Literary Sewing Circle: Finale & Project Roundup

Today is already our final day of the Literary Sewing Circle focusing on Theresa Kishkan's Sisters of Grass!

I hope you've had the chance to read the book, and both the first and second inspiration posts, and are getting lots of ideas for a project of your own. 

The project linkup will be added to the bottom of this post: as soon as you are done your project, just pop a link to your post into the linkup and we will all be able to visit your blog/instagram etc. and explore your creation -- remember, it can be sewn, or knitted, crocheted, embroidered... any textile art that you practice.

And thanks to our sponsors, Helen's Closet, who will be giving away one PDF pattern, and DG Patterns, who will be giving away 3 PDF patterns! The random draw for winners will be held on April 22 after our project link up closes. Get your projects in :) 

UPDATE: Our prize draw has been completed thanks to a lucky dice roll, and the winners for this round are:

Helen's Closet pattern: @jan.conlon

DG Pattern pack: @atoptimiste 

Congrats to you both! 

I shared a lot of my thoughts on the book in our earlier book talk post. You can explore those for some of my thoughts; today I'll share an overview of my impressions of this novel. I hope you will too!

Looking at this book from a librarian's perspective, I note that the 'appeal factors' that are most evident are the writing style, the setting, and the characters. The plot, such as it is, is not one that will keep you flipping pages to find out what happens. That's not really the point of this story! The story is most notable for its poetic writing; the descriptions, imagery, and atmosphere build a compelling setting that then sets off the quiet daily lives of the characters, both the current day ones and the historical ones. 

I loved the beautiful, poetic writing. Although this is a slower paced book, I found that it was well balanced and easy to read. Margaret's life is the thread that holds the narrative together, and provides the arc. I found the style, the way that Kushan moved fluidly between past & present, a key element in my appreciation of the story. 

I was also drawn in by the representation of so many different women’s lives. Margaret’s and Anna’s of course, but also Jenny & Grandmother Jackson, the Stuarts, even Emma Albani and the female photographer in Kamloops. So many hints of lives being lived that we might not always see in the historical record. It felt like this focus was inherent to this book, in its focus on material history and the more overlooked parts of our past. The thoughtful pace of the storytelling really spoke to me.

Questions for you: What was your overall impression of this book? Does it make you want to visit the Nicola Valley? How did you feel that the natural history fit into the progression of the narrative? What did you think about the conclusion?

Please share your thoughts on the book, its themes, characters, or anything you noted about it -- either in the comments here or on our first Book Talk post, or on your own blog with a link to your longer thoughts in the comments so we can find it. I love to talk about the experience of reading so feel free to comment no matter when you're reading this post; if you've read this I'd love to hear your thoughts.

What project have you made, inspired by your reading of Sisters of Grass? Share a link to your project on this post as soon as you're done! The linkup will be live until April 21 --  you have another 2 weeks of sewing time to finish and share. Don't forget that anyone who enters a project is in the draw for pattern prizes from our two sponsors, Helen's Closet & DG Patterns!

(If the linkup does not work for you please leave a comment with your project)

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Literary Sewing Circle: Finale & Project Round Up

 

Today is already our final day of the Literary Sewing Circle focusing on Elizabeth C. Bunce's Premeditated Myrtle!

I hope you've had the chance to read the book, and both the first and second inspiration posts, and are getting lots of ideas for a project of your own. 

The project linkup will be added to the bottom of this post: as soon as you are done your project, just pop a link to your post into the linkup and we will all be able to visit your blog/instagram etc. and explore your creation -- remember, it can be sewn, or knitted, crocheted, embroidered... any textile art that you practice.

I shared a lot of my thoughts on the book in our earlier book talk post, and I reviewed this novel on my book blog when I first read it. You can explore those for some of my thoughts; today I'll share an overview of my impressions of this novel. I hope you will too!

I really enjoyed this book each time I read it. The clever chapter headings and footnotes, the variety of characters, the well plotted mystery, and the Victorian setting were all pluses for me.  I found Myrtle reminiscent of some of my other favourite girl sleuths like Flavia de Luce or even Harriet the Spy - especially in the relationship between Myrtle and Miss Judson, one of the most pleasing bits of the series for me. 

The story held up to rereadings, as it was both clever and full of detail that could be enjoyed on the second go-round. I appreciated the attention given to the setting and domestic details, which were added in so naturally but grounded the story in its place. Seeing Myrtle's reactions to clues and facts and other characters was also richer the second time, when you know what's going to happen and can slow down a little and take in all the elements of the narrative. 

Of course I loved the clothing and household descriptions; as one of our participants mentioned previously, the clothing adds to the development of each character when you notice that what they are wearing expresses them in varied ways. 

Also, the emotional element of Myrtle's connection to Miss Judson as a mother figure is touching. I loved the addition of Miss Judson's background, which adds depth and nuance to her as a person and to her role in the family. And Myrtle's much hoped-for romance between Miss Judson and her father is a great touch. I have enjoyed the additional books in the series and hope some of you will too!

Questions for you all:

Did you enjoy this mystery for younger readers? Are you intrigued to follow up with some of the other titles in this series? (heads up, book two has some sewing related content as well...) Did you connect with Myrtle's character? How does she compare, for you, to other young female sleuths?

Please share your thoughts on the book, its themes, characters, or anything you noted about it -- either in the comments here or on our first Book Talk post, or on your own blog with a link to your longer thoughts in the comments so we can find it. I love to talk about the experience of reading so feel free to comment no matter when you're reading this post; if you've read this I'd love to hear your thoughts.

What project have you made, inspired by your reading of Premeditated Myrtle? Share a link to your project on this post as soon as you're done! The linkup will be live until May 31 --  you have another 3 1/2 weeks of sewing time to finish and share.

Literary Sewing Circle: Finale & Project Link Up!

Today is already our final day of the Literary Sewing Circle focusing on A Tale for the Time Being! I hope you've had the chance to read the book, and both the first and second inspiration posts, and are getting lots of ideas for a project of your own.

The project linkup will be added to the bottom of this post: as soon as you are done your project, just pop a link to your post into the linkup and we will all be able to visit your blog/instagram etc. and explore your creation -- remember, it can be sewn, or knitted, crocheted, embroidered... any textile art that you practice.

Photo by Gabriel Gabriel on Unsplash

Today's post also gives us the chance to talk about our reading experience a little more. If you haven't yet had a chance, check out our first discussion post for some specific questions and feedback from readers -- also take a look at our feature on Ruth Ozeki and how her writing reflects her Buddhist approach to life, and see if it raises any questions for you.

Did you enjoy this novel? Did you have a favourite character? Was there a theme which particularly resonated? What part of it stood out for you as your inspiration for your project? Was there anything you didn't like about this novel? Had you heard of it prior to this readalong? Did you recognize any of the character quirks in the story? What did you think of the mix of narratives? How about the idea of time as a fluid concept? Do you think that the role of writing and storytelling was important in this story?

Photo by Tomas Sobek on Unsplash

Here are some of my thoughts on this novel.

I read it first in 2013, when it was published. I loved it then, and I've really enjoyed rereading it and digging right into it looking for deeper themes and details. 

As I shared in all the previous posts, there are so many things I love about this book. Both the storylines, of Ruth and Nao, are so compelling. Each of them is dealing with elements of their lives that they aren't thrilled with, though I think we can agree that Nao's reality is a bit harsher. As Sara pointed out in the last book discussion, they are both facing compromises that have been or must be made, not always by their choice.

And I find the settings so similar even if they are half a globe apart. Though Nao is in a busy, crowded city, she's still isolated and alone. She's quite literally isolated, as if she isn't even there, by her cruel classmates in their final ploy to harass her. And both of her parents are absorbed by their own concerns and distress, leaving her to manage the emotional distress she faces all alone. I just realized that both Ruth and Nao have absent mothers, and perhaps a strong need for that mothering that they are missing.

And of course, the life of Jiko is such a rich vein. The way she represents the best of Japanese culture, history, and religious thought, as opposed to all the terrible, shallow and dangerous currents that Nao moves through in daily life, is so powerful. Jiko is calm, a rock in the centre of this tumultous sea. There are so many of these contrasts in the story -- between Jiko's life and Nao's school experience, or their cramped apartment and Jiko's large empty temple in the countryside -- between the quiet, sparsely populated BC island where Ruth lives (but where you know everyone) and Nao's frenetic city where you know no-one -- between middle aged Ruth and teen Nao -- so many more contrasts to highlight the themes of the book.

I also love the scientific themes in the book. From Oliver's trees to Cassie's barnacles, from the discussion of the ocean gyres and the effects of plastic pollution all the way to theoretical physics and concepts of time, there is so much to think about and talk about and make a reader dizzy! I hope you were inspired to think and create while reading this book, like I was.

Now as to my project, I have a lot of ideas! I just hope I have enough time. I might try to do two projects because I just can't decide on one. But as I am also a Time Being and a busy one, I'm not sure about that ;) 

I am going to start with a dress made from a fabric I mentioned in a previous post, a Michael Miller Katamaki print that I picked up at Goodwill quite a while ago. It's a pretty big print but I want to see if it will work! I'm inspired by the presence of many cats in this novel, and by the visit to Arigato Sushi in "The Liver". After that, if I finish it, I want to try one of the pieces from one of the many Japanese pattern books I've been sharing over the last month. Or maybe a Waffle Patterns Snowball Dress! If you are currently making plans, please feel free to share them in the comments, too -- I'd love to see them. 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

What project have you made, inspired by your reading of A Tale for the Time Being? Share a link to your project post here! Links are open until NOV 15 so you have a full month of sewing time to finish and share.

Don't forget that any finished project shared by the deadline will be eligible for a draw for a 30 Euro coupon from our sponsor, Waffle Patterns! (approx. 3 patterns) Get your projects in! 

Literary Sewing Circle: Final Book Talk & Project Link Up!

Today is already our final day of the Literary Sewing Circle focusing on Dance, Gladys, Dance! I hope you've had the chance to read the book, and the inspiration posts, and are already getting lots of ideas for a project of your own. 

The project linkup will be added to the bottom of this post: as soon as you are done yours just pop a link to your project post into the linkup and we will all be able to visit your post and explore your creation -- remember, it can be sewn, or knitted, crocheted, embroidered... any textile art which you practice. 

Today's post also gives us the chance to talk about our reading experience a little more. If you haven't yet had a chance, check out our first discussion post for some specific questions and feedback from readers -- also take a look at the interview which Cassie Stocks did for us and see if it raises any questions for you. 

Did you enjoy this novel? Did you have a favourite character? Was there a theme which particularly resonated? What part of it stood out for you as your inspiration for your project? Was there anything you didn't like about this novel? Had you heard of it prior to this readalong? Did you recognize any of the character quirks in the story? Have you ever felt a disconnect between your daily life and your creative urges?

Here are some of my musings on my reading.

I enjoyed my reread of this book this time around -- I'd forgotten some of the details, which I enjoyed rediscovering. I really felt sympathy for Gladys & Miss Kesstle on this read, more so than most of the others. Although I liked the way all the characters play against one another. Perhaps my sympathies are a symptom of my own getting older as a reader! 

I also noticed more of the emphasis on clothes and what the characters wore as signifiers of their personalities, probably because I was reading with sewing in mind. When Frieda proudly wears her thrifted shoes, "without golf cleats!" to the art opening, and Ginny sneers at them, it says a lot about both of them. When Lady March swans in wearing a caftan and pronounces conclusions about Frieda's aura, you know immediately what kind of person she is. Whitman appearing all in black in his first appearance is almost a parody of a film producer. Each of them has their own presentation in the world, and their appearance communicates who they are. It was fascinating to notice these details.

I also enjoyed how even in the darkest or most depressing situations, there was always a thread of humour, even if it was low-key or sarcastic. I tend to see things this way most of the time, so this really rang true for me.

But the theme of the book, the focus on reclaiming your creativity and your right to love your art form no matter what it is, really spoke to me. Cassie Stocks doesn't overlook the psychological barriers to living up to your creative urges, and she also incorporates the systematic difficulties which women in particular face when desiring to live an artistic life. Gladys, Miss Kesstle, Girl, Ginny, Marilyn, and Frieda herself all experience these issues in their own ways. Not all of them can resolve the dichotomy of living well and living creatively. But Frieda picking up her brushes again and finding the courage to paint in her own style and manner is so hopeful. I believe the conclusion, though sad in some ways, also gives us a hint of resolution and forward movement in life. 

It's this moment that inspired me, and I picked out a fabric in my stash that I think will be just perfect for my project. Of course it will be a dress -- I am planning on using McCalls 6696, their most popular shirtdress pattern -- and adding some fun details. Do you know what you'll be making? Share hints in the comments!

I hope you've all enjoyed this round of the Literary Sewing Circle! I'll leave the link up live until March 23 to give us all a few weeks to get sewing and sharing. The next round of the Literary Sewing Circle will be announced later in the spring. Happy Sewing!