The Bookshelf is coming along, in spite of myself. I had a mild case of

the frogs the other day, which set me back a wee bit. I was working on the

middle section with the author's names and realized that the top row of
names was several lines higher then the books on either side of that area.
Hmmm. Some checking soon revealed that I'd stitched the book spines too
short. So I had to pick out the blackish and the gold (ouch!!) threads down
to where I'd made the error, and work back from there. The repair has
been done, as can be seen in the above picture, and now I can continue
my stitching.
It seems most stitching bloggers always have at least a couple of projects
on the go at the same time. Some of them even have a different project for
each day of the week. Good grief!! Well, I was feeling a bit restless with
the muted colours of The Bookshelf, and felt in need of a break. I've been
itching to start one of the Little House Needlework's/Crescent Colours
packs, and Peaches is the one that I wanted most to start. So I did. My
first foray into hand dyed threads. Mmmmmmm. Pretty. I'm very
happy with this one


I ordered some books for a friend the other day, and added a few extra
from my wish list to round out the package. I ordered the latest Anne
Bishop, in the Ephemera series, which is called Belladonna. I also ordered
the first book in her Black Jewels trilogy. I blame Kerry for these two,
and for all the other Anne Bishop books that I'm going to have to get.

The third book that I ordered had just come out that week. Jacqueline
Carey's Kushiel's Justice. Oh, I love Jacqueline Carey's books!! This is
the finest, most exquisitely written, richly detailed series going. I can't
put them down when I'm reading them, and I'm devastated when I
finish them and face having to wait a year for the next. I am seriously
smitten by Imriel de la Courcel, the hero of this series. I can't
recommend these books enough.

I had a surprise package in the mail a week ago too. Back in January (!!)
I'd placed an order with The Cross Stitch Cupboard in Ottawa. I did
eventually received most of the items in my order, except for three Needles
Necessities threads which were on back order. I eventually forgot about
these, until they arrived, almost five months after I'd ordered them. Now

if only I could remember what project I was ordering them for....

It's the Canada Day (July 1st) long weekend here and it looks as though
it's going to be a beauty. Sunshine and temperatures in the mid 70's. Just
perfect weather for sitting on the deck and cross stitching. And barbecuing
too. Beef kabobs tonight, chicken breasts tomorrow, and probably ham
burgers on Monday. Perfect. Most of our neighbours appear to have gone
away for the holidays so it's very quiet and peaceful around here.

Nothing like a cup of tea and a good read. DH and Rupert enjoying their
leisure this morning at the kitchen table.

Karen asked me what the book Elantris was about. Quoting from the
blurb on Indigo book seller's sight:

"Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled
with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the
benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person until
touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod. Ten years ago,
without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, leper-like,
powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling. Arelon''s
new capital, Kae, crouches in the shadow of Elantris. Princess Sarene of
Teod arrives for a marriage of state with Crown Prince Raoden, hoping --
based on their correspondence -- to also find love. She finds instead that
Raoden has died and she is considered his widow. Both Teod and Arelon
are under threat as the last remaining holdouts against the imperial
ambitions of the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. So Sarene decides
to use her new status to counter the machinations of Hrathen, a Fjordell
high priest who has come to Kae to convert Arelon and claim it for his
emperor and his god. But neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspect the truth
about Prince Raoden. Stricken by the same curse that ruined Elantris,
Raoden was secretly exiled by his father to the dark city. His struggle
to help the wretches trapped there begins a series of events that will
bring hope to Arelon, and perhaps reveal the secret of Elantris itself.
A rare epic fantasy that doesn''t recycle the classics and that is a
complete and satisfying story in one volume, Elantrisis fleet and fun,
full of surprises and characters to care about. It''s also the
wonderful debut of a welcome new star in the constellation of fantasy."

Hope you can find this book where you live Karen. It's a wonderful read.