WIP Crack Away KAL

Way back in March, I put up a picture of my nearly finished front half of the hooded tunic. I said at the time I was probably jinxing myself and lo and behold I did as the front now looks like this:

I cast off the shoulders not long after that post and then laid out the pieces to to start seaming the shoulders. It was at that point I discovered the front was 20cm longer than the back, and to make matters worse, Mum pointed out that the shoulders were different heights as well. There was some wailing and gnashing of teeth then as I realised there really as no option but to rip back.

After that, it sat in the naughty corner.

Then there was Zuzu's Petals, which after ripping out the first version I made some progress on the new version in the Debbie Bliss yarn but quickly stalled. It's looked like this for the last couple of months:

All in all, it's perfect timing for the WIP Crack Away KAL to come along. It's co-hosted by Yarns From the Plain and Knit British and runs until the 15th of November, with the only rule being that you must have cast on your projects before the 1st of September. If you want to join in, you'll find the first week chat thread on the Yarns from the Plain ravelry board.

It's my first KAL, and it really couldn't come at a better time for me. I've got some time off before classes start, and once finished, both of these would be ideal for keeping warm on my commute. I'm also looking forward to chatting and getting to know some new knitters in the process.

FO: Hurricane Hat

This wee hat has been finished for some time (and had a happy reaction from it's new owner) so I really should get the photos up.

I used Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo in DK with 3.25 mm needles to create a baby version of the Hurricane Hat pattern by Andrea Guldin. The pattern is easy to memorise and knits up quickly, and the baby bamboo is gorgeous to knit with and creates a soft and warm fabric. Neither of the photos really do justice to the colour of the green, but it's a lovely sage colour.

This was my first project completely done on DPN's and apart from losing track a little on the last few rounds, I'm (pleasantly) surprised at how well it turned out - especially the lack of laddering where the needles met. It did take me a while to get comfortable holding the needles and get over my terror that the stitches were going to just going to slide off whilst I was knitting, but I think that is a fairly normal reaction. I quickly bought a set of Knit Pro Symphonies which helped with both of those as they gripped the yarn more than the metal ones I had borrowed from the family stash and were comfier to hold.

It's certainly given me the confidence to start a pair of socks, and I can see why the pattern is so popular. Definitely one I will consider knitting again!

What I'm Reading

What I've read
Fire Study by Maria V Snyder. I finished my reread of this, and I enjoyed it just as much as the previous two. This time around I could see the set up for the Opal trilogy (which never really stuck on me for a variety of reasons), but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of this book at all as I still like Opal as a character.

Now I've finished rereading all three books, I can definitely say it’s been lovely to revisit them all and see the changes as the series progresses. I’ll definitely be rereading these again at some point in the future, and I've just discovered that there is going to be a fourth book out next year, which perked me up considerably when I found out.

Blood Games by Chloe Neill. I didn't quite like this so much as the previous books, mainly for the reason it read like two books badly whittled down to one. It felt like one story line too many which diminished all of them which was a shame as the all had a lot more potential. Saying that, I did enjoy curling up reading it as I suspected, but overall I ended up feeling frustrated that it could have been more. I will carry on reading this series because the characters and the world-building are still great but this definitely wasn't the best of the series.

Shattered by Kevin Hearne. This series has lost a lot of its initial appeal for me now, but I'm invested enough in some characters and interested in the endgame enough to carry on reading. That said, I did like this book a little more than the last one, (politics and investigations will do that to me) but it did feel rather disjointed as the POV's felt out of sync time wise. Overall, I thought it was an all right read, but not one that will stick with me or that I’ll reread.

Earth Flight by Janet Edwards. Some books you can anticipate so much that the actual book never lives up to your expectations. Earth Flight was not one of those books. I loved it every bit as much as the first two, and as well as being a great book on its own, it felt like a fantastic end to the trilogy. There was a lot packed into this book, and it wasn't as involved with the dig site course as the previous two, but neither felt like a drawback to me. In fact it felt necessary to wrap up the trilogy nicely, and I really liked the way certain things had been foreshadowed in the first two books. Basically I loved everything about this book, not limited to the character, world and political development.

I still want to read more about everyone and the worlds, but I read the last page and felt completely satisfied. That, and the fact I that have already reread it, sums up both the book and the whole trilogy for me really.

What I'm reading
A reread of Earth Flight is really the only thing I'm actively reading at the moment, partly because it’s been that sort of week, but mainly just because I loved it that much.

What I'm reading next
I would like to carry on with The Queen of the Tearling again as I'm still intrigued and feeling in the mood for high fantasy again, and Jaye Well’s Cursed Moon should be ready to pick up from the library in the next couple of days. Other than that I would like to make a dent in my TBR pile before term starts so possibly either Child of a Hidden Sea by AM Dellamonica or The Shadow Throne by Django Wexler.

Progress update!

One of my goals for the year was to learn how to crochet properly (my granny taught me to crochet when I was wee, so I had a gist of the basics, but I really couldn’t remember much so I was essentially starting from scratch). I’m really chuffed to say that I’ve managed to meet at least that goal!

 
The cloth on the left was my first attempt getting back at it, and I deliberately chose a cotton DK because the cloth was something I would use regardless of how badly it turned out. In the end I don’t think it turned out too badly, though I did keep losing stitches at the end of the rows, but on the plus side at least some of the ridges are intentional!

The motif on the right was several relatively plain cloths later (both square and circular I’m pleased to say), and I am really pleased with how well I’ve come on in such a quick time. I changed over to a merino 4-ply as these motifs are part of the secret project I’m helping out with.

Since then my confidence and speed have definitely picked up as well as this pile of motifs will attest. Plus I’m managing to stay consistent in my stitches, and I can now crochet this motif whilst chatting away at knitting group. Definitely a sign of progress I think.

And I’m even feeling confident enough to follow a pattern that hasn’t been thoroughly explained by the master crocheter herself (AKA Mum). This is the start of a puff stitch hexy from Kat Goldin’s pattern on her blog. I’m using a some left over acrylic wool mix in a heavy DK, and the eventual plan will to be to use up various bits and bobs for a cosy blanket.

I think learning any new skill is always a big achievement, but I think this feels even bigger for me. My mental health the last year or so really hasn’t been great, and picking up the crochet hook and keeping on going has felt like climbing a mountain. I honestly think it’s helped me get further down the road to recovery and helped me make life changing decisions that will further help. Obviously it’s not the only reason I’m getting better (my awesome family and GP for the main part), but I really can’t put into words how great it feels to show myself that I can still learn something new, and that I’m not totally useless and stuck for the rest of my life.

Flock

I'm not afraid to admit that sometimes it takes very little to amuse me.

Case in point: I got a new set of point protectors the other day. 

Clover double pointed needle protectors in large and small sizes.

I now have a flock of point protectors. *grin*

Reading Friday

I heard back about my application for the Masters course. I got accepted!!! I’m over the moon about it, but I feel like I'm living in a bit of a whirlwind at the moment as I make some big changes to get ready for it.

Some things are constant though, so on to what I'm reading. 

What I finished reading
Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews. I was a bit disappointed with this. The pacing felt off in bits, and perhaps it was just because I was reading it on my phone, but the ending felt a touch anti-climactic. It makes sense thinking about it, as there doesn’t seem to be anyway Kate could fight Roland and win, but I’m left wondering if that will really be the end of the matter, and not in an anticipatory way given the authors have suggested this was to be the end of that arc. I’m finding the very end and the set up for the next book in the series a little hard to believe, but I will read the next one to see how it goes. That’s not to say there weren’t good points in the book, there were some scenes I absolutely loved and a lot of character background that I really enjoyed, which made the sense of disappointment more annoying.

Earth Girl and Earth Star by Janet Edwards. I loved these just as much as first time round, possibly even more. I don’t really have anything else coherent to say about them, except that this won’t be my last reread of them.

Magic Study by Maria V Snyder. I spent an enjoyable wet Sunday afternoon curled up with this, and I really liked rereading it.

What I'm reading
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. I’m about 90 pages in and so far I think it’s a decent debut, but I’m not really in the mood for high fantasy at the moment so it got pushed to the side a little.

Fire Study by Maria V Snyder. I’m about halfway through my reread, and I’m enjoying it as much as the previous books.

Earth Flight by Janet Edwards. Okay, I’ve only just got a hold of it, but I know what I’ll be doing tonight!

What I'll be reading next
Blood Games by Chloe Neill has just come in for me and that should be good for spending Saturday curled up with tea. Possibly The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter if I feel in a crime mood.

Reading what ever day of the week it is...

Between applying to go back to university, my wee sister passing all her highers, and my wee brother getting engaged, it's been a whirlwind of a week. A good one, but hectic all the same, and I'm finding it hard to believe it's Sunday night already so let's get on with the reading!

What I've finished reading
I ended up DNFing God's War by Kameron Hurley and Lascar's Dagger by Glenda Larke. Both were well written and full of interesting ideas. In the case of God’s War, it just wasn’t my cup of tea (I really should know by now that anything described as gritty or dark just isn’t for me.) As for Lascar’s Dagger, there was a lot of worldbuilding and character traits that I normally love, but I just couldn’t get into it. I think it was a case of good book, wrong time. I’ll definitely try one of Larke’s other books at some point.

Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron. The day Aaron writes something that doesn’t completely hit all my buttons and make me grin in glee is the day hell freezes over. By which I mean I completely loved it, and I cannot wait for the next one. I love the worldbuilding in this but more than that, I love the main two characters to bits, and I could have read about them all day. Plus, the vast majority of supporting characters, good, bad and not entirely sure yet, feel well rounded and appropriately scary in places. Definitely one I’m going to reread, and I'm looking forward to the promised paper edition coming out.

The Hangman's Song and Dead Men's Bones by James Oswald. I raced through both of these this weekend, and I really enjoyed them. I like the mix of crime and supernatural, and the way there could be a rational explanation for all the events but there probably isn't. I like the way the threads and loose ends are running through the series now, and I'm loving the whole cast of characters, even Duguid. Long story short, I like Oswald's writing, he had me laughing a couple of times and these held my interest all the way through, unlike all the other crime novels I've tried recently.  I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for the next in the series.

What I'm reading
Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews. I'm about a third of the way through it and enjoying it so far. I'm looking forward to reading the ending, but I can definitely agree with the reviews I've seen that the pacing is a little off. It's not enough to stop me reading, but I do think it has leeched some of the (admittedly rather large) enthusiasm I had for the book. 

What I'm reading next
Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen has just come in for me on short loan, and I've heard reports it's not bad so I'm eager to see for myself. I also plan on rereading Earth Girl and Earth Star by Janet Edwards as Earth Flight comes out next week.

Reading Wednesday Thursday Friday.

If's been a while since I've done one of these but it's not been for a lack of reading!

What I've finished reading
Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer. I thought it managed to hold up the atmosphere and uneasiness factor the whole way through, and I was definitely intrigued by the biologist, though I was a little unsure about the Crawler scene. I'm not sure I'll reread this, but I'm glad I read it and I'll be reading the next book in the Trilogy, Authority, as I'm even more curious about Area X now.

The Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill. I spent about a fortnight reading these and they were exactly what I needed them to be: fast, enjoyable reads that distracted me. I was a little disappointed that I didn't love the rest of the books as much as I loved the first one, but not enough to stop me adoring certain characters or carry on reading. I will be reading new books in the series as they come out, but I think they will be library only books.

Poison Study by Maria V Snyder. I first read this years ago and though I hadn't really planned on rereading it, it crossed my desk at work and it really appealed to the mood I was in. I really enjoyed reading it again even if it did feel a little clunkier in some places than I remember. The main romance seemed a lot less sudden for me this time, but I think this is just that I have become better at reading subtext since then rather than I was expecting it. I plan on catching up with the other two in the trilogy sometime soon.

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith. As with the first one, my main reaction was ROBIN! and this time around I really appreciated Strike a lot more. I definitely agree with those who say the locations are a bit over described, but that didn't stop me enjoying it and after a while I stopped noticing as the book completely sucked me in. My overall reaction is the same as the first one as well; really enjoyed it, don’t particularly plan on rereading it, but I’m looking forward to the next one.

I DNF'd Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon. I finally admitted it just wasn't doing anything for me so off to the charity shop it goes.


What I'm reading
The Shadow Throne by Django Wexler. Well, I've only just started this but it is shaping up to be full of political intrigue and I've really liked what I've read so far.

Thief's Magic by Trudi Canavan. It's hard to tell if its me or the book, but I've lost a lot of my initial enthusiasm for this. I did skim ahead though and it seems like I will like it later on so I'll carry on with this next week when I've had a chance to relax and get some enthusiasm back.

What' I'm reading next
I've got a pile of books I plan to read on my week off: Authority, The Martian by Andy Weir, The Lascar's Dagger by Glenda Larke, and Girls, Goddesses and Giants by Lari Don.

WIP: Oodles and oodles and a bit of hooking

Let's just pretend it's Wednesday.

I've been doing oodles and oodles of lovely, brain-free garter stitch lately as the log cabin blanket has been my mainstay project. It's also lovely and cosy for curling up to knit with (usually in the evening when it gets quite cool) so that's a definite plus.

There is a super-secret project going on in our family just now that means I'm crocheting again. I'm still fairly new at it, and these motifs are taking more brain power than I have at times so my progress here is a lot slower. I am really pleased with the one I've finished though so it is proving something of a mood boost!

Sucess Journalling

For a multitude of reasons life has been rather rough lately to say the least. I'm trying to get my mental health back on track so I thought I would try success journalling, something I've heard and read a lot about over the last couple of years as being beneficial.

Success journalling is exactly what it sounds like: at the end of each day you reflect and write down what you consider to be successful or positive about your day. It can be anything from the smallest thing to the larger, the idea is to remind you that despite the fact we can have a tendency to dwell on the negative, positive things do occur in our lives.Things like spent time with friends or family, knitted or crocheted, wrote, cooked, made an awesome cup of tea, didn't eat all the chocolate raisins (wait, is that just me?), anything at all during our day that is good or positive.

I've seen different numbers bandied about as the ideal list number, but after thinking about it carefully I settled on a minimum of six things. It's a big enough number to make a positive impression, but not too big that it's going to make me feel worse on bad days for not being able to come up with more.

It's also a good reason to break out one of the notebooks from my stash. (Not that I really need one.) This one in particular is purple with shiny owls, and it practically screamed my name the second I saw it in Paperchase. I look forward to writing in it every night (especially with a purple pen that is a nice writer), and that can only be a good habit builder.

WIP Wednesday

I'm in one of those hardly knitting periods, but I have managed to make some visible progress on my sock.

I've put the marker in for the afterthought heel! Once again I'm really chuffed with how it's progressing, and the novelty certainly hasn't worn off yet.

Reading Wednesday

What I've finished reading
Mirror Sight by Kristen Britain. I have so many contradictory feelings about this book. On one hand, it’s apparent that Britain is improving as a writer, and I did enjoy a lot of the book. There was a lot of new worldbuilding, and there felt like there was some character progression. It didn’t go as I expected, but it was still mostly enjoyable. 

On the other hand, this is the fifth book in a series that started in 1998, and it’s essentially filler because the end turns out to be filled with magical!memory loss with only a few notes to remember the whole 700+ pages by. Plus the majority of the book feels like Britain decided she wanted to write a steampunk novel but had to write this book first so she decided to get it in anyway she could. (That said, I did really enjoy her take on steampunk, especially in relation to the Green Rider world, but the rest of the series is very much high fantasy so it was rather jarring.) And Amberhill. I do agree with all the other reactions that having three personalities seemed quite over the top, but in the overall scheme of things I didn’t have to suspend my disbelief too much so I'll let it pass. I do think it would have been more effective with just the two personalities though.

Overall, I did enjoy the book (which is what makes it all the more frustrating), but I am really glad I went in knowing the ending as otherwise I would have been as annoyed as a lot of the other reactions I’ve seen. And the more I think about it, it is more and more just the ending I have a problem with. What is the point of writing a 700 page novel only to forget it/essentially make it never happen? At the end of the day, very little in the plot is further forward, more angst is set up and it just all feels like a waste of a book, especially since it is likely to be another three years to the next one (not the longest wait I know, but still).

What I'm currently reading
Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer. It’s shaping up to be a really intriguing, atmospheric read, and I am really quite enjoying it. Plus, the UK hardback edition I’m reading is a lovely book in itself.

Thief’s Magic by Trudi Canavan. I am also enjoying this so far. There are a lot of really interesting concepts, and I like the one main character I've met so far. He thinks things through! It's the sort of book where you don't think you've read much, then look up to discover half an hour has past and you are now 50 pages further on. 

What I'm reading next
It’s starting to become a bit of a joke, but I really am going to pick up Trading in Danger this time.

WIP Wednesday

My mindless knitting (therefore the one getting a lot of work done on it at the moment) is my log cabin blanket, and I'm pleased with how its coming on (so delightfully dense and squishy!). I'm reached the end of the leftover yarn I had from the previous one blanket so I went stash diving and found two shades of purple that will match brilliantly.

I don't think I've mentioned this one on the blog yet, but I followed the herd and started Zuzu's petals a while back. It's definitely thinking knitting for me, but I've managed to get a few rounds done over the last couple of weeks. I love the pattern, and I'm finding it very clear to follow when I have a brain. Alas, whilst I also liked the yarn (King Cole Riot Chunky), I don't like the pattern/yarn combo. It just doesn't show the pattern off, so I'm about to rip it back and use some Debbie Bliss yarn from my stash instead. 

I've also managed a couple of rounds on my sock, but it looks almost exactly the same as the last time, so there doesn't seem like any point in taking another photo of it. 

Reading Wednesday

It’s been a tough fortnight, and mostly I've knitted oodles of garter stitch and rewatched some boxsets. There has been progress on the reading front though!

What I've finished reading
The only book finished this last fortnight has been Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts. It was exactly the cosy read I needed, and though it is rather predictable and a little trite in places, I'm quite looking forward to reading the last in the trilogy.

I have been culling my library pile all little as well (I take a lot of random books home, and they quickly build up), but I'm not counting those as it was mainly skim reading to see if I was ever going to properly read them.

What I'm currently reading
Mirror Sight by Kristen Britain. I've just started this, but I'm trying not to get too excited after the three year wait for it because of what I've read online. I was going to avoid spoilers, but after the last book I learned it really is the only way to avoid possibly throwing it against the wall massive disappointment with this series.

I've started with How to be a Productivity Ninja by Graham Allcott. I love the title, but I've only really read the first chapter so I can’t comment too much. I'm finding it an easy style to read though.

What I'm reading next
I’d like to get further through Trading in Danger (although I was thinking about this the other day and it may end up being a DNF).

What I'm reading this fortnight

What I've finished reading
Heaven's Queen by Rachel Bach. I loved reading it, and I thought it was a great ending to the trilogy. I especially loved how straightforward the answer turned out to be, even though implementing it wasn't straightforward at all. I really felt the Devi/Rupert in this book, and Bach completely made me believe Rupert deserved Devi's trust again, something I wasn't sure was possible after the last book. I squee'd almost as much as Devi at the ending, and all the little details sprinkled throughout (but especially at the end) make me want to read more about Paradox, especially the King and Royal Family.  Definitely a series that will be going on my reread pile.

What I'm reading
I'm loaded with a cold and sore throat at the moment, so it's Nora Roberts' Shadow Spell as some light comfort reading.

What I'm reading next
I don't even think I'm going to try naming anythng this time as I seem to keep jinxing myself lately.

Goldfrapp concert

I can't believe it's already been over a month since I went to see Goldfrapp perform in Glasgow.

I had a great seat in the second row, and I had an absolutely fabulous time. I may have filled my phone with photos. :D

I'm not always a fan of support acts, but We Were Evergreen were fabulous and I loved them from the first song. I’m currently listening to their debut album Toward and annoyed that I couldn’t make their gig in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Aren’t they just adorable? Very few of my pictures turned out as they were all frantically moving about, and the energy was just fantastic. Also, cornet! I’m a lapsed player, and I love seeing it performed live, especially when it’s not expected.

Then Goldfrapp. Goldfrapp in concert is always a great experience, but this was just fantastic. The first half was songs from the latest album, and spine chillingly brilliant is the best description. (I JUST LOVE IT, okay?)

And then it was onto some of the back catalogue, all the favourites, although I didn't get very many photos as they all turned out blurred due to my rather inept bopping about.

Did I mention how much I loved it? A fabulous night all round.

WIP Wednesday

Socks!

After finishing my first project on DPN’s (a baby hat, the FO post will be coming soon), I was looking forward to trying my first sock.

I thought I would start with something fairly straight forward so I went for Laura Linneman’s Afterthought heel sock pattern. It’s free on ravelry, and I’m finding it very clear and straight forward (though I did shorten the rib a little. It’s just a matter of personal preference, and I’ll just wait and see how that affects it).

I love it! I’m at that stage where I keep waving it in my Mum’s face (it’s all right; she does the same to me with her projects) because I love it so much. I’m using KnitGlobal sock yarn in the colourway cranberries, and it’s a nice wool/nylon mix that is knitting up lovely. I can already tell it’s going to be very cosy.

As predicted, my other big project at the minute, the hooded tunic, has stalled. I finished the front, and then pushed it to one side as I wasn’t in to mood to sew the shoulders together to knit the rest of the sleeves. Maybe when it’s a bit colder outside it’ll give me a bit of motivation to get it finished!

My words have gone awondering...

It's been a hard couple of weeks for me, both physically and mentally, and as a result my words seem to have dried up completely outside essential situations such as the day job.

I've finally managed to start taking baby steps again though, and one of those has been going over to the park across from us and talking to the dog as she has her after-dinner sniff about. It's light enough now that I can see where my feet are and close enough to home that it isn't too taxing for me. I can still really only go out on my days off, but baby steps are still steps and who can resist that cute face? 

What I've finished reading
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. I loved it, and was completely invested in all the characters. I did feel it lost a little momentum towards the end when it became one viewpoint, but that wasn't enough to put me off, and I found it a little easier to read (less brain required).  Looking forward to the next one.
  
Volume three of Saga by Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples.  Repeat what I said for the first two volumes. Absolutely loved it!!

Cross and Burn by Val McDermid. I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, and not just because of my lowered expectations either. I do think this is a better book than The Retribution - it didn't feel like plotlines were competing for space on the page, and the character reactions felt a lot more natural this time around. I am quite looking forward to the next in the series now.

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs. I ended up with a physical copy and I couldn't help rereading it. I loved it just as much second time around

What I'm reading
I'm reading Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon. I am enjoying it, but I'm kind of blah on a lot of things at the moment so it's not getting the full attention it deserves.

Heaven's Queen by Rachel Bach arrived for me yesterday. I've read the first couple of chapters already, but I think I am going to leave it to this coming long weekend so it doesn't suffer from the blah effect. Which is incredibly hard, but I know I will enjoy it more (especially as the blahs are starting to fade a little).

What I'm reading next
I want to get Trading in Danger finished, as well as picking up Knife Sworn by Marzarkis Williams again. I've also borrowed How to be a Productivity Ninja by Graham Allcott in the hope it jump starts something.

What I'm reading

What I've finished reading
Masques and Wolfsbane (the Aralorn duology) by Patricia Briggs. It was noticeable in Masques that it was Briggs' first book, but I have to say I love the characters and both books anyway. I'll be adding copies to my to buy list as I'll definitely be rereading them again. (And that takes me to the last of Briggs' back catalogue that I can easily get my hands on. :( )

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts. It felt rather contrived and convenient in a lot of places, but I liked it enough to keep reading anyway. It was ideal for curling up when with a cup of tea and the rain pounding on the window.
  
Volumes one and two of Saga by Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples. I don't really have anything other to say than I absolutely loved it, and I laughed out loud and nearly cried at several points. I'm waiting not so patiently for volume 3! Definitely another one for the reread pile.

What I'm reading
After a bit of a break (my boss requested the copy I was reading), I'm back to Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, and I'm still enjoying it. It seems to be coming together nicely now, and I'm getting thoroughly intrigued.

What I'm reading next
I know I've said this before, but I really want to get Cross and Burn read this time.

I've not read quite as much this time, mainly because I've been busy focusing on painting this:

It's been years since I painted and I'm really, really pleased at how it turned out. It's recognisably a peony rose bud! I'm not sure my paintbrushes will be something I'll be picking up regularly again though, but I enjoyed stretching my muscles and having a go as well as the end result.

Spinning workshop

A wee while ago now, I nipped up to Auchterarder for a beginners drop spindle workshop run by Deborah Gray of Perfect Weather for Spinning and Knitting.

Deborah is a fantastic teacher, and I really enjoyed myself as well as learning a lot. It was a lovely small group and well worth the fee.

I ended up with this:

I'm really quite pleased with how it turned out, though I did realise when I went to take a photo that I had forgot to wash and set the twist on the yarn, hence the rather big slubs in places. I don't mind, it's all part of the learning process and hopefully I won't make that mistake again.

I definitely feel less daunted by spinning now, or rather, more comfortable with all the new skills and terminology to learn, and I'm eager to have another go. 

Plus, I'm really looking forward to attending the solar dyeing workshop Deborag is running next month!

Things I love: Silicone Teabag

It's hard to believe, but my blog is one year old today! It doesn't seem that long, but I'm going to celebrate anyway by talking about one of my absolute favourite things.

 I'm a great fan of loose leaf tea, and over the years I've tried a lot of different infusers.

This one has to be my favourite.

It's detailed to look exactly like a teabag, and the main part is a pale green colour (not discoloured through use). I've used various different sizes of tea leaves in it without a lot of tea escaping into the cup or teapot. It's soft, extremely easy to empty as you can contort the shape without permanently altering it and damaging the mesh (which I have done with quite a few over the years), and it doesn't get hot. It isn't discoloured in the photo, it is actually a very pale green colour.

It's ease of use combined with just how plain adorable it is, mean this is going to be used for a long time to come. It even looks pretty sitting on the window ledge when it isn't being used!

If you fancy one yourself, it is available from Lakeland and costs just £3.99.

What I'm reading

What I've finished reading: (aka why I've been awfully quiet lately)

Honour's Knight by Rachel Bach. Like the first, this hit all my favourite spots, though possibly even more so. Badass mercenary who keeps on going when she's frightened or incredibly angry? Descriptions that have me on the edge of my seat (quarry scenes is all I'm going to say). Romance with proper problems but they actually talk to each other? Space politics and scary odds? Sold! Plus the fight scenes are fantastic. I'm not one for them normally but Bach writes them brilliantly, and I love Devi's armour. In short, I'm once again waiting impatiently for the next one.

The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. (Moon Called, Blood Bound, Iron Kissed, Bone Crossed, Silver Borne, River Marked, Frost Burned and Night Broken.) I am rather fussy about the urban fantasy that I read, even more so about those involving werewolves, but when I fall for a series I fall hard. This series is a perfect example. I raced through the books, loving every second and annoyed when I had to put them down to do something else. I love the whole world buildings, all the characters and Brigg's writing. Can't wait for there to be more in the series!

I also read Fair Game by Patricia Briggs. I was going to wait and read that series in order as well, but Fair Game came in first and I couldn't resist. Supernatural crime with a bit of established romantic angst (but not too much) and awesome women - three of my favourite things in one book. Of course I loved it and I'm waiting not so patiently for the first two books.

What I'm reading:

I'm about a quarter of the way through Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie now, and I can see why everyone was talking about it so much. I am liking it a lot, but I'm finding I have to have enough brain space to settle into reading it. It's more a statement on my brain at the moment than the book though. I'mm looking forward to finishing it.

What I'm reading next:

The other two books in the Alpha and Omega series once I get them, and I have the Aralorn ombinus by Briggs lined up as well.

Raspberry Ripple

One of the great things about having family that appreciate yarn as much as I do is that you can jokingly suggest 'Bring some wool back for me' when they leave for holiday, and three days later you get a phone call that starts with 'I'm in the wool shop*, what do you want?' (Needless to say it was one of the longest phone calls in family history. How was I supposed to pick??)

In the end I went for the yarn that was described as 'sort of like raspberry ripple ice cream and soo soft'.

It certainly lives up to that description! It's a 4ply wool/silk mix, and as promised it is indeed so soft and squishy. I'm not quite sure what I want to knit with it yet though so I think I will just sit and admire it for a while. Such an arduous task.

I love my family. *grin*

*The yarn shop in question is the fantastic Kingcraig fabrics in Brora, which I've not actually visited in person. Yet.

Goals in progress...

One of my goals for the year was to knit a jumper since I had both the yarn and pattern for several jumpers. Since I'm in the process of changing my figure, I decided to go for the least fitted one first.

This is a hooded tunic in Sirdar Denim Ultra from one of their pattern leaflets. I’m more than halfway up the front (I’ve finished the back), and it’s a very quick, straightforward knit. I’m loving the yarn as well, it’s so soft and warm. I can’t wait to finish it, which given how quickly it’s knitting up shouldn’t be too long now.

I’ve just jinxed myself, haven’t I? Oops.


One of my other goals was knit a pair of socks, but since I got in a bit of a fankle trying the magic loop method, I thought I'd be best using DPN's. So far I’ve only really finished off a few hats using DPN’s so I thought I would attempt something a little bigger before moving on to socks.

This is a smaller version of the Hurricane Hat by Andrea Guldinswirl for a friends young granddaughter.

I’m ridiculously pleased with how it is turning out so far – no laddering and no lost stitches! I’m really enjoying the pattern as well. It’s easy to memorise and knit, plus it looks lovely.

The only drawback is that is taking me longer to knit, and I can only knit for short bursts as my hands are still adapting. It’s always a similar learning curve when learning something new so I’m not too worried, even if I am getting a little frustrated at times, and already my speed and stamina are increasing. I do have to say though that all the knitting I have done over the last year has clearly had an effect as the learning curve is a lot shorter than it has been before. Proof knitting is medicinal in more ways the one!

What I'm reading

What did you recently finish reading?
Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach. I don't really think I can be objective about this book as it hit every one of my favourite spots and hit them extremely well. I will say that it was worth the wait, and I agree with everyone else who says they love it. Roll on the next book!

Django Wexler’s The Thousand Names. I'm glad I carried on reading because I rather enjoyed the ending. There was enough in the book that I liked (both character wise and world building wise) that carrying on didn't feel like a chore despite the military heavy bits not being quite my cup of tea. I certainly liked it enough  to read the next one when it comes out, and I'm quite looking forward to it actually.

Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells. Another one I really enjoyed. I enjoyed it much more than Well's last series, and I seriously love the worldbuilding that is going on in this series. I like most of the characters too, even the ones I don't like I don't mind reading about which is rare for me, and I'm quite eager to read the next one. 

Concealed in Death by JD Robb. The story wasn't the greatest, but I loved, loved, loved the character interactions in this book. Perfect for curling up with on a winter's day. 

What are you currently reading?
I've just started both Cross and Burn by Val McDermid and Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie but I'm not really far enough in in either to have formed a solid opinion yet.

What do you think you’ll read next?
Your Camera Loves you by Khara Plicanic. Well starting it at least as I suspect I'll be dipping in and out of it for a while. 

The Milkbarn

Last weekend I visited The Milk Barn, a relatively new local ice cream parlour. It was well worth heading out on a cold, wet, blustery day.

The first test of any place I go is always the tea. The Milk Barn has a wide selection of different teas, more than enough to suit everyone's tastes. We opted for the standard black tea, and there was plenty of it. One pot for two was enough to give two big cups each.

This is definitely a big plus as far as we are both concerned. *grin*

As well as ice cream, there is a lovely cafe with a decent selection of food. The portions are generous, and the food is well cooked, tasty and value for money. Plus the coleslaw is homemade and delicious.

Then there was the ice cream, the main reason we went in the first place.

I don't think any photo would do justice to the fabulousness of the knickerbocker glory I had. Three scoops of ice cream, sauce of your choosing, fresh fruit and nuts. It was glorious, and the best part is you can pick the three scoops of ice cream from the wide range of made on the premises ice cream. The selection changes regularly, but I sampled the Ferro Roche, tablet, and caramel shortcake flavours and they were all creamy and full of flavour.

The Milk Barn itself is light and airy, and decorated to carry on the theme of straight from the farm next door, from the table numbers to the bathroom mirrrors. 

In short, I have a new favourite place, and I'll be heading back there soon. After all, there are plenty more flavours to try, and we never tried milking the fibre-glass cow.

Finished Ebbs Shawl

Last but not least of my Christmas knitting this year was an Ebbs shawl for my Mum.

I completely used both skeins of the Yarn Pony Mustang I bought at last year's Edinburgh Yarn Festival, making the shawl slightly larger than the written pattern. The wingspan is a smidgeon over 2 metres and the depth is 67cm. (Which I have to add was big enough that I looked rather ridiculous trying to get a picture of the whole shawl!) 

I'm absolutely in love with the pattern. It's easy but very well thought out and well written. It was such a pleasure to knit, and I can definitely see myself knitting another one at some point.

I also loved knitting with the Yarn Pony yarn. It's a gorgeous merino that has such a lovely colour to it and it is delightful to knit with.

Alas, I couldn't persuade my Mum to model it for me to post here so instead I'll post the somewhat obligatory for me folded up picture.

I'll be the first to admit, there is a very strong chance I will be borrowing this off her!

A long wait - Rare Disease Day 2014

I’m a day late, but this week has been rather momentous for me: three days ago I finally received a diagnosis that explains all of my symptoms.

It’s been seventeen years since I first starting having nerve problems.

I'm not going to go into specifics right now, but it doesn't really matter what the disease is as so many people with rare illnesses face the same problems.

That long wait is typical of having a rare disease, and in many ways I’m lucky. There are those who have waited fifty years to get a diagnosis, and during those long years they are constantly told they are imagining all their symptoms, that nothing is really wrong, to basically shut up and put up. I have been told all of the above, but I’ve also got family who believe me fighting in my corner, and a couple of great specialists who also believe me and want answers nearly as much as I do.

Why the long wait? Well, there is only one specialist in my condition in Scotland, and only a couple more in the UK. There's a two year wait to see that specialist, who as it turns out has had to close the waiting list because he is retiring in less than two years from now. It's not going to get any better: the hospital management refuse to let someone take over the clinic even though it is so oversubscribed, and it will be closing when the specialist retires.

It's not just the wait to see the right specialist: it’s being bounced from doctor to doctor because I'm not an easy case, the lack of joined up services that don't look at the whole picture, that essentially wash their hands of you as soon as you don't fit in their special little box. And then there is the lack of information, instead you have to go hunting for every little scrap there is (not a lot because it's only in the last five or so years that studies have actually been conducted), often so that you are more knowledgeable than a lot of the doctors attempting to treat you. It's all those little things that leave you feeling less than worthless, alone and like you are never going to get proper answers or treated with respect.

Before it sounds like I'm ragging on the NHS, (okay I am a little but no big organisation is perfect), I would like to say that I would not have got so far without it, and there are a great many people inside (and outside) the NHS that are working to change the information out there and to join up and improve services. It's just as it's a rare disease, it's not 'cool' enough to warrant a lot of notice or research.

Hopefully that awareness will change, and a generation from now, people won't have to wait as nearly as long. In the meantime, I'm going to join the fantastic charity that has provided me with so much information and made me feel a lot less alone - HMSA.

Things I love: Fruitbroo

It's almost scary how well some friends know me, and I ended up with a bottle of this lovely drink as a birthday gift.

I don't even think the bottle lasted the week.

It's a honey and lemon hot drink, essentially an instant herbal tea. Put a teaspoon or two into your cup, add hot water and that's it. No teabag or strainer to take out, just ready to drink.

I think it's an understatement to say I loved this. Both the lemon and the honey shine through but neither overpowers the other, and it leaves a lovely aftertaste.

Each bottle makes around 15 cups and retails for around £1.75 in Sainsbury's. At the moment it's only available to buy in some Sainsbury branches or online at the fruitbroo website, so I made a detour and hunted down my nearest branch that sold it. It was definitely worth it! 

What I'm reading

What did you recently finish reading?
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. I whizzed through the rest of the book and loved it just as much as the first part. I love Lawson's writing, and her ability to make the truly heartbreaking readable without descending into outright misery. That said, I'm pretty sure I welled up at a few bits, but I would definitely reread it again at some point.

Earth Girl and Earth Star by Janet Edwards. I first heard of these through fantasybookcafe, and I'm so glad I did. Once I got through the first page or two (I'm not a huge fan of the character talking to you), I absolutely loved both of them. Gloss over any imperfections, don't want to stop reading to eat my dinner, and making me utterly gleeful kind of absolutely loving. I'll definitely be getting my own copies to reread, and what do you mean I have to wait to August for the next one??

What are you currently reading?
Despite bringing it home to try and settle into it, I haven't picked up Knife Sworn by Mazarkis Williams in a wee while. I've simply not been in the mood for it.

I've started dipping into Django Wexler’s The Thousand Names again and I'm enjoying it, but not with the same urgency that I've read others with lately. I still plan on finishing it though.

What do you think you’ll read next?
Val McDermid's Cross and Burn arrived for me on short loan so definitely that. I might rummage around my TBR pile and see what else I feel like during my days off.

Log Cabin Blanket

Secret project number 2 last year was a log cabin blanket for the fantastic Amey of Teacups and Buttondrops.

I first saw the type of construction in Mason-Dixon Knitting and fell in love with it. Simple, yet with endless possibilities for customisation. Choosing the colours was the hard part, but I eventually settled on a spiral pattern of three favourite colours and I love the effect.

(Looking rather washed out here unfortunately)

It was knitted using a mixture of lovely acrylic/ wool mix aran weight yarns on 4mm needles for a dense, squishy fabric. The finished piece measures 37 inches square, and it's just the perfect size for a lap blanket and very cosy too.

(My obligatory folded photo. It's less washed out looking thankfully, but the second pink is nowhere near as purple as it looks here.)

I loved this blanket, (enough to start knitting myself one), but there is always a fear in the back of my mind that the recipient won't like it (to be honest, I'm like that with any present I give). Thankfully, it turns out she loves it as much as I do! She's definitely staying on my willing to knit for list. :)

And after all my prancing about trying to get a picture I liked, I think my favourite photo of the blanket has to be one Amey took herself.

She's a great photographer (and blogger) so I'd advise everyone to go and check her out.

What I'm reading

I love going to knitting group on Wednesdays, but it does seem to make the day seem very short!

What did you recently finish reading?
The Emperor’s Knife by Mazarkis Williams. I loved reading it. It felt beautifully lyrical, sucked me completely in and made me eager to read the next one.It wasn’t perfect but the characters and the descriptions were enough to carry me through, though I suspect it’s one of those books you either love or hate.

I DNF’d Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George. I got to the stage where it was annoying me too much.I can see what everyone means by it needs a good edit - very tiny bit characters were given overblown descriptions, then a whole fight scene was given the same size of description. I could skim over that for a while, but then I got to the start of the Italian section where random Italian words were thrown in willy-nilly and it started to annoy me intensely. I flicked to the end to see if it was worth carrying on and I skimmed through the interesting bits. I liked a lot of the character interaction between Havers and Lynley but that wasn’t enough to overcome my annoyance with the book, and I thought life was too short to make myself finish it properly.

What are you currently reading?
Knife Sworn by Mazarkis Williams. It’s got the same feel to it as the first book, but I think it might be a case of too much, too quickly as it’s annoying me a little here. That might be because I’m reading it in short chunks during my breaks ,and I couldn’t really settle into it, so I’m taking it home with me to curl up with it and see if it’s me or the book. 

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. I’m finding this really funny, but only in small doses so it’s an ideal break time read. That said, I only picked it up yesterday and although I’m only reading a chapter or so at a time, I seem to pick it up every time I pass it, and I’m more than halfway through. Always a good sign.

What do you think you’ll read next?
I would really like to get the Wexler’s The Thousand Names finished (finally!)

The first making Monday of 2014

A relatively short one this time as I've been busy plugging away at the Ebbs shawl to try and get it finished.

I've now reached the end of the written pattern, but the plan is to keep going until I reach the end of the skein as Mum likes her shawls to be big. I'm still loving knitting the pattern, the yarn is still delightful, but it's at that stage where each row is taking about half an hour so it's a bit harder to see it's progress. It is becoming one of those projects that is going to be hard to hand over when it's done though.

The only other project on my needles at the moment is another log cabin blanket, this time for me.

I've not long started it, but it is perfect to pick up when I've only got a minute or two free, and I'm looking forward to seeing the full colour combination. (Which doesn't really show well in this photo, but it is a lot less murky in person. Time to start on my photography goal. )

Mitred Square Blanket

One of last year's giant secret projects was a mitred square blanket for my sister's birthday. Well, I managed to get it finished in time (just), and I'm really pleased with the result.

Based off the mitred square pattern in Lorna Miser's Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting, the blanket is 30 21ish cm squares of a wide mix of yarns crocheted together, and the whole blanket measures 130cm long by 112cm wide.

Here you can see it laid out flat on a double bed. A couple of the colours are washed out, but I love this picture anyway. It's modeled after those any scrap of yarn blankets my Gran used to crochet back in the 70's, and it will really go with anything because there is just about every colour in it.

 

The only thing I'm still a bit unsure about is the way I crocheted it together, but this was the first time in a long while that I had even held a crochet hook, and I was rushing more than I would have liked.  And in the true way of crafters, it's only me that's bothered by it. My sister absolutely loves it, and has barely parted with it when she's been at home. 

I am really pleased with how it turned out though, and it is so delightfully warm and snuggly that I almost didn't want to give it away. :D

What I'm reading

I found these posts definitely helped me keep track of the books I read last year, so I'm going to do the same again, although this year they are going to be fortnightly instead of weekly.

Just a reminder, these posts aren't really reviews, just some quick thoughts on the books I'm reading.

What are you currently reading?

The Emperor's Knife by Mazarkis Williams. I am enjoying this so much that the only reason I haven't already finished it is because of a combination of sinus headache and tonsillitis.

The Magic of Shetland Lace knitting by Elizabeth Lovick. I'm more dipping in and out of this book, but it is absolutely lovely. I'm going to talk about it more later so I'll leave it at that just now.

Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George. It's definitely an improvement on her last few books, and I'm finding it does have some of her old ability to suck you back in. When I'm reading it I don't want to put it down, but that same compunction isn't there in the gap between me putting it down and picking it back up again. I think I'm actually going to finish this one though.

What did you recently finish reading?

Just before the close of 2013, I finished Chosen by Benedict Jacka. It's the fourth in the series, and I don't really think it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed it enough, but I wouldn't have read it had I not read the rest of the series. It was nice to catch up with the characters and see some background, as well as the set up for the next book. I think I will be reading the next one, but I won't be rushing out to get it.

The latest The Broons. My traditional New Year read, and I loved it as always.

What do you think you’ll read next?

If I get Emperor's Knife finished, I'll be finding the next in the trilogy pretty sharpish!

2014!

2013 was a bit of a funny year for me healthwise which impacted everything, but I ended it better than I began it so I'm fairly happy.

I'm hoping 2014 is going to be a good year, and I started it how I mean to go on: feeling well, surrounded by family, talking to friends, and knitting in a house that's clean and relatively tidy.

I always like to set goals ahead so I have something to reach for (resolutions don't work for me).This year, I have the usual year long goals of being lighter, stronger and fitter at the end of 2014 than at the start as well as more specific ones.

1. Knit a pair of socks. It's been on my to do list for ages, but I just don't seem to have managed to get around to them yet.
2. Knit something with fair isle. Ditto.
3. Knit one of the jumpers I have everything for (probably Owls). Ditto.
4. Move beyond chain stitch in crochet.
5. Improve my photography skills, especially when it comes to taking photographs of my knitting.
6. Learn to Spin yarn. I've had a lovely kit from HilltopCloud sitting beside me for a couple of months now, and I would like to do more than just stroke it, lovely though it is.
7. Write more. I'm not going to be more specific here as I've found that doesn't work for me. As long as I write a little something most days, I will be happy.

So onwards and upwards!