A Little (secret) Pansy Progress

What do you do with all your "ends"? I collect mine in a jar!

Greetings! I'm so glad you're here!  The response to my granny square patterns has been awesome.  I know that a few folks have given them a try (or will be) and I can't wait to see how they turn out.  You know it's one thing to make the square but it's a whole different ball game when you try to turn what you did into a pattern for someone else to follow!  It's hard work!

And speaking of hard work as you can see I've been filling my days with pansies and classic squares. Well, the pansies are hiding! There's a little project coming together, but I'm not quite ready to tell/show you what it is!  Soon enough it will make it's debut in the next installment of the GSP.

The other night I did pick up Juliana (that's her in white). I didn't realize it, but I only have a row and a half of sc and then 2 rows of edging to finish her up! She really is lovely and will make quite a statement. I had planned on doing beads on the last row, but I think I'll just go ahead and put the tassels on that the pattern calls for and get to wearing her!  Eleanor (in those great fall colors) has been my carry along project.  The progress is slow and steady.  I know that she will be smashing when she's finished and I imagine we'll have plenty of good times this winter!

Eleanor and Juliana - Will they be ready for Fall?

This is my workspace. Books and Yarn are Everywhere!!

Just for kicks I thought I'd give you a glimpse into the space where my magic happens!!  This crazy messy area is my workspace.  It is directly in front of my big comfy chair.  It looks a little out of hand, but there is something so satisfying about having all my stuff around me.  I do my computer work at the dining room table (that's covered with books, and paper and colored pencils and camera equipment!), and I take pictures on our closed in porch (it's 2 walls of windows so the light is terrific!).  John calls these three spaces my "stations".  The truth is, I've pretty much taken over the house. And I have no intention of giving it back! Really,  I'm super lucky to have a supportive husband who doesn't mind eating his dinner surrounded by my projects! But he draws the line at having his picture taken while he's doing it!

A Magical Review for my Ravenous Readers

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
All Souls Trilogy - Book 2
July 10, 2012
Viking Adult, 592 pages

In A Discovery of Witches we are introduced to Diana, a reluctant (untrained) witch and Oxford scholar and Matthew a geneticist vampire.  Together they are searching for a sacred manuscript called Ashmole 782 that is said to hold the secrets of the creation for all creatures - and just may be the only way to save them from extinction.

In Shadow of Night they have traveled back in time to 1590 and Elizabethan England.  Here they believe they can search for the manuscript in relative safety and find a teacher who can help Diana master her powers.

These books are so different from what I normally read, but I am completely enchanted with them! A friend convinced me to read the first one and I was captivated.  There is a blend of history and fact that makes the entire story seem plausible.  I also really like Diana.  She is a smart, strong woman who manages to face the unanswered questions surrounding her past with just the right blend of grace and trepidation. Matthew is complex and mysterious - as any vampire who has lived several hundred years would be, yet he manages to be compassionate and understanding especially where Diana is concerned.

In this book the author has done a great job (again) of blending real characters (William Shakespeare and Walter Raleigh plus Queen Elizabeth!) into the every day lives of the couple.  It was interesting,  the way that life was depicted. And I enjoyed watch Diana grow into a confident witch and "modern" woman.  The story and the search for Ashomle 782 did detour a bit, and occasionally I found myself wondering how a certain event fit into the big picture. Happily though in the final third of the book there's lots of action and I found most of my questions answered.  Of course, not all of them - or there would be no need for book 3! 

It's funny, but the older that I get the more varied my tastes have become, and I'm quite pleased to have discovered this series! I don't think that I'll actively be seeking witches and vampires on a regular basis, but I certainly won't be so quick to dismiss them.  So far this has proved to be an entertaining and engaging series.  There's history and action, a love story, family secrets, time travel, mysterious powers and the quest to save the world. Really what else could you ask for??

After that serious dose of otherworldly goodness I started Janet Evanovich's Wicked Business. I had forgotten that this series has it's own take on special powers and magic.  But they're hardly in the same category.  Anyway, I'm already more than half way through which means its a quick read.  I'll tell you more about it after I finish.

In the meantime, I'll be linking up with these wonderful blogs.  Each one offers something unique and I love exploring the sites and taking in the talent.  Have a look, I'm sure you'll find something that tickles your fancy!

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Thanks so much for stopping in and spending a bit of your day with me.
It's been great having you here.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!