On "Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life": A Book Review

I began the year with a review of a collection of Shirley Jackson’s previously uncollected writings and now I’m ending it with a biography on her. 

Title: Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life 

Author: Ruth Franklin

Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography 

About the book…

A biography on Shirley Jackson covering her life from childhood to death.

What I think…

Being a fan of Shirley Jackson I had been looking forward to this being published and was not at all disappointed, in fact considering it to be one of the best non-fiction books I read this year. It was well written, thorough, and I felt I learned a considerable amount about Jackson.

Franklin does a really nice job of balancing information about Jackson’s family life, social life, and her writing. Much of it, as with any writer, was intertwined, but it never seemed as though Franklin was choosing to focus on one aspect more than another. I found learning about the way her writing style progressed throughout her life, as well as the influences on it, to be especially interesting. 

I liked that Franklin addressed what was going historically at the time aside from the typical knowledge we associate with the decade giving background into why Jackson may have felt the way she did about certain issues that are touched on in her writing. There was also a portion near the start of the book that addressed Jackson’s family history and interviews with friends of Jackson and Hyman, as well as their children are included, which I felt, overall added to an understanding of her background. 

Having read three of her six novels it didn’t bother me much, but a warning for those who haven’t read much of Jackson, the endings of multiple novels (and some short stories) she wrote are discussed, so be prepared for spoilers especially in regards to The Haunting of Hill House. 

To sum it all up…  

Highly recommendable if you like Jackson’s writing and want to know more about her. ♥

On Merry Christmas Wishes!

Wishing all my readers a very merry Christmas!

I didn't finish my tutorial in time for this elf, so we'll just consider this a sneak preview for next year.  ;)

 🎄♥🎄

 

On an Ornament Christmas Apron

As I mentioned last month, I had been working on making a Christmas apron from a pattern in the 1959 Better Homes & Gardens Christmas Ideas magazine. Lots of adhesive backing later, it's done! 

Aside from all the layering, the difficulty in sewing the sequins on through those layers (including glue), and the ric-rac that didn't want to stay where it was supposed to, this was a fun project to work on and a nice way to ease myself back into sewing after not having done much recently.

The accidental face ornament. It was also pointed out to me that the light blue looks like a mask.

I wish I had had a plate of cookies for these photos!

Tomorrow, hopefully, I'll have a last minute decoration tutorial for you! 

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On Putz House Making

Being fairly tired I decided it'd be better to do a non-sewing project today, so I made a new Putz style house to add to my collection of houses made off the patterns on Retro Renovation. With the patterns being somewhat large for my liking and storage space, I reduced the size by half to get the perfect mini size. 

This year I made their storybook ranch version, with the addition of a chimney adapted from the Cape Cod pattern (the blue and white one below) and without the dove cote or trim along the front. I also added a fence, made from the conveniently red cracker box I used for the whole thing. The tree is one of the larger bottle brush ones with seedbeads glued on for ornaments.

I really like this version since it actually looks like some of the houses in my neighborhood!

Here are some pictures of a few others I've made from Retro Renovation patterns (plus one that was my grandma's). I'm realizing that for some reason I seem to be missing pictures of at least two of them!

Anyone else doing any Christmas crafting?

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On "'50s Decor": A Book Review

Title: ‘50’s Décor 

Author: Collector’s Compass

Genre: Non-Fiction 

About the book… 

A guide to collecting, buying, and selling 1950’s décor. 

What I think… 

This is a small book with a lot of practical advice. It covers the topics it addresses quite thoroughly, going into detail about things including various methods of acquiring items and the pros and cons of each, things you might encounter when purchasing from dealers, and maintaining what you purchase. It also brings up a number of questions that a new collector might want to consider prior to starting their collection.    

I really like that it starts out with a brief history on some of the big furniture makers of the 50’s, as well as what influenced the design of décor during this decade. Not only was it interesting, but it helps give background to some of the information that is presented throughout the book. 

It is written in a straightforward, but pleasant manner, so you don’t feel like you’re reading a textbook. It does not assume that you know anything more than what was in previous chapters, often even briefly re-summarizing things. There are also separate text boxes throughout that highlight specific information, which I always find helpful in books of this sort.

While I didn’t check, since this book was published in 2000, some of the webpages and sources mentioned in it might not be current anymore.  

To sum it all up…  

A very interesting book and one that has a lot of practical advice for any vintage collector, novice or veteran. ♥

On Christmas Crafting in Progress

Started making a Christmas apron from a pattern in the 1959 Better Homes & Gardens Christmas Ideas magazine this past week! 

 

And because I'm so enamored with it, a closeup of the packaging for the green rick rack meant for "Smart Decorative Trimming".

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On a Movie Based Q & A

Way back in September, Phyl of Phyllis Loves Classic Movies extended her Liebster Award questions to anyone who wanted to answer. Clearly I’m a bit behind in getting around to doing so, but I’m finally getting my answers up today! 

 

1. Favorite British Movie Star (other than Cary Grant): Hmmm...Rex Harrison.

2. Favorite Classic Movie gif: I wouldn’t say I have a particular favorite. Probably something with Cary Grant or Katharine Hepburn. Or better yet, one with both of them!

3. Have you signed up for the Hub Club? No. 

4. Favorite movie geared for teens/young adults (ex. Gidget, beach party films, Divergent, etc.): The Monkey's Uncle  (yes, I know that's a bit debatable, but it does star Funicello and starts with the Beach Boys).

 
5. Favorite supporting character in Gone With the Wind (you can't pick Scarlet, Rhett, Melanie, or Ashley): I haven’t seen it yet! 

6. Favorite Classic Courtroom movie: 12 Angry Men

 
7. Favorite book that was made into a movie: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (I’ve seen 17 versions and counting—although three of those were adaptions of just Through the Looking-Glass, so I guess it would be 14 versions)   

8. Favorite song sung by a movie star (Judy, Bing, Deanna, etc.): Just one?! Pretty much anything sung by Astaire and Rogers in one of their movies. Also, not sure if I’d consider it an absolute favorite, but I really like “Cleopatterer” sung by June Allyson in Till the Clouds Roll By.

9. Favorite movie filmed on location (other than US): Candleshoe 

 
10. Favorite classic movie hat: It's rare for me to make it through a classic movie without wanting one of the hats. Hepburn’s white one from Paris When It Sizzles, though would probably be one I'd want. It’s plain, but I love it.

11. Favorite blogathon so far this year (*Olivia* cough, cough): It would have to be one of Phyl's since she's the only one I follow who does blogatons. :)

 

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On My Itsy Bitsy Spider Bag

I really wanted to share this last month and am happy to have a few moments this morning to actually get this post finished! 

I admittedly have what some might consider an odd liking for spiders. I like decorating with them at work, have a spider web necklace and brooch, look forward to the orb spiders showing up in October (and am irritated at not having seen any this year!), and am perfectly fine to let a few hang around in my bedroom provided they're the small innocuous ones.

I accidentally happened across this fabric when going to get black broadcloth in attempt to make myself a 50's style spiderweb skirt for the second or third year in a row, which once again didn't happen.  

It was supposed to be a smaller bag like my owl one, but it ended up being on the larger side. 

Frequently on decorative button idea lists they have an example of a button made to look like a spider by embroidering legs and a head around it. I took mine a step further and made it a functional button.

 

Inside I did purple lining for a nice contrast.

  

🕸 ♥ 🕸 ♥ 🕸

On "Classics of the Macabre": A Book Review

Title: Classics of the Macabre 

Author: Daphne du Maurier (illustrated by Michael Foreman)

Genre: Short story, suspense, horror

About the book… 

This is collection of six of Daphne du Maurier’s stories, “Don’t Look Now”, “The Apple Tree”, “The Blue Lenses”, “The Birds”, “The Alibi”, and “Not After Midnight”. 

What I think... 

This is my favorite of the 4 ½ collections (half because I’d already read some of the stories) I’ve read of du Maurier’s stories. Each of the stories has just the right amount of suspense or horror in them, but never in a way that can be considered overdone.

In order to avoid ruining any of the stories, I’m only going to say a few sentences about each. 

My favorite in this collection is “The Apple Tree.” I love the subtle building of suspense in it as a man begins to notice similarities between his recently deceased wife and one of his apple trees that keeps the reader guessing about his sanity right to the end. “Don’t Look Now” quickly turns what seems to be normal vacation into something horrifying. “The Birds” was the reason I actually bought this book in the first place and it does not disappoint having a quietly unnerving desperation to it as it focuses on a farmer attempting to protect his family (much different from Hitchcock’s movie).“The Blue Lenses” always reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode and the unexpected direction du Maurier takes the story is always thought provoking.  As for “The Alibi,” while I liked it on my initial reading, it’s not one I’m inclined toward rereading due to the sad ending. “Not After Midnight,” which is last in the collection, is the least memorable to me, so much so that I always forget it’s included in the collection.   

I’m never entirely sure what to think of the illustrations in this edition. Some of them seem very suited to the stories they accompany, while others don’t seem to fit with the stories quite as well. Overall, though, most are quite lovely.

To sum it all up… 

A very nice collection of some of du Maurier’s better known stories and perfect reading when you don’t want to be scared to the point where you don’t want to go to bed right after reading them.♥

On They're Alive!: A Photo Post

Sometimes one just gets an urge to add eyes and teeth to inanimate objects.

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On Happy International Observe the Moon Night!

Just in case you didn't know, tonight is International Observe the Moon Night! So in the words of one of my favorite moon songs "get out and get under the moon"!

A postcard that was an antique store find and that hangs framed on my wall.

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