Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Book Review: Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett


This wonderful author and playwright is a great favourite of mine. 
Her style of writing is so elegant and her words seem to flow into one another, creating a beautiful and breathtaking story of incredibly intelligent children who brighten the lives of those around them, even in the sometimes desperate circumstances they find themselves in.

Topmost on my list of most loved authors is Louisa May Alcott with her treasure of a book, Little Women, and in second place is Frances Hodgson Burnett with The Secret Garden which I’ve read more than once.  Her other book, A Little Princess is both thrilling and sad but very moving.  Mom just finished this story as a read-aloud to Beth and Gabrielle, but I must admit, even we older people were spellbound listening to her read!

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Complete-Books-Princess-Fauntleroy/dp/0517147483/ref=la_B000AP8N9K_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391000595&sr=1-8
  I decided to read her other book, Little Lord Fauntleroy for the first time and review it for my readers.  I found it just as perfect as her other two books but maybe a little less tragic :-) 

Frances Hodgson Burnett

This story begins in a small American town where a little boy named Cedric lives with his mother.  Having lost his father, the youngest son of an Earl, some time earlier to sickness, Cedric goes through his young life with an eager and sincere little attitude, unknowingly touching the lives of each person he meets – Mr Hobbs, a grumpy greengrocer, the poor Apple Women down the road and Dick the bootblack.  Cedric is both compassionate and clever and it is this that first strikes his grandfather, the angry old Earl of Dorincourt when he first meets him.  Cedric, whose life is turned around when he finds out he is in fact the heir to the Dorincourt title, sails to England to grow up under the guidance of the selfish and cross old Earl.  But it is Cedric who softens the heart of his grandfather and changes the lives of all the people living on the estate of Dorincourt... 

Little Lord Fauntleroy is a relatively easy and touching read.  I would highly recommend this book as a read-aloud for children ages six and up! 

Have you read this delightful book?  What did you think of it?

Have a very blessed week further friends!
Kelly-Anne

Monday, January 27, 2014

52 Crafts in 52 Weeks - Week Thirty Four

Happy Monday everyone!  As you can see, I did not quite finish the challenge I set myself last year to do 52 new craft projects in just 52 weeks. I did manage to make almost all the gifts I needed in 2013, though and I learnt so much through all my dabbling.  Thus I have decided to carry on crafting in 2014 and complete the rest of the 52 projects.

And now let me show you my first craft for 2014 – I am so excited to share it with you!  Last year October, Nancy received a button covering kit and today I had the chance to try it out.  Nancy has made her buttons into magnets as well as used them on various sewing and crafting projects as embellishments. 

The uncovered buttons, which come in various sizes and can be purchased from just about any craft store, are a little pricey, but once they are covered with beautiful fabric you won’t regret spending those few extra cents!  They add such a wonderful dimension to any handmade item and make a gift look extra special...

Here are a few ideas for using them...

Larger covered buttons can be used as gorgeous little fridge magnets.  We put a few coordinating button magnets together as little gifts for the ladies’ Christmas crackers last year.



Use smaller buttons on cards, gift tags or even scrapbook pages.  You can either cover the buttons with a large print fabric to create an abstract look or a small print fabric such as one with tiny roses for a more intricate look...

 
Instead of putting regular buttons on a dress or shirt that you’ve made, cover a button with matching fabric and use that instead...

What have you been busy with lately?

Crafty Greetings,
Kelly-Anne

Monday, January 20, 2014

How We Celebrated Izzie's Birthday


You must know how much we love celebrating if we celebrate the dog’s birthday.  We just always have.  We love to make an occasion of even the smallest thing...  As Izzie turned two (or fourteen, counting in dog years...) on Wednesday the 15th, we thought a small party would be just right to make her feel loved.  Out came the pretty blue dotty cupcake cases and the tea cups.  Gabrielle, Rebekah and I had such fun putting together the cupcakes and decorating them.  I broke a few doggy chocolate drops up into small pieces to put on top of Izzie’s cupcake and Mom insisted she sit at the table with us at tea time (fortunately Dad was at work... I think he may have objected...).  Everyone had a lovely time watching Izzie munch through her cake - we went for a serious walk afterwards though!  I thought my readers would enjoy seeing a few photographs of how we celebrated this special birthday, doggy style!

 
 Poor Izzie was so worried that she would get into trouble for hopping up onto the chair, but she had a delightful shock to find that she was in fact the guest of honour and fully welcome to a place at the table...

 


 
 Have a blessed week everyone,
Kelly-Anne