Blog – Page 17 – Deborah Makarios

November 28, 2022October 19, 2023

Flannel Petticoat II: It Came from the Mending Basket

I recently discovered a fabulous way of reducing the pile of things forming archaeological layers – or possibly new civilizations – in the mending basket. Bin? Absolutely not. Forced labour? Also no. The trick, it turns out, is to shift the goal posts.

The mending basket has got a bit out of hand…

For a ridiculously long time, I have had a flannel nightie in my mending basket, waiting for a mend. Button-bereft garments come and go, elastic waistbands stretch and are replaced, tears are darned or patched, but this was beyond me. The worn-through yoke needed replacing. Did I know how to replace a yoke? No. So I left the nightie in the basket until such time as enlightenment descended.

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November 17, 2022November 17, 2022

Cover Images: Your Third Opinion, Please!

At laaaaast, we are getting toward the publishy bits of the Work In Progress!!! And as is customary on these occasions, I have here a selection of ten images for you to vote on as cover images for the book in question.

I’d love to hear from those of you who have read the book as beta readers – which image do you think best evokes the book and its feel?

I’d love to hear from those of you who haven’t read the book – which of these images would you find most appealing?

And whether you’ve read it or not, please imagine each image adorned with some beautiful typography which reads Amiant Soul – and also my name, but in smaller letters. Do bear in mind, when formulating your judgement, that the image will need to look good book sized and thumbnail sized, and also in black and white.

Here are the contenders!

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October 25, 2022October 25, 2022

‘Tis the Season

“What, already?!” I hear you ask, a note of panic in your voice. Today marks two months until Christmas, which means that Christmassy stuff is already showing up in advertizing, and it is probably only a matter of time before they start playing Christmas (or should that be Xmas?) music in the shops.

In fact, I have heard that in the Philippines they have been playing Christmas music for at least a month now. But before we rush to judge, let us remember that they are living under a Marcos/Duterte government, and therefore are in need of all the jollity they can muster.

It has to be said, though, that generally speaking, Christmas shopping music is not an evoker of jollity. Particularly for those poor souls working in retail who spend their days hearing the same Xmassy album or two over and over and over again – something which should probably be covered by the Geneva Convention.

Which leads one to wonder: how much of the usual stuff done at this time of the year is actually being enjoyed by those who do it?

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