review of Olive Kitteridge

I actually started and finished this book right after The Fountainhead ... I just didn't get around to posting a review until now.

Maybe I'm a book/novel snob, but I don't think this book was deserving of a Pulitzer Prize. It was mostly fluff and by fluff I mean it didn't go very deep, it skimmed the surfaces - even with Olive. I also didn't really care about Olive either way and indifference of the main character as well as the thirteen narratives wound about her should not be the stuff Prizes are made of in my opinion. Not a horrible book though, it just didn't live up to the expectations I had after reading the praise for it on its front cover.

...or maybe I'm just not old enough to appreciate the point of this novel.

art of the week #11

Screws, Installation View
Paul Chaleff

virtual bbq - win prizes!

Check out this link to learn the details about the Bookbinding Etsy Street Team's Virtual Summer BBQ Scavenger Hunt!

playlist of the week #11

A mix cd in my car that turned out to be the I Am Sam soundtrack:

1. Two of Us - Aimee Mann & Michael Penn
2. Blackbird - Sarah McLachlan
3. I'm Looking Through You - The Wallflowers
4. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - Eddie Vedder
5. Mother Nature's Son - Sheryl Crow
6. Golden Slumbers - Ben Folds
7. I'm Only Sleeping - The Vines
8. Don't Let Me Down - Stereophonics
9. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - The Black Crowes
10. Julia - Chocolate Genius
11. We Can Work It Out - Heather Nova
12. Help - Howie Day
13. Nowhere Man - Paul Westerberg
14. Revolution - Grandaddy
15. Across the Universe - Rufus Wainwright

saturday must have #3

The Ocean

Pattern for Red Coral - JPolka

Make your own foot-long coral branch out of worsted weight yarn and a G-hook! A witty and cuddly display piece. This pattern provides a stitch-by-stitch guide to making a coral branch nearly identical to the one shown here. But more importantly, a description of the purpose of each one of those stitches is included so you can become comfortable freeforming coral of your own design. $3.50 - PDF








Celia's Garden Sea Salt & Seaweed Scrub - The Dirty Housewife



The Dirty Housewife added seaweed and sea salt to this bar as well as heavenly fragrances of flowers that you can find near "Celia's Garden" along with a touch of sea spray. The bar is loaded with Wild Atlantic Dulse seaweed that is harvested off the coast of Maine. $4.50


Seaweed Tote in Dark Lemon Grass - Willywaw

This mini tote is made from 100% organic cotton canvas grown and milled in the U.S.; small pocket inside. The tote measures approximately 11 " wide x 7.5" high x 5" deep. Self-standing with a flat bottom, french seams, no exposed edges. $28






Octopus Tentacle Ring - Octopus Me


This ring is made from a REAL Octopus tentacle which has drilled, carved, shaped and cast in Sterling Silver! Sizes 4-7. $160