“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
― C.S. Lewis
I feel like I have been so behind in reading lately but have managed to finish Tracey Chevalier’s book, A Single Thread.
I normally like Tracy Chevalier’s books but this one simply did not capture me and found it rather boring. There was no life in the characters, and while the historical context of the story was interesting the storyline was flat. I think maybe I was wanting a bit more of the story to be centered around the embroidery aspect than around a woman who described herself as a “surplus woman” because of the war.
I did find an interesting blog post about the embroidered kneelers of Winchester Cathedral. I have never tried traditional canvas needlepoint before but do find it to be quite beautiful.
The Pesel kneelers were largely stitched by the Broderers’ Guild founded in 1931 whose first grant was towards the kneelers. Other cushions were embroidered by schoolgirls evacuated to Winchester during WWII. Louisa Pesel produced the designs based on the Cathedral’s many medieval tiles. What appears to be over-dyed background stitching was produced by changing thread shade every twenty stitches. The newest set of cushions have been stitched by the Channel Islands parishes which are part of the Winchester Diocese. There is a small 36 page booklet on the embroideries – Stitched and Woven: The Embroideries of Winchester Cathedral by Sheila Gray.- Needleprint
I am now reading The House at Sea’s End by Elly Griffiths, the third book in her Ruth Galloway series. While I’m only on chapter 3 , I am already enjoying this book.
Sometimes you just need to read a good mystery !
🎧I also finished listening to The Cruelest Month, the 3rd in the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny. I enjoyed this book so much better than the first two in the series. Can you imagine being literally “scared to death” during a seance ? I agree with Katie on her Goodreads review, this really would be a great book to read during Halloween, which I just may do.
🎧Listening to a new podcast – Choosing Change with Lizzie Moult .I found this podcast by the way of Jane Lindsey that I follow on Instagram. It’s really a good listen and makes you think.
Are you feeling burnt out by the hustle of daily life and secretly seeking more balance? In this insightful episode of the Choosing Change podcast, I talk with textile artist and botanical enthusiast Jane Lindsey from the Studio Club to discuss the importance of intentional living.
What are you reading or listening to at the moment ?
A Life With Wool 
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