~ jezmynne

Writer's Block

I'm struggling to finish this article for publication... and I just cant decide what should go here. So I have a placemarker, so I know I need to come back to it.

April's 12" Square

Made this really awesome square for this round of CLBSX. It's the Victorian Dream Square found here. I love it so much I'm going to make an afghan out of it. it's super fun to make. : )

Christy's Purse

Made this purse for Christy for this round of CLHBX. I used 2 strands of Fun Fur and a strand of size 3 thread, with an H hook. Oh, and bamboo handles. I am so pleased with how it turned out!

You know you work for an outstanding institution when...

... you have a direct line to the Coffee Gods

April's Granny Squares

My exchange square for April. Happy Granny Squares!

April Dishcloth

I absolutely love how this dishcloth turned out! i found this fabulous purply varigated cotton at Michaels, and I used a sampler stitch involving a row of X stitches and a row of sc. I am so pleased with this thing!

Granny Squares for March

Made these cutie squares for March's round in CLGSX. I lurves Granny Squares. : )

From my buddy Peter

Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively. - VOLTAIRE (1694-1778)

BookMooch

So my good friend Candace has been on me to check out BookMooch, and at lunch today insisted I create an account. So I did.

BookMooch is a website where you post books you want to find homes for, and as you send off books, you earn points to ask for books to be sent to you. Sounds cool, right? Lordy knows I've got way too many bookies around my house that could use a good home. So when I got home, and added a few books until Pandora decided she wasnt happy talking to the Internet anymore and my kid wanted something to eat.

I plugged pesky Pandora in and told her to sit there an think about connecting to the Internet.

I heated up a piece of left over pizza for Lila.

I sat back down, and had requests for 5 books! I was floored! One of the books was this lovely, super expensive hardback book, The Cross and the Serpent, I had from my history days at UNM. I've held on to it for all these years because I couldnt bear to part with it; it *is* a lovely book. I am so happy to see that it was requested for 'Mooching' right away. I am so delighted that lovely book is off to someone who wants it.

I'm so pleased. : )

Stardust

I recently read Stardust, by Neil Gaiman. I picked it up from the library because Lila and I fell in love with the movie, and I was so excited to read it.

Stardust is the story of a young man living near a mysterious fairy world. The young man travels to this world in order to find a falling star to win the heart of a young woman. During the course of the book, the young man finds the star, a lovely young woman, and falls in love with her. They enjoy a series of adventures throughout.

I have to say I am sorely disappointed with this book. The movie is incredible, and I think it elaborates on the concept and story better than the book. The movie gives the story an edge with a sharp timeline instead of a meandering journey, which gives the story an element of excitement and keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. In the book, the plot moves very slowly, and many of the scenes are quite anti-climatic. For example, at the end of the movie (warning, Spoiler!) the young star and young man endure a heated battle to secure the life of the star from a set of evil witches who want to eat her heart for everlasting life. The battle is rich and exciting, the young man and his mother are reunited, the young man finds he is to be king, and the evil witches die. In the book, the evil witch simply walks away from the star, and the young star even gives her a kiss, followed by yet even more meandering as the young man and the star listlessly journey about before returning to the kingdom to lead.

Another thing that really bothered me about the book is the state in which the young man returns to his home town. In the book, he is described as being a raggedly dirty gypsy boy, not readily recognized or accepted by his former community. The movie better illustrates the transformation of the boy into a young man during his journey by presenting him as a fine and handsome, dashing young man with confidence and skills to succeed. For a young man who is destined to be king, this is a better illustration to make.

I did finish the book, but overall found it dull and tedious, and was quite frustrated with the lackluster progression of the plot and development of the characters. This is one of the few, rare cases where the movie is a better choice.

UFO Dishcloth

I've always wanted to try to make a dishcloth around one of those nylon scrubbies, so I finally took the plunge for March's dishcloth exchange on CLDCX2. What do you think? I think it looks like a flying saucer. : )

Forcing Outlook to Exit

So on a whim this AM I downloaded IE 8 Beta for Giggles, and got one. IE 8 has "Activities," which are a flavor of browser plug ins that allow sharing, emailing, and incorporating things into Facebook and the like. One of those "Activities" is emailing something via Outlook from an Email button on the browser. Clicking that button opens Outlook and resulted in this:

Ha Ha. We all like to Force Outlook to Exit. : )

The Big Book of Weekend Crochet

Borrowed The Big Book of Weekend Crochet from the library recently, and thougth i'd post my thoughts. nice - had a handful of really neato patterns in it. the patterns were classic, applying basic stitches and details in an appealing and versatile form. the only drawback - too many baby patterns. I really liked several of the sweater/wraps/cardigan patterns, and one or two tank top patterns. The rest was not to my liking. Do I think it's worth the 18.00$? No. But I might consider it used for way cheaper.

Lacy Big Square

Made this neato beans Lacy big square for the CLBSX exchange on CL. The center pattern is a motif for a thread tablecloth that I really liked. I edged it with dc to make it fit 12" I think it turned out really nice!

Blue Shawl for my SCP

Made this neato shawl for my pal on Secret Crochet Pals. I really love this blue yarn! I got it as a gift from a friend; her Mom had tons and tons of stuff she used for machine knitting, and this came from that.

My base chain was several inches longer than my arm span, and I did shell, sk 2, sc, sk 2 shell for the body. I edged it with 2 rows of sc, then a row of shells. I am pleased with how it turned out.