Book Review: Enchanting Pleasures by Eloisa James

James's boks are always so much fun, and this one was no exception. This is the 3rd and final in her "pleasures" series. Gabby is an heiress who was born and raised in India who travels to England to meet her betrothed only to find once there that her betrothed, Peter Dewland, is horrified by her lack of fashion sense.

The inevitable happens at her first ball, and her gown falls fom her shoulders exposing her chest to everyone there and mortifying both her and Peter.

But all that is ok because Peter's brother, Quill, is the one who is in love with Gabby and through several twists and turns (which involve some twisting and turning on the study floor) is the one who marries her and they fall in love with each other.

What I like about James's books (other than the fact that they are so smartly written) is that they are more than just the marriage plot. Yes, that's important, but it's only 1/2 the story. The other half is that the couple has to learn to communicate and live with one another, which they always do. Gabby is a delightful character who likes to "gab" and as a result there is lots of fun dialog and banter throughout.

Highly recommended to historical romance readers.

WW Update

I'm even and David lost 2. That puts us at 11 and 18!

Green Tencel Swedish Lace Scarf

This soft green tencel scarf is indeed soft on the eyes and the skin. It is woven in a Swedish Lace pattern that forms little squares throughout the scarf. Fringe is twisted.

The scarf measures 7x67 and sells for $45.

Book Review: The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale

I loved this book. I was captivated from the first paragraph. That's a feat for a book, in my opinion.

The Shadow and the Star is the 2nd in a series (wish I'd known that and read the first book first...) following the characters Samuel Gerard and Leda Etoile as they learn about love, themselves and the world.

Kinsale does an amazing job of portraying Samuel who was physically and sexually abused as a child in a brothel for boys as he struggles to cope with the feelings of guilt and shame that accompanies sexual abuse. Leda is an orphan who was raised by Miss Myrtle, a genteel maiden, who teaches her all about manners and the proper way of doing things.

There is quite a bit to say about this novel. The structure is very interesting with oscilating chapters between Samuel as a young child after he has come to live with Lady Tess and the "current" story line of Samuel and Leda meeting and then coming into a relationship with one another.

The story line of Leda early in the book reminded me of a 19th century sentimenal novel where the heroine's standards are often tested, and she has to choose the right moral thing to do even if she doesn't know if she will have food to eat the next day or not.

Kinsale also is a great writer. The prose is clean and the story line does not have any tangents or pieces that don't seem to fit--or that were left out. I especially liked how she could make a scene between Samuel and Leda where all he does is touch her face feel so charged with sexual tension. Very nice touch...to use a bad pun.

AND the setting is great--London in 1887-88 and Hawaii from 1860-1888.

Overall I liked this book very much and have added the rest of Kinsale's books to my reading list and will look forward to reading them one day.

Recommended for those who like historical romances.

"just because"

Suspiros Carinitos by Eugenie Rocherolle

Suspiros Carinitos is part of the Spanish Quartet by Rocherolle. I will eventually have all four songs up here. I particularly like the slow yearning pace of this one.

WW Update

I keep losing and gaining the same two pounds...if you're keeping track, I'm up 2 again this week for a total loss of 11. David is even.

I'm going to try to focus better this week. I hope I can manage to do so because if not, I have no idea what to do to lose weight...

Electric Green Bamboo and Cotton Scarf

This "electric" green scarf is made from my favorite bamboo yarn from Southwest Trading Company and pearl cotton. Super soft and SO SO fun, I love it!

This is a commission for Jan. This scarf sells for $55 with lots and lots of color options.

A Quick Note

Just a quick note to let you know that I am sending most of the scarves in the "Handwovens for Sale" label to a store for commission on Monday. Please let me know now if you'd like one so I can pull it out of the box for you!

If you do, you can e-mail me at lesliestbutler@gmail.com and we will go from there!

Victorian Confetti

A bamboo scarf using beautiful sea and sunset inspired colors. The pattern is a gorgeous twill that looks beautiful and different on both sides. David saw this in the loom and said "it looks like victorian confetti" which I thought was apt.

The scarf measures 8.5x72 and sells for $60. It has twisted fringe.

Book Review: Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

I loved the book, as I’ve loved everything she’s written so far. I enjoyed reuniting with the characters. It felt like a really homey reunion where you like everybody and they have fun stories to tell.

That said, the writing was a little odd for Gabaldon. Kind of edgy and hurried. I never understood why the William and Lord Grey sections were so out of synch (time wise) with the rest of the story lines. And I have to say that leaving such a cliff-hanger (well 4 to be exact) is difficult for a reader who knows she won’t see these characters again and reach resolution for at least 2-3 years.

Oh well. If you like the Outlander Series you’ll love this book. If you haven’t read any of the Outlander books, I recommend starting with #1 and reading until now…by the time you’ve finished book 7 it’ll almost be time for book 8 to come out and then you won’t have to agonize over the fates of all the characters in the meantime. Gabaldon is one of my favorite authors and I always love it when she has a new book out. Note of warning, they are LONG books, but so well written and fun that it’s worth the time and effort.

Barn Swallow Scarf

I absolutely love these rayon variegated yarns from Earth Guild's Dragon Tales yarns. They are super silky and drapy and have a wonderful sheen. They weave like a dream and feel wonderful too. I mixed the color, barn swallow, with a gold/cream alpaca boucle (that's the bumpy strips) and wove with a cream tencel. This particular scarf is a commission, but I can do one in the following color-ways if you're interested: pink, grey-black, autumn colors, purple (royal), browns, and the blue/gold of the barn swallow. Let me know if you're interested.

This scarf measures 11.5x66, has twisted fringe and sells for $55.

WW Update

I lost 2 pounds this week and David lost 1.5. He was trying on clothes yesterday and was getting into stuff that he hasn't worn ina while. Very satisfying. I haven't even tried on old clothes in a serious way, but I have put on clothes that were too tight a few month ago that fit very nicely now.

Now, to keep focused this week. I'm having difficulty with the focus thing. I just want to do as well as I can this week and hopefully things will calm down next.

Totals so far: Me, 13, David 16.

Jezebel, Yin and Yang Scarf

The yarns used to create this scarf are by Southwest Trading Company (a theme in my weaving apparently as I love their yarns). They are named Jezebel, Yin and Yang. What fun names for yarn!

The turquoise is merino wool and VERY very soft. The plain grey is bamboo, wool and silk and the lighter grey is bamboo, wool and silk with metallic sequins. It measures 7x64 and sells for$70. the fringe is twisted.

Los Gitanos by Eugenie Rocherolle

Los Gitanos (the gypsies) by Eugenie Rocherolle. A fairly new piece for me, and I like it. Hope you do too!

Red and Black Bamboo and Soy Silk Scarf

Another scarf from my favorite yarns--bamboo and soy silk from Southwest Trading Company. This one is in red variegated with black. It makes me think of Mexia blackcats and Texas Tech Red Raiders! Go teams!

This scarf is a commission for Erin.

Placemats

These placemats are a Christmas gift for Elizabeth, except for 2 (the turquose and maroon ones) that I am keeping for myself. They are ade using all cotton in a patten called advancing twill. I think they look very fancy and complicated. Almost embroidered, actually.

WW Update

Another difficult week on the weight watchers front. David and I both gained 2 pounds. That puts me at an 11 pound loss and him at a 14.5 pound loss. It's looking hard to meet that 20 pound by Thanksgiving goal.

What I learned this week? That I still do not know how to go out to eat and make good choices--maybe there aren't many good choices, which is why David and I have been cooking at home. Drinking wine, which I knew already, really hinders my ability to lose weight.

It makes me feel very confident about our decision to post-pone our Paris trip. We were going to go in December but have decided to wait until October next year so that we don't sabotage our weight loss...I realize after a weekend of entertaining/travel that we made a very good decision...

Doctor Graddus by Debussy

This song by Debussy is part of the Children's Corner suite. It is an imagining of his daughter practicing her excercises on the piano and then drifting off to dream-land. She repeatedly brings herself back to the themed exercises (the theme from the beginning), though. However, she ends in a mad-dash of arpeggios, showing dissonance, and bangs out the last few measures of the song. You can imagine her running off to play with her friends after the last "bong" at the end.

It is quite a difficult piece to learn, and I still don't have it "perfected" but this is as good as I've played it to date. I love the piece and will continue to work on it as I'm quite proud of having learned it...I do believe it's the most difficult piece I've ever played.

WW Update

Things disintegrated for me about Thursday this week, when I got hungry and couldn't seem to fill up no matter what I did. I ended up gaining what I lost last week, 1.5 pounds. David lost what he gained last week, 2.5 pounds. That puts us at 13 pounds and 16.5 respectively.

I am hoping to maintain this upcoming week. We are having company beginning Thursday, are going to New Orleans with them on Friday and having a dinner party on Saturday. I am going to try to make good choices, but I have to say that eating healthy and "partying" don't seem to go together for me...but we are trying by only going out to dinner the once.