This was the January 2025 subscription box from Historical Sampler, I love Emma Congdon so snapped it up
Needle minder from Wimperis embroidery
I had to tip out a lot of the purple because I was several stitches out
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
June look back
New lights for the garden! Hot air balloons 😊 one of the selkies got some and I just loved them they look so pretty in the garden
Rocky! Mark got a walk with him
June reading and storygraph
Five fall into adventure by Enid Blyton
Yup! I think its a given that I love a series 🤣
Genre is pretty standard too
Location standard too
Pretty high average rating, I've been comfort reading a lot this month so picking things i know will be good
Really enjoyable story, not quite as formulaic as some. Marred by misogynistic attitudes of the time
The Chinese bell murders by Robert Van Gulik
Great part of the series 5 🌟
The beast in the red forrest on Audible by Sam Eastland
Just wonderful this series gets better and better. So good to see more minor characters such as Pochgrebichev get more prominence 5 🌟
Tha magic faraway tree by Enid Blyton
I do think the faraway tree stories are some of the best Enid Blyton wrote. So much fun with all the different lands at the top of the tree 5 🌟
The housemaid by Sarah A. Denzil
I wasn't sure about this at first but it really took off about a third in. Really good gothic mystery 4 🌟
Earth lost by Daniel Arenson
This was very very silly. The plot borrowed very heavily from Aliens. But still i enjoyed it 3.5 🌟
The godless by PC Doherty
I felt the story dragged for the first half, great though when it got going 3.75 🌟
Percy Jackson and the Titans curse by Rick Riordan
Love this series, funny, emotional great pace wonderful story telling 5 🌟
Strong poison on Audible by Dorothy L Sayers
Great adaptation, Ian Carmichael is Lord Peter Wimsey. I'm sad Bunter doesn't play a big part in this one but it's still magnificent 5 🌟
The bird watcher by William Shaw
Incredible, just could not put this down. Intelligent moving, gripping story. Ive read a few others in this series first, this does not have to be read before the others, I actually think this is better having more knowledge of the characters before reading this one. 5 🌟
The body in the trees by Richard James
I'm so unsure about this series I really can't feel any sympathy for The main character or fathom why he is still a detective. But there was obviously enough in the story to keep me reading and not DNF 3 🌟
Killing the beasts by Chris Simms
Not for me DNF
The way of all flesh by Ambrose Parry
Wonderful book. So evocative of Edinburgh in that time. Fantastic sense of time and place 4 🌟
Five go on a hike together by Enid Blyton
Love this series, this might not be my favourite though, quite a bit of misogyny especially from Julian! 4.5 🌟
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Just beautiful 5 🌟
Space force 2 on BBC Sounds by Charles Chilton
Lovely piece of 70s sci fi nostalgia. I took half a star off for the misogyny which was prevalent at the time 4.5 🌟
Five red herrings on Audible by Dorothy L Sayers
This is one of my favourite Wimsey stories well all apart from the ending which is a typical Sayers very convoluted affair. But the lead up to it and the unravelling of all the various different strands are wonderful 5 🌟
The yarn that binds by Rebecca McKinnon
This was OK i did get caught up in the romance element but the mystery dragged 3 🌟
The red pavilion by Robert Van Gulik
One of the more poignant in the series. Beautifully done as ever 5 🌟
The puppet show by MW Craven
Probably one of the best books I've read this year. Wonderful main characters, Washington and Tilly work beautifully together, a cracking but very emotional mystery. A gem. 5 🌟
Mondo bizarre by MW Craven
Great fun, lovely short story 5 🌟
Five have a wonderful time by Enid Blyton
Giving it 5 stars for nostalgia. Enid Blyton wrote really good stories but looking back with hindsight the misogyny and racism is hard to read 5 🌟
Salt rush by Melissa Peterson Lewis
Fantastic addition to the series, im really gripped by this one. Well drawn characters a gripping tale, beautifully done. I just wish there was a slight recap at the start of these books. Im reading them relatively close together but still struggle a bit at the start of each one.
That aside its a great tale 4.5 🌟
Death at Melvin House by Maisie Graves
Another fantastic addition to this series. A thrilling mystery with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. The back story is filling out too it's lovely to see that flesh out some more. Its difficult to say too much without spoilers but its safe to say im keen to see the next installment to see how this pans out. 5 🌟
Have his carcass on Audible by Dorothy L Sayers
This is a favourite in terms of mystery element and while I dont mind Harriet Vane taking a more prominent role i do miss Bunter 4 🌟
Repository secrets by Katherine Okia
What a wonderful blend of cosy mystery and Sci Fi
Katherine Okias background in aerospace engineering shows through in the meticulous world building.
A great series starter with tight plotting and engaging characters this story moves along briskly. The main female character Mira is well fleshed out and takes the reader along with her as the plot unfolds. A nice cliffhanger ensures I'll be coming back for the next in the series. 5 🌟
Highgate cemetery murder by Irina Shapiro
What a fabulous series starter. Gripping mystery. Two intriguing main characters, great historical atmosphere 5 🌟
Harley James and the peril of the pirates curse by Leah Cupps
Such a fun series. Great female main character. Good role model for young females. Exciting story, good pace. Just a treat. 4.5 🌟
Stay out of the basement by R.L . Stine
Great fun, good amount of (age appropriate) horror and nice ending 4 🌟
Fog descending by Lisa Unger
Great series starter, nice horror 5 🌟
All my darkest impulse by Lisa Unger
Another gripping installment great fun! 5 🌟
A good month! What do the stats say? Nice to see some ARC and Prime and Sounds in there, a few rereads which is nice too
All in all a great month!
Monday, 29 June 2026
June furtle
June started off as always with this month's phenology segment. This was blueberries
This is my prep for the historical sampler Halloween stitch along starts 6th july
I did a reel for Instagram which sums up the whole book, i had also taken the pages of 2021 and 2022 out and remade them (not the whole embroideries thankfully!) Blogged about here
That's an end of an era as regards the temperature embroideries! I did enjoy doing them. Here's the reel
Buying counts as furtling right? 🤣 Japan crafts was selling this sashiko kit in aid of pride, one of my favourite sashiko patterns so I snapped it up
I can confidently predict this will be my first finish in July, only a little bit left to do.
°Finish making up Temperature embroideries from 2023 (Carried over from May) ✅️
°transatlantic community quilt block
°cut and sew on borders for 2nd siblings quilt
°piece backing for siblings quilts✅️
Intentions for next month
°transatlantic community quilt block (carried over from June)
°cut and sew on borders for 2nd siblings quilt (Carried over from June)
°2x siblings blocks from June
°2x siblings blocks for July
°sew on binding for Alice Caroline SOS quilt
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