Saturday, January 26, 2013

Quartz Lace Top


Today I completed my Quartz Lace Top. This pattern was created by Dora Ohrenstein and published in the Winter 2013 edition of Interweave Crochet.

I love this pattern, the finished piece is delicate and feminine, and it sits beautifully.

I completed this project using just over 200g of Milford Soft (100% Cotton; 3 Ply) in Jade.

The pattern was quite intricate but fairly straightforward to understand. I found that I needed the pattern close by for reference as the stitches for the lace pattern change from round to round. I also found, as did others on the Crochet Me forum, a misprint for round 25 of the yoke. However, by applying a bit of logic, this is not too troublesome to work around. There are not yet any corrections published for 2013 on the Interweave Crochet website, however they have advised that their technical editor will review the pattern to see if there was possibly a typo.

This top took me approximately 3 weeks to complete and has quickly become one of my favourites. I'm looking forward to going out and showing it off :-)



Sunday, January 20, 2013

Review: Scent of Magic

Scent of Magic (Healer #2)

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.


War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again. (Goodreads)


**Warning - This review contains spoilers**


Wednesday, January 16, 2013

“Waiting On” Wednesday: Spellcaster

"Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine to shine a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week my pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Spellcaster 
By Claudia Gray
Publication Date: 5 March 2013

When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed. 

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them... (Goodreads)


Why am I waiting? More and more lately I find myself drawn to stories of magic such as Maria V. Snyder's Healer, Study and Glass series.  I have enjoyed Claudia Gray's Evernight series, anthologies and stand alone novels and look forward to what this new series has to offer. Also, I'm captivated by the covert art, its beautiful.

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?



Friday, January 11, 2013

Audiobook Review: A Game of Thrones

**Warning - This review may contain spoilers**

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)
by George R.R. Martin, Roy Avers (Narrator)

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. To the south, the king’s powers are failing—his most trusted adviser dead under mysterious circumstances and his enemies emerging from the shadows of the throne. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the king’s new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but the kingdom itself.

Sweeping from a harsh land of cold to a summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, A Game of Thrones tells a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; a child is lost in the twilight between life and death; and a determined woman undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the Starks hangs perilously in the balance, as each side endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones. (Goodreads)



My Review

I was introduced to A Game of Thrones through HBO's TV adaptation of the novels and quickly became hooked on the series. When I realised how long I was going to have to wait for the next season to air I turned to the books for my Game of Thrones fix.

I have enjoyed diving into the world of these wonderful characters. George R.R. Martin has clearly spent a lot of time developing this world with its complex history, culture and mystery. Each of his characters have an intricacy that I appreciate. They each have a story to tell, challenges to face and dreams to defend. Sansa, however, frustrates me, whilst other leading ladies learn to stand up and fight for what they want, she tends to sit back and wait for someone to rescue her. I suppose they cant all be heroines though.

There are many hints of 'the others' throughout this novel and brief glimpses of their history but not enough.  I know that Martin is laying the groundwork for what is to come in future books, well at least that is what I hope he is doing, but I want more now. There are a couple of incidents involving 'zombies' which the characters just accept as normal and move on from. I wanted them to question these events and investigate them further. I WANT MORE. What are these creatures? where did they come from? what, if anything, is to be done about them? how do they fit in with the rest of the story and the history of this world? I guess I'll have to keep reading to find out.

I will most likely continue reading this series. At least until the TV show comes back onto our screens. I need to know what happens to these characters next, particularly Arya - I'm quite attached to this little fighter. I want to know more about 'the others' and of course the ultimate question - Who will win the Game of Thrones?

A note about audiobooks - The last time I listened to an audiobook I was ten years old and the story was about princesses. Almost 20 years on I've returned to audiobooks and I'm still captivated by fantasy novels, though this time the story focuses on kings and queens. I've enjoyed 'reading' via audio as it has allowed me to work on my crochet projects whilst 'reading' a book. Two of my favourite hobbies at once, fantastic!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

WIP: Quartz Lace Top


While I wait for Spotlight to chase down the last two balls of yarn for my Abalone Shell summer top I've started my next project. The Quartz Lace Top by Dora Ohrenstein, published in the Winter 2013 edition of Interweave Crochet is another gorgeous top for summer.

This top-down, seamless sweater is a great layering piece. Lace panels at the yoke, sleeves, and lower body give it a feminine touch. Although there is no shaping in the body, the laceweight yarn allows for flattering drape. (Interweave Crochet).

I'm completing this project using 200g of Milford Soft (100% Cotton; 3 Ply) in Jade.

So far the pattern has been quite intricate but fairly straightforward to understand. I have found that I need the pattern close by for reference as the stitches for the lace pattern change from round to round. There also appears to be a misprint for round 25 of the yoke but by applying a bit of logic, this is not too troublesome to work around.

I'm about halfway through this pattern and I love the way the top sits so far.  I hope to publish some pics of my finished top in a couple of weeks.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

“Waiting On” Wednesday: Requiem

"Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine to shine a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week my pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Requiem
By Lauren Oliver 
Publication Date: 5 March 2013

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.
(Goodreads)

I fell in love with this series when I first read Delirium in 2011.  I thought it was such an intriguing and unique story. I can't wait to dive into the pages of Requiem and continue the story with these fabulous characters.

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?



Tuesday, January 8, 2013

In My Mailbox #4


In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren about what new books we have received in the mailbox (or from a book store or library), over the past week (or two).

Firstly, for Christmas my wonderful hubby gave me Hidden by P. C. Cast.


Next, Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder (one of my favourite authors) was recently released in Australia. This is the second novel in her Healer series. The first book, Touch of Power, has been re-released with new cover art to match the style of Scent of Magic's cover. In December, I was thrilled to find these two books in my local book store and I snatched them both up.

 

What's in YOUR mailbox this week?




Friday, January 4, 2013

Feature and Follow Friday #3


Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. It's a fun blog hop where you meet other book bloggers and find people to follow.

Q: What New Years Blogging or Writing resolution have you placed on yourself?

I'm going to read more books. Last year I was focused on other endeavours and read very few books as my TBR pile kept growing taller. At the start of the year I had challenged myself on Goodreads to read 30 books in 2012 and I only managed about 9. This year I've set a more realistic goal of 15.

I also want to write more book reviews. In particular I need to make more of an effort to write a review whilst the book is still fresh in my mind. Too often I put off writing it because I'd rather dive into the next book in my TBR pile. As a result I have felt that I can no longer do the book justice in a review because I can no longer recall all the details.

So in 2013 there will be more books and more timely reviews.

Thanks for stopping by.  If you're a new follower, please leave me a link to your blog in the comments below so that I can say hello!




Thursday, January 3, 2013

WIP: Abalone Shell


I'm currently working on a gorgeous Abalone Shell summer top by Kira Dulaney, published in the Spring 2010 edition of Interweave Crochet.

I'm completing this project using Moda Vera Gardenia (75% Acrylic and 25% Viscose derived from Bamboo) in purple. I originally purchased 300g, based on how many metres of yarn were required to make the top as specified in the pattern and how many meters were in each ball of my chosen yarn, but I have used it all up and the top is too short! My local Spotlight has no more in stock and I'm told that this is a discontinued yarn... Nevertheless Spotlight are chasing down a couple more balls of this yarn for me. Phew, I didn't realise until now that this is something that Spotlight do for their customers but I'm rather thankful and relieved that they do it.

So far the pattern has been fairly easy to follow despite being quite intricate. There was one misprint in the magazine but the correction can be found on Interweave Crochet's website. I also found I needed the pattern close by for reference as the stitches change from round to round.

This Work in Progress has been put aside for the moment whilst Spotlight hunt down the last few balls of my discontinued yarn *sigh* but should be continued in the near future. I hope to show off my finished Abalone Shell top soon.





Wednesday, January 2, 2013

“Waiting On” Wednesday: The Indigo Spell

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine to shine a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week my pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:


The Indigo Spell

By Richelle Mead
To be released on 12 Feb 2013

From Goodreads:


In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


What's your "waiting on" pick this week?


2012 Reading List

In 2012 I read:
  • Emblazed (The Violet Eden Chapters #3) by Jessica Shirvington
  • Shadow Heir (Dark Swan #4) by Richelle Mead
  • Hana: A Delirium Short Story (Delirium #1.5) by Lauren Oliver
  • Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver
  • Touch of Power (Healer #1) by Maria V. Snyder
  • Frostbite: The Graphic Novel (Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #2) by Richelle Mead, Leigh Dragoon & Emma Vieceli
  • The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead
  • Fateful by Claudia Gray
  • Endless (The Violet Eden Chapters #4) by Jessica Shirvington

A total of 9 books and 3031 pages read in 2012.


I'm aiming for 15 books in 2013 and have signed up for Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge.

What reading challenges or goals have you signed up for in 2013?