Sherlock Holmes

After hearing that Sherlock Holmes was due out in theaters in late December, I made a run by my local bookstore and purchased The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes with the hopes of reading it before the movie came out. Little did I know, that I wouldn’t see the film until late February because I couldn’t possibly stop at The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

I proceeded to check out the other works of Arthur Conan Doyle in his Holmes series, totaling 1,122 pages and spanning seventeen years. The story of Sherlock Holmes and his friend and biographer Dr. Watson starts in 1878 with their fateful meeting through a colleague, Stamford. Recently discharged from the Army for an injury to his shoulder, Watson is in search of a roommate as his pension from the Army isn’t much. Stamford suggests an acquaintance of his, Sherlock Holmes, as a suitable companion who is also on the lookout for a roommate. After meeting and admitting one another’s vices, Holmes and Watson agree to take lodgings at 221B Baker Street, London….a residence soon to be famous around the world after the first adventure, A Study in Scarlet, was published in the 1887 edition of Beeton's Christmas Annual.

Early on in their adventures, Watson falls in love with one of their clients, Mary Morstan, a poor governess, in The Sign of Four and marries her after the case has ended with her fortune no longer being an obstacle to their marriage. As Holmes put it, “The good Watson had at that time deserted me for a wife, the only selfish action which I can recall in our association.”

Their adventures, oddly enough, hardly ever have them leaving the comfort of England, but the tales of the victims or criminals span the globe from the wild lands of India to the western frontiers of Utah and California. The only vice to mar the adventures of these two men is Holmes’ addiction to 7% solution of cocaine and morphine, which he uses when there has been no cases to solve for a while and he is bored of the world.

Some of my favorite adventures were:

1. Valley of Fear = detailing a corrupt Masonic temple lodge in late 19th century California and the links to which a fellow detective from America will go to avoid death by the hands of its members.

2. A Scandal in Bohemia = detailing one of Sherlock Holmes’ ‘failures’ at the hand of a woman, Irene Adler. As Watson said, “To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. … It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. … Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.”

Ms. Adler was a former opera singer in Warsaw who had taken up lodgings in London after her lover, the King of Bohemia, breaks with her in order to marry the daughter of the King of Scandinavia. The king wishes Sherlock Holmes to retrieve a bundle of letters and a photograph that Irene is keeping from their liaison. She literally escapes under Holmes’ nose after greeting him at his doorstep in disguise.

3. An Adventure of the Three Garridebs = not so much for the plot, but for the fact that for once Sherlock Holmes displays a bit of feeling when his friend Dr. Watson is shot while apprehending the thief.

p. 1053 - In an instant he had whisked out a revolver from his breast and had fired two shots. I felt a sudden hot sear as if a red-hot iron had been pressed to my thigh. There a was a crash as Holmes’s pistol came down on the man’s head. I had a vision of him sprawling upon the floor with blood running down his face while Holmes rummaged him for weapons. Then my friend’s wiry arms were round me, and he was leading me to a chair.

“You’re not hurt, Watson? For God’s sake, say that you are not hurt!”

It was worth a wound – it was worth many wounds – to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.

“It’s nothing, Holmes. It’s a mere scratch.”

He had ripped up my trousers with his pocket-knife.

“You are right,” he cried with an immense sigh of relief. “It is quite superficial.” His face set like flint as he glared at our prisoner, who was sitting up with a dazed face. “By the Lord, it is as well for you. If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive. Now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?”

Watching Sherlock Holmes in the theaters was an experience. I had to stop myself from laughing hysterically during several scenes in the movie that contained references to the books and/or were extremely funny to my geeky sensibilities. Overall, I thought it was a great film version of Doyle’s characters. However, I was a bit put off by the fact that Irene Adler was made into a ‘love’ interest of sorts for Holmes and that she knew Professor Moriarty and was working for him, which is utterly ridiculous.

Nevertheless, one of my favorite scenes in the movie has Holmes waiting at a restaurant for the arrival of Watson and his fiancée Mary Morstan. I loved the way the director captured Holmes’ agitation at being around so many people, driven mad by all the little details and conversations he was picking up in the room.

I have heard that a sequel will be in the works during the summer with hopefully (fingers crossed) all the main characters back to reprise their roles. The rumor mill has Brad Pitt playing Holmes’ archenemy Professor Moriarty, the ruthless mind behind London’s criminal underworld. After reading the entirety of Holmes’ stories and seeing how Professor Moriarty is portrayed, I can’t see Brad Pitt in that role. If he does take it, let’s hope he surprises the Holmes’ purists of the literary world.

Until next time ^_____^

P.S. Sherlock Holmes is due out to DVD later this month. If you haven’t seen it, I think you’ll like it, especially if you love period films. Visit your local library or video store to rent it if you aren’t sure about buying it for keeps ;)

In like a lion, out like a lamb!

Design: March - the Lion and the Lamb by Erica Michaels
Fabric: 28ct antique white linen M.C.G Textiles
Threads: DMC White, 310, 367, 562, 800, 3862, and 3864
Start/Finish: 3/3-4/2010

The design actually calls for Rainbow Gallery fibers, which I don't have and I'm sure my LNS doesn't carry so I just picked some colors. The greens are from the Good Luck Block design and I went through my stash of DMC threads and found some suitable for the lion and lamb ;)

I found this freebie by Erica Michaels a while ago and now seemed to be the perfect time to stitch it. Our weather on Monday (the first) was fierce like a lion, let's hope the month's weather leaves like a lamb.

I finished this design tonight while watching Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo on DVD. I just purchased the DVD on Tuesday and it was skipping in parts. (sigh) So I'll have to make a run by the store this weekend to exchange it for another copy. With that in mind, I'll probably run by my local Hobby Lobby or Hancock's and look at seasonal fabrics!

Until next time ^___^

A Little Luck

Design: Good Luck Block by Helga Mandl
Fabric: 28ct antique white linen M.C.G Textiles
Threads: DMC 367, 562, 727, 3805
Start/Finish: 3/2/2010

Looking through old issues of GOS, I found this adorable design for St. Patrick's Day! Isn't it cute? The original design called for Aida fabric, but as I can't work on Aida to save my life, I used some linen in my stash. I also substituted the recommended metallic thread with DMC 727 as I can't work with metallics either!!

Until next time ^____^

Bloody Jack

Bloody Jack: Being An Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary 'Jacky' Faber, Ship's Boy by L.A. Meyer is a fast-paced, coming-of-age story of Jacky, a girl who decides to don boy's clothes to escape the dangerous streets of early 18th century London. Gaining entrance on a Navy ship called the HMS Dolphin to seek adventure on the high seas.

I quite enjoyed the adventure that is 18th century London from the point of view of a lower/middle class girl who is forced into poverty and the underworld of London after her family dies from sickness. Barely making a living by dancing, singing, and begging on the streets, Mary's world is shaken by the death of her gang's leader, Charlie. She decides to leave London and pursue her dream of becoming a ship captain and sailing around the world.

Of course, deceiving hundreds of men on a Navy ship isn't easy, but Mary or Jacky, as she calls herself, manages to do so while making friends with the other ship's boys. With learning the ways of the ship and sailing around the world in pursuit of pirates, Jacky's greatest adventure is yet to come....falling in love with her fellow ship boy, James!

For those of you who want to read the book, I won't ruin the book for you ;) Thanks to Marissa for hosting The Young Bluestockings Book Club. I can't wait to discuss this one!

Until next time ^____^

Early start of spring!

This afternoon I stitched this little cutie! I've never stitched a Lizzie Kate design, but I saw this one at my LNS and couldn't resist purchasing it ;)






Design: Spring ABC's by Lizzie Kate
Fabric: 28ct antique white linen M.C.G Textiles
DMC: 727, 987, 3687, 3740, and 3853
Start/Finish: 2/28/2010

What do you think of my Spring-themed display? I bought the bunnies at Hobby Lobby. I had a hard choice to make from all the cute bunnies they had, but I came away with these two! I love the one on the right. He reminds of something that Hayao Miyazaki would have in one of his animations.

I purchased a white ceramic pitcher at Michael's this morning for 50% off! I got some hydrangeas to fill it up!

Did you guys watch the hockey game this afternoon? I was stitching this design while watching it ;) It was a great game! I was hoping the Canadians would win since it was taking place in their homeland! I'm glad they did!

On a closing note, I loved watching the Olympics! Thanks to Canada for hosting such an amazing Olympic Games ;)

Until next time ^_____^

February recap

February recap:

Read:
1. His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle
2. The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
3. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol. 1 manga by Clamp
4. Alice in the Country of the Hearts Vol. 1 manga by Hoshino Soumei and Quinrose
5. La Corda d'Oro Vol. 1 manga by Yuki Kure
6. Day of Revolution Vol. 1-2 manga by Mikito Tsuda
7. Three other manga volumes - single titles that I borrowed from a friend ;)
8. Steamed: A Steampunk Romance by Katie MacAlister
9. Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle
10. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
11. All My Darling Daughters by Fumi Yoshinaga
12. Undead and Unworthy by Maryjanice Davidson

Stitched:
1. Home of a Needleworker Too by Little House Needleworks
2. Spring ABC's by Lizze Kate

Finishes:
1. Heart Biscornu
2. JBW Belle Fleurs box
3. JBW Amour pinkeep

My goals for March include stitching more! I have some small designs for spring that I would love to stitch ;) I hope to read some more books on my shelves! Yes, I have a shelf devoted to books I've purchased, but haven't read....I need to make a concerted effort to read more on that shelf!!

Of course, my plans all depend on whether I'm able to loan another book by Hannah Maria Jones. If I get the chance to borrow it, I'll be doing more reading than stitching next month.

Until next time ^____^

Home of a Needleworker finish

Design: Home of a Needleworker Too by Little House Needleworks
Threads: Crescent Colours
Fabric: 28ct cream-colored Cashel linen
Start/Finish: 2/6-26/2010 (9 days total)

What do you think? It's cute. There is another design with the same name by LHN that I will probably get in the future. It is more of a traditional sampler with an alphabet ;)

Until next time ^____^

Browsing the stacks

As you can tell, I was quite busy this morning! Stopping by my LNS and then a used bookstore. I've read a few of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series last year and was hoping to finish out the series. I found the rest of her series along with a couple of titles by Georgette Heyer while wandering the stacks. I had read Mrs. Heyer's Arabella last year and wasn't all that impressed with it. While I was at the bookstore, I decided to give her another try and came away with three of her books.

My only complaint about the used bookstore was the prices. Each of the Quinn novels were $4, which really isn't a good price on something that is clearly used with broken spines, yellowing pages, and shelf wear.

To continue my book geekiness, I ran by my local library to pick up a book on hold and found two reference books on 19th and 20th century British writers in their sales racks. Only $4 for both! Not bad at all!

Happy reading everyone!

Goodies!

Good afternoon! I went by my LNS today to browse for spring designs. In my cross-stitch induced frenzy I forgot the gift certificate I received for Christmas, but never fear I still came away with these designs.

Now I'll have to look through my stash of linen and threads to see what I have to start one of these designs!

Until next time ^____^

Blue house....