Joanna here with this month's question for the Wenches:
Do you have a hobby or handicraft that's important to you? Does it ever find its way into your writing?
Mary Jo s
ays:
Alas, I am not crafty, except perhaps in my plotting. I learned basic sewing as a girl and made some of my own clothes because that's what girls did in that time and place, but I wasn't enthusiastic about it, and I was a complete loss at handcrafts. I botched cross-stitch and never mastered crochet and had zero interest in embroidery. I did learn to knit in college because it was a way to keep hands busy when we sat around and talked, and I even managed a few large needle sweaters. But they weren't very good except for basic warmth, and I haven't knit since I got out of college.
With the exception of young Bree, the hero's daughter in Sometimes a Rogue, my female characters aren't very interested 
in handwork, though they can mend things as required. And now that I think of it, Laurel, the heroine of Not Quite a Wife, crocheted baby blanket squares while on a long carriage ride, but that was more because poor babies needed warm blankets. I don't think she was much interested in crocheting for crochet's sake. <G> So I guess you could say that my lack of handicraft interest has made its way into my writing!
On the other hand, while I don't have much gift for crafts, I have my share of interests. As an art school graduate and a professional designer, art and design creep into stories, most strongly in River of Fire, where all the major characters are artists and don't know how they feel unless they have a paint brush in hand. <G> And I love music, though again I have no particular talent other than being able to do some research, but it's fun finding a four hand piano version of Vivaldi quartets on youtube, then telling my characters to take it from there. <G> A nice thing about writing is all the elements we can weave into our stories!
Nicola offers us music:
It’s interesting how many writers are also creative in other artistic fields. I have absolutely no talent for painting or drawing, or sewing, 
knitting or making anything with my hands. As a child I did make patchwork cushions in my sewing classes at school and I was also passably good at cookery, which I think is another creative talent. However it was music that I loved and singing was a hobby of mine from childhood.
I studied music at school and learned the piano and wrote some (bad) songs. I joined my school, college and church choirs and was also a member of a local choral society that toured Europe one summer. That was very exciting. My first love was always church music but I have tackled just about everything except opera! My singing tutor was a very fierce Scots lady called Mrs Buchan who had been a professional singer and was a very inspiring teacher.
A number of characters in my books are musical and have good signing voices. Some of my heroines are talented at the piano or other musical instruments. When I am researching a book I do enjoy seeing which pieces of music were popular in the period and choosing something that my heroine might be singing or playing in the drawing room after dinner to entertain the other guests. In Unmasked, the heroine Mari gives away the secret of her ancestry by singing a Russian folk song. When I write musical characters I am always reminded of Mary in Pride and Prejudice who loved playing the piano even though she had little aptitude for it, and her father saying: “You have entertained us long enough!”
into some other expression like arts, crafts, gardening and so on. And if we're not craftsy otherwise, we can scribble and type a mile a minute, and that's a talent of the hands if there ever was one!
Some of the art has worked into my novels – I've written about a painter, an illuminator, a sculptor, an art historian and so on. I also wrote about harp playing after taking lessons in Celtic harp years ago. I loved it, and better understood long-ago harpers and harp music. That definitely helped when I wrote The Angel Knight, Lady Macbeth and Queen Hereafter, and if I write about a harper again, I'll dust off my Irish harp and tune it up! 
watercolor artist. But I’m also the Wench “jock”, as I enjoy sports as a way of relaxing. A while back, I took up golf—I’m pretty athletic, but it was one of the hardest endeavors I’ve ever tried— the swing may look easy, and the ball is not moving, but trust me, getting the timing right takes practice and patience! However I really enjoyed both the cerebral challenge and walking the course. After a day of writing, I love going out in early evening and playing a few holes. I can’t tell you how many plot tangles I have unraveled on the fairways. There’s something about switching gears and doing something physical that clears the brain synapses!
Gardening. I'm not sure I've ever written a garden-obsessed character, but my books often have garden scenes and named plants with significance. Mycharacters are going to have gardens as most people in the past did until the
worst town developments of the 19th century, which led to the allotment
movement — an awareness that people, especially the poor, need a place to grow
food and also to have touch with the land and growing things.
Most of my characters are wealthy enough to have estates and gardeners, but they still take an interest. Interestingly, my book-in-progress, The Viscount Needs a Wife, has a hero and heroine who don't. They're both London people, not fond of the countryside, and know nothing about how to grow anything. I like to be different!
I nearly always have some craft activity on the go, whether it's hand-made Christmas decorations, small things for dolls houses, or various kinds of jewellery. I'm more slapdash than meticulous, but I do enjoy making small things.
how often, while apparently concentrating wholly on a necklace or bracelet, I solve a plot problem. I go through stages with the jewelry, too. Not so long ago I was making things using natural crystals, which I love, but was sidetracked recently when a friend suggested I make a beaded leather wrap bracelet — and I was off and playing.
Pat rounds us off with some wonderfully practical hobbies:
There are a few authors I know of who have Etsy shops where they sell their handmade jewellery and things…
Since my grandmother died I’ve been determined to get back into Ukrainian embroidery and cross stitch (which is a massive, MASSIVE part of Ukrainian culture). So I’m starting on the basic designs from the local craft shops before getting back into the more detailed, more difficult Ukrainian work.
I guess being a former ballet dancer counts as creative!
There are a few authors I know of who have Etsy shops where they sell their handmade jewellery and things…
Since my grandmother died I’ve been determined to get back into Ukrainian embroidery and cross stitch (which is a massive, MASSIVE part of Ukrainian culture). So I’m starting on the basic designs from the local craft shops before getting back into the more detailed, more difficult Ukrainian work.
I guess being a former ballet dancer counts as creative!
There are a few authors I know of who have Etsy shops where they sell their handmade jewellery and things…
Since my grandmother died I’ve been determined to get back into Ukrainian embroidery and cross stitch (which is a massive, MASSIVE part of Ukrainian culture). So I’m starting on the basic designs from the local craft shops before getting back into the more detailed, more difficult Ukrainian work.
I guess being a former ballet dancer counts as creative!
There are a few authors I know of who have Etsy shops where they sell their handmade jewellery and things…
Since my grandmother died I’ve been determined to get back into Ukrainian embroidery and cross stitch (which is a massive, MASSIVE part of Ukrainian culture). So I’m starting on the basic designs from the local craft shops before getting back into the more detailed, more difficult Ukrainian work.
I guess being a former ballet dancer counts as creative!
There are a few authors I know of who have Etsy shops where they sell their handmade jewellery and things…
Since my grandmother died I’ve been determined to get back into Ukrainian embroidery and cross stitch (which is a massive, MASSIVE part of Ukrainian culture). So I’m starting on the basic designs from the local craft shops before getting back into the more detailed, more difficult Ukrainian work.
I guess being a former ballet dancer counts as creative!
I enjoy the counted embroideries: counted cross-stitch and needlepoint. I have been an avid knitter for 65 years, but a damaged rotator cuff has cut down on the activity. I also used to garden until age got in my way; I still have three thriving african violet plants, potted in 12-inch pots, so they have a much greater display than the usual pots. I enjoy cooking, But I live and breath music (even though I have been hearing impaired all my life and I now approach true deafness.) I sang in school and church choirs until my hearing interfered. I still sing around the house. And the ODDEST song combinations exist in my head. (Why did I suddenly remember “We Will Have These Moments to Remember”? And why is it mixed with “Do You Ken John Peel in the Morning”?
I enjoy the counted embroideries: counted cross-stitch and needlepoint. I have been an avid knitter for 65 years, but a damaged rotator cuff has cut down on the activity. I also used to garden until age got in my way; I still have three thriving african violet plants, potted in 12-inch pots, so they have a much greater display than the usual pots. I enjoy cooking, But I live and breath music (even though I have been hearing impaired all my life and I now approach true deafness.) I sang in school and church choirs until my hearing interfered. I still sing around the house. And the ODDEST song combinations exist in my head. (Why did I suddenly remember “We Will Have These Moments to Remember”? And why is it mixed with “Do You Ken John Peel in the Morning”?
I enjoy the counted embroideries: counted cross-stitch and needlepoint. I have been an avid knitter for 65 years, but a damaged rotator cuff has cut down on the activity. I also used to garden until age got in my way; I still have three thriving african violet plants, potted in 12-inch pots, so they have a much greater display than the usual pots. I enjoy cooking, But I live and breath music (even though I have been hearing impaired all my life and I now approach true deafness.) I sang in school and church choirs until my hearing interfered. I still sing around the house. And the ODDEST song combinations exist in my head. (Why did I suddenly remember “We Will Have These Moments to Remember”? And why is it mixed with “Do You Ken John Peel in the Morning”?
I enjoy the counted embroideries: counted cross-stitch and needlepoint. I have been an avid knitter for 65 years, but a damaged rotator cuff has cut down on the activity. I also used to garden until age got in my way; I still have three thriving african violet plants, potted in 12-inch pots, so they have a much greater display than the usual pots. I enjoy cooking, But I live and breath music (even though I have been hearing impaired all my life and I now approach true deafness.) I sang in school and church choirs until my hearing interfered. I still sing around the house. And the ODDEST song combinations exist in my head. (Why did I suddenly remember “We Will Have These Moments to Remember”? And why is it mixed with “Do You Ken John Peel in the Morning”?
I enjoy the counted embroideries: counted cross-stitch and needlepoint. I have been an avid knitter for 65 years, but a damaged rotator cuff has cut down on the activity. I also used to garden until age got in my way; I still have three thriving african violet plants, potted in 12-inch pots, so they have a much greater display than the usual pots. I enjoy cooking, But I live and breath music (even though I have been hearing impaired all my life and I now approach true deafness.) I sang in school and church choirs until my hearing interfered. I still sing around the house. And the ODDEST song combinations exist in my head. (Why did I suddenly remember “We Will Have These Moments to Remember”? And why is it mixed with “Do You Ken John Peel in the Morning”?
I think many authors turn to writing fiction when they retire … often partially or early. By bringing professional knowledge into their fiction they add a certain authentic plausibility to their stories.
Fred Hoyle the cosmologist comes to mind for SciFi. Several Romantic suspense authors at http://kissandthrill.com/ also come to mind for Archaeology and Psychology.
Perhaps one of the most interesting though is Lexi Revellian http://www.lexirevellian.com/ who is a practicing jeweler who also repairs old rocking horses.
Myself … I’m still thinking about it! LOL
I think many authors turn to writing fiction when they retire … often partially or early. By bringing professional knowledge into their fiction they add a certain authentic plausibility to their stories.
Fred Hoyle the cosmologist comes to mind for SciFi. Several Romantic suspense authors at http://kissandthrill.com/ also come to mind for Archaeology and Psychology.
Perhaps one of the most interesting though is Lexi Revellian http://www.lexirevellian.com/ who is a practicing jeweler who also repairs old rocking horses.
Myself … I’m still thinking about it! LOL
I think many authors turn to writing fiction when they retire … often partially or early. By bringing professional knowledge into their fiction they add a certain authentic plausibility to their stories.
Fred Hoyle the cosmologist comes to mind for SciFi. Several Romantic suspense authors at http://kissandthrill.com/ also come to mind for Archaeology and Psychology.
Perhaps one of the most interesting though is Lexi Revellian http://www.lexirevellian.com/ who is a practicing jeweler who also repairs old rocking horses.
Myself … I’m still thinking about it! LOL
I think many authors turn to writing fiction when they retire … often partially or early. By bringing professional knowledge into their fiction they add a certain authentic plausibility to their stories.
Fred Hoyle the cosmologist comes to mind for SciFi. Several Romantic suspense authors at http://kissandthrill.com/ also come to mind for Archaeology and Psychology.
Perhaps one of the most interesting though is Lexi Revellian http://www.lexirevellian.com/ who is a practicing jeweler who also repairs old rocking horses.
Myself … I’m still thinking about it! LOL
I think many authors turn to writing fiction when they retire … often partially or early. By bringing professional knowledge into their fiction they add a certain authentic plausibility to their stories.
Fred Hoyle the cosmologist comes to mind for SciFi. Several Romantic suspense authors at http://kissandthrill.com/ also come to mind for Archaeology and Psychology.
Perhaps one of the most interesting though is Lexi Revellian http://www.lexirevellian.com/ who is a practicing jeweler who also repairs old rocking horses.
Myself … I’m still thinking about it! LOL
Cooking. I really like to cook, and once upon a time I wrote a weekly cooking column. Since these days I am writing about 19th century aristocrats, it would be a bit of a stretch to have any of them actually get toward in the kitchen, but now that you mention it, I realized that from time to time I get fairly specific about the food they eat.
Cooking. I really like to cook, and once upon a time I wrote a weekly cooking column. Since these days I am writing about 19th century aristocrats, it would be a bit of a stretch to have any of them actually get toward in the kitchen, but now that you mention it, I realized that from time to time I get fairly specific about the food they eat.
Cooking. I really like to cook, and once upon a time I wrote a weekly cooking column. Since these days I am writing about 19th century aristocrats, it would be a bit of a stretch to have any of them actually get toward in the kitchen, but now that you mention it, I realized that from time to time I get fairly specific about the food they eat.
Cooking. I really like to cook, and once upon a time I wrote a weekly cooking column. Since these days I am writing about 19th century aristocrats, it would be a bit of a stretch to have any of them actually get toward in the kitchen, but now that you mention it, I realized that from time to time I get fairly specific about the food they eat.
Cooking. I really like to cook, and once upon a time I wrote a weekly cooking column. Since these days I am writing about 19th century aristocrats, it would be a bit of a stretch to have any of them actually get toward in the kitchen, but now that you mention it, I realized that from time to time I get fairly specific about the food they eat.
“get to work” not “get toward”
I am not fond of autocorrect
“get to work” not “get toward”
I am not fond of autocorrect
“get to work” not “get toward”
I am not fond of autocorrect
“get to work” not “get toward”
I am not fond of autocorrect
“get to work” not “get toward”
I am not fond of autocorrect
I’m a knitter, but lots of writers use that. I read in one of my knitting books that Queen Victoria knitted for the veterans. When she presented some finished pieces at some function, an old woman commented loudly, unaware that she was the Queen, that she hoped she knitted better for her own man.
I also picked up decoupage years ago, when I was going through a stressful period. My daughter was scheduled to have open-heart surgery after Christmas and somehow I fixated on decoupage as therapy. Looking back, I suppose it was the idea of taking something worn and making it beautiful…Decoupage was all the rage during the time of Marie Antoinette, from what I’ve read. Original artworks were actually taken off the walls, which accounts for the loss of, well, a lot of art. One story haunts me, of a famous decoupageur (deceased, I believe) who remembered learning his trade from a family whose entire house was either decoupaged or housed clipped pieces of paper to be used in decoupage. That house, and the family was destroyed in WWII. Oh, an update – my daughter is well and even more her beautiful self. She crochets, btw.
I’m a knitter, but lots of writers use that. I read in one of my knitting books that Queen Victoria knitted for the veterans. When she presented some finished pieces at some function, an old woman commented loudly, unaware that she was the Queen, that she hoped she knitted better for her own man.
I also picked up decoupage years ago, when I was going through a stressful period. My daughter was scheduled to have open-heart surgery after Christmas and somehow I fixated on decoupage as therapy. Looking back, I suppose it was the idea of taking something worn and making it beautiful…Decoupage was all the rage during the time of Marie Antoinette, from what I’ve read. Original artworks were actually taken off the walls, which accounts for the loss of, well, a lot of art. One story haunts me, of a famous decoupageur (deceased, I believe) who remembered learning his trade from a family whose entire house was either decoupaged or housed clipped pieces of paper to be used in decoupage. That house, and the family was destroyed in WWII. Oh, an update – my daughter is well and even more her beautiful self. She crochets, btw.
I’m a knitter, but lots of writers use that. I read in one of my knitting books that Queen Victoria knitted for the veterans. When she presented some finished pieces at some function, an old woman commented loudly, unaware that she was the Queen, that she hoped she knitted better for her own man.
I also picked up decoupage years ago, when I was going through a stressful period. My daughter was scheduled to have open-heart surgery after Christmas and somehow I fixated on decoupage as therapy. Looking back, I suppose it was the idea of taking something worn and making it beautiful…Decoupage was all the rage during the time of Marie Antoinette, from what I’ve read. Original artworks were actually taken off the walls, which accounts for the loss of, well, a lot of art. One story haunts me, of a famous decoupageur (deceased, I believe) who remembered learning his trade from a family whose entire house was either decoupaged or housed clipped pieces of paper to be used in decoupage. That house, and the family was destroyed in WWII. Oh, an update – my daughter is well and even more her beautiful self. She crochets, btw.
I’m a knitter, but lots of writers use that. I read in one of my knitting books that Queen Victoria knitted for the veterans. When she presented some finished pieces at some function, an old woman commented loudly, unaware that she was the Queen, that she hoped she knitted better for her own man.
I also picked up decoupage years ago, when I was going through a stressful period. My daughter was scheduled to have open-heart surgery after Christmas and somehow I fixated on decoupage as therapy. Looking back, I suppose it was the idea of taking something worn and making it beautiful…Decoupage was all the rage during the time of Marie Antoinette, from what I’ve read. Original artworks were actually taken off the walls, which accounts for the loss of, well, a lot of art. One story haunts me, of a famous decoupageur (deceased, I believe) who remembered learning his trade from a family whose entire house was either decoupaged or housed clipped pieces of paper to be used in decoupage. That house, and the family was destroyed in WWII. Oh, an update – my daughter is well and even more her beautiful self. She crochets, btw.
I’m a knitter, but lots of writers use that. I read in one of my knitting books that Queen Victoria knitted for the veterans. When she presented some finished pieces at some function, an old woman commented loudly, unaware that she was the Queen, that she hoped she knitted better for her own man.
I also picked up decoupage years ago, when I was going through a stressful period. My daughter was scheduled to have open-heart surgery after Christmas and somehow I fixated on decoupage as therapy. Looking back, I suppose it was the idea of taking something worn and making it beautiful…Decoupage was all the rage during the time of Marie Antoinette, from what I’ve read. Original artworks were actually taken off the walls, which accounts for the loss of, well, a lot of art. One story haunts me, of a famous decoupageur (deceased, I believe) who remembered learning his trade from a family whose entire house was either decoupaged or housed clipped pieces of paper to be used in decoupage. That house, and the family was destroyed in WWII. Oh, an update – my daughter is well and even more her beautiful self. She crochets, btw.
I should do that. Not so much an etsy shop, but maybe I could give them my ceramic pots away to readers …
I think it would be so cool to have a Ukrainian grandmother and carry on a family tradition of fine embroidery.
I should do that. Not so much an etsy shop, but maybe I could give them my ceramic pots away to readers …
I think it would be so cool to have a Ukrainian grandmother and carry on a family tradition of fine embroidery.
I should do that. Not so much an etsy shop, but maybe I could give them my ceramic pots away to readers …
I think it would be so cool to have a Ukrainian grandmother and carry on a family tradition of fine embroidery.
I should do that. Not so much an etsy shop, but maybe I could give them my ceramic pots away to readers …
I think it would be so cool to have a Ukrainian grandmother and carry on a family tradition of fine embroidery.
I should do that. Not so much an etsy shop, but maybe I could give them my ceramic pots away to readers …
I think it would be so cool to have a Ukrainian grandmother and carry on a family tradition of fine embroidery.
It’s as if you combine all the arts and crafts of the Wenches. A little of this. A little of that.
I am so sorry to hear about the rotator cuff. I know other people this happened to. It just seems as if the body is poorly designed when things like go on.
It’s as if you combine all the arts and crafts of the Wenches. A little of this. A little of that.
I am so sorry to hear about the rotator cuff. I know other people this happened to. It just seems as if the body is poorly designed when things like go on.
It’s as if you combine all the arts and crafts of the Wenches. A little of this. A little of that.
I am so sorry to hear about the rotator cuff. I know other people this happened to. It just seems as if the body is poorly designed when things like go on.
It’s as if you combine all the arts and crafts of the Wenches. A little of this. A little of that.
I am so sorry to hear about the rotator cuff. I know other people this happened to. It just seems as if the body is poorly designed when things like go on.
It’s as if you combine all the arts and crafts of the Wenches. A little of this. A little of that.
I am so sorry to hear about the rotator cuff. I know other people this happened to. It just seems as if the body is poorly designed when things like go on.
The thing about writing fiction is that you can indeed keep doing it at any point in your life. I think older folks bring special knowledge and a lovely point of view to their work.
The thing about writing fiction is that you can indeed keep doing it at any point in your life. I think older folks bring special knowledge and a lovely point of view to their work.
The thing about writing fiction is that you can indeed keep doing it at any point in your life. I think older folks bring special knowledge and a lovely point of view to their work.
The thing about writing fiction is that you can indeed keep doing it at any point in your life. I think older folks bring special knowledge and a lovely point of view to their work.
The thing about writing fiction is that you can indeed keep doing it at any point in your life. I think older folks bring special knowledge and a lovely point of view to their work.
Do you think you might be able to put your characters into the kitchen for some special rare activity.
Maybe a Christmas pudding they make with a recipe very different than that used by their husband’s family? Maybe a special sort of cake they simply enjoy making and are support enough and original enough to insist on doing so?
Do you think you might be able to put your characters into the kitchen for some special rare activity.
Maybe a Christmas pudding they make with a recipe very different than that used by their husband’s family? Maybe a special sort of cake they simply enjoy making and are support enough and original enough to insist on doing so?
Do you think you might be able to put your characters into the kitchen for some special rare activity.
Maybe a Christmas pudding they make with a recipe very different than that used by their husband’s family? Maybe a special sort of cake they simply enjoy making and are support enough and original enough to insist on doing so?
Do you think you might be able to put your characters into the kitchen for some special rare activity.
Maybe a Christmas pudding they make with a recipe very different than that used by their husband’s family? Maybe a special sort of cake they simply enjoy making and are support enough and original enough to insist on doing so?
Do you think you might be able to put your characters into the kitchen for some special rare activity.
Maybe a Christmas pudding they make with a recipe very different than that used by their husband’s family? Maybe a special sort of cake they simply enjoy making and are support enough and original enough to insist on doing so?
Ah … autocorrect. The enemy of writers everywhere.
Ah … autocorrect. The enemy of writers everywhere.
Ah … autocorrect. The enemy of writers everywhere.
Ah … autocorrect. The enemy of writers everywhere.
Ah … autocorrect. The enemy of writers everywhere.
Now I had not even thought about decoupage. What a lovely hobby and how symbolic of healing and making.
A good handicraft for a character, I think.
Now I had not even thought about decoupage. What a lovely hobby and how symbolic of healing and making.
A good handicraft for a character, I think.
Now I had not even thought about decoupage. What a lovely hobby and how symbolic of healing and making.
A good handicraft for a character, I think.
Now I had not even thought about decoupage. What a lovely hobby and how symbolic of healing and making.
A good handicraft for a character, I think.
Now I had not even thought about decoupage. What a lovely hobby and how symbolic of healing and making.
A good handicraft for a character, I think.
I did a fair amount of sewing and needlework in the past, but I confess I’ve given it up in favour of shopping! However, I do have a hobby, which is putting digital photo books together. I started with recent photos and I love the fact that you can create a physical album and also get a digital record. Now I am starting to look at older photographs to see what can be used. It’s amazing how much the quality of photographs has improved in the digital era. Even the best, most in-focus picture from 30 years ago looks a little pixelated.
I did a fair amount of sewing and needlework in the past, but I confess I’ve given it up in favour of shopping! However, I do have a hobby, which is putting digital photo books together. I started with recent photos and I love the fact that you can create a physical album and also get a digital record. Now I am starting to look at older photographs to see what can be used. It’s amazing how much the quality of photographs has improved in the digital era. Even the best, most in-focus picture from 30 years ago looks a little pixelated.
I did a fair amount of sewing and needlework in the past, but I confess I’ve given it up in favour of shopping! However, I do have a hobby, which is putting digital photo books together. I started with recent photos and I love the fact that you can create a physical album and also get a digital record. Now I am starting to look at older photographs to see what can be used. It’s amazing how much the quality of photographs has improved in the digital era. Even the best, most in-focus picture from 30 years ago looks a little pixelated.
I did a fair amount of sewing and needlework in the past, but I confess I’ve given it up in favour of shopping! However, I do have a hobby, which is putting digital photo books together. I started with recent photos and I love the fact that you can create a physical album and also get a digital record. Now I am starting to look at older photographs to see what can be used. It’s amazing how much the quality of photographs has improved in the digital era. Even the best, most in-focus picture from 30 years ago looks a little pixelated.
I did a fair amount of sewing and needlework in the past, but I confess I’ve given it up in favour of shopping! However, I do have a hobby, which is putting digital photo books together. I started with recent photos and I love the fact that you can create a physical album and also get a digital record. Now I am starting to look at older photographs to see what can be used. It’s amazing how much the quality of photographs has improved in the digital era. Even the best, most in-focus picture from 30 years ago looks a little pixelated.
What a fun post. I am an organizer, and fixer (as long as it’s not mechanical). I also love to garden, cook, eat, and have renovated houses in Europe and the States. As a young woman I embroidered for myself and friends, mostly on blue jeans. I can’t draw, but if someone else drew the outline I can fill it in. All of those things,except the blue jeans, find their way into my books.
What a fun post. I am an organizer, and fixer (as long as it’s not mechanical). I also love to garden, cook, eat, and have renovated houses in Europe and the States. As a young woman I embroidered for myself and friends, mostly on blue jeans. I can’t draw, but if someone else drew the outline I can fill it in. All of those things,except the blue jeans, find their way into my books.
What a fun post. I am an organizer, and fixer (as long as it’s not mechanical). I also love to garden, cook, eat, and have renovated houses in Europe and the States. As a young woman I embroidered for myself and friends, mostly on blue jeans. I can’t draw, but if someone else drew the outline I can fill it in. All of those things,except the blue jeans, find their way into my books.
What a fun post. I am an organizer, and fixer (as long as it’s not mechanical). I also love to garden, cook, eat, and have renovated houses in Europe and the States. As a young woman I embroidered for myself and friends, mostly on blue jeans. I can’t draw, but if someone else drew the outline I can fill it in. All of those things,except the blue jeans, find their way into my books.
What a fun post. I am an organizer, and fixer (as long as it’s not mechanical). I also love to garden, cook, eat, and have renovated houses in Europe and the States. As a young woman I embroidered for myself and friends, mostly on blue jeans. I can’t draw, but if someone else drew the outline I can fill it in. All of those things,except the blue jeans, find their way into my books.
I think the period equivalent of creating a digital photo album would be drawing. Catching the likeness of a face or building or landscape and keeping that forever as a memento would have been just as satisfying and taking photographs today.
We underestimate the skill these Regency people brought to their art, and yet we see it again and again when we get access to old sketching books and watercolors.
My character Pax in Rogue Spy was an accomplished artist. He uses it for his spying … *g*
I had to ask friends what it was like to create visual arts since I do not have this skill myself.
I think the period equivalent of creating a digital photo album would be drawing. Catching the likeness of a face or building or landscape and keeping that forever as a memento would have been just as satisfying and taking photographs today.
We underestimate the skill these Regency people brought to their art, and yet we see it again and again when we get access to old sketching books and watercolors.
My character Pax in Rogue Spy was an accomplished artist. He uses it for his spying … *g*
I had to ask friends what it was like to create visual arts since I do not have this skill myself.
I think the period equivalent of creating a digital photo album would be drawing. Catching the likeness of a face or building or landscape and keeping that forever as a memento would have been just as satisfying and taking photographs today.
We underestimate the skill these Regency people brought to their art, and yet we see it again and again when we get access to old sketching books and watercolors.
My character Pax in Rogue Spy was an accomplished artist. He uses it for his spying … *g*
I had to ask friends what it was like to create visual arts since I do not have this skill myself.
I think the period equivalent of creating a digital photo album would be drawing. Catching the likeness of a face or building or landscape and keeping that forever as a memento would have been just as satisfying and taking photographs today.
We underestimate the skill these Regency people brought to their art, and yet we see it again and again when we get access to old sketching books and watercolors.
My character Pax in Rogue Spy was an accomplished artist. He uses it for his spying … *g*
I had to ask friends what it was like to create visual arts since I do not have this skill myself.
I think the period equivalent of creating a digital photo album would be drawing. Catching the likeness of a face or building or landscape and keeping that forever as a memento would have been just as satisfying and taking photographs today.
We underestimate the skill these Regency people brought to their art, and yet we see it again and again when we get access to old sketching books and watercolors.
My character Pax in Rogue Spy was an accomplished artist. He uses it for his spying … *g*
I had to ask friends what it was like to create visual arts since I do not have this skill myself.
Yes. This is what I love — seeing how a writer’s life interesects with their writer’s craft.
Yes. This is what I love — seeing how a writer’s life interesects with their writer’s craft.
Yes. This is what I love — seeing how a writer’s life interesects with their writer’s craft.
Yes. This is what I love — seeing how a writer’s life interesects with their writer’s craft.
Yes. This is what I love — seeing how a writer’s life interesects with their writer’s craft.
I’m a singer, so that’s my hobby as I am craft impaired. 🙂 And while I see singing a great deal in romance, I don’t see choral singing as much (one Carla Kelly short story comes to mind). And considering I met my husband that way, I’d like to see that as a way for some primary or secondary couple in a book to meet!
I’m a singer, so that’s my hobby as I am craft impaired. 🙂 And while I see singing a great deal in romance, I don’t see choral singing as much (one Carla Kelly short story comes to mind). And considering I met my husband that way, I’d like to see that as a way for some primary or secondary couple in a book to meet!
I’m a singer, so that’s my hobby as I am craft impaired. 🙂 And while I see singing a great deal in romance, I don’t see choral singing as much (one Carla Kelly short story comes to mind). And considering I met my husband that way, I’d like to see that as a way for some primary or secondary couple in a book to meet!
I’m a singer, so that’s my hobby as I am craft impaired. 🙂 And while I see singing a great deal in romance, I don’t see choral singing as much (one Carla Kelly short story comes to mind). And considering I met my husband that way, I’d like to see that as a way for some primary or secondary couple in a book to meet!
I’m a singer, so that’s my hobby as I am craft impaired. 🙂 And while I see singing a great deal in romance, I don’t see choral singing as much (one Carla Kelly short story comes to mind). And considering I met my husband that way, I’d like to see that as a way for some primary or secondary couple in a book to meet!
I am so envious of folks who are deeply moved by music and make it part of their lives. And I’ve seen some wonderful books where music leads the hero and heroine together.
That said, I’m about totally unmusical myself. I’m not even ‘singing in the shower’ qualified. I’m afraid my book folks tend to follow in my footsteps.
One of my heroines, Annique from Spymaster’s Lady, has not been trained in music. Her musical grandfather attempts to remedy this, without much success.
I am so envious of folks who are deeply moved by music and make it part of their lives. And I’ve seen some wonderful books where music leads the hero and heroine together.
That said, I’m about totally unmusical myself. I’m not even ‘singing in the shower’ qualified. I’m afraid my book folks tend to follow in my footsteps.
One of my heroines, Annique from Spymaster’s Lady, has not been trained in music. Her musical grandfather attempts to remedy this, without much success.
I am so envious of folks who are deeply moved by music and make it part of their lives. And I’ve seen some wonderful books where music leads the hero and heroine together.
That said, I’m about totally unmusical myself. I’m not even ‘singing in the shower’ qualified. I’m afraid my book folks tend to follow in my footsteps.
One of my heroines, Annique from Spymaster’s Lady, has not been trained in music. Her musical grandfather attempts to remedy this, without much success.
I am so envious of folks who are deeply moved by music and make it part of their lives. And I’ve seen some wonderful books where music leads the hero and heroine together.
That said, I’m about totally unmusical myself. I’m not even ‘singing in the shower’ qualified. I’m afraid my book folks tend to follow in my footsteps.
One of my heroines, Annique from Spymaster’s Lady, has not been trained in music. Her musical grandfather attempts to remedy this, without much success.
I am so envious of folks who are deeply moved by music and make it part of their lives. And I’ve seen some wonderful books where music leads the hero and heroine together.
That said, I’m about totally unmusical myself. I’m not even ‘singing in the shower’ qualified. I’m afraid my book folks tend to follow in my footsteps.
One of my heroines, Annique from Spymaster’s Lady, has not been trained in music. Her musical grandfather attempts to remedy this, without much success.
I am now quilting which really surprises my Mom as I glued my sewing projects together in Jr. High (I wasn’t allowed to take shop as I was a girl). I like to play with color and create something specifically designed for a family member or friend.
So I guess I have a bit in common with the heroines who can’t stand “ladies’ skills” and want to ride and shoot or paint with oils.
Thank you for you books with so many different types of characters and their interests. I am perfectly happy that you create with words.
I am now quilting which really surprises my Mom as I glued my sewing projects together in Jr. High (I wasn’t allowed to take shop as I was a girl). I like to play with color and create something specifically designed for a family member or friend.
So I guess I have a bit in common with the heroines who can’t stand “ladies’ skills” and want to ride and shoot or paint with oils.
Thank you for you books with so many different types of characters and their interests. I am perfectly happy that you create with words.
I am now quilting which really surprises my Mom as I glued my sewing projects together in Jr. High (I wasn’t allowed to take shop as I was a girl). I like to play with color and create something specifically designed for a family member or friend.
So I guess I have a bit in common with the heroines who can’t stand “ladies’ skills” and want to ride and shoot or paint with oils.
Thank you for you books with so many different types of characters and their interests. I am perfectly happy that you create with words.
I am now quilting which really surprises my Mom as I glued my sewing projects together in Jr. High (I wasn’t allowed to take shop as I was a girl). I like to play with color and create something specifically designed for a family member or friend.
So I guess I have a bit in common with the heroines who can’t stand “ladies’ skills” and want to ride and shoot or paint with oils.
Thank you for you books with so many different types of characters and their interests. I am perfectly happy that you create with words.
I am now quilting which really surprises my Mom as I glued my sewing projects together in Jr. High (I wasn’t allowed to take shop as I was a girl). I like to play with color and create something specifically designed for a family member or friend.
So I guess I have a bit in common with the heroines who can’t stand “ladies’ skills” and want to ride and shoot or paint with oils.
Thank you for you books with so many different types of characters and their interests. I am perfectly happy that you create with words.
Hi LynS —
I don’t know if I can call it a ‘craft’, but I rather enjoy making pots. I guess some of us never outgrow the desire to play in the mud.
I’m pretty sure Regency ladies didn’t ‘pot’ — though I think they painted china and sent it back to the factory for the last firing.
Quilting is another of those crafts that appeals to me that has rather slipped off the list of possibilities. Had I but world enough and time …
Thank you for the kind words about the writing. I do so enjoy it. I suppose it’s my ‘craft’.
Hi LynS —
I don’t know if I can call it a ‘craft’, but I rather enjoy making pots. I guess some of us never outgrow the desire to play in the mud.
I’m pretty sure Regency ladies didn’t ‘pot’ — though I think they painted china and sent it back to the factory for the last firing.
Quilting is another of those crafts that appeals to me that has rather slipped off the list of possibilities. Had I but world enough and time …
Thank you for the kind words about the writing. I do so enjoy it. I suppose it’s my ‘craft’.
Hi LynS —
I don’t know if I can call it a ‘craft’, but I rather enjoy making pots. I guess some of us never outgrow the desire to play in the mud.
I’m pretty sure Regency ladies didn’t ‘pot’ — though I think they painted china and sent it back to the factory for the last firing.
Quilting is another of those crafts that appeals to me that has rather slipped off the list of possibilities. Had I but world enough and time …
Thank you for the kind words about the writing. I do so enjoy it. I suppose it’s my ‘craft’.
Hi LynS —
I don’t know if I can call it a ‘craft’, but I rather enjoy making pots. I guess some of us never outgrow the desire to play in the mud.
I’m pretty sure Regency ladies didn’t ‘pot’ — though I think they painted china and sent it back to the factory for the last firing.
Quilting is another of those crafts that appeals to me that has rather slipped off the list of possibilities. Had I but world enough and time …
Thank you for the kind words about the writing. I do so enjoy it. I suppose it’s my ‘craft’.
Hi LynS —
I don’t know if I can call it a ‘craft’, but I rather enjoy making pots. I guess some of us never outgrow the desire to play in the mud.
I’m pretty sure Regency ladies didn’t ‘pot’ — though I think they painted china and sent it back to the factory for the last firing.
Quilting is another of those crafts that appeals to me that has rather slipped off the list of possibilities. Had I but world enough and time …
Thank you for the kind words about the writing. I do so enjoy it. I suppose it’s my ‘craft’.