A bit of a no-brainer to link (and I didn't cheat...much)

Technically the next book I read wasn't on the selected shelf.  Well at least it wasn't there originally but I really wanted to read it as it both suited my mood and ensured that I could include a certain creature in my OWL next term.

 So I moved it to the shelf in question.

I've had this book for a fair while and although it's not his best it is still a really enjoyable read.

I just like all the different POVs throughout as well as some phrases just making me smile every single time I read them.

Unsurprisingly, the magical creature linked with this book is a dragon.  I'd already selected the pattern I'll be using and I'll select a 'swatching project' this weekend to get that done as well.  That makes four creatures and it's only just over halfway through the month.  I wanted to aim for 6-8 but I'm thinking I may change selection criteria as I've thought of another couple of patterns I'd really like to include but don't want to force them into a book where they don't fit.

 Also I've got about 40 books sitting on my coffee table which I deliberately pulled to read and I want to read them (but seeing they're on the coffee table, they're quite obviously not on a shelf).  I'll brood for a couple of days and see what considerations decide to wriggle themselves out of the mire.

Oh, and the pattern I chose to go with this book is this one.  I'm making it as a 'almost-swatch' for a HoM / CoMC NEWT I'm contemplating.  The  plan is to do a NEWT in the August-November period each year so I'm trying to think ahead.  The only possible hurdle is that more and more I'm thinking I'd like to do my planned Arithmancy/Muggle Studies NEWT this year instead as I'm getting more excited about it. I'm sure the mood pendulum will swing many times between now and then so I'll have to see it's inclination when it's time.

And another one (not as easy to link though)

I finished another book (I'm not reading as rapidly as I was hoping as I've been cataloguing!)

I've been wanting to read this for years and picked it up late last year and it's been sitting forlonly looking at me from the buffet.  Technically it wasn't obtained from the chosen shelf but I decided that I wanted to read it anyway and that they're my rules and it won't be that major a drama if I stretch them a tad.

This was a real challenge to match a magical creature to.  I want to find something either geometrically based, or a dream creature.  There definitely needs to be some sense of thought expansion involved though.

My first thought is to link it to the vatch from The Witches of Karres (a being formed out of energy..think I should be able to present a case for that being a magical species with little difficulty ) but it doesn't feel quite right.

I think I may consult on this and see if any other ideas arise

Hello again!

Amazingly I remembered to update this again tonight.

The 'book of the day' was Murder on the Ballarat Train by Kerry Greenwood.  I really do love Phryne Fisher (well truth be told I love Corina Chapman the best but Phryne is so much fun) and so it was a true pleasure to read this today.

So the decision was which magical creature could be linked to this one.

The murder itself takes place on a train - something dark, travelling through the night with a single eye
The murderer was blond, had a bit of a trigger temper, and was very sure of himself

I keep on coming back to a cyclops.  I can't find anything quite the way I'd like so it'd likely be best to adjust a pattern appropriately.  Alfo has the correct body shape and if I replace his mouth with a huge eye I think it'll serve quite nicely.

Reading time!

It's been too long since I've re-read some of my books and I wanted a random way to decide what I'd like to do for Advanced Studies (OWL) next term.  A really cute dragon pattern was brought to my attention but it's not enough for an entire OWL and I just can't decide which other creatures I'd like to make.

So I decided to mix it up a bit.  I randomly chose a shelf of books and will be re-reading everything on there and the first four (or five - depends on size) magical creatures or mentions of things which can be easily linked (e.g. a character known as 'the eagle of XXX') will be the ones to be done.

The first book from the relevant shelf is 'The Stuffed OWL'  and what a co-incidence.  I've had my eye on a cute owl pattern for ages.

From memory I came across this particular volume in a bookstore which seems to have subsequently closed (as I've been unable to locate it online)  here's hoping it went to online only as it was a great bookstore. Basically it's a collection of bad poetry (but good bad poetry).  What is 'good' bad poetry you may ask.  It's poetry that follows the structural rules of poetry (rhythms, rhymes and metre), spelling and grammar but it is just shocking. 

Every time I read through this I come across new gems and today was no exception.  Bryan and Pereene by James Grainger which was described in the subject index as

 Shark disposes of Bryan in two installments

I should finish it tonight and then I'll see what comes to hand next.

And so it continues..

Rather than explaining everything else I've handed in over the last couple of months I've decided to just throw the pictures up (as there are a few) and just make comments on a couple

The amusing thing about the above doily is when I was making it I intended to make it smaller.  Instead it became larger.  It is more usable though as it (should) fit my dining room table.

I've got more stuff in progress (and planned) so I'll have to see how it goes.

Me again...

And as expected I've been quite delinquent in updating my progress.  The good thing is that I don't have any problem finding something to post about.

I'll keep this one about crafting in the House Cup and then (dependant on available time) I'll do another one about a 'plan' which I started tdoay.

Last post I posted about my progress through my Advanced Studies projects (OWL & Order Mission).  I ended up finishing both of them but a heap of hours were involved.  I'm really pleased with how they came out though.

First up, my Order Mission.

I've worn the cardigan a couple of times already and it's so lovely and light (and warm at the same time)! The matching hat works well also (and fits even better than the cardi)

I did end up using the doily pattern I was considering but it ended up about 3cm wider than I wanted it for the table I wanted it for.  I decided to remake it in the hope that I could downsize it a tad (more on that later)

 

And now... for my completed OWL.

As mentioned, there were four parts in this particular project.  Somehow I managed to finish each and every one of them.  I did find the spare ball of yarn I mentioned looking for and so had plenty to finish.  It's good that I did so as otherwise I'd possibly have had to request to omit one of the last repeats of the shawl to ensure I had enough (and yes possibly it would have been approved but there's no guarantees so I decided not to take the chance)

And here are the pretties.

One shawl (I've got other unfinished shawls to be done but after managing to complete this I may contemplate doing another in the future)

One completed coat

And a completed blanket and pair of socks

I don't want this post to become overly long so I'm going to close off here and start another for the other projects I completed in February & March

I'm making progress!

I wanted to record where I was up to with my Advanced Studies projects.

This first part of my Detention OWL were the Slytherin knee socks and the next project I wanted to complete was my cotton blanket that I've been working on since early 2009.  I've done all the panels and just need to seam the ends.  I'm really close now.

The third project I want to finish is my 'Red Coat' (also called 'Hey there' for obvious reasons)

I'm about halfway through the hood and then just need to tidy it up.

The last project I'm doing for my Detention OWL is my Snowmelt shawl.  The main problem I have with this is that I don't know for the life of me what I've done with my next ball of yarn. I remember seeing it back in December but now can't find the relevant tub.  If all else fails I'll get another skein and then dye the whole thing.  I'd prefer not to have to do that as I can just about guarantee that I'll find the missing ball immediately afterwards.

Being on the needles at the moment it looks like a definite blob but progress has been made.  At the beginning of January I was down at the gold lifeline.  I've definitely got a fair bit to go but as soon as I finish my other two projects I can focus on this pretty much exclusively (well as soon as I find that yarn anyway)

For my Order Mission I'm making  cardigan, matching hat and a doily.  I haven't locked down the pattern for the latter as I want to make my final decision when I know how much time I've got to play with.  I've got my eye on something so we'll have to see.

I'm still making my way down the back of the cardigan and haven't started the hat or doily.  Time will tell with this one.

Catching up (again!!)

And once again despite the best of intentions I haven't updated this for a while.

I mentioned that I was close to completing some socks.  I did finish them and the only thing I regret is that the weather's so wam at the moment that I don't have a good reason to wear them in the near future.  This was my first pair of knee socks (well the first pair I started anyway.  I've started and finished another pair in the interim) and I'm so glad they're now done.

When I was planning for these I wanted some 'Slytherin socks' but didn't necessarily want the 'school girl look' so these looked perfect for the purpose.

I'm planning on a striped pair in the near future but they're going to be more 'fiery'

I've been wanting to play with double knitting using more than 2 colours for a while now.  I originally tried doing it with four colours but there were too many tangles for my peace of mind (I'll have to work something out before I do that again).  Three colours worked just fine though.

 I'll be adding this square to my pile of 'playing' that I'll seam together when I've got enough.

Then I felt in the need for something else cute (I just can't help myself) so I decided on a snake.  This was the first time I've picked up crochet stitches in the body of the work rather than the edge.  It wasn't as hard as I thought but I want to do a bit more practise when I can

I also squeezed in another hat.  I'm not sure what I'll do with it (but I'm sure I'll think of something)

It's a nice warm hat but I prefer something a bit slouchier if possible.  This was for a speed challenge and I wanted to ensure I got the maximum possible points so I started decreasing a little bit earlier.

I also did some work on my OWL and Order Mission projects but I don't have good photos of them at present so I'll do another post for them.

Some quick crafting 'wins'

I've kind of committed myself to doing several larger projects over the next couple of months so I wanted to get some quick wins out of the way.  I'm also this close to finishing a pair of socks but sincw I've been working on them since earlish 2011 I've decided they deserve a post of their own.

First off the block is a small apple.  I have no idea why I decided that I needed one but it cannot be denied  'tis cute!

Then I made a cucumber (the colour's not good on the below, it looks like something else... or maybe that's just me)

Then I made a little owl (to put in  pocket)

All of the above will likely end up in my 'take up to Sydney when next you go' bag so my nieces can lucky dip what they want from it.  Then I'll put anything left over into a charity collection.

And then today I finished off a washer with a fish on it (I haven't decided if this will be mine or not, I'm overdue for one but I know my nieces love them.  My sister's told me that they refuse to use anything other than my washers.  Hence me being overdue to keep rather then gift one)

I also finished off a scarf that I'm honestly not that happy with.  I started it a fair while ago and I just don't like it.  It's pretty enough but it's not something that I'll find useful.  I'll likely end up frogging this and reusing the yarn in someting else.  I'll have to see how I feel after a month or so.  For now it's been put aside.

That's it for now (and back to the socks... except that it's HOT today ( 37^oC now atm, down from 41^oC an hour or so ago).  I'm not really that motivated to drape wool over my lap unless I absolutely need to.

Time to get organised (or at least think about it)

My study has become just a tad cluttered over the last couple of years

So I went to play in IKEA yesterday and I now have 2 more sets of shelves

It will likely take a week or so (as I want to catalogue my books as I go) but a step in the right direction has been made!

First project in

First project of the year is done.

A nice red beret.  I didn't really need another beret in red as I've already got 3 at that end of the colour spectrum.  I really need a green one or a black one.  Possibly even a white.  It'll happen sooner or later.  I've got a few months until winter hits so there's time.

I indulged myself by choosing one covered in cables rather than lace.  It'll mean less utility but I have missed my cables.

 

I've also picked up a shawl I last worked on 20 months ago.  It turned out to be a bit of a 'nothing' day for it as I put it down for a reason so there's been a lot of working out where I was up to (not as far as I first thought) and what I'd done wrong.  I think I've worked it out but time will tell.

The pattern in question is Urdr (really pretty) and if I can do it successfully it'll hopefully give me impetus to complete some other shawls I've stalled on.  (Ravelry pattern page)

This evening I've watching a quite 'unique' show: Bare-faced cheek in which two Frenchmen are dropped naked on one side of France and need to make their way across to take a balloon ride.  No money, just what they can obtain through the kindness of strangers. 

Here I go again

My sole 'not-resolution' (i.e. I don't do them) is to reactivaate this.  I'll probably be less topic focused so maybe it'll balance and result in more regular posting.

It's officially the first now and I'm home from family celebrations. All the rest of my immediate family live interstate and during one meandering discussion over the last week I mentioned that it'd be great if I didn't have to be the one to travel next year and offered to host instead.  How this works in with my proto-plan to take my annual holiday around the same time I'm not certain. I suppose time will tell.

I was responsible for the supply of biscuits and the below really went down well. I think they'll be a repeat.

Smitten kitchen: fig and walnut biscotti