Pink Cat Finished

I'm done with this. In more ways than one I think. What I learned: no wool on a work-intensive project (my head's all snuffly and my lips are tingly) and beaded pods like this overpower a simple fabric shape (if the cat were all beady as well it might balance). I'm not enjoying this little piece enough to keep playing with it.

Someone asked if I'm allergic to the wool or the lanolin. I assume the wool since my mom knit me some beautiful wool sweaters I can't wear anymore and I've never had a problem with any kind of lanolin-containing skin creme.

Here's a much better picture of a cat, the beautiful Lily:

The weather here has been dismal. More like March than June. Pokey has been very cuddly which is marvelous for reading, but not so good for quilting. A good excuse to crack some books. I finished The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson, an urban fantasy a la Kim Harrison and Laurel Hamilton (the early books, before it was all sex all the time). The premise is too goofy, but I found the writing and characters compelling. I'd give it 3.5 out of 5.

The book that I am completely in love with is A Perfect Red by Amy Butler Greenfield, which her website describes as:

The story of the quest for the perfect color red is an adventure into world history. For those who knew its secrets, red was a source of wealth and power from ancient times onward — especially cochineal, the source of nature's most potent red dye.

There's so much information on textiles and dyeing, and pigments for painting, the symbolism of the color red in life, art, religion and folklore. Truly loving the book, which doesn't feel like I'm reading non-fiction. I keep finding quotes for you all, but there are too many to share. How about this one though:

"Deep, rich reds were also popular among peasants and small farmers, but both legal strictures and the prohibitive cost ensured that they rarely had a chance to wear them. At best, peasants could afford only the cheaper orange-red and russet dyes. Even these, if too bright, could bring them into conflict with sumptuary laws and local customs. Such laws were a sore point, at least in parts of Germany, where during a revolt in 1525 peasants demanded, among many other things, the right to wear red."

Can't even imagine living in a time (or place) when someone else could dictate what colors I'm allowed to wear. Anyway, get the book and try it yourselves. I think my fellow lovers of fabric will love it too.

I read this review (by a chef living in Paris, not a film critic) and this article about the new movie Ratatoiulle and now I'm incredibly excited to see it. The basic premise is this: a rat who wants to be a chef in a 3-star restaurant in Paris. It's by Pixar. Directed by the guy who made the fabulous movie The Incredibles. Apparently the Pixarians worked hard to get the chef/food/restaurant/Paris bits accurate. Wheeee!

Unfortunately the movie doesn't get here for awhile. I did start searching the internet though and I know have a link for finding the English Language movies that are playing in Paris. Woohoo. And I've found out some info about theaters as well. Now we're ready for Harry Potter as well as the rat.