It's official.  I'm hooked on making things for babies.  I had no idea how fun and satisfying these little projects could be.  It makes sense though.  They're cute and small.  They don't take that long to finish so you get to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.  They're usually soft and cuddly and make you say things like, "Isn't that adorable!" and "I've never seen anything so cute!"

Thanks to a pregnant co-worker I've discovered a whole new world of yarns and patterns to explore.  My problem now is I want to make everything that I see.  This is dangerous for me.  Especially lately as I seem to be excellent at starting, but not so good at finishing!!

The other potentially problematic issue is a shortage of babies.  I'm from a very small family, my baby days are long gone and my son is much too young to make me Nana (please, oh please, please, please don't make me a Nana yet!!).  At the library there are a few other age appropriate candidates for mommy-hood, but given the other necessary components I don't see it happening any time soon!  So once I've overloaded Goisa with gifts for her first baby I don't know what I'm going to do.

Today, just for fun I started making a little penguin from the baby book.  He's more complicated than the kitty, but I feel confident that he'll be adorable when he's done.  So far the patterns that I've used have been accurate and easy to follow.  Now, if I can just get myself focused on her "real" present.  I have a tendency to keep starting new things before I finish the old ones.  While that's not usually a problem the baby is on his way, and I'd really like him to enjoy his gift before he heads off to college!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.  Don't forget about the giveaway!  You can enter once or once a day (check out the "tweet about it" option on the entry form). Good Luck!
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Pretty neat huh?  As I was getting ready to write this post I did a bit of looking around the internet for details about the author.  It really is a small world, because what I discovered is that Ms. Nicholas lives in the same region of Massachusetts that I do!  Now we're not next door neighbors, but all things considered we're close enough that I'm sure we've driven on the same roads and shopped in the same stores! It's a rural area so we're pretty lenient about what we consider close by!!  Now are you ready for another bit of coincidence that will make you say wow?? Do you remember about a month ago when I decided it was time to learn how to knit and  I got myself a stack of books from the library?  Well, the first book that I opened up when I got home and the one that I am still referring to on a regular basis because of it's easy to understand illustrations is called Kids Knitting by Melanie Falik.  Guess who illustrated that book?  You got it - Kristin Nicholas!!  Now I'm not sure what the universe is trying to tell me, but I feel confident that there is a message in there somewhere.  It seems like our paths are destined to cross and I'm curious about what the future holds.  In the meantime though I'll settle for making more sunflowers and working on my knitting skills!!

What do you think about that?!?  Now it's your turn!  I'm giving away a copy of "50 Sunflowers" to one lucky winner.  It's free and easy to enter and I just know that you're going to love this book!  If you're interested in purchasing a copy it goes on sale on March 19. You can get a signed copy from the author herself by following the link on her blog, Getting Stitched on the Farm. You can also find it on Amazon and other retailers.

A few things about the giveaway.  First, please know that the books that St. Martin's sends me are newly published or advance copies that they have asked me to review.  The opinions that I express are my honest views about the books and are not influenced in anyway by the publisher.  Second, I'm sure it says it somewhere, but this giveaway ends on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at midnight.  I'll announce the winner within 48 hours. And finally, this giveaway is open to everyone everywhere.  If I can mail it to you through the USPS please feel free to enter!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
I hope you enjoyed the review and will take a moment to enter the drawing.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

A Crocheter's Tale of Learning to Knit
(Or, When a Hooker Turns to the Needle[s])
(I'm sorry about the bad sub-title, but I just couldn't resist - I blame reality TV!)

I always wanted to knit. But, I decided to learn how to crochet instead because it seemed  easier to learn how to maneuver one hook instead of two needles.  I think I was right, because I took to it like a fish to water and I haven't looked back.  That is until now.

So what happened?  What is the catalyst that drove me to set aside my trusty hook and pick up pair of knitting needles?  A book of course.  What else would it be?!

Although the book contains enough information to get a beginner like me started, I checked out a hand full of knitting titles from the library.  The more information the better as far as I'm concerned!  I paged through each of them, studying the illustrations, mulling over the vocabulary and generally getting a feel for the craft.

Lots of it was familiar - the way the patterns are written, how garments are constructed.  Increasing, decreasing, tension, blocking and seeming are all basically the same.  But reading only gives you so much.  Eventually you have to throw caution to the wind and give it a try.

I was ready to cast on.  In crochet you make a starting chain as the base for your project and in knitting you cast stitches on to a needle.  In crochet there is the standard starting chain and only one common variation - the foundation single crochet (when you work the starting chain and the first row of single crochet at the same time).  In knitting there are several different ways to cast on.  Probably more than I even known about yet.  So far I've learned about: the thumb method or single cast on (my husband say's it's a knot called a  half-hitch), the long-tail cast on or double cast on, and the knit on cast on. I also saw something that mentions a crocheted cast on, and starting with pearl stitch instead of a knit stitch! It's confusing to a beginner because all of the books have different names for what seems to be the same thing.  What I gathered is you can use whichever method you prefer unless the pattern directs otherwise.  For the sake of simplicity I went with the single cast on thumb method to start.  I had a hard time with my tension, and my stitches were really tight.  One of the books recommended casting onto two needles at the same time and them sliding one out.  I found this helped a great deal.

Another challenge was figuring out the difference between the English and Continental styles.  I think that this means if you hold the yarn in your right hand  or left hand.  As a crocheter I am most comfortable with the yarn in my left hand, which I guess means that I use the Continental style.  I wonder what it's called when you hold yarn in both hands for colorwork?

And so I set to knitting.  It felt really awkward and the needles seemed to have a mind of their own flailing this way and that.  In time I found a tentative rhythm and before long my first swatch was born!  I didn't know it at the time, but I was knitting every row which I now recognize as the garter stitch. A little help from the knitting guru at the library set me straight on purling and soon I was able to tell the difference between the two.  More practice led to a stockinette swatch and my first attempt at binding off.
I had a bit of trouble sliding the stitches over each other and my tension was inconsistent, but I got it done. 
I only have a limited amount of patience for swatching - I like to make things!  Beth from the library kitting group was working on a pair of wrist warmers that seemed to be a perfect first project.  But that's a story for another day!

It's been three weeks since I picked up the needles and I'm absolutely enamored.  Everyday I learn something new and my work goes a little quicker and looks a little better.  I have so much to tell you about already!  I've been taking pictures and writing notes so that I remember all those first time experiences.  I won't be long before I'm comfortable enough with the basics to start moving into the world of color and Fair Isle.  I'm so thankful to St. Martin's for sending me this terrific book that motivated me to finally learn to knit.  If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to Fair Isle I recommend that add this one to your collection. It just went on sale at the beginning of the month and you can buy it here, or through your favorite book seller.  Sorry I won't be giving this one away - I'm keeping it as the first knitting book in my library where I'm sure it will get plenty of use!

Speaking of giveaways, the raffle for 75 Floral Blocks to Knit will be ending at midnight on Saturday.  If you haven't entered yet go ahead and click over  while you still can. It's a great book filled with lovely patterns that you can use to make all kinds of different projects.

And so my journey into the land of knitting has begun. It's a whole new world isn't it?  I can't wait to see what happens next!
Thanks for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me. 
Until next time,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

75 Floral Blocks to Knit, by Lesley Stanfield
St. Martin's Griffin
January 22, 2013; 128 Pages

So you might be wondering why a crocheter like me is reviewing a book on knitting.  Well, my friends at St. Martin's have a terrific line of craft books, including 100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet which is also by Lesley Stanfield, 75 Floral Blocks to Crochet by Betty Barden, 100 Snowflakes to Crochet by Caitlin Sainio, and 100 Colorful Granny Squares to Crochet by Leonie Morgan (due out in March 2013).  And they have been kind enough to share some of them with me (and that means I get to share them with you!).

Now you might be wondering if I have enough knitting knowledge to be able to provide you with an accurate review.  The answer is of course I do!  Don't let the fact that I have only recently joined the legions of  bi-craftual yarn enthusiast color your confidence in me.  The truth is that while my  knitting experience is limited, my experience with books, these books in particular is not.

Like all patterns in the series they (seem to be) easy to follow and are accompanied by an excellent photo.  Charts are included where appropriate, and the skill level is noted on each one. And finally the Projects.  Since the book focuses on the squares, there are only a few and they really serve to give you ideas of what you can do with your work.  They are creative and urge you to look beyond the standard blanket.

Is there anything that I don't like about the book?  To be honest not really.  The only thing that I noticed is there are fewer beginner patterns than intermediate and advanced.  I counted 19 out of the 75 are for beginners and 10 of them are in the Pictorial Design category which seems a bit out of balance.  As a beginner myself it feels like the book is geared for a more experienced knitter.  However,  the only way to advance is to try new things and practice until it's not hard anymore!

So my friends there you have it.  A crocheter's review of  a lovely little book of knitting.  Lesley Stanfield is clearly a talented fiber artist as this book and her others show.  Whether knitting or crocheting she brings beautiful, original designs to life offering a tremendous variety of patterns. 

A few things about the giveaway.  First, please know that the books that St. Martin's sends me are newly published or advance copies that they have asked me to review.  The opinions that I express are my honest views about the books and are not influenced in anyway by the publisher.  Second, this is my first giveaway using the Rafflecopter entry form. Please let me know if you find it difficult.  The raffles are for you and I want them to be friendly and easy to enter.  Next, I'm sure it says it somewhere, but this giveaway ends on Sunday, February 24, 2013 at midnight.  I'll announce the winner within 48 hours. And finally, this giveaway is open to everyone everywhere.  If I can mail it to you through the USPS please feel free to enter!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
I hope that you enjoyed the review and will take a few moments and enter to win your own copy. 
Not a knitter? I bet you know someone who would love to add this to their collection!

Until next time friends!
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Greetings Friends!
Let me just say that it is mighty cold in Massachusetts.  The eye watering, face burning, toe numbing cold that grips us every winter.  Our ability to endure must be coded into our DNA, because otherwise I fear after a week like this we would flee en masse leaving behind all but our most cherished valuables (yarn and books!) in search of a more hospitable climate!

For months I've been focused on making things that keep you warm, like hats, mittens, and sweaters. As awesome (and important!) as they are I think we can use a splash of spring,  and that's what this flowery jar topper reminds me of.

This is the Flower Jewelry Keeper from the August 2012 issue of Crochet World magazine.  I think the idea of crocheting a decorative topper for any type of jar is very clever, and I can imagine making them in a variety of different flowers, designs and yarns. 

The pattern calls for a wide mouth half-pint canning jar.  I didn't have one of those, but I did have this cutie languishing on the door of the refrigerator with a smidge of orange marmalade in it that no one was ever going to eat.  After a hot soapy bath it was ready to be repurposed!

Finish by making the petals.  My version looks identical to the one in the magazine, but is simpler because I skipped the part where you make a second circle, stitch them together and stuff it with fiber fill.  They also secure the crocheted topper to the lid with hot glue.  Since I ended up with a nice snug fit I didn't bother.

The bright cotton makes a color saturated flower that is a welcome reminder of spring and the warmth it promises.  I'm using my jar to hold a pile of stitch markers.  With this technique you could decorate jars for the kitchen, bath, office, or studio - any room that needs organizing would benefit from one or even a set of coordinating storage containers.  It's a great way to do something creative with all those uniquely shaped jars that would otherwise be destine for the recycle bin.  Plus, it's a project you can easily finish in one sitting which I always find appealing!  You can be sure that there are lots of toppers in my future!

And finally today I want to tell you about the giveaway that I'm hosting on Robin Reads & Writes.  Just in time for Valentine's Day I'm giving away an advance reader copy of Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas, and a heart shaped thread bookmark made by yours truly.  Pop over and have a look at the review.  I really enjoyed the book, and hope the lucky winner feels the same.  After all, what could be better than a bit of romance and magic to round out your Valentine plans?

Thanks for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Greetings Friends!
How are you?! I've missed you all so much!  I trust that you glided smoothly through the holidays enjoying all the good things and letting the rest slide?  Things at our house were low-key and pleasant.  I made a point of focusing on what's really important (like family and the true meaning of Christmas) instead of getting tricked into thinking I somehow had to create the perfect "TV Christmas" with tons of gifts, over the top decorations, mountains of food and a houseful of jovial guests. That we were all sick with the worst cold/flu/bug we've had in years made it even easier to adjust expectations!  Happily we have all recovered and it feels terrific to be getting back into the blogging zone. 

My self imposed hiatus from blogging and computer use in general has allowed me to evaluate my goals for 2013.  This is really important because as the title of the post indicates, by the end of the year I was feeling woefully unable to successfully navigate my world of crochet, books, family, and work.  I was trying to do so many things it was inevitable that they would all suffer and so would I. Giving myself time to simply relax and enjoy the activities that fill my world turned out to be the best present ever.  I worked on and completed all kinds of crochet projects  (plus read several books!).  Now I have lots great material for blogging.  That was one of my biggest worries - that I was running out of interesting things to write about.  I mean really, how many Wednesdays do you want to see the cardigan that I'm still working on??

The other significant change was the creation of my new book blog - Robin Reads and Writes. (RR&W) If you're a regular you know that I've been including book reviews (mainly fiction) in with my crochet posts for some time.  When the library where I work approached me about making my reviews available on their website I knew that a change of format was in order. After trying several layouts the new blog was born.  Having everything live together under one roof works well for me as far as maintenance goes.  When I started Crochet Nirvana I knew that books would always be part of my site.  Now I'm happy that they have their own special place where they can really shine.

Of course a second blog means more work.  But it's work that I love, and the response has been amazing.  In fact, I have been approached by two different publishers and asked if I would like to be an "early" reviewer.  You know that I said yes!! I mean honestly, how cool is that?  (I'll tell you all about in an upcoming RR&W post!)

Now that I've given myself time to regroup I feel energized and focused. Knowing that I have interesting projects, patterns and tutorials to share makes me feel confident about the future.  I also am thrilled about the direction the book blog is headed.  In addition to fiction I'll be reviewing new crochet/knitting (and other yarn/fiber/craft) books.  With so many exciting things on tap the future looks bright indeed. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Greetings friends!  Oh, what a busy month it's been!  No matter how early I get up or how late into the wee hours I toil there never seem to be enough hours in the day to get it all done! Honestly I'm not sure how you do it.  I suppose the up side of all of this activity is that I have plenty of projects to share with you!

If you've been visiting for a while you know that recently I've been working with thread.  I absolutely love this medium.  The delicate detail, the feel of the fabric, the sense of accomplishment when I've finished a piece.  Today I want to share a story of crochet,  kindness and social networking with you.

Like so many new bloggers, when I started this adventure I thought all I had to do was publish my posts and readers would flock to my site making me an internet sensation and overnight success (well, not quite...). But the reality is if you want people to visit you have to network.  That means visiting others on a regular basis and sharing thoughtful comments.  Taking part in on-line activities like CALs, a Year of Projects, and Blogtoberfest. Participating in some of the many groups and forums you find on Ravelry.  Creating boards of your favorite things on Pinterest, and following people you find interesting.  Tweeting your activities and posts.  And of course the big one, the one that I avoided like the plague - joining the world of Facebook.

Most of these have proven easy and fun to do.  I've met some of the nicest, most talented people you could ever imagine.  And while I admit that I don't really understand the whole Twitter craze I can say that I have come to enjoy my time on Facebook.  In fact, that's how I met Bonnier Reiner.  Bonnie is a fiber artist from California where she creates this beautiful hand-painted thread.  We don't know each other well at all, but Bonnie sent me a message asking if I would be interested in giving her thread a try.  Naturally  I said yes and about 10 days later a small package arrived.  To my delight there were (2) 50 yard skeins of a bright blue, purple, teal, and green thread, plus one with pastel shades of pink, green and yellow.  She calls them Rainbow Threads and you can reach her at [email protected] if you'd like to know about availability and pricing.  What I can tell you about is appearance and quality.  I tried the #10 thread (but she has others).  The colors are rich and vibrant (please excuse my pictures, it was too sunny and the color washed out).  The thread is mercerized (I think) and has a nice sheen.  It is easy to handle and flows smoothly on the hook.  It doesn't snarl or get knotted while you're using it.  The only thing I had trouble with was winding the skein onto my bobbin.  I think that's more from my inexperience though because I always buy my thread in balls or cones.  Once I had it wound into a useable form I set to work making these coasters.  They are about 4 inches in diameter.  The one on the right is finished.  It's 2 pieces that are joined on the final round.  From the one 50 yard skein there is enough thread to make at least 3 and maybe 4 coasters this size.  It really does go a long way as long as you use a second color for the back piece. In case you're interested the pattern is Safari Coasters and is available online from Leisure Arts.   I found it in the October 2001 issue of Crochet with Heart magazine. I'm always on the lookout for old magazines and I bought a stack of these at the thrift shop a few years ago!

I don't have any experience hand painting fiber, no doubt it takes time and talent.  I'm pleased to have had the chance to give Bonnie's thread a try,  and thankful that she sought me out and offered to send a gift to a stranger across the country.  For a long time Facebook felt like a cross between a high school cafeteria and a seedy bar after last call.  I was really hesitant to create an account.  As it turns out, there's a bounty of great folks looking to share their talents, ideas and knowledge. Who knew?? 

This has been a terrific experience.  I wish that I had more details on Rainbow Threads to share with you.  It's good stuff and if I've peaked your interest at all, please get in touch with Bonnie. 

I can't write a post on a Wednesday without telling you the latest book chat now can I?? Of course not!  Last week I read the new book by Kaya McLaren called How I Came to Sparkle Again.  It's been a long time since a book hit me the way this one did, and I hope that you'll check out my review to find out why!

Earlier today I finished the Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell.  This is the 20th Scarpetta novel.  I have been a huge fan of these books for years, but the last few just didn't do it for me.  It seemed like the magic was gone.  So I had mixed feelings when I started this one.  If you want to know what I thought, drop by Robin Reads & Writes later in the week for my review.

Allrighty folks,  time to say goodbye for another day.  I can't believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone and that we're on the countdown to Christmas!  I miss having the time to write and I'm looking forward to that quiet time that comes during our New England winters.  A cup of tea and my favorite projects equal lots of stories to share!  And speaking of sharing, today I'll be linking up with a few of my favorite.  Please stop by and add yours to the mix.  The more the merrier!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Hello, Hello!
I hope that you find my tips useful.  I think the most important one is to not be intimidated or afraid of working with thread.  I was quite new to crochet when I first gave it a try.  My early attempts felt awkward and looked a wreck, but something about the delicate fabric captivated me and I was determined.  Once I relaxed and allowed the beginning rounds to look a mess my doily started to take shape and I was hooked.  One of my favorite parts of making doilies is the variety of stitches.  Every round offers different combinations of stitches creating amazing patterns right before your eyes!

This week I've been working hard making bookmarks.  I'm having a great time with all the different colors.  In fact it's almost hard to choose!  I've been trying different granny square patterns and combining then with the beautiful borders from Around the Corner to make some very lovely designs (if I do say so myself!)

If you've been hesitant to try it, or think that you could never manage it I really encourage you to give thread crochet a try.  I know it's not for everyone, but you'll never know if don't give it  shot!  And anyway, what's the worst that can happen??  Another project in the WIP pile?  No problem we all have plenty of those!

I'm not sure how it happens, but the holidays are here (again) and I find myself behind on projects (again!).  Instead of getting down on myself, I'm just going to focus my energies a bit more on crocheting and a bit less on blogging. I like to get three posts out per week.  However for the next 6 weeks or so I need to make sure that I'm not stretching myself too thin creating unnecessary pressure. So I'll me paring back to only one or two posts each week.  After all, I do this for fun and the last thing that I want is for it to become a chore!!  I want the posts that I share with you to be exciting and interesting - not just dribble for the sake of publishing something.  I know you understand, and just think of the great projects I'll have to share with you!!

Even though I'm a day late I'll still be linking up with these amazing blogs to share my thread tips.  I hope that you'll pop in for a visit and share what you've been working on!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Greetings friends!  Snow is in the forecast on the east coast. Six to twelve inches here in central Mass.  There's something magical about the first snow of the season. Memories of hot chocolate and gathering around the radio waiting for the local station to tell us that school was cancelled.  I suppose that should motivate me to get to work on the second fingerless mitt, but if I'm honest I'll tell you that for the moment I'm out of mitten mojo.  It's not that I don't like it.  In fact, I'm pretty darn happy with the way this one came out. It's just that for the amount of work that went into it I should have finished 3 pairs!  Allow me to explain...

I decided that I needed a pair of fingerless mitts to go along with my Slouchy Tassel Cap.  In this month's issue of Crochet World magazine I found the pattern for their Texting Mittens.  Perfect!  I typically have to go down a hook size or two.  So I started out with my H hook and whipped up the cuff.  It was too small.  I don't want to start over so I just add a few rows. No problem. Now I'm working on the palm/body. It's snug, but I soldier on.  It was time for the thumb.  I followed the pattern adding a few stitches to accommodate the changes to the cuff.  After a few more rounds I tried it on.  Great.  I can't move my thumb.  After a fair amount of grumbling I acknowledged that the only was it was going to fit would be for me to rip it all out and start again with a bigger hook. The hook size the pattern indicates.  The one I would have known to use if I had made a gauge swatch.  This time (of course) the cuff fits. And so does the body.  Imagine that. It seems however that I must have gargantuan thumbs, because I need to add several stitches in order to make it fit. Naturally this means several attempts and ripped stitches.  Moving on.  I was confused by the instructions for making the finger hood (you know that piece that keeps your fingers warm when you're not sending urgent messages or getting the keys out of your purse).  After looking at a pair that my mother-in-law gave me I figured out what to do.  Again this meant several tries before I got it right (rip, stitch, rip, stitch).  I stuck to the pattern and made the hood as indicated.  It looked funny, like I had pointy witch hands.  I'd come so far that giving up was not an option.  Maybe I made a mistake? I ripped back and tried again. Nope, still pointy.  OK.  I can do this. I know what I want it to look like, and I know that I can figure it out. What I didn't know was it would take 12 tries to get it right!  So you can see, while I'm pleased with the way my texting mitt finally looks, I think that I need a bit of a respite before I begin it's mate.  I did try to write down the changes that I made, but when I looked at my notes this morning it appears that I was utilizing a form of hieroglyphics in an attempt to make things more clear. Hmmm...

How about a little book chat?  If you've been to visit before you know how much I love books, and if you haven't had a chance I hope you'll take a look at yesterday's post.  I'm so excited to have a new venue to share my book reviews.  Of course I'll still be talking about them here, I have too they're so much a part of me.  But by creating Robin Reads & Writes I can really delve into my reviews without worrying that I'm turning away those of you who come for the crafting.  If you enjoy my reviews, I hope that you'll subscribe to the new blog, or at least click on the link in the header or on the sidebar once in a while to see what's new.

I have reviews for two books in the works right now, and I'll tell you both of these had a big impact on me. I'll let you know when they're ready.  Now I'm reading Defending Jacob by William Landay which has been on the NY Times best seller list since it came out in January. While that's not my reason for choosing it, I do like to keep current with what the masses are reading.  It's been a while since I've read a crime/court drama so I decided I'd give this one a go.  Stay tuned and I'll let you know how it rates!

Today I'll be sharing the saga of the single mitt with these ladies and their link parties.  There are always so many fun and interesting projects to see, that I hope you'll spend a few minutes visiting them.  I always find inspiration, and it's a great way to meet new people.

That does it for me.  I'm off to work and then to hunker down with my hook and yarn and wait for the snow.  My prayers are with anyone who was effected or knows anyone who was effected by Sandy.  Let's hope that Athena (yep, the latest storm has a name already) follows gently in her wake.

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Long before I learned how to crochet, I learned how to read, and I haven't stopped either since!  To me books have so much to offer.  They entertain, they teach, they keep me company, they make me think, they allow me to escape, and help me find my way. They are how I earn a living and how I spend my free time.  Books surround me (literally and figuratively).  I can't imagine going through the day without spending at least a part of it reading.

Not long after I started Crochet Nirvana I discovered Ginny's Yarn Along.  A place to where I could share my latest book and my latest project with others.  It had always been my intention to incorporate books into my blog.  So in addition to telling you what I was reading I started writing reviews to tell you what I thought about the book when I was done.  I was skeptical at first.  I didn't know if anyone was really interested.  Most of the craft blogs that I read don't wonder onto other subjects. I reminded myself that this is my space and I can do what I want here - even if no one else is doing it.  So I ventured on.

Occasionally in the comments, a few of you would mention that you'd like to try a book I reviewed.  Or you'd tell me about book that you thought I should try.  And then one of my coworkers suggested that we should publish my reviews on the library's web page.  She said that she enjoyed reading them, and thought our patrons would too.  It was a great boost to my confidence. Our web-mistress approached our director and we got the green light. 

I knew that it would be a lot of work.  I needed a name and a logo, and then I needed a format for making the reviews easily accessible.  After a lot of trial and error I ended up with the a new page (Book Reviews) and a new blog (Robin Reads & Writes).  The page is where at a glance you can see the covers of all the books. Click on the cover to go to the review. The new blog is where I'm publishing the reviews.  They both live here at Crochet Nirvana.  So while I'll still be sharing my latest book each week here and at Ginny's, I'll be publishing the reviews on Robin Reads & Writes.  Already I can feel them expanding and evolving.  I'm including things like audio snippets, what other reviewers think, and author interviews.   I have plans for a guest reviewer and I'm toying with the idea of starting a virtual book club.  There are so many possibilities! I can't wait to see how things grow from here.

The other new feature (page) is Booked for Lunch. I created this page as a supplement for the folks who are in the library's monthly book group.  With a link from the library's website, I provide information about what we're reading each month.  I'm also looking into doing a on-line forum as a companion to the regular meeting.  We'll see if the group has any interest in continuing the discussion past the one hour we're given each month. 

I hope that those of you who like hearing about my latest read will pop-over to RR&W.  I'll be sure to include links here and let you know when there's something new.  With my new connection to the library it's the perfect time to launch these new features.  I'm excited to be able to stretch my reviewing wings while staying true to my original vision of sharing my crochet adventures with you.

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love