Book Review - Stranger Here

While this is not a blog dedicated to book reviews and the like, nor for dealing with my personal issues, but it is mine, and something that holds such impact on me simply must be shared.


Stranger Here from Molly McIntyre on Vimeo
Stranger Here by Jen Larsen is a book that touched me in more ways than I'm comfortable sharing. A candid memoir on a personal journey that surpasses being labeled "another weight loss story." This is not about weight loss, or surgery, but about the raw emotional journey Jen Larsen took in the human experience. I could relate on so many levels, and I have never had Weight Loss Surgery. Her narrative style was vivid and easy to read. She made me laugh and cry, cringe and smile with hope. We all run into circumstances that put us in a place we least expected... but we don't all have the talent and courage to share that with the world.

Her brutally honest voice cuts through social norms to show us all that we're not normal, and we all have problems we hate to admit.

I met Jen Larsen at a book signing shindig (she's an Ogden local now), and was introduced by a mutual friend, the lovely and talented Jenny Shaw of Indie Ogden. She was as beautiful and charming as could be, and clearly overwhelmed by how this book is touching so many lives. Her humble, nervous smile made me want to give her a hug.  Then she hugged me, so that pretty much made my day.

So go check it out!

Those who do not Craft, Shop.

Quest has come and gone, and was a most excellently fun event, despite the seriously craptastic weather.  Between wind and torrential rain, we were cold and wet all weekend.  But we had awesome company, great conversation, and a fire pit to ward off the chills a bit.

My goal was to get a photograph of Sven in his red and black tunic that I made last year (but yet to have a picture of), but alas it was not meant to happen.

I am partly done with one scroll that has been in my queue since April (shame).  It is to be given out at Uprising, so this weekend is slated to do a lot of painting.  Pictures will follow after it has been awarded.  This is my first experience working on pergamenata, and it has been interesting.  A full review to follow later.

I am super excited to share with you my latest shopping haul.

I have been massively in love with early Tudor styles for years, so The Queen's Servants was a must-have.  I expect it will take me quite some time to actually make something from it, but now I have the book in order to do so.

I'm so stoked about scoring a copy of Old Italian Patterns for Linen Embroidery.  This is a rare piece.  I struggle calling it a book since really it's a book shaped folder full of loose-leaf patterns that are tied into place. with this really cool bound envelope dealio.  Really, I should have taken photos of the inside...

I drooled upon Noelle's copy (and even made copies of a few of my favorite patterns, but they were destroyed in the craft studio flood a year and a half ago (the photocopies, not Noelle's original - I'd just die!).  It's a difficult "book" to find, and when you can find it, it's usually quite expensive.  That was my experience, anyway.  After a year or so of looking (and only finding it in the $100 + range), I found one for $30.  It took about 0.35 seconds to click BUY.  I believe there are a few more copies out there on Amazon if anyone's interested.

Library

These are the latest additions to my library. I was stoked to find a copy of the New Carolingian Modelbook (at long last). I have been an avid follower of Kim Brody Salazar for some time. When I saw a copy for sale that was within my budget, I snatched it up. Woohoo!

This Week's Loot

I can now proceed with my chocolate/black sleeves, as my ribbon has arrived. But who buys just one yard of ribbon? I bought an extra yard of the other two colors I purchased alongside the green, as I would have the same issue with a shortage if I didn't, and also got some pale pink and blue - all silk. Color me happy. This ribbon feels so luxurious. *loves*

I also got a couple new books to augment my costuming library.

And now, back to painting...