I admire those people who can sew. While I consider myself creative, sewing is not one of my talents. I am certainly no seamstress. This lack of skill does not completely stop me, however. I have a sewing machine. It's a green Hello Kitty machine...that I've never used. Now I can't find the instructions. I sew everything I need to sew by hand. It takes me forever, it's not pretty, but fabric is held together by thread...well, embroidery floss. "What on earth does she sew?" I can hear you asking. Certainly not clothes! I make hammocks and tubes for my pet rats and fabric books. I admire those people that can sew-a friend of mine in England makes amazing plush creations. I also admire those fictional characters that sew. Believe it or not, sewing and other needlecrafts can be found in many cozy mysteries. I consider these mysteries a subgroup of the Crafting Cozy.
Melissa Bourbon writes the Magical Dressmaking Mysteries. Harlow Jane Cassidy, after working as a fashion designer in NYC, moves back to small Texas town and opens a dressmaking shop when her great grandmother dies. There is a paranomal aspect to the series as well as we discover that all of the Cassidy women, descended from Butch Cassidy, have special gifts.
The Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries by Elizabeth Lynn Casey introduces us to librarian Tori Sinclair who, in order to fit in, joins the sewing circle of her small South Carolina town. It helps that Tori is quite adept at sewing! Sewing tips are included in the books.
Betsy Devonshire owns Crewel World, a needlework shop in Minnesota in the Needlework Mysteries by Monica Ferris. The patrons here generally don't make clothes, but do other needlecrafts, such as counted cross stitch and crewel. Patterns from various needlecrafts are included.
If you're interested in quilting try the Benni Harper Mysteries by Earlene Fowler. Benni is the curator of a folk art museum in California. The titles in the series are the names of quilt patterns.
I love stuffed animals, so imagine my delight when I found the Bear Collector's Mysteries by John J. Lamb. Former homicide inspector Brad Lyon collects and creates teddy bears!
Even if you never pick up a needle and thread, be sure to pick up one of these sewing mysteries, you'll be glad you did!
Showing posts with label Casey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Casey. Show all posts
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
The Librarian
Growing up I thought it would be wonderful to be a librarian. What could be better than being surrounded by all those books day after day? When I realized my first career choice, wasn't the right one I looked at getting my Master's degree in library science. No concentration really appealed to me, however. I was slightly intrigued by the preservation concentration (Brooklyn Wainwright would be proud), but there was too much science and chemistry involved, so I decided against a library career. That's not to say that I don't still love and patronize libraries. Librarians will always hold a special place in my heart. I have a feeling most authors and book lovers feel the same way. It should come as no surprise then that librarians find their way into many cozy mysteries.
One of my favorite series is the Magical Cat Mysteries by Sofie Kelly. Protagonist Kathleen Paulson has moved from Boston to Minnesota to renovate the local library. She brings two cats, Owen and Hercules, into her life who are even more special than you can imagine!
Tori Sinclair is another librarian who has relocated. Tori moved from Chicago to Sweet Briar, South Carolina in the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries by Elizabeth Lynn Casey. She tries to fit in by joining a sewing circle. Sewing tips are included.
While the majority of cozy protagonists are female, some are male, as is the case with Charlie Harris in the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James. Charlie is a librarian at the local college who lives with Diesel, a Maine Coon cat.
As you see, library mysteries share other cozy subgenres as well: Paranormal, Animal, Craft/Needlework and more. If you want a historical mystery with a librarian, you can have that too with the Seneca Falls Mysteries by Miriam Grace Monfredo.
This is just the tip of the iceburg. Jenn McKinlay writes the Library Lover's Mysteries and Megan Clark is a reference librarian in the series by D.R. Meredith.
I have a mystery for you. There is a mystery series featuring a librarian that I really enjoyed, but, for the life of me, I can't remember the author or title of the book. The first book in the series introduces us to the new librarian. Some people are angry that she was hired. She creates a children's area with a stage out of a storage room so that the kids can act out their favorite stories. The love interest is a teacher. There was flooding as well. Can anyone tell me the title and author of this book? There just may be a prize if you can do it!
One of my favorite series is the Magical Cat Mysteries by Sofie Kelly. Protagonist Kathleen Paulson has moved from Boston to Minnesota to renovate the local library. She brings two cats, Owen and Hercules, into her life who are even more special than you can imagine!
Tori Sinclair is another librarian who has relocated. Tori moved from Chicago to Sweet Briar, South Carolina in the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries by Elizabeth Lynn Casey. She tries to fit in by joining a sewing circle. Sewing tips are included.
While the majority of cozy protagonists are female, some are male, as is the case with Charlie Harris in the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James. Charlie is a librarian at the local college who lives with Diesel, a Maine Coon cat.
As you see, library mysteries share other cozy subgenres as well: Paranormal, Animal, Craft/Needlework and more. If you want a historical mystery with a librarian, you can have that too with the Seneca Falls Mysteries by Miriam Grace Monfredo.
This is just the tip of the iceburg. Jenn McKinlay writes the Library Lover's Mysteries and Megan Clark is a reference librarian in the series by D.R. Meredith.
I have a mystery for you. There is a mystery series featuring a librarian that I really enjoyed, but, for the life of me, I can't remember the author or title of the book. The first book in the series introduces us to the new librarian. Some people are angry that she was hired. She creates a children's area with a stage out of a storage room so that the kids can act out their favorite stories. The love interest is a teacher. There was flooding as well. Can anyone tell me the title and author of this book? There just may be a prize if you can do it!
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