What I have been Reading- January 2021 Edition.

 

I enjoy reading but like with crafting I go through phases of being a voracious reader to barely being able to pick up a book.  I do try to read at least one book a month.

 I am a member of one of my W.I’s book club which we have been continuing to hold via Zoom. We meet on the last Friday of the month usually, but due to Christmas and New Year being on Friday last year it was delayed until the first Friday of this month. The book chosen was ‘Away with the Penguins’ by Hazel Prior.   

(image courtesy of Google)

 I loved this book as I agreed with the critics in it being uplifting and heartwarming. It also helped me get out of the reading ‘funk’ I had been in for the last 4 months ( I struggled to even finish the book club choice, including my one). It was the perfect antidote to being in lockdown. I hope that if I get to Veronica’s age that I still have her guts and stubbornness to do what she wants. She reminded me of the older Rose in Titanic, leaving behind her home comforts to go to the research ship. Except this is the Antarctic and it is penguins not a wreck. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a story of how a person can change and what made them that way in the first place.

This month’s book choice was ‘The Mother in Law’ by Sally Hepworth. I found this utterly compelling and I could not put it down. It explores the complicated relationship between a mother in law and daughter in law and how often acts are not interpreted in the way they were intended. This story is a murder mystery and all of the characters seem to have a motive for killing Diane, the mother in law. I am looking forward to discussing this tonight at the meeting to see what other people thought.

(image courtesy of Google)

My final book I read in the early hours of the 2^nd January after waking up at ridiculous o’clock and not being able to get back to sleep. This was 'Skipping Christmas' by John Grisham.

(image courtesy of Google)

 I normally associate John Grisham with thrillers but this is a light hearted look at parents whose only child has just left the nest and won’t be returning for Christmas as she is abroad. The parents decide not to bother with Christmas but it seems the rest of the world is against them doing that. If you have seen Christmas with the Kranks, then this is the book the film was based on. Because I had seen the film  I was able to visualise the characters and the scenes being played out which is probably why I read it so quickly.

I have got a couple of books already on the go ready for next month as well as finding out later what the book club choice is so I look forward to writing about those next month.

My Knitting and Sewing WIP's

 Last year whilst I was furloughed I taught myself how to knit as I read and watch a lot of people who seem to like to knit and sew. My sewing skills are pretty basic but I did manage to make 3 dresses that were by no means perfect but I could wear them. I had attended a beginners dressmaking course several years ago but never really made the time to do any dressmaking after that until last year. I will go more into that in another post. I have never knitted but one of the WI's a attend has a regular knit and Natter group which I decided to attend just before we went into lockdown last year and all sessions were cancelled. Thank goodness for Youtube is all I can say when I needed help.

I don't like to have lots of projects that I am working on at the same time as generally I prefer to focus on one project at a time. However, as I am such a slow knitter I have two on the go to prevent me from getting bored. 

I am currently working on a baby cardigan for my niece whi is expecting a baby girl in June. It is the second time I have knitted this pattern and it is pretty basic and perfect for a beginner like me.

The pattern is from Sirdar and I found it free on Hobbycraft's website. It should be knitted in Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK but following advice from my Mum I am just using Baby 100% acrylic as it is much more practical especially knowing my niece. 

My second knitting project I saw on Create and Craft. It is the Courthouse Steps blanket by Deramores. You buy the whole kit so all you have to provide is the knitting and yarn needles. I chose this project as I have never changed colour or picked up stitches and again it is perfect for a beginner. The colours aren't necessarily all ones I would chose myself but I am looking forward to being able to snuggle down  whilst watching TV at night.

I will need to block all the separate pieces to ensure they are all the same size before sewing together, again something I have never really done.

For several years at the WI quilting club I have been working on a hand stitched English Paper Piecing quilt and I had reached the stage where I was putting all the hexagon flowers I had made together separated by white hexagons. Lockdown then happened and it was the one project I could not be bothered to work on. However this year is a different matter, I am determined to get the whole quilt finished by the end of the year. My aim is to have all the heaxagons sewn together before the WI are hopefully allowed to re-open in the summer so that I can get the help I need to even the sides up and with the binding. This will then go on my bed for evenings when it is too warm to have a duvet on but I would need more than a sheet.

( I must apologise for the way it looks as it has been folded up in a small bag for nearly a year)

I am hoping to get both my knitting projects completed by Easter as I do have other things I wish to work on and by the end of the year I want to learn how to knit socks.

How many WIP's do people generally have and if you have a large amount what are your reasons? I would love to know.

My Intentions for 2021

2020 saw me furloughed for 6 months and then made redundant. (Luckily I quickly found another job). During that time I was able to reassess what I wanted with my life. I started to appreciate more everything I had and realised that I have more than I need in terms of possessions. I also had more time to craft and I taught myself how to knit and sew dresses. I liked the slower pace of life that the lockdowns kind of forced us to have and it gave us more time to spend together as a family, which we had started to lose now the kids are older and wanting to do their own things.

So for 2021 instead of making resolutions I have made a list of things that I intend to do. These are

·       - Get rid of 1000 items that can either be donated or disposed of.

·      -  Buy a lot less and use up what I have before buying more (toiletries, clothes and craft supplies are the main areas this applies to)

·     -  Finish a quilting project I have been working on for way too long

·    -   Do a weekly project life scrapbook page showing the highlights of the week

·     -  Save more money each month

·      - Decorate and update the kids bedrooms

·      - Continue to knit and sew to improve my skill level

·       -Continue spending time together as a family either at home or when we can outside.

·       -Don’t get involved in ‘drama’. This should be a lot easier as most of the drama was linked to my old job, just need to avoid family drama.

·       -Create a blog chronicling my crafting journeys and my simpler life.

        - Improve my photography skills

I know that may seem a lot but some are linked and some will only take a few moments each day. My efforts can be viewed on this blog.