Monthly Archives: March 2015

REVIEW Rock Hard by Nalini Singh

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ROCK HARDI was signed up to the ARC review of this title but boo hoo, it didn’t download to my Kindle (yes, I have one of those evil things as well as the Sony). So I did what anyone else would do – sulk for five minutes then downloaded a copy to the Sony. I stash-watch for stitching stuff, not eBooks! Besides, Nalini’s are in my must-buy list anyways….

This is the sequel (altho it runs concurrently) with Rock Kiss, the first title in the Contempory Romance series. I enjoy Nalini’s books as there is also a sense of humour running through them (sometimes you just KNOW that she has been sniggering while writing; Ashwini, you must have one of the coolest jobs) but the bonus here is that it’s set in my hometown, Auckland. Apart from the bistro (I didn’t recognise that one), I’ve been to every one of the locations, including hiding in the upstairs coffee bar where G meets his mum, and I worked on the same street in town for over six years.

I devoured this last night/this morning, alternatively laughing and sighing. I’m easy like that. I liked most of the character evolution, and the side characters were also well filled in & moved the plot along. I liked the glimpses back into Rock Kiss so much so that I’ve opened that up again. Hopefully there’ll be more in this series set in Auckland – after all, Schoolboy Choir did take a month off…

Here’s the blurb from the author’s website:

Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

Lastly there’s an entry in Best Chapter Heading Ever.

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WIP Wednesday

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Does anyone want to welcome me back? Four days of migraine & I feel like it was four weeks. I had no end of FB notifications, emails etc – if you sent me something, send it again as it’s a big blur. However yesterday I sort-of felt human again & was up and about. I completely regret missing Z’s 12th birthday party but I can tell you that cricket balls against your window are not conducive to a fast recovery.

I finished the stitching part of my Small for the month (reveal is set for the 25th; if I showed you something now I’d have to get something else done before then!) and the beading on Stargazer’s dress. I did the large star but I’m not 100% sure if I want to do more, to be honest. Right now I am living with her in daily view so I can make a decision later. There’s no rush; she is for me so I don’t really care if that portion of the design is done or not. I am keeping the chart tho (I normally swap so I can a) keep my stash manageable & b) stitch something else I want to do cheaper) as I plan to do her again in 10 years or so!

Med at March 9, 2015

Because DD still hasn’t arrived in the mail I pulled out a WIP last night. My “hospital” piece, the Mediterranean Mermaid. Last night was some confetti, the backstitch around the urn/hands (yes, that bead is not as charted) and a bit of working out where I was up to/where I want to go next. I sort-of have to finish her in the next block; the pattern’s already promised to a friend & they have been patient! Far more patient than I am 🙂 I love how the BS around the skin suddenly made it pop. Sorry about the spooky eye tho. Promise I’ll get onto that this week.

So a quick trip to Spotlight for a couple of DMC threads (I’m in a hurry and annoyed that I don’t have them to hand) and another order to Elizabeth at http://www.stitchnz.co.nz as I have changed the beads charted – again! The perils of not using the original fabric – something’s usually got to give.

March WIPocalypse & You Can Quote Me

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March 5  – Topic: If money – and time – were not limiters, what projects would be on your stitching bucket list?

I’d own a LNS. Seriously. I love walking into a well-stocked store, smelling the fabric, looking at row upon row of patterns, threads, beads. Samples lying around, a farmhouse table where people could meet, framed examples on the walls. Knowledgeable sharing people on staff (and me, of course) and a really good back-of-house system where sales & inventory meet. Fantastic non-whinging customers with open wallets, so I can keep on buying and trading.

Taking a step back, I’d be plowing thru more Mirabilia, and maybe a HAED or another BAP. Finishing some Teresa Wenztlers, playing with dyeing my own fabric. I’d have a craft room that had bolts of fabric and hook after hook of thread & beads so that when I wanted to change something out I could see the possibilities. Space for my home office setup and space for another person (or 2) to craft with me.

Craft_Room_OA

I’d also hire a cleaning service. I’d probably have to pay them double to deal with the boy’s bathroom, but it would be worth it.

And for this week’s quote: no pretty picture, just words. Don’t argue with an idiot. Bystanders can’t tell the difference.

WIP Wednesday

Posted in grateful, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, Smalls SAL, stitching patterns by

I decided not to pick up Orient during my wait for more Stargazer supplies (impatient much?!), and decided even more not to start another bigger project. Instead I started my March small. Three evenings in and here it is:

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Sorry for the angle; at 2030 last night I wasn’t exactly thinking straight. This is the Joan Elliot design Joy of Gardening that was in the same book as Orient. I altered the “he” to “she”, because the intended recipient is also female & I know for a fact the other half is the designated hole digger/path maker. Anyways, it’s a quick design and you can’t tell where my count went out by a square. I think this one will be a finish this weekend, once the birthday parties are over and done with. Threads as charted except for the onions (the other colour didn’t stand out on my beige Lugana) and over 2 on 25ct. I was tempted to change the robins to tuis but I don’t know if they are in the recipients garden. Maybe next time – this is one I will stitch again. Even the border looks good – simple but effective. I’ll use that on something else too.

I’m seriously thinking that after Stargazer I might try one of the freebie Mirabilia designs in a tent stitch, 2 over 1. I also think I might be nuts. But I do know I don’t want to do a full cross over 1 again, as Arezzo languishes in the drawer unfinished. I was going to pull her out over the “summer” but then I put her straight back again. I really should just sit down with her while the cricket is on the telly.

What are you working on today?

Grateful for Stolen Ideas (#14)

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Fourteen already? It doesn’t seem that long since Ash Wednesday, but I guess it is. Caffeine free me is feeling grumpy & impatient with others, but I don’t feel the need to suck down a coffee. That’s progress. Soon I’ll only be grumpy with others 🙂

Anyway I saw this list on GladriderCrafts blog here and thought OOH I can totally use that. So here we go….

  • Doing? Feeling hungover from a long SAP progress meeting this morning. Went for a walk & I’m still in the blahs over it.
  • Creating? Currently stitching my March Small (pic tomorrow) & waiting on my beads to arrive from Elizabeth’s online store http://www.stitchnz.co.nz
  • Thinking? of lunch. Sorry.
  • Inspired by? all the lovely images of Mirabilia Dressmaker’s Daughter online (why can’t I get straight to the Deviantart posts on my tablet?)
  • Procrastinating over? Clearly work, as I am posting while I should be looking at purchase orders!

So what are you doing? Creating? Thinking? Inspired by? Procrastinating over?

2015 Reading Challenge Series

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I should have posted this yesterday, but I have an excuse. I only saw the linkup as exciting this morning – my bad. So far I’m 9 down (but I’ve read a lot, lot more):

 

A book with more than 500 pages

A classic romance

unbroken*A book that became a movie – Laura Hillenbrand Unbroken (5*, he was amazing & the research impeccable, the words painted a picture)

 

 

 

 

A book published this year

A book with a number in the title

*A book by a female author – Karen Kingsbury’s Angels Walking (3 ½*, it wasn’t quite as good as the Frank Peretti/Ashton novels)

*A book with a one word title – Monica Ferris’ Cutwork (3 ½*, part of her needlework mystery series)

the will

*A book set in a different country – Kristen Ashley The Will (4*, but I must admit it’s not hard to find a book not set in New Zealand) I also chose this for the cover, but something else will come along to fit that category.

 

 

 

nora roberts land

*A popular author’s first book – Ava Miles’ Nora Roberts Land (4*)

 

 

 

*A nonfiction book – The Countess of Carnavon’s Lady Almina & the Real Downton Abbey (3 ½*)

A book by an author you love but not read yet

A Pulitzer prize winning book

A book based on a true story

A book at the bottom of your to read pile

A book more than 100 yrs old

A book based entirely on its cover

*A memoir – Cary Elwes’ As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride (4*, as I just HAD to watch the movie again)

A book you can finish in a day

A book set somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit

A book that came out the year you were born

A trilogy

A book with a love triangle

A book with a colour in the title

A book by an author you’ve never read before

A book you own but never read  !!!!!!!

A book that takes place in your hometown

A book that was originally written in another language

A book set at Christmas

A book written by an author with your initials

*A book based on or turned into a tv series – Kathy Reichs’ Deja Dead (3 ½*, they turned this into Bones but I’d made the mistake of liking the TV series far too much to like this Tempe)

*A book you started but never finished – Katie Ashley The Proposal ( it sucked as bad as the fan fic that lead to 50 shades of shite)

Linking up to Rachel for the challenge party.