Tuesday, October 30, 2007

To Mark a Page...




While reading a magazine, I came across the idea of using an old book spine as a bookmark. I never thought it would be a practical reality because I value old books far too much to use their spines as bookmarks. However, when our old "Concise Oxford Dictionary" was ready to retired, I realized that this was the perfect opportunity to try it! I removed the brown packing tape that was holding it together and saved the pages for scrapbooking purposes. I used thick cardstock as a backing for the spine.

On the back of the bookmark I used some of the dictionary pages to add interest and dimension. Incidentally, I happened to use a page from the "O" section that has one of my favorite words in the England language -- Onomatopoeia (words that sound like what they are, such as "buzz" or "hum"). I couldn't have planned it better if I had tried! One of my antique copies of "Little Dorrit" is graciously serving as the background for the pictures. Now I just have to find the perfect tassel...

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Book Review: "The Little Princesses" by Marion Crawford


One of my finds at a recent library book sale was a book that I found on the biography table. It was titled The Little Princesses, and I think I first picked it up under the impression that it was Frances Hodgson Burnett's book of a similar title. Instead I found it to be a memoir of Marion Crawford, governess to Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret for twelve years. I had another book by her called Elizabeth the Queen (which I found at a previous library book sale and is still sitting on my shelf unread), so I decided to add it to my box -- I think I was working on my third box by that point.

Determined to actually read some of the books that I add to my collection every time a book sale comes around, I began reading The Little Princesses only a few days after purchasing it. What I found was a delightful glimpse into the lives of two little girls growing up in the spotlight of the nation. Their lives were undeniably extraordinary, but in some ways surprisingly ordinary.

The princesses led simple lives before their uncle's abdication -- an event which brought permanent changes to their family, including moving residence to Buckingham Palace. They shopped for Christmas gifts at Woolworth's, and had few toys or luxuries. The advantages of living a royal life came at a price; for instance, the princesses found it extraordinarily exciting to ride the Underground or a bus.

Some of my favorite stories came from the period of five years that the princesses spent at Windsor Castle with their governess. They would hold tea parties for some of the soldiers stationed at the castle, and learned how to sleep in the dungeons of the castle during air raids. At one point the chief librarian took them deep under the castle and asked them if they would like to see something. He showed them some leather bandboxes, which at first appeared to be filled with newspaper. However, they soon discovered that the boxes held the crown jewels of England!

Once, after some heavy rains, Elizabeth and Margaret went down to the lake with "Crawfie," only to find that their boat had been flooded. They searched the nearby boathouse, which had been built by Queen Victoria, for something to bail the boat out with. All they could find was a chamber pot with Queen Victoria's initials!

The only tinge of sadness I felt in reading the book was that I have heard that the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth never spoke to Crawfie again after she published the book. To them, her book was an unforgivable breach of their privacy -- privacy that Crawfie herself had tried to protect during her employment as governess.

Marion Crawford had a talent for making the simple activities of the princesses' lives interesting. As I read her book, I gained a greater appreciation both of Queen Elizabeth and her parents. It is quite charming to read the comments of the little girls -- especially Elizabeth ("Lillibet"). The Little Princesses makes a charming read if you have any interest in English royalty, the Second World War, life during the 30s and 40s, or even just a good story plainly told.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Words of Wisdom From Writers


Do not put statements in the negative form.
- And don't start sentences with a conjunction.
- If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a
great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
- Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
- Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all.
- De-accession euphemisms.
- If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
- Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
- Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.

~William Safire, "Great Rules of Writing"

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

A Morning at the Beach


This morning I attended a Bible study with my mother and sister. It is held at the house of one of our church members -- who happens to live right on the Gulf of Mexico. It's been at least four months since I've been to her house, and I realized all over again how the majesty and beauty of God is displayed at the beach.


A little ghost crab was scuttling around on the sands. He may be smaller than my thumb, but he moves faster than I can .





Doesn't this look like creamy icing on a vanilla birthday cake?






Sand between my toes...utterly delicious!







Shells have been one of my passions ever since I can remember. It's hard to resist collecting more beauty when it's right there in front of you. But then I remember my two full shoe-boxes at home and resist.





This reminds me of Sarah's description of the sea in Sarah, Plain and Tall -- "like sun on glass."


 


Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Words of Wisdom From Writers


Writing is easy
: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.

~ Gene Fowler

Monday, October 08, 2007

"If I have any money at all..."


"...I buy books. If I have any left over I buy food and clothes."
-- Erasmus

While my sewing projects do seem to eat up a rather large proportion of my capital, my literary purchases certainly give them a run for their money. Needless to say, our recent library book sale provided me with ample opportunity to satisfy my yearning for books. Thirty-three of them, to be exact, along with twenty-five magazines.


The magazines were actually vintage copies of "The Etude," dating from 1917 to 1949 -- utterly irresistable for both their musical and antiquarian allure.






And for only 50 cents I found this little gem, published in 1941. It would be just perfect for decorating a little boy's room.



Some of my favorite titles?
-- The Little Princesses, by Marion Crawford (nursemaid to Princess Elizabeth and Princes Margaret)
-- John Adams, by David McCullough
-- Bobbin Lace Making for Beginners
-- Two volumes of Horatio Hornblower, by E.S. Forester, in German
-- The Laura Ashley Guide to Country Decorating

Here is a snapshot of my sister and me, with our assorted treasures arrayed in front of us while we sip at the Starbucks treats we picked up on the way home:

Sunday, October 07, 2007

"You're the Cream in my Coffee" Dress


The glamor of the 1930's is one of my favorite fashion time periods. Consequently, I took the opportunity of purchasing Vintage Vogue #2671 from 1933 a few years ago. When I found an adorable button at JoAnn's, I immediately headed for the cotton calicos and found a matching color and desgin.



The vintage buckle came from my grandmother's sewing stash:




For some reason the song "You're the Cream in My Coffee" kept running through my mind as I worked on the dress, so that is what I have officially dubbed this dress. If you want to hear the song for yourself, go to This Website and scroll down to the bottom (the songs are in alphabetical order).