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Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts

28 April 2013

Socks and books


I've knitted two pairs of socks for Mirja with this yarn.
It's Novita Nalle Kukkaketo (flower meadow) and this
colour combo is called Kirsikkapuu (cherry tree).

I had to read something else after all the fantasy books 
I read so I picked up some mystery books.


Camilla Läckberg's series about detective Patrik
Hedström and his wife, author Erica Falck, is
being translated to English. They're worth
picking up if you can find them. 
Find out more about Camilla and her books here.




Viveca Sten's Sandhamn series isn't available in
English yet. Read more about Viveca and her
books here (in English). 


I don't usually read graphic novels, but I've
made an exception for some of my
favorite authors. I do enjoy the pretty artwork.

14 April 2013

Socks and books


I've knitted two pairs of socks for Ronja with this yarn.
The yarn is Novita Nalle Kukkaketo (flower meadow)
and this colour combo is called Kesäkimppu (summer bouquet).

I've read a lot. Here are two series
that are must reads for me:


I've had the Nightside books by Simon R. Green
in my to be read pile for a long time. I finally
read books four to eleven and I loved them!
Fun, fast paced and great characters.
You can find out more about his books here.



The Anna Strong books by Jeanne C. Stein
have also been in my to be read pile for ages.
Anna is a bounty hunter who is attacked
one night and wakes up a vampire.
Read more about Anna's adventures here.


I've done some spring cleaning this weekend.
I've packed up some clothes and
some books we don't need anymore.
I'm also going to give some magazines
to my girls old day care center.
They're always in need of things to craft with.
I hope you've all had a productive weekend.

01 April 2012

Done!


Ronja is modelling the finished cardigan.
It's a little too big on her, but it looks 
better on her than flat on my table.


Front view.


Apple tree buttons from Estonia
The buttons smell wonderful!


Back view.


Side view.
I knitted as much as I could in one piece
because I hate sewing.


The yarn is Novita 7 Veljestä,
75% wool, 25% polyamide.
Below is a picture from the Novita magazine.


This is my next project:




18 March 2012

Almost done!


I didn't get as much done on my cardigan
this weekend as I had hoped,
but it is almost done.
(Yes, I know, I forget everything else
when I start reading...)


Here Mirja is modelling a cowl
I knitted earlier this winter, 
I just never got around to taking pics of it.


09 March 2012

Knitting and reading


I've been knitting a lot all winter.
There's only a little left on both sleeves of this cardigan.


Here are some of the books I've read:



“Hexed” is a collection of stories about women, who know how to handle a hex or two. Ilona Andrews’ story is set in the Kate Daniels universe (shapeshifting tigress Dali must best a magical monster slowly devouring the man she loves). Yasmine Galenorn’s story is a part of her Otherworld series (house sprite Iris Kuusi must face the demons from her past and break a curse to be able to marry the man she loves). Both series are favorites of mine. I really liked the Stormwalker story by Allyson James and I ordered the three Stormwalker novels. The last story is an Anna Strong story by Jeanne C. Stein. I have several of her novels in my TBR pile too. Romance, fantasy, magic and mayhem – a great read!

“Magic Slays” by Ilona Andrews is a Kate Daniels novel. Kate is struggling to get her business up and running. She gets hired to investigate the disappearance of an inventor and a very dangerous weapon and of course the case turns out to be more complicated than anyone had thought. As if that wasn’t enough, Kate’s ward has gone missing from her school. That Kate’s mate is the Beast Lord doesn’t necessarily help either. Fast paced and lots of action, a fun read.

In “Hunt the Moon” by Karen Chance, the new Pythia Cassie Palmer is trying to learn to use her new powers and avoid getting killed as well as figure out her complicated relationship with Mircea, a very old and powerful vampire. Patricia Briggs said: “A grab-you-by-the-throat-and-suck-you-in sort of book” and I have to agree with that!

“Waking the Witch” by Kelley Armstrong is another book in her wonderful Otherworld series. Savannah, a young witch, is running the detective agency while her adoptive parents are out of town. She has a lot to prove to everyone when she starts investigating a case of murdered young women, a case with a supernatural twist. The case turns out to be far more dangerous than anyone initially thought and soon she has to ask for help to ensure her first case isn’t also her last.





“Blood Work” is an original Hollows graphic novel written by Kim Harrison. It tells the story of how Ivy and Rachel met and is set before the Hollows books.

“Acheron”, “Bad Moon Rising” and “No Mercy” by Sherrilyn Kenyon are all part of her Dark-Hunter series. They are standalone novels, but they are more fun if you read them in the correct order.





“Naked City” includes stories by urban fantasy writers like Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Naomi Novik and Holly Black. You may never look at Chinese food the same again after reading her story!

“The Sookie Stackhouse Companion by Charlaine Harris is a must read for all Sookie fans. It includes a new Sookie novella and a who’s who of all the characters in the books as well as a lot of other info.

“Wicked Appetite” by Janet Evanovich is a fun story about Lizzy, who works in a bakery. Her world is turned up-side down when Diesel turns up and he needs her help to find some missing objects. Some of you have already met Diesel in the Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers novels.

“One Grave at a Time” by Jeaniene Frost is a Cat & Bones novel. This time they have to best the revengeful spirit of a witch hunter. Every All Hallows Eve he somehow takes physical form to torture innocent women and burn them alive. He needs to be stopped once and for all.





“The Ingenue” is the second part of the graphic novels in Laurell K. Hamilton’s “Circus of the Damned”. I love her series about vampire hunter Anita Blake and I really enjoy seeing Anita in pictures too.

“The Vampire Files Volume Four” includes two books by P. N. Elrod about Jack Fleming, vampire PI. In “Lady Crymsyn” Jack is getting ready to open his own nightclub. During the renovations workers find a dead woman walled up in the basement. Jack can’t rest before he knows what happened to her and soon his investigations get very dangerous. In “Cold Streets” Jack and his friend Escott are dealing with a kidnapping of a child. Their troubles increase as they realize that somehow the kidnappers have figured out what Jack is.

“Home Improvement: Undead Edition” is a collection of stories about home repairs with a paranormal twist (like finding skeletons in the walls or portals in the attic). It includes stories by some of my favorite authors: Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs and Simon R. Green among others.

“The Bite Before Christmas” includes a Cat & Bones story by Jeaniene Frost. Cat wants to celebrate a normal holiday with Bones and their friends and family. Someone unexpected shows up and nothing goes according to plans. Cat has got to figure out a way to save all her loved ones.

17 April 2011

Expo, knitting and books


Yesterday we went to the Model Expo / Pet Expo.


We saw railway and other models, dogs, bunnies, Celtic silver jewelry,
some hand made things. We've usually visited on Sunday and there
seemed to be more people now on Saturday.



I found these ceramic magnets. Too cute!



I finally have pics of my latest knitting project.
Mirja is modelling.


This is what I've been reading:

Bayou Moon is the second novel in the Edge series. Not as good as the Kate Daniels novels but an enjoyable read. Magic, romance and lots of action as the heroine must trust a stranger if she wants to find out what happened to her parents and save the rest of her clan.

Heaven's Spite is the fifth novel about Jill Kismet, a hunter whose job is to keep her city safe from hellbreed and other things that go bump in the night. She has to bring out even bigger guns than normal when her mate and her apprentice are kidnapped. She's forced to seek help from someone who really can't be trusted and of course the ending isn't happy.

This Side of the Grave is the fifth novel about Cat and Bones. They have to solve the mystery of the disappearing vampires, avoid a war between vampires and ghouls and learn to live with Cat's new abilities.
Fast paced, action filled and fun! 

Blood Wyne is the ninth novel about the three D'Artigo sisters, who are half-human, half-Fae. This time around they are after a vampire serial killer and have to get rid of some angry ghosts. A very entertaining mix of action, magic and passion.

Ilona Andrews: Bayou Moon

Lilith Saintcrow: Heaven's Spite

Jeaniene Frost: This Side of the Grave

Yasmine Galenorn: Blood Wyne

27 February 2011

New necklace & scarf


This ceramic focal was bought in Suomenlinna this summer. (You can find pics here.) 
The artist called it "the home of the Christmas fly" and it was meant to be a Christmas ornament.
To me it looks like a star fish. 


The other ingredients in this necklace are ceramic beads by MaryAnn Carroll, carved wood beads and copper.



I finished my scarf. There's no fringe on this one. It's the same color as Mirja's scarf. All three scarves are made of the same soft yarn called Novita Pop (70% acrylic, 30% wool).

13 February 2011

Happy Birthday Mom!

 Ronja made this birthday drawing, "To Granny, Happy Birthday".

 I made this necklace for my mom. She likes smaller jewelry.

 Ceramic pendant from Classic Bead, jasper, quartz, Italian onyx and brass.

 I used one of the treasure tins from Susan Faye as a gift box.

 Mirja made this card with hearts.

Yesterday we all went swimming as Mirja had swimming school. We went out for pizza afterwards. Delicious, definitely one of the best pizzas I've ever had.
Today we went to Porvoo to celebrate my mom's birthday. I had my knitting with me and I got a lot done while we sat talking. We had a really good time!
All in all we had a wonderful weekend!

Here's what I've read, traditional romance and fantasy. Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors. Masques is an updated version of her first book. The sequel, Wolfsbane, was her fourth book I think and it was never published until now. I started reading her books when I found the Mercy Thompson series, but I really enjoy her earlier books too.

Lori Foster: Bewitched

Patricia Briggs: Masques

Patricia Briggs: Wolfsbane