I just wanted to check in and brag a little about that last couple of days` productivity. I started a new job, got some work done that has been over my head for quite a while, finished all my Christmas crocheting, started writing in my blog again and even got my Christmas tree decorated. Now the trick is keeping up this pace! Hopefully I will, for now enjoy a picture of my Christmas tree...I will write again soon.

Hats off to Eckman

I want to endorse a wonderful author today. Edie Eckman is the best crochet book author I have ever encountered. Whether you want to try your hand at crochet for the first time, get excited about it again, or simply love to find your next crochet challenge, her books are great. As a wedding present from my good friend Holly, I got "Beyond The Square: Crochet Motifs" and I got hooked. This book is filled with brightly coloured motifs that are not just re-imaginings of the granny square. There are 144 wonderful shapes to make your imagination run wild. Eckman does not make any assumptions about what her readers know. She explains everything in the introduction and gives clear concise instruction throughout. With my birthday money I bought "Around The Corner: Crochet Borders" and it was the same caliber with the same bright colours. Eckman realizes the need that crocheters have for a base knowledge to make their own creations rather than specific patterns that are a repetition of everything that has been done before. If you want a great resource for crochet in your library, look for the name Edie Eckman, believe me!

BTW--I WILL be showing some of the creations I make from the books in the future. I am not now because some of them are not done and others are being used as gifts, so I can't post them until I give them away.

New life, new look, new entry!

I am still very bad at keeping up with blogging, but at least this time I have a bit of an excuse. Since the last time I blogged not only did I get engaged, but I got married and moved to a new city and new house with my new husband. I have just gotten settled enough to write a bit on the blog and I am not making any commitments this time around, I will simply try to blog when I have a good idea and want to share it. This time is just a short hello, a promise to blog something significant tomorrow and a picture from my wedding!

My New Favorite Comic!!

Ok, first of all, comics in general are a newish interest for me. Last year my friend Holly got me into comics and so this past August I decided to go to a comic convention which is where I met my boyfriend Ben (so comics have a rather special place in my heart now, lol). Anyhow, at the convention I heard of a comic that seemed like something right up my ally. I just recently bought it and finished it and I am here to tell you that this is something that I STRONGLY suggest reading....if you are not into comics now, you will be after reading this. The comic series is called Unwritten created by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. I cannot give you much about the story line without spoiling it for you, but I will tell you that it is an extremely intertextual piece of writing that blurs the lines between reality and the fictional stories that were written by real people. I have only read the first in the series and I am absolutely hooked. There are mature themes and it is not meant for younger adults and to tell you the truth I don't think they would appreciate it in the same way. All I know is that as someone who has/does study English Literature, this comic/graphic novel is able to totally capture my imagination in an intellectually stimulating manner. Just read it, and let me know what you think of it!

Making Something Out of Nothing

Okay, today I have a very simple tip that made my house a little happier... window writers. That's right, window writers. When I moved into the house I am living in right now, I noticed one thing right away: the ghastly mirror doors on my closet. They stared at me like some awful eyesore every time I went in my room and I had very little money to do anything about them. So one day I decided to be proactive and I went and bought some window writers. When I got home I drew a calendar on one side of the mirror with some drawn-on post it notes and spots for lists. On the other side of the mirror I write quotes (I call them my happy thoughts). Now my mirrors look a little prettier (if I could draw I'm sure I could make them really pretty) and they are extremely practical! There you go, tomorrow I will be back to tell you about a FANTASTIC comic book.

More Recycle Tips!

Well, I am almost done my Tetris scarf, so you can look forward to the pattern next week. While you are waiting I figured I would give you a couple more recycle tips, these ones coming straight from lessons I learned from my Grandmother who tried her best to never waste anything. So I will just list off the things she found a use for that you might too!

1. For crackers that come in a box with paper (The ones we have are a Newfy classic, Purity Cream Crackers)....the paper can be taken out to be used as tracing/pattern paper

2. Cereal bags can be reused as wax paper after being wiped out

3. While talking about what comes out of boxes, don't forget that the thin cardboard from the boxes is great for kids crafts and for patterns.

4. Milk bags are great as sandwich or snack bags or even bags for your crafty supplies

5. Any and all containers can be used again....I especially love when something comes in a glass jar...stay tuned for a pattern for a beautiful decorative vase from a recycled container!

So, just a small reminder that sometimes what we throw in the garbage isn't really trash! Let me know if you've found something useful in your trash!

This week is going to be different...

Ok, so I did not talk about any books on Friday because I was trying to finish the book I was planning on writing about. Now that I am finished, I am prepared to talk about it. However, this messes up the week a bit. So, this week I will write on a book Monday and Thursday (because I will be away Friday) and I will write about crafting tomorrow and give a happy house tip on Wednesday as usual.

Now that we've settled that, on to the book. I just finished reading a book entitled Navigating Route 20-Something: A Lifemap for the Road Ahead by Erin Keeley Marshall, a thirty something who wished to pass on information to those in their twenties that she wishes she had known when she was their age. The book was an easy read that had journal-like questions at the end of each chapter. I love journaling but never really find those types of questions helpful so I usually skipped them, but if you find that type of questioning helpful the questions are quite insightful. The thing I liked about the book was not actually the advice it gave, rather it was knowing that I am not alone in what I am experiencing. At this point in my life, I needed that knowledge. I would recommend the book to other people, for sure. It gives Biblical references throughout the book and would be great for someone new to the Bible since it gives a lot of background for the Biblical references. Since I am not new to the Bible I found it annoying at times, but I appreciated the fact that I could recommend it to new Christians. So there you go, a short book review. By the way, not all of the books I am reading are Bible related or Christian, it just so happened that this was the book I was almost finished. On Thursday I will be talking about a comic book that I am really enjoying.