COUSIN CONNECT


Sunday 26 April 2009

INKSPELL by Cornelia Funke

Inkheart (Inkheart, Book 1) Inkheart by Cornelia Funke


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
The author is the 3rd most popular childrens book writer in Germany - after JK Rowling and RL Stine.

Loved the story and especially the concept of an excerpt from a childrens book at the beginning of each chapter.

Good style of writing.

The story follows Meggie and her father Mo (short for Mortimer) on their adventures, which has all come about after Mo reads a certain book and the characters appear in the real world. But they are bad characters and Meggie and Mo are pursued by Capricorn and his band of thugs. Capricorn wants Mo to read more books so they he can amass gold, jewels and endless riches.

Mo finally (with the help of his book collector sister Eleanor), tracks down the author of the book that started the problem (Inkspell) and together they come up with the idea of writing another book so that Capricorn and his men will disappear forever.


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The Dressmaker by Elizabeth Birkelund Oberbeck

The Dressmaker: A Novel The Dressmaker: A Novel by Elizabeth Birkelund Oberbeck


My review


rating: 2 of 5 stars
I had seen recommendations for this book and the blurb sounded okay (like they always do)

A French designer falls in love with one of his clients, when she visits his salon for a fitting for her wedding dress.

Claude, the designer is married, but has been separated from his wife for 8 years. Valentine, the bride to be, is attracted to Claude and so they begin an affair before she gets married.

I didn't feel as though the book warranted some of the reviews I had read.


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Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Crepusculo / Twilight: Un Amor Peligroso Crepusculo / Twilight: Un Amor Peligroso by Stephenie Meyer


My review


This has been on a lot of people's reading lists - with the majority loving this book and the rest in the series, others wondering what all the hype is about.

Me - I am one of those that loved it.

A real page turner and couldn't put it down.

The story is centred around Isabelle Swan (Bella) who moves back to the town called Forks to live with her father.(her mother has a new partner).

She meets the mysterious Edward Cullen at school and is swept away by his allure.

Edward and his family members are beautiful people in all sense of the word, and there is something out of this world about them.

Bella is on a trip to the beach with school friends, when she starts talking to young Jacob, an Indian boy. She learns of the Cold Ones - the story is a legend, and the Cullen family are the Cold Ones.

Bella is irrestably drawn to Edward and he to her, and she is prepared for what may happen to her.


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TRICK OR TREAT by Kerry Greenwood

Trick or Treat Trick or Treat by Kerry Greenwood


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
this was a Talking book that I listened to while sewing.

A Corinna Chapman story - featuring the bakery, Earthly Delights.

Another bakery opens in competition - a fast bread chain, and then people are mysteriously being found deranged and wandering the streets.

Meanwhile a tall, blond, gorgeous friend of Daniel's is staying with him and wants to buy Corinne's bakery.

The hunt for treasure in the Greek Isles also is woven into the story, which comes about with a meeting of witches.


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The Chestnut Tree by Charlotte Bingham

THE CHESTNUT TREE THE CHESTNUT TREE by Charlotte Bingham


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
A heart warming story set in England - in Sussex at the start of WW2 and follows the lives of a small village and especially the women - not just the young women, but their mothers as well.


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Friday 17 April 2009

DESCENDED FROM JAMES ADAMS and MARIA LONG

It has been sometime since I updated my research on the family line of William ADAMS and Sarah Jane LINSLEY, and felt that I should start recording the results.

I was fortunate to make contact in 2004 with Ian Brothers, who lives in Grenfell NSW as he had an entry in the Genealogical Research Directory for William ADAMS, and I made contact by phone. We soon realised that there was a connection, 3rd cousins, and since that time we have swapped correspondence and he very kindly shared a lot of his research that he had done over the years.
His findings have been very well documented and this helped me to start compiling my family record.
Ian had created an ADAMS-LINSLEY OCCASIONAL NEWSLETTER way back in July 1995, to keep other family members in the link with what he had discovered - interesting snippets of what he has gleaned from tracing some of the families and searching through various records.
I know that I have had contact from a few of the researches via the Genes Reunited site. This is a great online site to track down people and share details that you may have in common with a fellow researcher.

So without further ado, I'll make a start.

GENERATION 1 JAMES ADAMS and MARIA LONG

So far, it is assumed that James and Maria were the parents of WILLIAM ADAMS.
William's Death Certificate shows the name of his father as JAMES ADAMS and maiden surname of mother as MARIA.
His place of birth is shown as Plymouth England, but other records show Norfolk.

A contact through the Norfolk Transcription made available the following details:

Baptism for WILLIAM s.(son) of James & Maria ADAMS of Yarmth. baptised April 30th, 1816. Occ. Carter.

It would appear that James and Maria had these other children:

James s. of James & Maria ADAMS, of Yarmth, baptised May 9th, 1814. Occ. Carter
Henry s. of James & Maria ADAMS, of Yarmth. baptised Oct 23rd, 1818. Occ. Labourer
Stephen Henry s. of James & Maria ADAMS, of Yarmth, baptised Aug 25, 1822.
Occ. Labourer
Maria. d. of James & Maria ADAMS, of Yarmth. baptised Nov 12th. 1823. Occ. Carter
Harriot d. of James & Maria ADAMS, of Yarmth. baptised March 2nd 1826. Occ.Carter

Also a Marriage:

James ADAMS, X bachelor of this parish, married Maria LONG, X, spinster of this
parish, by banns.
Feb 6th, 1814.
Witness; William HOBBS, Ann ADAMS X.

The X presumably meaning they made their mark, as they were unable to sign their names.

At this point in time, I have gone with this, until further informatin comes to hand.







6 x 4 postcard 16 April 2009


6 x 4 postcard 16 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

I felt that the stanza in the poem fitted the image very well.

6 x 4 postcard_16 April 2009


6 x 4 postcard_16 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

The playing cards featuring Asian ladies can be used in so many compositions.

Tuesday 14 April 2009

6 x 4 postcard 13 April 2009


6 x 4 postcard 13 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

Loved this image and the background is from an old craft magazine.

6 x 4 postcard 13 April 2009


6 x 4 postcard 13 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

I must say that I enjoy making postcards, and Erica, one of my contacts in the Flickr groups has set up a Postcard Trading Group.

Monday 6 April 2009

4 x 4 Card - 5 April 2009


4 x 4 Card - 5 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

the car image is an old playing card that I obtained as a set through Ebay

ATC 5 April 2009 - Wise Like confucius


ATC 5 April 2009 - Wise Like confucius
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

I am starting to branch out and incorporate other ideas with my Asian influence.

ATC 5 April 2009 - Deep in thought


ATC 5 April 2009 - Deep in thought
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

Sunday 5 April 2009

4 x 4 Card - 4 April 2009


4 x 4 Card - 4 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

4 x 4 Card - 4 April 2009


4 x 4 Card - 4 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

Love creating Asian themed cards.

4.25 x 5.5 Card - 4 April 2009


4.25 x 5.5 Card - 4 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

Enjoyed creating this one - the colours just seemed to come together.

Gothic Arch - 4 April 2009


Gothic Arch - 4 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

My first gothic arch creation

6 x 4 postcard - 5 April 2009


6 x 4 postcard - 5 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

Good theme for combining the tea/coffee idea.

6 x 4 postcard - 5 April 2009


6 x 4 postcard - 5 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

Background is from a gardening page in a magazine, and I used my new paper craft punch.

Saturday 4 April 2009

4 x 4 Card - 4 April 2009


4 x 4 Card - 4 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

she is dreaming of that next cup of coffee.

ATC - 4 April 2009


ATC - 4 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

ATC - 4 April 2009


ATC - 4 April 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

I seem to be having a pink day with my cards.

4 x 4 cards - 3 april 2009


4 x 4 cards - 3 april 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

another card that I enjoyed making.

4 x 4 cards - 3 april 2009


4 x 4 cards - 3 april 2009
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

one of my contacts through Flickr also makes 4 x 4 cards and has mentioned that she would like to trade, so a good opportunity to make a few of these

Friday 3 April 2009

THE DARK TIDE by Andrew GROSS

The Dark Tide The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross


My review


rating: 5 of 5 stars
The story starts with the bombing of a commuter train in Greenwich, New York and Charlie Friedman was on that train.

He was supposed to have died - but a year later, his widow realises he is alive, after watching a TV show on the 1st anniversary of the bombing - Karens sees a fleeting image of someone in the background footage and realises it is Charlie.

This was the perfect scenario for him, for people to believe that he had died, as prior to the bombing, he had been living on the edge - he had lost millions of dollars,short telling on the oil market and some bad people were after him.

Along the way, innocent people are caught up in the web and murdered.

A police officer decides to track down Charlie, in his own time, and find the truth for Karen, his wife.

very fast moving story.


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THE TALE OF HOLLY HOW - Susan Wittig ALBERT

The Tale of Holly How (Beatrix Potter Mystery Book 2) The Tale of Holly How by Susan Wittig Albert


My review


rating: 5 of 5 stars
A tale of Beatrix Potter and her farmhouse at Hill Top Farm - the animals are very much a part of the tale and Beatrix used her skills to uncover a plot to do away with Lady Longford at Tidmarsh Manor.

A delightful story and I got captured with the village life s it was in those days in The Lakes District.


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STARDUST by Neil GAIMAN

Stardust Stardust by Neil Gaiman


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
THIS IS A LOVELY FANTASY STORY OF A SMALL TOWN IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE CALLED WALL.

There is a stone barrier dividing the town and an adjacent meadow and once every 9 years, a market fair is held and entry is open to everyone - both human and from the fairy and other worlds.

Young Tristan grows up in Wall, not knowing of his origins. The day comes when he goes through the opening into the meadow as he has a quest to fulfil. To find a fallen star and bring it back to his true love.

But others are also seeking the star and we follow Tristan on his adventures.


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scrabble tile charm swap 4 of 4


scrabble tile charm swap 4 of 4
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

another tile charm

scrabble tile charm swap 3 of 4


scrabble tile charm swap 3 of 4
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

Loved this cat image and the fish charm is just perfect.

scrabble tile charm swap 2 of 2


scrabble tile charm swap 2 of 2
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

Was lucky to find a few different packs of charms that I could use for the tiles.

scrabble tile charm swap


scrabble tile charm swap
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

After making myself a scrabble size template, it was easier to find images that would fit on the tile.

scrabble tile charm swap


scrabble tile charm swap
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

Another charm tile.

scrabble tile charm swap


scrabble tile charm swap
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

Another charm swap - I should add that the theme we were given was a Flower theme with embellishments, and made so that the charm can be attached to a bracelet chain.

scrabble tile charm swap


scrabble tile charm swap
Originally uploaded by emerging artist2008

At last I have been able to pin down my husband to drill the holes in the scrabble tiles so that I could add the charms and add other embellishments.
This was a fun challenge to participate in through the Flickr grou - GAS MAMMA.