The Art Of Practicing

Hey readers,

As you might have noticed this post isn't a book review, but it does having reading and writing connections. It was inspired by yesterday and my sprocket pillow project, which went a bit wrong and reminded me why practice is important. I then realized that actually we need practice in most aspects of our lives, even if we don't think about it.

I thought that I was getting the hang of all this sewing and making, but since taking a break at Christmas, it seems I've lost some interested and also the patience. I guess before it was because I was making things for people and my creativity had more of a purpose. Now, I'm back to making things for myself, and whilst this is still fun, I don't really want to keep the stuff as I want other people to get joy out of it. The problem with that is that I need more practice if I want to sell my handmade things or else I need more friends to give stuff away to!

It can be difficult though and making the cushion yesterday proved that I'd yet to have enough practice. I've still not got the technique of using the sewing machine, even though I try and believe that I've done. I jammed it up and mum had to take it apart to un-jam it. Then she didn't want to let me back on to it just in case, so she ended up sewing the cushion together. As it was going to be one of those days though, when she was done it turned out I'd not cut the shapes all the same size and it meant that they didn't meet right in the middle. Lucky, a large button can cover that and its' not that noticeable really. I so wanted to give up, even before I'd probably started sewing it. However, mum wouldn't let me and she also reminded me about not giving up when things get tough!

So, it's clear I need more time to learn the art of sewing and that though I don't fully believe that practice can make perfect, it does show through time. Understanding this, got me reflecting on my writing. It took me awhile to learn how to craft a novel and there's still areas which I'm learning about. I think that's true of anything though, because even though we might have mastered something, there can always been something else to learn. My writing was self taught in the beginning and I learned by studying novels and then trying to write my own. I learned how to edit too and that only came through practicing.

I think sometimes that even published writers cane find themselves in the practicing stage when they try and write in a different style or subject. It can be a bit hidden or else not really thought about and it's nice to practice without really knowing it because then you're not thinking about everything else that's associated with it. Like failure or success or having to try again or it not turning out as you imagined.... Now, practicing with knowing is better because at least you can see that you are learning and that the finished project was just that and you can try again and make it better or else as you actual want it.

Not giving up ties in with this and though I might not have been able to make my cushion yesterday without help, I still achieved something out of it. Like this blog post and my cushion. That's always going to be an important part of practicing, because no matter what happens, you'll have learnt something from it. I really like the quote below actually, because it fits in well with all of this.
   

So, finally here is my cushion. It did turn out alright and it's comfy enough. I've got some other patterns for a square and apple core patchwork cushions. That's a project for later though, as I plan to have a go at using some old jeans to make a scotty dog key ring. Denim also looks good as cushions, so I'll add that to my list.

You can find the pattern here;
http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2011/03/tutorial-sprocket-pillows.html

PS. If you've not given Night Vale a listen yet then do so!

http://commonplacebooks.com/welcome-to-night-vale/


Images:
http://www.drmichellemazur.com/2012/03/practice-presentation-speech.html
http://www.quotesforthemind.com/
Author's own

Lover At Last Review

Hey readers, 

I thought I'd do a final book review of the year and what better book to pick then the one I've just finished reading and waited for much of the year to get my hands on. J. R. Ward's eleventh book in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Lover At Last. At came out in March, but I had to wait for October for the paper back version and then I had to find the time to read it. LAL totals in at 199,807 words, 696 pages, 84 chapters and about 14 different story lines to follow. 

I've been a massive fan of Ward since I picked up the first BDB book, Dark Lover. She, like Anne Rice are my favorite vampire writers. They both have captured all sides of the vampire and have created fantastic and ever changing worlds for them to live in. Whilst, Rice has always drawn me with the exploits of Lestat and his companions, Ward draws me with her characters' quests for true love. However, whilst reading LAL the question of 'when does a series start to loss it?' came to mind. So, I thought whilst I wrote this I'd try and answer that question based on my review.

Just in case you didn't know the BDB series is about a group of warrior vampires living in New York. They're job is to protect the vampire king and the vampire population from their enemies the Lessers. Each book tells the story of a different BDB vampire with the main focus being on them finding their eternal lovers. The subplots include that vampire having to overcome their past and the ongoing war with the Lessers. In some of the other books there are other subplots to do with other characters which then continue to appear.   

The main plot of LAL involves the series' gay lovers; Quinn and Blay finally getting together and announcing their love for each other. For fans it has been a long awaited event as this love story has appeared as a subplot in a few of the other books. So, even though the end result is clear, it's how it comes about that's meant to be the part worth reading. I won't spoil it, but I will say that this love story follows the same pattern as the others. Both lovers have to come to terms with their past and let go of that so they can be together.

However, if you are or were expecting the focus to be just on Quinn and Blay, with a little bit of Lesser war and some other vampire having problems, then it's tough luck. There are so many other subplots and characters that appear, that just distracted from the lovers too much. I, like many other fans wanted Quinn and Blay to get more page time. Yes, we already knew a lot about them from the other books and maybe there wasn't much more that could be told about their past, but I just didn't get into their love story as much as I wanted too. Maybe it was because I was getting involved in a more exciting love story unfolding?

Here's a list of the subplots I found. I might be missing one or two though as there was so many!

Quinn and Layla. 

Quinn and Luchas  

Layla and Xcor 

Xcor and Elan 

Assail and Sola 

Assail and his cousins

Assail and the lessers 

Assail and the band of bastards  

Trez and iAm

Trez and his past

Trez and Selena 

The Lessers 

The Band of Bastards

And it would be so easy for me to sit here and write about them all but I won't because it'd take too long and be boring. I will talk about Layla and Xcor though, because it was the one subplot that got me really interested. I want to know what's going to happened between them now. Ward made it clear they were in love and wanted to be together - Xcor more though- but with Layla having Quinn's baby and Xcor being her sworn enemy and also of the Brotherhood, are they actually going to be able to be together in the next book?

It took me awhile to get back into the language used in this novel. I do love the way Ward has captured all the different accents though. The BDB are all very American whilst Xcor and the Chosen have old English sounding voices. There is also the vampire language making an appearance again, though it's got an English translation, but you can still hear how it should sound in the words she's used. I like also how the character's dialogue is transferred into there actions and that the language doesn't just go back to being in a normal descriptive one.

There are so many themes in this novel, but the main ones are love, loyalty, family, friendship and death. These all intertwine with the different plots and characters. It is very easy to syntheses with these themes and the characters as they are common in all readers' lives. The themes also keep the plots going and help to create the conflicts that are needed.

So, all that has brought us back around to the question I raised at the beginning. When does a series start to loss it? Well, for me it feels like Ward is losing it with LAL. There's just too much packed in and I felt that it wasn't all needed. She could easily have written a spin off book about some of the other things going on. In fact her other series about angels does that in someways. (I've yet to read it.) I get that she needed this book to be different from the others in the series as its clear there is some winding down of things, but with all these other characters' developing, I'm not so sure that the next book will be the last one. A series of course can go on for however long the writer, publishers and the demand for it wants and is present. That doesn't mean that every book is actually going to be good. Sometimes it can be important to stop early on or else when there comes a natural stopping moment. Though of course you leave the reader knowing that the characters and the world continue in someway.

I guess it didn't help that I thought this was the last book when I started reading it. Ward's writing is still very good, but due to the amount of plots and characters, it sometimes feels like this novel is all over the place. I will admit that at points I did get confused with Assail and Xcor and their plots. Maybe in a way this novel is just trying too hard and there was no need for Ward to that. Of course my question is difficult to answer because everyone will have their own opinions. I hope that the next book, The King, turns out better.

Image from:

http://areadersreviewblog.com/2013/07/

Websites used: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/

http://www.goodreads.com/

http://www.scandaliciousbookreviews.com/2013/03/28/review-lover-at-last-by-j-r-ward/

A Traditional Christmas

Hi readers,


With Christmas just around the corner - 17 days away and counting- I thought I'd write this post, which possibly will be the last one for 2013. Like everyone else, I'll continue to be busy now in the run up to the big day. Most of my presents are ready and I've done a lot of Christmas shopping too.


The major thing on my list right now is getting all the Christmas decorations up. I love doing that as it means that Christmas is truly on its way and I like making my house look really warm and homely. Like many families we have a lot of special and traditional decorations. My favourite decoration happens to go on the Christmas tree and it's a Jiggle Bug. This cardboard, brightly coloured 'bug' came from one of my favourite Christmas story books; The 12 Bugs of Christmas. For me it holds childhood memories of Christmas eve and being read lots of fun books.



Each family member also has certain tasks to do every year. My task is setting up the nativity scene. My mum and I are the religious people in our house. I believe its' important to remember all the different reasons behind Christmas and I do this whilst I'm unwrapping the figures. The scene always goes on the kitchen windowsill in-between the potted plants. When I place the figures down, my thoughts turn to the birth of Christ. Ending the task with a pray, I then quietly move on.

Second on the list is wrapping presents and writing cards. Both things really get me excited and I enjoy giving presents and seeing peoples' reactions. I think even more so this year because all my presents have been handmade. After I've done that, the last task will be getting in all the food and drink. Though, I enjoy eating and drinking it far more then the shopping! Then it'll be time to celebrate Christmas!

I actually started this post because today I visited the Victorian Christmas Market at the Lowry Outlet Shopping Mall in Manchester, UK. The weather just about held up, though it was very cold. There was plenty to see and all the stall holders were really chatty. Most of the stuff was handmade and a few stalls had unique items. I was very drawn to the fudge stall which was selling alcohol fudge in beer and wine glasses. I'd never seen that before! I also liked the wood craft stall, which had lots of different things made out of wood and painted. Most were decorative, but some had uses like stools, instruments, bookends and tables.

The food was also a winner for me, as there were many stalls selling traditional Victorian food stuff. The pies and cakes were awesome and I got myself a massive cupcake too. They also has had the more normal Christmas foods and the foreign foods like German and Meditation. The one thing that actually made this market different and special was the fact they had people dressed in Victorian costume acting out events. It did feel a bit odd at first, seeing women wearing massive dresses and men in suits and police uniforms, once I got use to it though I wonder if I could write some kind of Christmas set story about people from different years coming together.

It also got me thinking about where some of our Christmas traditions and aspects come from. Many were actually Victorian and they did create the Christmas today as we know it. Some parts also have their roots in Europe, especially the countries closest to Britain. I guess that most people don't really think about where certain Christmas things - like Christmas trees, Christmas pudding, mistletoe or Santa- come from and how they developed. Maybe if you have the time you could start to look into it and see what can be discovered about the history of Christmas. I guess it'll be different in every country, but that just makes it more interesting!

I really enjoyed my afternoon and though I didn't need to buy Christmas presents for people, it was still worth going and soaking up some more Christmas spirit. This was actually the second Christmas market I've been to, because at the start of December I went to the Manchester Christmas Market. I go with my family every year and its' become a tradition in a way. We were a bit disappointed with it this year though, because even though it's got bigger, most of it has become food and drink. Also a lot of the stalls seem to be the same and the prices are expensive. Still though it is worth going for the experience, but I warn you it gets really busy fast and going at peak times can sometimes feel like being in a traffic jam after a major accident.

Still though it's part of the madness of Christmas! I really hope that in the future that people will still be interested in going to these markets and buying the items. The internet has really changed the way people do their Christmas shop and I worry that it takes some of the magic out of the holiday. Even though I'm not a fan of crowds or shopping I love the experience I get when visiting these markets. It makes me feel more in the Christmas mood and also you can often see and buy things that you just won't normally find on the internet or even had consider getting.

Hopefully, I shall put up a small post as my official last one of the year though it'll probably be after Christmas. So, even though I know its a bit early; Merry Christmas everyone!   

 

Images from:

http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/victorian-sleigh-ride-richard-de-wolfe.jpg

http://jreneearcher.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/christmas-books-for-kids.html

http://www.hdwallpapersinn.com/nativity-scene-pictures.html

http://visitmanchesterblog.wordpress.com/

http://blog.thistle.com/christmas-shopping-in-manchester/

World Book Night Applications Now Open

Hey readers,

I'm just letting you know that the 2014 World Book Night applications are now open and you can apply to be a book giver for next year on their website: http://www.worldbooknight.org/

World Book Night has been an event since 2011 and I was amongst the first lot of people who give out books at the opening ceremony in London. Since then I've applied and been award as a giver every year and I hope this year is no different! I find it very exciting to give books out to people who don't normally read that's what the Night is all about.

It's run by a charity of book lovers, who's aim is to get more people into reading. Sometimes they also encourage people to get back into reading and/or to discover new books and authors. The event fits in with the more popular and longer running World Book Day. Their website is packing with lots of information and news, which makes visiting and revisiting a fascinating trip every single time.

The reason I got involved was because of my passionate for books and telling stories. My mum told me about it as she was taking part through her office. When I did more research into it, I decided that I too had to take part. Throughout my life I've always found reading as an escapism from the harshness of life. In novels I have found friends, worlds and objects. I've gone on adventures, solved mysteries, battle evil or good, meet supernatural beings and fallen in love.  

The best part of being a book giver for me, is being able to give out a free book to someone who doesn't really read and/or dislikes books. Spreading the word that books are good and not something to be feared from our school days, makes me feel a lot better inside. I know it also gives the joy of reading back to people too and even if I know I've inspired only one person through my giving then that's fine by me.

So, I hope I've now inspired you to get involve this year!

PS. This is the book I've picked to give out. There's 20 titles to choose and they cover the range of fiction and non-fiction.

Images from:
http://creamcracker.wordpress.com/2010/04/09/open-book/
http://www.worldbooknight.org/books/2014-book-list/item/10129-confessions-of-a-gp

Keep Calm and Sew!

It's strange to think that up until ten or twenty years or so ago, most women knew how to sew. They knew how to make clothes, toys and home furnishing by hand and using a machine. Many could also design their own patterns and create something new that fitted their needs. Girls were taught the basic techniques in schools or extra classes or else by family members. They also learned to knit, crotchet, cross stitch and anything else that falls into this category.

Now though, it seems to me that these skills are slowly fading, yet the demand for handmade items is still high. No longer are people being taught how to sew in schools and family members haven't been teaching each other because everyone is just too busy or else it doesn't interested them. Plus, nearly all items can now be made via machines and thus given the 'handmade' look. This means that shops can sell this stuff cheaply and sometimes it can be more cheap then the materials needed and the work being put in! So, people take the easy route and just go with the handmade style look to their clothes or furnishings. Of course there's nothing wrong with this, but to me it shouldn't be allowed to take over.

In a way, this decline of sewing reminds me of all the other skills that people have or are losing. Most of them seem to be hands on skills like carpenters, blacksmiths, farriers, old fashion farming and some engineering jobs. They've mostly fallen into history because of the new technical and peoples ways of looking at things. Don't get me wrong, that's not a bad thing, it just seems a shame to me that these jobs are not popular anymore.

  

I should get back to the actual point of this post now. I recently discovered a hidden talent and love for sewing that maybe had been overshadowed by all my other hobbies. Working with older children at the youth club and teaching them the basics of sewing by hand and creating a whole range of items, was the trigger. I never really thought about where my talent might have come from but on reflection I can so place it!

Crafting seems to have always been in my family one way or another. I have memories of curling by my nana's gas fire in the dim light whilst she crotchet blankets, dollies and dolls' clothes. I have a few she made in my bedroom, but where the rest went to I've no idea. I always remember her crocheting and knitting though and her needles always being close to hand. My grandmother, who I never meet was also into the same hobby, but she was also a fan of cross stitching. My mum can do everything, but crochet as she finds that too tricky, which is a weird thing to say. She has always been into making clothes, toys and cross stitch pictures.

My first memory of my mum making something for me was my school uniforms. I hated wearing them- not because they were handmade- but because they looked slightly different from the brand new uniforms that everyone else wore. My mum said that I was too tall for my age and she couldn't find any uniform that fitted me, so she decided that making one would be easier. I think that memory caused me to be put off handmade clothes for years. Then due to getting into making cards and scrapbooks, I become interested in knitting and so encouraged my mum to get back into knitting. Thus she has made me some nice jumpers, jackets and soft toys over the last few years. She also taught me how to knit, but I still have a lot to learn!

On reflection, the youth factory really did inspire me to start sewing again. I remember that we had a session making squishes. Which are soft flat-ish toys made from white cotton and fabric pens. I knew I could do that on my own and so did create some hearts and stars. Then I moved on from that made myself a cushion to take to Dungeons and Dragons with me. Then it just kicked off and now I seem unable to stop myself from making things out of fabric and felt. I've found that working with both is relaxing and fills the time. It's also helped me with my depression.

It does take awhile to decided what to make, but I just Google for inspiration and the Pinterest it. Thus I have two boards of things to make. Now the actually making part can take forever, but the end results always seem to be worth the time spent. I've actually decided to make Christmas presents for my family and friends as I've the time and though it might not seem cheaper over all, it's good fun. This does mean that I can't show all my creations, but here are a few;

                                                                                                                                                                 
The other thing I've been making are these candle jars. I was inspired by a walk though I saw on Pinterest and so have made my own. The first is made with actual dry leaves and the second is made with skeleton paper leaves. Both look really good though.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Images from;
http://cherryandcinnamon.com/tag/vintage/
http://dict.space.4goo.net/dict?q=forge
Author's own. 

Returning to blogging.

Wow, it feels a bit strange to be writing on here again. It's been two months or so now looking at my last post. Unfortunately, I've been really ill and that's why I've not been writing. I've been depressed for a good few months now. I've been in a bit of denial about it of course and even though I've known for sure for a little while, it can be difficult for a person who is normally happy, positive, creative and very intelligent to come to terms with. I've a pretty good understand of where the depression came from and why it ended up getting me. However, I'm not going to discuss it on here as its not the place.

To add to this, I've also been suffering from bronchitis and asthma for the last six weeks. It started as a bad cold, which I'm really prone to getting and then it become a throat infection before becoming bronchitis. Now I'm over the worse of it, but it seems to have triggered off acute asthma, which is causing me more issues. The cold air, being too active, sleeping and stress are my current triggers. I've started taking two inhalers and tablets for it. I'm hopeful that it'll be under control soon enough and I can get back to being well again.

I'm slowly getting back into doing my normal things as well as a few other things, which I shall be touching on and then writing a post about later. I don't plan to spend the time backtracking to write up about autumn or Halloween or some of the books I've read because I won't have the time. Which to me is a shame because all these subjects are my favorite things to write about. Hopefully I'll get a chance next year.

The two other things that have also effected me in the last few weeks is that I've broken up with my boyfriend and one of my friends from university suddenly died. I had this two piece of news and the one about the bronchitis in the space of a few days from one another. So I've been trying to deal with a few things all at once. It's more stuff that I don't want to go into on here as its too personally and I always said that my blogs wouldn't be come a diary or a space to pour my heart on to.

At least now the picture of why I've not been writing is clear. So, my plan for my blog still stands. I'll be posting about book reviews, writing, crafting, events and anything interesting I find that I want to share. So the normal really as nothing else has really changed for me. I'm still going to posting once or twice week, maybe a little more or less depending on how I feel. But I shall keep trying as writing is good for me. Though it really has been effected by my depression. I've hardly written in my personal diary or stories or poetry for the last few months. It's also been effecting my reading, because I've hardly picked up the books on my to-read-shelf. Being ill hasn't helped that either as I don't tend to read when I'm un-well.  However, that's all slowly changing.

The major thing that has turned things around for me as been my new hobby. Like I said before I shall write about it in another post as that'll be the easiest thing to do. but here's a bit about it anyway. My volunteer job at the youth club -which has also been effected by everything and I've not been in awhile- often has me working with older children doing arts and crafts. Though teaching them how to sew, knit and craft it's awakened a newly found talent and love for me. So for the last three months I've been designing and making my own cushions. This has expending into making toys and other soft items. It's been keeping me busy and creative!





Images from:

http://zednotes.com/landscape
http://www.kerryshamblin.com/sewing

The Reason I Jump Review: 'One Boy's Voice From The Silence Of Autism.'

Hey readers, 

I just finished this book and thought I'd write up a quick review of it before I get into reviewing A Unfortunate Series of Events. My mum told me about this book and she'd heard it was very interesting. I will admit that for, parents, siblings, relatives, carers, friends and anyone else who knows an autistic person or else is doing research, then this book would benefit you. 

For general reading though, its probably not going to be that interesting. However, I would still say to pick it up because it gives a good insight into a world in which we can't see and other books on the subject have struggled to put across. 

I know people who are autistic, so to read a book that allows me to understand why they do what they do was a bit special. This book isn't a straight guide about everything though, but it does want to make you change your behavior towards people. That old saying of fearing what you don't know is still very true today and it's known that once we've actually understood the fear that we don't fear it any longer. For me this book appears to be just that. 

It's written by Naoki Higashida, a Japanese writer and blogger, when he was thirteen. The book is a mixture of non-fiction and fiction, which makes giving examples easier.It also has grey-scale pictures of flowers and patterns. For me though it also shows Higashida as a fiction writer. In the opening, it states that Higashida's autism effects his speech and communication. He has learned to over come some of this by using a cardboard keyboard with letters on it and also a normal computer keyboard. It's through these methods that he's written this book and more. 

The book also includes an introduction by David Mitchell, (Cloud Atlas) in which he discuss his son's autism and how he found the book to be very useful. That really gets you interested to find out more, but as you turn the pages you discover that the narrative is nearly all questions and answers. So, instead of the normal story or non-fiction layout, each 'chapter' starts with a question, which Higashida then answers across one or two pages. 

This format makes it easier to read and understand. It feels like a secretive, quick look into the mind of someone autistic and this context it really works. The questions appear to be the most commonly asked ones, such as; Why do you take ages to answer questions? Do you prefer to be on your own? and Is it true you hate being touched? Higashida gives clear answers to them all and makes the point of stating that not all autistic people have the same dislikes and issues, but that they all want to be respected and loved. 

I've learned a lot from reading this book and I can now see why my autistic friends behave the way they do. It's also helped me to understand that autistic people are just like everyone else; they are creative, intelligent, have a love of learning and nature and just try to get on with things. One of the saddest things I'm taking away from this book is that some autistic people believe that they should be on their own due to how they act because they know it causes upset for others and that is something that they hate about themselves. Many autistic people just want to be around others because they like the rest of us don't want to be alone. 

Higahida says that at first he wanted to be normal like everyone else, but then he decided that if it was possible he wouldn't change. I agree with him and I think that the world needs to see people with special needs and disabilities as being normal people and not judging them because they see things differently. 

'If all of you can grasp this truth about us, we are handed a ray of hope.'

Image from: Goodbooks.com