Books and movies

Chalk is a mockumentary about teachers. Good!

Oooh - loved Constant Gardener! I had never picked it up before cause for some reason I expected an action packed terrorist movie. That's not what it is at all. So good with all its pretty scene of Africa and dastardly deeds. Perfect ending!

I watched MirrorMask because I adore Neil Gaiman. The special effects were pretty amazing but something about them hurt my eyes. I really didn't care for this one at all sadly.

I think My Life in France might be my favorite book of the year. I love Julia Child! Loved hearing all about how she learned to cook and her life with her husband living in so many different countries. I need to invent a time travel machine so I can go back in time, move to France, and be Julia's best friend.

Help!

Anyone have a good source for large and well-organized and non-hideous jewelry boxes? Mine is a falling apart disaster.

Stop Loss

I very much want to see this movie:

Puppetry

This project I can give credit for. It was inspired by Woodmouse Loves Crafts adorable mouse puppet. Please take into account my mammoth hands and the fact that I started with a rather small sweater before I shrunk it for the puppet. It will be the perfect size for wee niece and nephew hands though.


My camera skills could use some improving too. There's always 2008!

Xmas Cards

Agh! This is terribly embarassing. I got this terrific idea for homemade Xmas cards from a crafty blog I read regularly. But now I can't find the link. Nor can I figure which of the umpteen million crafty blogs I subscribe to had this project on it. If you know, please let me know so I can give proper credit.

Here they are:

The trees were pretty simple. The doves - not so much. Hence I sent out about 30 tree cards and only 3 dove cards. Still, I really liked how they turned out.

Amusements

As You Like It was pretty. Pretty pretty film. Pretty people. Pretty scenery. Pretty costumes. Pretty words. Very nicely done.

I may be on a bit of a classic film kick. Brought on by my unending illnesses I checked out Some Like It Hot from the library. Marilyn Monroe's dingy sweetness makes even horribly sore throats feel better.

And Indiscreet makes me giggle. Particularly Cary Grant's dancing. The man could charm the pants off of anyone. I'm very much in favor of the Cary Grant-izination of George Clooney. May he continue at it.

I watched Talk to Me recently. Maybe it was a combination of too great expectations (cause I love Don Cheadle) and being a bit distracted that night, but I didn't love it like I thought I would. It was good, and thewoman who played Petey's girlfriend was excellent. Still I wasn't wowed like I thought I'd be.
I read Georgette Heyer's novel Cotillion. Adorable! I so love the main characters in this book. So not stereotypical of a regency novel.

Better

What a sweet song.

Hat envy

After being kept home sick for a full week (my god I am so behind at work!), all I've accomplished is some serious movie watching thanks to the library.



The Cazalets miniseries was pretty fantastic. A huge family in England coping with the onset of WWII. I really really enjoyed this one - all 6 hours of it.

I finally watched A Good Woman as well. It sent me into serious hat envy. Location envy too! Such pretty scenery and costumes. I did get a little tired of all Oscar Wilde's witticisms on marriage but maybe that's just cause I've heard them all so many times.

For some reason, Marilyn Monroe movies make me feel better when I'm ill. They're so fun and I really covet her wardrobe throughout the whole thing (not the stage costumes, but definitely what she wears while off the stage). Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is so much fun.

I finally caught Two for the Road as well. I'm frightfully behind on some of my Audrey Hepburn films. I liked it okay. Not so sure what the initial attraction to Albert Finney's character was all about, but I liked that it showed the roller coaster of relationships.

The one book I managed was a book on tape. The Greatest Generation Speaks was very touching. I'll admit to being irked a few times when the writers felt the need to cast aspersions on all following generations, but those moments where few and far between. It's hard not to be amazed at what so many people went through. (And as a nonfiction book, I'm counting this as book #5 for nonfiction reading #52 on my 101 list).

Tonsilitis

Tonsilitis is the big reason why I can't do anything - go to work, craft, read. Everything is impossible thanks to my miserableness and the blurry vision that comes along with it. Thank god for movies and books on tape.

Here's the movies I've seen lately:

How can you resist a movie with Daniel Craig in all his ugly hotness in it? It was a fun watch. A bit convoluted but that could be do to my brain working so slow thanks to all the stupid snot in it. I don't really get the Sienna Miller thing though. Is she really so irresistable?

Half Nelson was not good. I'd heard all these wonderful things about it, but then it just wasn't good. There were a few jaw dropping scenes and the girl who plays Drey is amazingly good. Amazing! However, the story not so amazing at all.

I watched Bus Stop this morning. Marilyn Monroe is adorable. Cute film!

Then I braved the bitter cold to borrow a bunch more movies from the library so I don't die of boredom. I wish I could fast forward through this yuckness.