Just keep stitching...

I'm still plugging away at my little sampler, and reading the same book. I haven't made much progress with either, because since my oral surgery adventure I've spent most of my time in pain or doing something else. And it is surprisingly difficult to crochet a motif while holding an ice pack to your jaw. Nevertheless, I have finished the rose, made an adorable little leaf (I think it's the picots that make it so cute), and started a fun spiral-thing.

It is all passably photographed on my favourite apron. However, I really should get a new camera. I've been stuck with nothing but my phone for ages now, and I'm starting to feel very limited. Right now I don't have room for one in my budget, so I will have to put up with some graininess for a bit longer, but it is on the list. Along with a new violin (my bank account weeps at the thought, but one does what one must when they need a more advanced instrument).

Due to a new resolution I have been cooking more, and taking more passable photographs. More on that to come later. For now I am linking up with Ginny's lovely Yarn Along.

Slán go fóill, 
Giselle

Relearning

Look at me, remembering that it's Wednesday. What an accomplishment. But at any rate, I'm linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along again.

I have just dug out and semi-unpacked my yarn box and found the box that had my crochet hooks in it, which had me worried for awhile because I couldn't find it anywhere. And I have a lot of hooks. So this week, because I love working with thread, I have begun getting back into something I haven't done in ages: Irish crochet. It's wonderfully fun to make, because many of the motifs have a 3d aspect to them. (Such as that unfinished rose in the photo. When it's done it will have three layers.) It's basically multidimensional lace.

Right now I'm just making a sampler; I haven't done it in so long that I need to get into the habit. There's a technique to it, but hopefully it will be like riding a bicycle. The big thing so far has been reaquainting myself with the padding. I'm a traditionalist and don't believe in "cheating" (a.k.a. the modern method) so it's a necessary annoyance.

As for the reading, a friend of mine recently gave me this book by C.S. Lewis called The Discarded Image. As you can read in the tagline, it is "an introduction to medieval and renaissance literature", which is very much my thing. Everyone should read some old story-poetry (there must be a technical term for that, but I can't seem to remember it) at some point, in middle English. With notes of course, because some words are completely different, but it is so much fun. But I digress. The book I am actally reading is also brilliant so far, which is up to about the third chapter. I've only just started, although it seems to be one of those intelligent books that do not make for quick reading.

My goal is to keep posting with the Yarn Along on Wednesdays, so I don't end up swamped with sampler progress that I never put up. We'll see how that goes.

Slán go fóill,
Giselle

It needs buttons.

I have finally gotten back on the Yarn Along train again, with this hat. The yarn is the same rose coloured softness that I bought months ago and am just now getting around to using. The pattern is version two of Mrs Micawbers Two Roads Hat. The end result is very satisfying; I love the wavy band, and it has a charming 1920's look to it when worn.

This photograph, being unedited, is closer to the actual shade. (I couldn't help myself on the last one. I went to correct the exposure and suddenly thought "I wonder what would happen if..." Voila.)

But it is not finished yet. Dear me, no. It needs buttons, you see, to cover up the line of joinings in the band. Luckily I happen to have some that match well, otherwise goodness knows how long it would take me to get some.

Oh yes, as for the reading... I am still ever so slowly finishing Bleak House. I am not used to taking so long to read a book, but it really is very long. Also, I am getting together the books I need for this class that I decided to audit. Because it looks like fun, and a brilliant excuse to read the Sherlock Holmes stories again.

***

As I was looking at the preview for this post, it struck me that the hat is nearly the same shade as the post title text. And also that perhaps I should change the colour for link text. Is it too hard to read do you think?

Sick days

I've been laid up for the past few days with a bad head cold. But today I finally feel like doing something besides huddling on the couch with a cup of tea and a blanket.

And, when she felt like it, my cat.

Valentines Day made me bemoan my decision to give up candy for Lent.

Also, I found this book secondhand. It is one of a series of books featuring sketches of cities that were drawn years ago. The pictures are fantastic, and it's easy reading when you aren't feeling well since there are hardly any words.