Quick Catch Up: Hello April

Oh March! You have been nothing if not exciting! This month has been packed with new experiences, new challenges and some sneaky secret projects. It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been a lot of work. And, did I mention it’s been a lot of hard work.

There has never been a dull moment, that’s for sure! I have spent a heap of time preparing for The Vilene Sewing Club at Sewing For Pleasure Show at the NEC and a whole heap more preparing for the Creative Stitches Show at ExCel later this week!

Also, I’ve been adding a few more dates to the diary for this year – well, what can I say – I’m having a total blast meeting so many rad people and getting to make stuff in a whole heap of exciting places. So, check out the events that I’ll be heading to over the next few months!

2014 Diary Dates

3 – 5 April

Creative Stitches / Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch Excel, London

15 – 18 May

Quilt UK Three Counties Showground, Malvern

7 – 10 August

The Festival of Quilts NEC Birmingham

9 -12 October

The Knitting & Stitching Show Alexandra Palace, London

30 October – 2 November

The Knitting & Stitching Show RDS, Dublin

20 -23 November

The Knitting & Stitching Show HIC, Harrogate

While it’s been a bit of whirlwind, things have still be happening here at PeachyHQ, here are some of my faves from this month… On Made Peachy:

Crafts: DIY Statement Motif Necklace

Style: Duo Point Nail Art

Skills: How to Apply Vilene Lamifix

Eats: Creme Caramel Rooibos Iced Tea

  My Browser Besties:

1: LibsElliot

2: MabGraves

3: Eisley

4: BlockDesign

My Blog Crushes:

1: LadyFaceBlog

2: TinyPainter

3: HeyLoveDesigns

4: OneSheepishGirl

At the start of the month, there will little time for anything but work. I had to tuck myself away and work, work, work to get through a heap of deadlines and workshop preparations. Aside from having to mis out on fun times with friends and family (which always sucks!) I missed taking the time out to relax with a good book. Fortunately, this all work, no reading phase didn’t last, and I was back with my nose in a book (well, face pressed to my Kindle) in no time.  In fact, I had originally challenged myself to read 24 books in 2014, but after being invited to a book reading challenge with some bookworm friends, I have upped that to (a staggering) 52! I know, 52 books in a year! I better get stuck in to some reads. So, to check in on the progress,  following on from books 1-4 I read in January, and books 5 -9 in February, March has been a good month for my inner nerd! Time away in hotels while on the road means that you can’t get caught up in everyday chores, when you’re finished working for the day, you’re finished working for the day. And, if you want to curl up with a mug of hot tea and a book and read the night away – well, that’s just what you should do…in fact that’s just what I did!

My Months Reads: 10 Snatched  – Stephen Edger Running like a modern day whodunnit this book was a real page turner (although, I may have had my suspicions about the culprit fairly early on!) The characters were well considered and, where appropriate likeable and believable. There were a number of parts to the plot that turned my stomach, perhaps not an ideal read for everyone due to the subject matter. Stephen Edger is a new author to me, so I’ll be interested to check out his other works.

11 The Book of Lies – Mary Horlock The book starts with the main character’s confession of murder making it instantly gripping. The narration swatches between teen Caz and items from her late father’s notes on the German Occupation and about his brother’s time in a German Concentration Camp. Having very little prior knowledge about the history of Guernsey this book was very enlightening. But, the main character was far from likeable, and sometimes the switching between times hampered the pace of the book.

12 Souvenir– Therese Fowler A story about the lasting impact of choices, of soul mates and of tragedy. Without spoilers, this is the story of how a woman is faced with a shocking discovery about her life and begins looking over the choices she made – for the good of her family over following her heart. There is more to this than a simple love story about the rediscovery of a first real love, there are issues about loyalty, family dynamics and the wake that is left behind a persons actions. Fans of Jodi Picoult would be sure to enjoy this!

13 Death Whisperer – Tamara Rose Blodgett This book turned out to be a lot more than I had thought it would be – as a result of government arranged course of drugs, the main character Caleb, begins to show paranormal powers. Caleb is a Cadaver Manipulator -which take this book away from The Walking Dead Style of zombie book I was expecting – there isn’t the terror factor with them, allowing the author to explore different angles in the plot. This book follows Caleb and his group of (some paranormally gifted, other mundane) teen friends as they try to hide Caleb’s rare powers from those that wish him harm! I’ll confess that some of the teen-speak was a little wearing on me, but over all the pace and plot won out!

14 Death Speaks – Tamara Rose Blodgett
The second book in the series follows on and Caleb and his friends are now in High School – and the pace of the book changes as a serial killer is brought into the plot. As a Cadaver Manipulator and able to communicate with the dead Caleb is quickly recruited to assist the police in finding the killer. A game of cat and mouse follows as the killer quickly catches on to Caleb’s involvement with the police and things begin to get a bit dangerous. The fuse with the rival gang is heating up and helped to distract from the romantic elements of Caleb and Jade (a bit too teen here for me at times!)
15 Death Inception  – Tamara Rose Blodgett This very short read is the third book in the Death Series – however, the book acts as a prequel to the events of the main character, the brain pulse technology and the paranormal powers of Caleb. At first I wasn’t sure if there was much need for a prequel, having already suspended my disbelief enough to accept the plot of the story. But, I was surprised about the insights that this gave – particularly into Clyde the zombie! Although I was confused at first at the addition of a prequel, this short book reads very quickly and has left me interested in checking out the remainder in the series.

You can check out my full reviews over on my Goodreads account! Now tell me, how was March for all Y’all?

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