Well, I did do a little knitting in public on Saturday but most of last weekend was taken up with rehersals for Amy’s upcoming ballet show. We also managed to get most things moved back into our conservatory. It’s not the nicest of constructions (being an ’80’s concoction of plastic panels and double glazing) but it has a wonderful light and now we have more storage to help keep things tidy.
H has constructed a brilliant radiator cover and loads of shelves and we’ve had a new carpet laid to help keep it warmer in winter.
It’s the perfect place for a spot of knitting while keeping and eye and ear on the children in the garden and all of my books are very happy in their new home.
Talking of books, Monica recently invited me to join Goodreads and I’ve already discovered a couple of other blogging friends there too. It’s another wonderful place to get sucked into and spend hours browsing the book reviews.
A couple of you asked me previously about some of the titles in my book stack, so I thought I share a few of my all-time favourites (these are titles that have stood up to multiple readings and the most dog-eared copies on my shelves):
The Sea, The Sea and The Good Apprentice by Iris Murdoch; Ladder of Years, Anne Tyler; Nights at the circus, Angela Carter; Devils for a change, Wendy Periam; Love in the time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez; The War of Don Emanuel’s Netherparts, Louis de Bernieres; The Shipping News, Annie Proulx; Cat’s Eye, Margaret Atwood; Sacred Country, Rose Tremain; The Travelling Hornplayer, Barbara Trapido; The Reader, Bernhard Schlink; Snowblind, Robert Sabbag; Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow, Peter Hoeg; A prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving; Perfume, Patrick Suskind. I could go on but I better stop there!
Hope you have a good weekend. We’ll be ballet-showing on Sunday – I’ll be backstage up to my eyes in layers of netting, hairspray and shoe ribbons and Amy will hopefully be enjoying the attention of performing in front of 300 people!
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Footnote:
Thanks for all of the kind comments about the fluffy toys. Once they’re dressed I will be putting them both into the shop (although probably not in the next sale). Will keep the shop blog up to date with details.
little cotton rabbits 
Ooh, I do love it when bloggers post photos of their bookshelves! I spend ages with my head on one side, squinting at the titles. I have (and love) most of the ones on your favourites list, BTW. Love LOVE ‘Perfume’.
Looking forward to seeing the fluffies for sale! When I saw that boucle, I thought I recognised it as Be Sweet, which I’ve only ever seen in Loop. Costly, though – these will indeed be luxe fluffies!
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julie what a wonderful room! i LOVE it – great job!
(amy, break a leg on sunday!)
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The room is beautiful!
It was especially nice to see Hortense on the shelf too!
I can still remember my first Ballet recital…I was so nervous. I am sure Amy is well prepared and will be caught up in all the excitement and completely forget the 300 people all looking at her.
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Ooh, I love your little critters! This is my first time visiting your blog (courtesy of Ravely) and I love your style. Will be back for sure.
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Julie,
I hope you don’t mind…but I mentioned you on my blog and borrowed 2 pictures to show people how wonderful your work is. You are my favorite craftster and have even gotten me knitting again.
O.k. don’t become alarmed…I could never make your kind of softies. I’m starting slow and making a baby scarf and hat right now. But, it’s been fun!
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It’s such a lovely room. The softness of the colours and stacks of books is incredible! You have great decorating style Julie!
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GOOD LUCK, AMY! Dancing in front of 300 is unbelievably brave!
The conservatory looks lovely and light with all the white furniture and accessories. Quite envious of the massive basket of yarn too 🙂
Strangely enough I’ve just started reading The Reader in German. I got to chapter 5 without realising that he had jaundice and not a gambling addiction. Reading with a dictionary beside you definitely helps!
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Beautiful organization! I keep telling myself I’ll go a little crazy at Target or IKEA and end up with a delightful organized library and yarn store, (yes in my house!). One of these days I will do it! In the meantime I’ll envy yours. 🙂 Good luck with the ballet recital.
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Your room looks wonderful!! I love all the white shelves. It looks like an organizational haven to me, and a perfect place to have a happy knit 🙂
Hope Amy has a great show and you manage to wade through all that netting and ribbons lol!
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It looks like a great place to sit and read, knit or just be. Enjoy. Thanks for sharing some of your book titles.
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Your room looks wonderful!! Beautifully organized and soothing colors!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
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Your room looks wonderful!! Beautifully organized and soothing colors!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
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Your room looks wonderful!! Beautifully organized and soothing colors!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
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Your room looks wonderful!! Beautifully organized and soothing colors!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
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Your room looks wonderful!! Beautifully organized and soothing colors!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
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Your room looks wonderful!! Beautifully organized and soothing colors!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
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Your room looks wonderful!! Beautifully organized and soothing colors!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
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Your room looks wonderful!! Beautifully organized and soothing colors!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
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Your room looks wonderful!! Beautifully organized and soothing colors!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
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How wonderful and there are some gems on your shelves! It’s time for me to revisit Iris Murdoch, I think.
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What a beautiful, sunny place to read and knit!
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Oh, how I do admire the neatness of your book shelves!
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Wow you are soooooooooooo organised. Would you like to come and organise mine for me LOL. Looks like a great place to relax and knit in 🙂
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Isn’t it nice to find you like the same books othern people have read? The Shipping News is one of my all time favourites, I am undecided about Smilla but wasn’t ‘Perfume’ an amazing read? Lovely blog too!
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Everything looks lovely. This inspires me to get organized! 🙂
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loom looks gorgeous…love the light…
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Oh those are lovely pictures- I have so many books in boxes, in corners, underthings and piled up. I need such a place to put them.
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Your attention to design is absolutely spot on wonderful! I always love the images at your site. Thank you, Julie!
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A prayer for Owen Meany and Smilla’s Sense of Snow are 2 of my top fave 5…have you read The Time Traveler’s Wife? Another favorite 🙂
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