My blanket - finished!

I am so excited! I have just finished sewing the loose ends in and feel triumphant as it is finished well within the time I gave myself. I knew that once I made the decision to get it finished I would do it! Well this one has been a long journey....

From simple beginnings to

a germ of an idea then into a

a fully fledged blanket!

 But then another germ of an idea forms: what if I could back the blanket and combine my two favourite things in the world TOGETHER.....

A quilt backed blanket or a blanket backed quilt???? At this stage wasn't sure I could pull it off ....

But I did! There are bits that I could improve but that will probably be for the next time! I have loved creating this little blanket that is going to adorn one of the rather shabby chairs in our camper. It was created on a whim and I love it!
Isn't it funny the things you can achieve by just writing them down!
Till the next time....

The Knife of Never Letting Go - by Patrick Ness.

I did it! I finished:

I was thrown into the bizarre New World of Ness’s first novel because his last book in this trilogy won the Carnegie award in 2011 and thus forms part of my set reading for my course in Children’s Literature. Not wanting to limit my options for my final assessment I figured I had better get reading with the first two novels before I could concentrate on the final book, Monsters of Men. It took me months to get half way and days to finish it. I found the pace in parts slow although the praise that is heaped on this book in the first pages is contrary: “Ness moves things along at a breakneck pace..” (Financial Times critic). I found it sometimes repetitive and dragging its feet in getting to the truth of the story and so many times I was tempted to return it to the library so that I didn’t have to renew it, again,  but then it suddenly did pick up pace and became almost unbearable to put down – although I knew it was going to break my heart (which it did). I was glad that I bought the set for my sister as a ‘shared’ Christmas present so that I could start reading the second book straight away as it did finish on a cliff-hanger.

The style of writing is intriguing as it not written in standard English or with standardised spellings, ‘preparayshuns’ (p.4) and ‘cuz’ (for because P.5).

 ‘ “You can eff off, too,” I say, except I don’t say “eff”, I say what “eff” stands for.

          And I really, really shoulda looked round again. P.6

And then there’s the swearing which is always (except once I think) represented as ‘eff’ or ‘effing’, which I thought was good. I don’t like swearing for the sake of swearing in books but I think this really did help me to relate to the teenage character of Todd. The brave aspect of this book was representing what Ness terms as the ‘Noise’ which is the thoughts and feelings of the characters which can be seen and read by others and in the text of the book is represented with different fonts in terms of size and space on the page as pages 20-1 shows.

Overall, I enjoyed (that’s not quite the right word) the ending of this book and think it probably could have been cut down by a few chapters to get to the climax a bit quicker but who knows maybe there were details in the slow areas that are going to be imperative in the following books. I will have to wait and see.

I think that most teenagers will enjoy this book – there is violence, swearing, dangerous situations that remind me very much of the computer games they like to submerge themselves in nowadays, but there are also fundamental themes and questions of existence, identity, acceptance and tolerance which are subtly weaved through the story so that you are continually seeking for the ‘truth’. 

  

Getting on with it!

Just a quick one to say that since my deadline arrived and the essay went despite it being in shambles I have taken some much needed time off from the 'books'. Just a glimspe into what I have been working on:

I bought these florally, old fashioned style fabrics ages ago and have only just got round to slicing them up and stitching them together. But it doesn't really matter how long ago that was - what is important is that I am now using them to make something special! Which has something to do with this little blanket that has been put onto the 'back burner'.

I hope to have the quilt made by the end of January - I need to get going if I am to achieve all my goals for this month!

Till the next time!

Peter Pan

Why o why is this little fella giving me so much grief?

I have an essay to write on Peter Pan which at first seemed very simple - Did I think it was about growing up? I have 2000 words when actually I could answer it in one: Yes! Well as literature essay's go this is not sufficient as I need evidence and as I start digging around I discover that I could write 3000 words to answer this question. Just when I feel like I know what I am doing - I read something else and think that is more important. Well, my only saving grace is that when the ticking croc comes for me (Thursday 12th ) then it will all be over, regardless of the content and amount of my words!

I really want to get this one finished! We are all excited about a little day trip we have organised at the end of January which is a little bit naughty - as it will take us to the big ol' smoke of London on a SCHOOL day. My children think this is great - I will hasten to add I have sought the relevent permission from headteachers! As it will be so educational they have allowed us to do this! I can't wait to see all those Da Vinci's in one place! OOOOoooooooo! But essay has to be done first! Better get back to it!

Goals for 2012

My Book list: ( in no particular order)

                                                        

 

Reading challenge this year with the children is:

                                                      

Harry Potter from the beginning to the end and everything in between!

Our Goals for 2012:

To save enough money to allow us to go on camping holidays with one weekend~hotel break possibly in York!

To cut down on all our expenses and to adopt a 'make do and mend' approach and to not buy new where ever possible! 

Quilts:

To finish off the two current work in progress, which I am a teeny bit disappointed that I haven't already done - but hey-ho! 

Pictures:

This year I really want to have a stab at my four seasons idea! Please just let me find the time.  

New Year ~ Old Resolutions



This is one of New Year's rituals, clambering up the steep slopes of the Tor to marvel at the glorious views it affords over the Somerset levels and without fail this is what we did yesterday, only that on our slow gentle descent we got rained upon which did put a bit of a dampener on things. It made us realise how lucky we have been over the years since we couldn't remember the last time we got wet on this ritualistic day. (Suffice to say the above photo is an old one! - forgot my camera this year!)

Every year I face the battle with the NYR's and mostly lose. But last year I set myself some different challenges ~ not all were successful but there was a lot less guilt felt this year as I mused over my list of things I did do. I was pleasantly surprised to see my book list was nearly depleted with only a few outstanding ~ I will transfer to my 2012 list as well as add some more that I really want to read. I didn't do as much arty creative stuff I wanted to do but then we did buy a camper last year which would have been criminal not to use! So a lot of our holiday time was spent luckily on holiday! We gave the children very happy memories as they both want to return to the same place this year! We have been firm with the helping around the house - although they do grumble a bit!

I have been inspired by a few fellow bloggers who manage to control their finances so that they can enjoy the luxuries in life - which are not always the material things we are want to possess. I have learned an incredible amount about 'life' through peeking into other people's blogs. It has made me re-evaluate some things in my own life. So this year I am going to set some financial  and personal goals which will enhance our experience of 2012 as a family.

One of my most important resolutions is to blog more! There is a world to be shared and I am excited for all the things 2012 will bring. I have decided to forgo all alcohol this year ( which my family did literally laugh at!) but I am going to prove them wrong! It is a challenge but I think that it is like killing two birds with one stone. Not only will my body be thankful but so will my pocket. It wasn't inspired by the thought of money initially. I wondered what it would be like to be tee-total and then when I did a quick recce I figured that it would also save us quite a bit too. So every time I would've had a glass of wine or pint of cider I can put a couple of pounds in my sealed pot which will give us a boost next Christmas!

I am going to make a list of all the things I would like to achieve this year and hopefully will be able to cross them all off this time. I am going to set myself some more challenges too.

Till the next time, Toodles.