Birthday card

Writing

Guilty as charged, I have nothing to report. I met one of my writing group for coffee today, and we had a good old chat, so I did a lot of thinking about writing, but no actual words on screen.

Tomorrow is another day.

Knitting.

It's a friend's birthday on Saturday, and many of her friends are arty and creative, leaving me feeling very inadequate (that's not hard to do). So I thought I'd knit a birthday card. Ages ago I bought some blank cards which can be used to put in your own artwork. My knitting is my art, so I made a card. I was thinking of doing a whole "happy birthday" message, but although I was working in 2.5mm needles, I was still using DK yarn. so the tension wasn't really fine enough for that. The top and bottom details are in silver, which doesn't really show in the photograph, but they make it a bit sparkly and pretty. I hope she likes it, either because it's great, or because it's funny.

Inability to finish..........

Knitting
I seem to be suffering from my usual reluctance to finish anything. Brenda's cardigan is coming along well, I've now done the back, both sleeves and one of the fronts, but I'm lacking enthusiasm to make the other front.

I'm getting very cheesed off with the lace pattern - I like a challenge, but this is what I call "anti-social" knitting, as on some of the rows it's hard to hold a conversation at the same time as working my way through the pattern.

It's always when I'm at this stage that I get really excited about the next project(s), but as this is a Christmas gift, I must simply persevere, and be very glad when it's over. You'll hear the singing when I've done the last row of lace, I can tell ya.

Writing
I was beginning to worry that I was having the same problem with my novel, but thankfully, I've got my Mojo back where that's concerned.

It is a bit soggy in the middle (why am I soft in the middle, the rest of my life is so hard....) but now we're back, we have a structure, we're working towards a climax - it's all rather exciting!

Writer talk, and charity work

Writing.
On Friday, I'm going to a writer's talk by Jane Wenham-Jones. I'm looking forward to that. I must confess I've not read any of her books, but I like her articles in Writing Magazine, so it should be good, and will hopefully help the motivation.

Knitting
I've started one of my charity dog coats (for K9 knitters, see links below). I thought I'd try something different this time, and work it diagonally. It's a bit of at use-up coat, the pink I've had for years, and am now sick of (and then a friend gave me a load of wool, including about 400g in the same colour), and the variegated I got ages ago, and this is what's left of a cardie, so it's nice to feel as though I'm working through the stash.

Have a good weekend.

Adding pictures and patterns

Dear All,

I've added pictures and patterns today.

The pics are of my work in progress - Bren's cardigan, Mandy's scarf (both Christmas presents), and "the never ending baby sweater" so called because I pick it up periodically and do a bit, then put it down again when a knitting deadline looms.

Enjoy!

Chapter 17 is finished

I went very soggy in the middle for a while, but chapter 17 is now finished, and I feel like I've picked up the pace again. Not only that, I've been able to drop a few little clues to guide the reader towards the end, without being too laborious (I hope).



I'm nearly 75,000 words in, and I really feel as if I might get the first draft finished by the end of the year after all.



As a little reward, I allowed myself listening to Open Book (radio 4 - listen again), whilst knitting. It was a joy - even if I immediately unpicked what I was making (it was an idea for a "domino knitting" dog coat, but I don't think it's really going to work in its original incarnation), it was still nice to combine two lovely things for half an hour.



It has made me feel better, as I've been somewhat low of late, so it's nice to feel as though I'm making progress.



I made a couple of knitted roses over the weekend. I'm fairly pleased with how they've come out (certainly the best leaves yet), but they still need a bit of work (and more petals!)

Messing around with my blog

I've been messing around trying to get an interesting background - this is actually a picture of one section of my "sampler sweater", a garment designed to use up some stash some time ago. Each colour has a different stitch pattern, and as you can see, it was a circular needle, yoke all in one go job. I swore at the time that I would not make another like that - I'm a big girl to make sweaters for, and man that was heavy work!

It is one of my favourites though, being long and cosy for the winter days we've got coming up.

Now, back to the novel - chapter 17 awaits.

Shopping

Today I went to the new yarnstore I'd been told about.

It had a great selection of stuff, but the top of end of the market. I bought some Araucania Quellon (like the piccie, but more of a russet/blue combo) to make a scarf for my sister-in-law for Christmas.

Then best beloved went off to see Stiff Little Fingers in concert, and I hit the computer. 1200 words on Chapter 17 (thank God! I thought I was hitting a real dry spell), and I read through the work of members of my writing group. One of the group is absolutely brilliant - the way she constructs stories and characters - she is just fantastic. I am envious of her talent. She's currently doing an MA in writing, and thinking of going on to a D.Phil - personally, I think she should just go and get published, but what do I know?

Now I shall look through stitch pattern books - this makes me happy in a strange, possibly even sad way!

Come on England!