer and its a fab City isn’t it? I’m glad you had such a good trip,
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and all Good wishes for you for 2009,
God Bless,
Love Janey xx
21 Dec 2008 at 5:27 am
I’m so glad that you enjoyed I Capture the Castle – whenever I rave about a book and send someone away with it I always worry that they’re going to hate it! Do let me know what Kate thinks!
It was lovely to meet you both and such a marvellous surprise!
21 Dec 2008 at 8:10 am
How lovely that the new edition of “I Capture the Castle” has a certain flower on the cover….
There’s a good biography of Dodie Smith by Valerie Grove: “Dear Dodie”.
21 Dec 2008 at 4:41 pm
Welcome home, Cheryl! What a marvelous trip! See you in the new year, I hope.
21 Dec 2008 at 10:31 pm
Love the cups. I will have to check out “Capture the casle”
22 Dec 2008 at 12:35 am
That is an AMAZING scarf! That’s the kind of felting I’d like to get into. Happy Christmas!
22 Dec 2008 at 12:52 pm
Paige still has I Capture the Castle in her bookscase. Maybe I should try it. I’m enjoying having two weeks to read whatever I want!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
23 Dec 2008 at 12:45 am
the scarf is amazing. it will be wonderful to wear. and thanks for the book tip. take care.
24 Dec 2008 at 9:12 pm