Knitting WIP - Alassë Míriel ( & A Nutcracker Update)

Knitting

Well, I'm a nerd, and today I'm starting a new project firstly because its gorgeous, and secondly because of the name: Alassë Míriel.

Alassë is Quenya (that's Tolkien Elvish) for Joy or Merriment and Míriel is the mother of Feanor, and in elvish means Jewel-Woman or Jewel-Daughter.  The pattern itself is a hood, and I'll admit, I've tried to make hoods before, by altering sweater patterns and they were all epic fails. So epic in fact, I didn't even take a picture.

My mother and I went to Jo-ann's today, to pick up a pattern for my Halloween costume, and some fabric, and yarn. Always yarn. ( While we did find a good pattern, we forgot what we're using to make the top of the dress at home and couldn't buy fabric. I'll make a post about my costume later, because it will be fabulous. )

Yarn: Heartland Cuyahoga Valley 2 skiens
Needles: Size Seven Clover DPN

The Nutcracker On Ice

I just found out yesterday that I will be a Chinese (China woman?) and a Waltzer this year. Now, its not secret that waltzing is my favorite role by far, so I'm really, really happy.

Knitting Pattern - Ace Scarf

Started: August 29, 2015
Finished:
Yarnage: 812 Yards

I started this a month ago, several classes, free blocks, and one marathon of Mysteries at the Museum later its finally finished. The pattern I made up on the spot,  as I went, and modeled (loosely) after basketweave. I call it "lazy basket weave." (there may be a 'real' name, in fact there probably is, I just don't know it.) Its the first pattern I've published, and, due to its simplicity, the first I've made to turn out terribly well.

view pattern on ravelry

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Review: Unhinged

Unhinged by A.G. Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

List of things that were not okay: the ending.

About getting the book: I picked up Splintered at a book store at the same time I grabbed several other things, and didn't think to grab the second and third books. After all, I assumed my public library would have them. No such luck, I finished book one in a day, and had to wait until the weekend to make it back to the store to pick up books two and three.

I admit I was a little disappointed, I had been hoping for more scenes in Wonderland, which was so wonderfully written in Splintered, but sadly there were none. This book was set mostly in the real world, following Alyssa through high school, with a wonderful balance of amusing and frightening.

Chessie remains my favorite character (closely followed by Rabid White). This remains the strangest love triangle I've ever read. Neither love interest appeals to me, which is completely normal. In fact, after reading book one I was convinced Jeb was best for her, now, I'm wondering if its Morpheus.

Additional note: there is now a waiting list of people who want to borrow my books.

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Review: Splintered

Splintered by A.G. Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Splintered, by A. G. Howard was a very addictive read. Even though I've never read Lewis Carrol's book, I was easily able to follow the story and identify the characters (just based on the movie adaptations). I was disappointed by the love triangle, as I am by most every love triangle.

The story was not as overly predicable as many books I've read, often I could tell that what should, happen next was not what was going to happen, but I still enjoyed every plot twist and chapter ending.

The characters were warm and believable, and surprisingly complex ( based on what I was expecting going in).

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