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