The Treehouse

The Jane Austen Book Club

 I'm not very good at doing reviews but I'll give it a shot. I watched this film together with my daughter (age 13) on a rainy afternoon this last week. Here is the blurb from the back of the box...

"Six months. Six novels. Six members.

Based on the best -selling novel by Karen Joy Fowler, The Jane Austen Book Club takes reading the classics to new heights of passion in this romantic comedy featuring an all-star cast. when fie women and one man get together to discuss the beloved novels of Jane Austen, they realise the heartaches of Emma, Mr. Darcy and the Bennet sisters are not so different from their own. finding comfort, with and wisdom from the pages and each other, they discover that, in matters of love, all they need to ask is: What would Jane do?"

We both really enjoyed this film - it's definitely a feel good, happily ever after, curl up on the couch and enjoy film. Each of the characters in the film can be loosely identified with characters from Austen novels and although their individual stories run along the lines of some of Austen's stories, they do so with a modern day interpretation. I think the film works well and we would both watch it again (and probably will do so very soon if the rain keeps up!) - it's a refreshing and charming film that is completely without the violence and overtly sexual content that is so predominant these days.

In the special features part of the DVD, there is a segment entitled "The Book Club : Deconstructed" which is well worth watching - I think probably more so if you have already read the book (I have not) because the director/writer of the film explains her thinking behind the version that she has written of Karen Joy Fowlers novel. It's clear from Robin Swicord's explanation that there she has made considerable changes to the original story and I am quite keen now to read the actual book itself.

I must say that prior to starting this challenge I was completely unaware of how much Austen inspired literature and film there is available. I was dubious as to whether I would enjoy it however, I'm delighted to say that so far, I'm loving every bit of it. I've made great inroads into my challenge list this week having now watched this film, the dvd of Lost in Austen and also started on Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. I'm also making a list of things that look interesting in the hopes that there will be an Austen III next year...a few of them I may add to this year's list as I'm enjoying myself so much.

The Count of Monte Cristo Challenge

 I love talking books with Carole - sometimes it's expensive; she introduces me to somebody new I introduce Carole to somebody new; we share books; we join in bookrings, bookrays, bookspirals and goodness knows what else! It's wondeful to talk with somebody else who enjoys such a wide diversity of reading material though. Last week I think it was, Carole mentioned that she was reading The Count of Monte Cristo. Well, I LOVE that story. I watched Richard Chamberlain as the Count when I was young - my Mum had a soft spot for Richard and in recent years I've watched Jim Caviezel in a new film version of the story. Both great films and Catherine loves the film too. Now, I have quite a large TBR pile and I happened to mention to Carole that The Count had been lingering on this pile since before Catherine was born :o Carole responded with a challenge to read the Count. I think she was teasing - maybe. I started feeling a bit sorry for The Count though as I then realised that he'd been sitting on the shelf in excess of 13 years - I think I bought him after I read Les Miserables and I know for a fact that I read that in my lunch hours at work so...more than 14 years on the shelf :o

It's time for the Count to come down off the shelf and be properly read so in addition to the Everything Austen Challenge II, bookrings/rays/spirals, a gazillion sewing projects, library books, summer holidays and whatever else - I am going to read The Count of Monte Cristo before school starts back in September. I can report that so far he is down off the shelf and dusted off and the first few pages have been consumed :D

Everything Austen II

 Stephanie of Stephanie's Written Word is hosting the Everything Austen II challenge - I missed the first one but can't resist signing up for this 2nd chance. Sign ups are open until 15th July and there are 6 months in which to complete your chosen challenges. I've really challenged myself - I've included two lots of viewing - I'm not good at viewing - I only view when I've got some hand sewing in my mitts and no kids sports to attend! I was going to include a stitching project - I still would like to include a stitching project but really - I have an incalculable amount of stitching projects on the go as it is! Here are my choices, in no particular order of preference - 

1. Mansfield Park - book

  I've never read this one :o 

2. The Jane Austen Book Club - dvd

 This looks interesting. I'm thinking a girly night of tv and sewing with Catherine. I see Violet from Private Practice is in there, I like here and also Jimmy Smits...Mmm, I used to love him in LA Law!

3. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - book

 This sounds like an absolute hoot!

4. Lost in Austen - dvd

 I recall seeing part of a random episode of this when it was on the television - I was curious to see more. I think Catherine may manage to keep me company for some of this...there is 3 hours worth of viewing though so good for stitching along to!

5. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters - book

 rather irresistable once you see that POTC Davey Jones character on the cover!

6. Jane Austen's Sewing Box - book

 I had a little dip into this when it arrived from Amazon - it looks like a great combination of Austen info, history and little sewing projects. I might combine no.6 with the stitching of a huswife but like I said above, I have lots of stitching on the go so I may not get around to it.

Hoping to find some time to visit the blogs of other participants to see what they're doing.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Busy sewing week...

I've cracked on with a few projects this week thanks to the poor weather. We were supposed to go to Alton Towers on Wednesday however, a forecast of heavy rain didn't make that an inviting prospect so we postponed until a later, more sunny day! Catherine and I did some baking while Matthew hared around outside until it started to rain and then came indoors to play with diablo and football game with about 1/2 the neighbourhood's children in tow :o We girls were safe in the kitchen...with the cookies and cake!

 My aim this week was to get up to date with my Tail Feathers quilt and I'm pleased to say that I have done :D I now just have a bit of stitching left on block two and I'll be ready for the August delivery.

Block One complete except for it's little 1" squares border, I forgot about that!

 

Block 2 with the 1" square border! just needing it's stitcheries completing now. Catherine and I bought some Hercule Poirot dvds in Asda yesterday - we're both thoroughly addicted to Hercule and I see some Hercule and stitching forecast for this afternoon - it's raining again!

I even cracked on and made some of the log cabin blocks - one of them needs its last strip but I didn't have a material left in a big enough size that wasn't already in that block so it'll have to wait for the August package to arrive.

Pretty material isn't it?

Poor Matthew's quilt was abandoned...the reason? I knew there was a mistake in it and the thought of so much unpicking was too depressing, likewise - the thought of finishing it off with a glaring error in it was too depressing as well so - stalemate! Last night I got to work on fixing it and this is what it looks like at the moment...

This week's aim is to get the top finished without the mistakes! I must say I'm glad that I'm redoing it, it looks so much better. I'll be getting a little sewing time tomorrow evening while the chicks have friends round for a sleepover. I'm hoping that the weather will be kind on Tuesday so we can have an outing - not much use going to the park in the pouring rain! (and I can stitch at the park :D)

So last night, after a marathon of correcting for Matthew's quilt I decided on a quick, fun, satisfying make. I had seen a really cute little bag on Moda Bakeshop blog - that is such a smashing blog by the way, check it out if you're a sewer - lots of lovely projects and they're not all big ones. Anyway...the cute bag, I really fancied making it so I did!

Been getting on with a little crocheting too - the nice lady in the sewing shop is getting some lovely Clover crochet hooks in with a soft handle, I intend to have one or two of those. She's also getting some circular sock knitting needles in - I intend to use up my ball of sock yarn, it's too pretty to sit in the cupboard so these will be mine as well, lol!