Illustration fancy: The Marriage Plot

Date acquired: early 2012
Emotional worth: 1 star

Do you sometimes have such high expectations of a book that you feel cheated when it is nothing like you imagined? Well, this book fits this category perfectly. The concept and the way it was written was quite clever, but the characters were so annoying! Half the time I wanted to scream and tell them to grow up! Well, at least the book cover is pretty funky.

Don't forget to enter this competition to win an illustration of your favourite book.

Birthday GIVEAWAY

Forgotten Fancies turns 2 today. YIPEE!! To celebrate, I am giving away a customised illustration to one lucky reader. Since I am a crazy book nerd, I thought it will be super fun if I draw your favourite book as a giveaway. All you have to do is follow me on blogger and leave a comment below with the title of your favourite book and your email address. Bonus entires if you like my facebook page or follow me on twitter (just remember to let me know in the comment box). I will be randomly picking a lucky winner on  31st May, so you will have plenty of time to enter and to tell all your friends about this competition. Good luck!

Illustration fancy: Collette Sewing Handbook

Date acquired: Late January 2012

Emotional worth: 4 stars

I have been wanting this book since the day it was released, but was reluctant to buy because of the many dress books gathering dust on my bookcase. But since 2012 is to be a year of making rather than buying, I thought this little book will help with the creative process. Poor excuse really.

I am absolutely in love with this book. I love the modern vintage feel of the dress patterns, the easy to follow instructions and for the design/colour nerd in me, the muted pastel colours used throughout.

Being a haphazard dressmaker, not following instructions, and making things up as I go along, this book has taught me how to slow down and plan. So far I have only made the meringue skirt as seen here  but have already picked up quite a few valuable tips which I will treasure with me forever. I doubt I will turn into one of those people who make muslins to make sure everything fit perfectly, but at least I can start taking little steps towards the path of a tidy and well organised sewer.

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What are you optimistic about?

Date acquired: around 2010

Emotional worth: 4 stars

Haven't done a fancy for awhile. Found this book on my bookshelf the other day and thought it will be the perfect reading material to bring in the new year. It is a collection of ideas by leading thinkers from around the world on what they are optimistic about for the future. People are always complaining about what they don't have or wish they have or can become, so it's a breath of fresh air to read something a bit more optimistic and positive. 

What are you optimistic about? I for one am hopeful with new friendships, new beginnings, new projects and opportunities. Thank you everyone for reading my blog and your lovely comments about my illustrations. I wish you all the best for the new year, see you in 2012.  

x Carmen

1Q84

Date acquired: NOV 2011

I am a big fan of Haruki Murakami, and even though the reviews for this book are not that great, I do think this is definitely one of his best. It is thick like a bible, a total of 925 pages. Mind you, there are 3 books in one, but still quite a big commitment to read don't you think? Anyway, I have only been reading this for a week and I am already halfway through book two. It is really that good! 

Emotional worth: 3 stars

Nocturnes - Five Stories of Music and Nightfall

Date acquired: late May 2011

Have you heard of Kazuo Ishiguro? He is definitely one of my favourite contemporary authors at the moment. I've only discovered him recently, he is the author of Never Let Me Go, which turned into a movie recently. I haven't seen the movie yet, I wanted to read the book before seeing it on screen. However, now that I've read the book, I'm not sure whether I should see the movie. I have already fallen in love with the book, surely I can't be that lucky and fall in love with the movie too. What do you think? Have you seen the movie? Would you recommend it?

Nocturnes is the second book I have of Kazuo, I bought it at a bargain price while I was in Melbourne. I have never been a big fan of short stories, but thought I'll give it a try since I was pretty impressed with Never Let Me Go. Have you read Nocturnes? I'm hoping it will be as good as NLMG. I guess I won't know until I've start reading it.

Emotional worth: 1.5 stars

Anna Karenina

Date acquired: Around 2002

I have a weakness for Russian writers, there's something about their sense of drama which excites me every time. I read Anna Karenina many many years ago and loved it so much that I promised myself I would be re-reading it every year. However, as with most promises, it never happened. A few months ago I picked up this book again and decided the time is right to re-visit the world of Anna Karenina and oh my, am I glad. It is like reading a brand new book, and the characters are so much more intense than I remembered. It's funny how books can present different meanings during different stages of your life. This time, I am reading this book very slowly, savoring every word as I go along. Don't know when I will finish reading this, but I'm not complaining.

Emotional worth: 3.5 stars

The unbearable lightness of being

The unbearable lightness of being

Date acquired: around 2004

I love this book, it is one of those books where you want to stop and ponder every mid sentence. I tend to re-read it every year, and each time it has a brand new meaning for me.

Emotional worth: 5 stars