Category Archives: Prose & Poetry

Southern Reach

[Spoiler warning to end all spoiler warnings. You will find out about just about everything that happens in these books.] I have, as I’ve said before, a considerable taste for dystopian and apocalyptic fiction, moreso in recent years than previously; and according to actual published scientific research (!!!) it is not just me. Apparently, theContinue reading “Southern Reach”

Review: The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World

(The weirdest thing happened this summer, Dear Readers. I made some shorts and t-shirts for myself and Frances and Mysterious Others, and I thought — you know, I have enough summer clothes now. There’s really no need to sew another dress or skirt. Let’s do something else. You’ll probably be seeing bits and pieces ofContinue reading “Review: The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World”

Not too tired to pontificate, thank god

Today I am walking into walls. Apparently I have lost the ability to manage a straight line. But why should this stop me from soliloquising about internet matters? No reason at all. To that end: I coincidentally came across two articles about when and how much to care about what other people think. Dani Shapiro wroteContinue reading “Not too tired to pontificate, thank god”

Not So Much with the Sewing Edition

“Where are our recaps, Andrea?” (Because I know you have been waiting on tenterhooks.) Well. A couple of things happened: 1. A weekend of yard work and painting = no me mades, at least no daytime clothing ones. Pajamas as always are me-made, but no pj selfies, thankyouverymuch. 2. Then a sick kiddo and aContinue reading “Not So Much with the Sewing Edition”

Review: Women in Clothes

Women in Clothes by Sheila Heti My rating: 2 of 5 stars I finally finished this book. It took me several months to make my way through it; this was not, for me, a pick-it-up-and-finish-it-in-one-go kind of book. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; I have a lot of books in the slow-read category thatContinue reading “Review: Women in Clothes”

Review: Climate Changed: A Personal Journey through the Science

Climate Changed: A Personal Journey through the Science by Philippe Squarzoni My rating: 4 of 5 stars The first 25% of the book did nothing for me. It was a very dry recitation of the climate facts I already know, in graphic novel format. If you’re the kind of person who gets most of yourContinue reading “Review: Climate Changed: A Personal Journey through the Science”

The Next Blazer, Eventually, While Analyzing the Walking Dead

I found myself in possession of more free time and less money in February than is typically the case, which I decided was the perfect excuse to figure out my next blazer, the Vogue 8333 Claire Schaeffer pattern. After the difficulties of working with fusible interfacing on the poly-wool blue blazer I made in theContinue reading “The Next Blazer, Eventually, While Analyzing the Walking Dead”

Embroidering Stuff: Purses

If you’re thinking about dipping your toes into the pool of decorative hand-stitching, purses and bags are a great place to start. You don’t need to worry about flattering placement, or layering other pieces on top of something embroidered if it’s dimensional, or whether or not it’s “professional” or “appropriate;” you don’t need to worryContinue reading “Embroidering Stuff: Purses”

Review: Stumpwork Butterflies & Moths

Stumpwork Butterflies & Moths by Jane Nicholas My rating: 5 of 5 stars I am incredibly impressed by the level of research in Jane Nicholas’s insect embroidery books. I don’t read them expecting to learn more about the critters she embroiders, but I do: The natural history and basic biology of the insects are included;Continue reading “Review: Stumpwork Butterflies & Moths”