My summer reading list

We are almost leaving for our holiday of 2 weeks in France.
I can't wait to sit in the garden with a good book, not having to work, nor answering the telephone,...
These books are on my list:
Wolf Hall-Hilary Mantel
Krakatoa-Simon Winchester
In Europe-Geert Mak
The Historian-Elisabeth Kostova

My daughter is reading The grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, I read it twenty years ago, and really loved it. Maybe I'll read it again, after I finished the books on my list. Steinbeck is such a wonderful writer, but his books are a bit forgotten here in Belgium.

And if I look at these books (covers created by Coralie Bickford Smith, edited by Penguin), I definitely want to reread my classics!

And what about your summer reading lists, did you make any? Please tell me!

Needlebook

I made this little house in only two evenings, and it was a lot of fun. First time I've used my pinking scissors.
The little flowers were a great way to practice French knots, look here.
The pattern is published here, there are a lot of nice embroidery patterns to be discovered on this website, also free patterns.

Cottage

1. Mushroom House: Red, 2. weather house, 3. Baby's House, 4. somebody lovingly made this, 5. Fairytale cottage, 6. house bank, 7. Deco 20s Red Roof Cottage--Tally Card , 8. Gamekeeper's Cottage_1, 9. vintage tins, 10. Down the red brick path, 11. nans van leeuwen, 12. Tiny house, 13. House of Four Seasons 6, 14. 20s Vintage Cottage Illustration Playing Card Back, 15. Peter and the wolf, 16. leaning hill
There's a little project I've wanted to do for a long, long time. Tonight I will give it a try.
In the meanwhile, you can enjoy this mosaic. Where do you want to live?
Cottage number 5 is a real cutie...

Cat & mouse

Ooh, it has been a long time...
My laundry bag is finished, I use it for my stray socks (know the problem?).

I'm always stunned by the beauty of Mrs. Potter's watercolours, and I have quite a few projects in mind, featuring her characters.


From now on, I will post a monthly update of my cross-stitched cat. I want to use it for a pillow, when finished.

In the meanwhile, summer has arrived. I try to enjoy it as much as possible, although I have a lot of computer work at the moment.
And that means:
having tea and cake and cherries in the garden,

walking barefoot,

and admire the flowers from my garden.