A favorite pair of jeans started showing signs of wear by the left front pocket (probably because of my phone), so i did some visible mending using sashiko and boro techniques:
These magnetic bookmarks are from a cute pattern from Craftapalooza.
I used interfacing scraps which were a bit stiffer than what was called for, which added to the bulk a bit. I plan on making more with a lighter interfacing, maybe fall-themed. They'd make a good gift, too!
This is the second novel in de Lint's Newford series, and a re-read for me. It's a fascinating concept -- especially talented artists are able to use their paintings to open a gateway to another world, inviting in fairy-like beings -- and as always I appreciate the urban fantasy setting and his commitment to both art and social justice.
However, his protagonist, Isabelle, was a frustrating character who made a lot of bad decisions for almost the entirety of the novel. Some of it is, understandably, a function of the abusive relationships she has been subject to; they do a number on both her self esteem and her understanding of what's normal. But her actions are also the result of her own selfishness and obsession with art; she is willing to overlook or justify all manner of bad acts committed by Rushkin because of his artistic talent. It's one thing to separate the artist from the art, a topic that is especially relevant today. It's another to let the artist get away with murder because he's fascinating.
Late in the novel we meet another painter who serves as a marked contrast to Isabelle; I wish we could have spent more time with her.
