January Picks

For this month’s Picks I chose my friend Rebekah’s newly released novella The Mirror Knife, second in her Surfaelince series.

I love the pixie, I love the snap of the dialogue, and I love the mixture of hardboiled classic detective and fairie that is the real shifting, dangerous place of legends. A most enjoyable read—I can’t wait for the next installment of Burgundy’s adventures!

I also picked Evangeline Denmark’s novel, Curio.

I have never met Evangeline, but I’ve enjoyed her mother, Donita K. Paul’s Dragonkeeper novels, and I’ve heard my mom talk about visiting her. There were some things I quite liked about Curio—the idea or Tocks and Porcies and the steam punk flair to the story. I felt like a few things could have been explained a bit better, and things got a little ‘warm’ for a YA novl, but overall it was a good read.

For music, I decided to take the plunge and get a compilation of David Bowie’s music as I was sorry to hear of his passing early this month. I chose this one-

I have to say, I have really enjoyed it. While some of Bowie’s lyrics are a bit out there (and this is a pretty ‘sanitary’ album), he had an amazing voice, he created some neat sounds, and some really catchy tunes and rhythms. I particularly like “Golden Years” (used in A Knight’s tale), “Ziggy Stardust,” and “Rebel Rebel” (not for the words though!). Of course, whenever I think of Bowie, I also think of Labyrinth. Who could forget “Dance Magic Dance,” and “Underground?” I’ll have to see about getting my hands on a soundtrack… Guardians of the Galexy has also insured that I will think of “Moonage Daydream” when I think of Bowie. If you haven’t seen it, you should also totally look up the video on Youtube of Bowie and Bing Cosby singing “The Little Drummer Boy.” Adorable and awesome; how did I just learn about this two months ago?

Parting shot: Speaking of Ziggy Stardust, check out this outfit! Not everyone could pull that off…or would even try!

Doctors and Goblin Kings

Despite, or perhaps partially because of, the extreme craziness of my life right now, I’ve actually been a bit productive on the handwork front this last week! Having a weekend off helped I must admit, but I’m finding it more important than ever to steal a few wooly moments in the evenings. So, what have I accomplished? Firstly, I finished the second chard on my Names of the Doctor scarf. Only eight more to go!

I finished the first of my Into the Labyrinth David Bowie tribute mitts! I still HATE stranded knitting and have used a lot of brain power lately trying to find a way to have these in double knitting, but I think I’ll just pony up and do the second one as written and pursue that bunny trail at a later time. I love the chicken on the thumb!

I also made some bracelet this weekend. Nothing special, but they made me smile and broadened my jewelry repertoire. Some days, that is very important!

And, I played around with paper making since I’m doing it among other things with the senior girls for Rally. I managed some pretty pleasing results, and learned that a pour mould is much easier to control than a dip mould. Here is some paper fresh out of the water before I dried it,

And some sheets drying on my highly professional drying rack. *right*

Parting shot: I’ve finally figured it out—it explains so much! Now I know who to blame for the way things are run!

And the crazy begins...

I had ever intention of getting a blog update up before school started…and that just didn’t happen. There are so many details that go into the start of each term, and I had my share of ‘fires’ to put out. I enjoyed those first few days of January when I could spend more time on finishing and planning projects. I have a great big list right now which I probably won’t get all the way through this year, but I’m going to give it a good shot!

As I wrapped up my end of the year finishitis, I got all my Firefly ornaments for my geek tree finished. I bought the pattern from an Etsy seller, but I added the quotes myself. As I survey my handiwork, all I can say is, “Shiney!”

I finished the Christmas church cross stitch which involved a stupid number of French knots. Now to find a frame big enough…

I also finished my Kenya socks; I don’t know how I was able to put this scrumptious yarn and pattern down; now I can’t wait to a) cast on another pair of this pattern, and b) go blow all my money on Malebrigo sock yarn. Seriously, you’ve got to try it, but be warned—addiction will likely follow!

I am going to have to wait for some yarn for a pair of mittens I want to make, but I have picked my Names of the Doctor scarf back up, and am once again falling in love with the magic that is double knitting. Color me weird, but I will double knit over strand any day! I was laughing at myself last night, because this is basically the same colors as the There and Back Again scarf, but this yarn is significantly nicer—Knitpicks Gloss—a treat to work with!

I’m working on a stealth project for my river/mindless knitting, and I cast on the Bluebell Cardigan from the latest issue of Jane Austin Knits. Sadly, I’m going to have to rip out this progress and start again; between a super lightweight fingering and the fact that I’d like to be able to wear cloths under this (odd concept, I know!), I’m going to have to do some fancy math. The good news is that the exciting parts of this sweater happen where it will be easy to jiggle the stitch count—not on the yoke. Yes, this sweater is going to take awhile…

Other than that, I have been putting out school fires, teaching, and going to bed exhausted every day. After hearing about David Bowie’s death at the beginning of last week, I’ve been enjoying the buzz on the internet, thinking about the impact he made, and listening to his music. While I was not a fan of his per say, his portrayal of Jareth is a movie role that will never leave me, I LOVE his voice, and knowing that there was someone in this world who was joyously that weird made it a bit of a better place. RIP David Bowie…or knowing you, don’t!

In tribute, I couldn’t stand it anymore and ended up casting on this pair of Into the Labyrinth mitts. Yes, it’s stranded, but I love the fact that they aren’t matching, and that they have some of my favorite quotes on them. So, I’ll work on knitting, magic knitting, and remembering the man.

2015 in Review and Finishitis is awesome

Well, though I have to give it credit and say that it had its moments, 2015 has not been my best year ever. If I had to pick a word to sum up this year, I think it would have to be loss. I have never cried so much or so hard in one year that I can remember before. I lived the whole year bracing for a big loss in December, and there was another traumatic loss in April as well as several losses back home. Those were almost harder because they meant that the next time I go home I’ll get to experience the pain all over again as they become reality. So, 2015 was the sort of year that you take the calendar out in the backyard and do this with it:

And yes, I felt better. And no, that picture was not in any way staged!

2015 was the year of Kenya, the year where I passed two more steps closer to being a ‘hopeless case,’ and the year where as I came to a very important truth as I lay whimpering in the dark with my stressed out body screaming at me. 2015 was a day of seizing moments of happiness and celebration as hard as I could, and the year where I realized that my body is not 16 any more (obvious really, but a bit of a harsh wake up sometimes!). 2015, feel free to let the door hit you on the way out. There is no time travel yet, so I never have to step foot in you again!

So, let’s talk about my year end finisitis! In quick sucession these projects flew off the needles/out of my hands. The mini Christmas tree skirt that I’m a little afraid is too small but I DON’T CARE RIGHT NOW.

The socks that I actually knit three of…the ones that betrayed me with their color repeat on the toes!

The Ned scarf that Beth and I did as a knit-a-long. She totally finished before me! Now I want to make a coordinating hat… Note the cool nails.

And of course nothing says Christmas like Borg cubes!

I spent New Years Eve watching The Empire Strikes Back 'with' my family and enjoying some snarky texts. The cat was not impressed by Han's scruffy good looks or one of the biggest movie plot twists of all time. Figures! Have a happy, nerdy New Year, and let hope that 2016 is a great year for everyone.

Parting Shot: Awesome crossover!