Tangled Thursday - Falling Numbers

During the holidays I saw this image of numbers falling, very much like in a scene from the movie Matrix.  I wanted to try and re-create this using Zentangle techniques.  They aren 't tangles, but I did use the same method for drawing.  it's not quite what I wanted, but close.  Next time I'll employ some white space.  I used the same thread for each but rotated 90 degrees for the second tile.  With the exception of the 0 and 1, I kept the numbers to the same section. 

Next week I'll be back with a new challenge for myself and my friends.

Wishing you a Most Joyous New Year

A few photos from my back yard and neighbourhood. Hope you enjoy the views as much as I do.

 

 

Needlework Tuesday - Final Projects of 2013

My final post of 2013 and what luck that it's a Needlework Tuesday post.  I've had a lot of enjoyment sharing my various needlework projects with you this past year.  Knowing that I'd be writing a new post each Tuesday really did keep me on my toes.  I felt that I needed to have something to show you each week even if it meant stitching late on a Monday evening.  I don't regret any of those late nights because it meant I was moving forward on a much desired project.  

At the same time, I hope that I have been able to encourage you at least a wee bit toward working on your own projects.  Near the end of the year, I started adding Mr. Linky so that my readers could share their recent needlework posts.  That will continue in the new year.  Once again, thanks for joining me at my blog, Books and Quilts for Needlework Tuesday.

One last finish for the year.  These are mitts for my sister and they are from a KnitPicks kit.  Notice how narrow they are, a classic example of why you always should knit a tension square before beginning.  I used 2.5mm needles are suggested but should have used 3mm.  I stitched the thumbs with 2.75mm and they are still a bit snug  Hopefully my sister has slim hands....

The motif of the northern lights over the mountains is quite appropriate for my sister as she lives in Alberta.

Yesterday I cast on for this headband for daughter.  I love to knit cables and am having fun with this challenge.  Pattern is by my friend Paulina Chin and is available from from Ravelry.  Julie's Cabled Headband.  I am using Red Heart Super Saver yarn as I happened to have it on hand.  A wool blend would be a much better choice.  I do expect that I'll be knitting this pattern again, probably several times.

I also cast on this Wingspan scarf for myself.  I am using 2 balls of Tarantella from elann.com. 

Last week I shared some of my homemade ornaments.  I'm re-posting the link, as you probably missed it since it was posted on Christmas Eve Day.

Are you the type of person who plans out projects long ahead of time?  For me, it's usually what jumps into my line of view at that vulnerable moment after I've finished my last project.  I'm going to try to be a bit focused next year.  I have a lot of quilt tops that need quilting and I want to play with fabric postcards and also with Zentangle inspired quilts.  Tea cosies are high on my list for knitting and still I want to crochet a Christmas tree skirt for a cousin.  I also think that I'll be stitching more than a few headbands.  I haven't made any of them before, but they look like quick projects and besides that, I've made so many scarves for family members that I think they are ready for a change.

Stay tuned for Needlework Tuesdays in 2014 and see what I actually stitch.

In the Moment by Olivia Jake

It's still a man's world when it comes to running and ad agency and even more so when  your clients are in the entertainment field.  Sam Davis knows this well and has worked hard to be at the top of her field.  Up until this client, she has never mixed work with pleasure.

Once Laurent Roman viewed Sam's company's proposal, he decided this was the company that would launch is new television network.  He also knew that his relationship with Sam, would not be purely about business.

Sam and Laurent are very much alike, both are exacting in their work and hold themselves to very high personal standards.  They dominate their fields, their employees and even themselves.  Sam is also the alpha to her two pit bulls at home. 

Author Olivia Jake created believable business characters and a feasible story line.  I did feel that even with an instant attraction between the two, they moved far too quickly into a Dom/sub relationship.  I had expected a conversation between the two to discuss how they would proceed and whether they both agreed to it, not just Laurent deciding to was going to be his way.  Sam is such a strong woman, but she just sort of goes along with everything Laurent wants.  I kept hoping that she would tell Laurent no at some point.  I had some hope for her taking back a bit of control when she most competently introduced her dogs to Laurent.  I would have enjoyed the book more if Sam played a more equal role in their private life.

The story continues in Moments Lost and Found.

Thanks to author Olivia Jake for use of the cover image.

Forbidden Call: A New Breed Novel by Martha Bourke

According to the Mayan calendar, the world changed on December, 21, 2012.  The effects are showing in Boston, Massachusetts where the Order is trying to keep ahead of Toltec and his destructive forces.

New Breed Warrior, Soaring Eagle (SE) has been saved from a senseless death by his mortal enemy Ana.  While suffering amnesia, he falls in love and finds himself mated to her. 

Forbidden Call is the first book in a new adult series by Martha Bourke.  The second title in the series is Deadly Call.  These books follow a story line started in her YA series Jaguar Sun.  While the author indicates that the reader doesn't need to read the Jaguar Sun series, I felt quite lost in the story line, not knowing who Toltec was and how he fit in with the shifters and hellions. 

This is a well thought out story line and the sexual tension between Ana and SE kept me reading late into the night, I just had to know what was going to happen next.  There are several descriptive sexual scenes that serve to further re-enforce  their relationship. 

The story ended on a high note which answered a few questions, but it left even more open ended and begging for a follow-up.

Thanks to author Martha Bourke for use of the cover image.

Merry Christmas from Canada

 

Merry Christmas to all

Needlework Tuesday - Homemade Ornaments

This is a special Needlework Tuesday post.  Instead of my usual needlework, I am sharing my homemade ornaments, some made by me and some by others and I invite my readers to share photos and stories of theirs.  I have added Mr. Linky for those who have posts of their ornaments.  Feel free to add a link to a photo of your Christmas Tree.

The red glass stars were made by a local artist and sold by a church youth group raising money for an overseas mission.

Painted for me by my hairdresser.  She recycled and old sock for the hat and a sealing lid from a canning jar for the face.

My son made this for daddy when he was 5 years old.  My mother has a pinecone painted silver that her brother made over sixty years ago. 

My godson made this for me about 20 years ago.  Alex passed away 2 1/2 years ago and this ornament has a very special presence on my tree.

I stitched this during my smocking exploration. It's the only one that I made.  I do think it was stitched about the same time my nephew made me the above ornament.

The two folded star ornaments were made at a smocking guild meeting.  I made a bunch more at home and gave them to family. 

This is my one attempt at Battenberg lace.  It was done as a sampler in a class with the smocking guild.  I never did any more, but did enjoy learning.  at that point I didn't have as much patience for slower projects.

One of my quilting friends stitched this a few years back.

My godson loved sprinkle donuts and when I saw the pattern for crocheted donuts, I knew I would have to make these.  I made them for all the family members and still have a dozen or so more in progress.  My favourite part was adding the beaded sprinkles.  Additional donuts are shown in this earlier post.

You are invited to add a link to your post about your homemade ornaments, or leave a comment and tell me about them there.