Crochet Cupcake Purse

So, I was poking around online for a crochet pattern and came across a post for crochet coin purses. I would show you, but the link is broken at the moment. I thought they were so cute that I had to make one for Maddy or Aubrey. I made up my own pattern and made it much bigger. It took a long time--we watched the extended version of Return of the King and it took me longer than that to finish it. I'm probably going to make another one, but it's going to be much smaller. Much much.

Hey, it's book review time again

Three more books I've polished off lately. Still have a delicious library pile by my bed. Must resist until I finish school for the day.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Science Fiction

Very brief summary: Earth has been taken over by alien invaders, which are implanted into human bodies where they take over the brains and bodies of their hosts. Wanderer comes to earth, taking the body of Melanie, who almost died trying to escape capture. As she comes to live in her new body, she realizes that Melanie hasn’t been overcome like the usual host, and Wanderer can hear her in her mind still. She is haunted by Melanie’s old life and loves.

How I heard about it: Well, considering my Twilight obsession, I was sure to find out about any new Stephenie Meyer book.

Where I got the book: I bought it when it came out, or rather David bought it for me. This was my second time through.

What I found most gripping: I have to say that while Stephenie Meyer is not the best writer, she knows how to hold my attention. About 100 pages into the book, I can’t put it down. I love her character development—each one is so distinct and clear. She manages to make each character sympathetic and likeable. She also handles suspense with dexterity and she draws me in. Also, I’m a sucker for a good love triangle.

Any negatives: Hummm, it does take a while to get started. Also, there are a few awkwardly written bits here and there, but overall, a very enjoyable read. It’s got more substance thematically than the Twilight series, but this still isn’t high literature. Despite that, I find Stephenie Meyer knows human nature, which is clearly highlighted in this book. I have one more pet peeve and that is that the other worlds that Wanderer has lived on feel artificial and not very plausible, but maybe it’s just my narrow imagination at work.

Readability: Very high. Another one I finished in less than 24 hours. I would say 4/5 stars.

The Rescue Artist: A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece by Edward Dolnick

Genre: Non-Fiction

Very brief summary: Edvard Munch’s The Scream was stolen on the eve of the Winter Olympic Games in Norway, by two thieves who put a ladder up to an outside wall, smashed the window and nabbed the painting. This is the story of how one Scotland Yard undercover agent tries to get it back.

How I heard about it: A reading thread from twopeasinabucket.com.

Where I got the book: The library.

What I found most gripping: I’ve heard about the theft of great art, so I was very interested to learn more about that and Dolnick does a fantastic job of painting the characters—both the thieves who steal great works of art and the people who catch them, particularly Charley Hill, ex-soldier, adrenaline-junkie, fast-talking undercover cop.

Any negatives: There are a few points when the author sort of rambles on describing Charley, but they don’t last too long and most of it is tight and highly interesting.

Readability: High. Exciting and appealing. Someday I’ll have to review a book I didn’t like. I give this 4/5 stars.

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

Genre: Fiction

Very brief summary: Towner comes from a family gifted with the 2^nd sight, but Towner has fled her Salem roots for California and hasn’t been home in 15 years. When her great-aunt dies, she returns home for the funeral and is faced with her past.

How I heard about it: Reading list on twopeasinabucket.com.

Where I got the book: Library

What I found most gripping: Towner is an unreliable narrator and unraveling her story was an interesting journey. I didn’t really get pulled into the book until the last half. On the plus side, there is some stunning imagery and a lot of symbolic meaning, which is highly developed. The prose is quite beautiful at times.

Any negatives: It didn’t grab me at first. A lot of the novel is told backwards, with details from the past revealing as you go. This annoys me most of the time. If you want to tell me something, just tell me. Don’t hint. But ultimately, that is the brilliance of this book.

Readability: Medium to high. I would give it 4/5 stars for literary quality, but only 3/5 for keeping my interest and making me care about the characters. There is a lot of exposition that happens in the first 10 pages and it didn’t draw me in. Around page 15, I started to kind of care and it developed from there.

Rejoice (Christmas) Digital Scrapbooking Kit Freebie

Wow, it doesn't feel right to be doing fall leaves last week and then Christmas this week, but I know Christmas will be here before I'm ready. We are nearly done with our Christmas shopping. I have a few projects still to do, but I'm not feeling the least bit stressed yet.

This layout is from Christmas morning pictures from last year. It was a special Christmas, because it was my Great-Grandma Jensen's last Christmas before she passed. I didn't realize that before making this layout. It will be sad not to trek up to Ogden this year to see her. I can't remember the last Christmas that we didn't make the trip.

I think I'm getting better at the whole digital layout thing. Making these kits has really forced me to practice. Oh, and I was going to mention that some of the patterns were inspired by vintage Christmas wrapping paper.
(Click to download.)

Kit Contents: 6 Pattern Papers, 1 Overlay, 1 Flower Sticker, 1 Bird Sticker, 1 Flower Flourish, 1 Journaling Block, 1 Background paper shape, 1 Rub on Label

Book Reviews

I was going to wait to start this next year, but I think I'm going to do it now, because I just read two highly interesting books, which I want to share. So, the idea is that when I read a book, I'm going to post a brief review of it--fairly simple stuff, but it will be a way for me to track what I've read and share some of the things I've discovered.

Forever Today by Deborah Wearing

Genre: Non-fiction memoir

Very brief summary: A memoir from Deborah Wearing, the wife of Clive Wearing, a highly accomplished musician and conductor. His memory was destroyed in an illness caused by the herpes virus, leaving his intelligence intact, but unable to form new memories. He is said to be the most severe case of amnesia ever recorded, and he can only remember 7 to 30 seconds at a time. He can’t remember Deborah’s name, but he knows he loves her. His musical ability was left, because of the different ways in which we store knowledge—his procedural memory still works, so he can remember how to do things, but not much else. Because of the safety issues, he’s had to live at a hospital or in a home for brain injured people since his illness in 1985.

How I heard about it: We were studying neurons and memory in my science foundations class and we talked a bit about the case, including reading a few articles and watching a few videos. After hearing that his wife had written a memoir, I went to my library’s website to see if they had it.

Where I got the book: Library.

What I Found Most Gripping: This is really a story about love. Clive still loves Deborah and recognizes her. I felt her ability to handle the situation to be extraordinary. Clive basically wakes up every few seconds, realizes something is deeply wrong and feels like he’s just woken up and gained consciousness, and this is repeated over and over again and it’s no use explaining it to him, because he just forgets a few seconds later, yet Deborah’s compassion and patience and love in dealing with this is inspiring and touching.

Any negatives: It’s a bit choppy in the beginning.

Readability: I couldn’t put it down! I read it in one night, staying up far too late.

Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax

Genre: Non-fiction

Very brief summary: Dr. Sax talks about the way boys are becoming unmotivated in recent years and identifies five key factors on why this is happening. He also outlines a plan on how to fix it.

How I heard about it: From my child development class. As part of our lessons, we listened to a podcast with Dr. Sax talking about his book.

Where I got the book: Library.

What I Found Most Gripping: As the mom of three boys, it’s something I worry about all the time. I want my boys to feel supported and to have grounded values. I want them to be masculine, but as defined by our values, not the rootless, slacker dude or the macho homeboy. I’ve noticed this trend in my own life, and with three boys, I’m deeply invested in the subject. I think the thing I took away from it the most was the problem of making school masculine again. Not to leave out the girls, but to make it socially acceptable for boys to be smart and do well in school. Also, that we need to create opportunities for our boys to get out in the real world and not become addicted to the false achievement provided by video games.

Any negatives: I felt it was well-researched and the arguments were persuasive and well-supported. I did find a few of the scenes where he talks to parents to feel artificial—like he created them just for the book, but that’s a very small negative among a wealth of interesting, documented evidences.

Readability: I couldn’t put it down. I talked to everyone I could find about it—my sister, my mom, my husband. I was fascinated all the way through. Another one I read in less than 24 hours.

So, don't you think I deserve some extra credit for all that reading? Joking. In all honestly, I'm grateful to my instructors as the source for some very interesting and insightful reading.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yesterday, when Mom and I went to exercise, the kids stayed at the day care. They did some face painting, which the kids loved. Xander's is a turkey.








Also, this past week, I decided to crochet a little scarf. I put a little magnet closure in it, which works really well. The scarf part was from a Lion Brand pattern, which you can see here. I did a different flower for it. The one they had is cute, but I wanted a slightly different look. I made it out of wool yarn, which makes it cozy and warm, and it's the soft kind, so not too itchy.

It worked up super quickly and it's really easy pattern, just what I need for right now. It's so nice to be able to do projects like that right now when I'm so busy with school. If I did it again, I would probably do another row around before doing the scallops. I have crazy short rows when I crochet for some reason, which is why I almost always have to adapt patterns.

Anyway, happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all have a wonderful, food-filled day.

Piles of Leaves Digital Scrapbooking Kit Freebie

This is one I started a long time ago, which I just finished up this morning, just in time for Thanksgiving. The photos on the layouts are ones I took at our local park two years ago. I can't believe how much my kids have grown, especially my baby.

I've definitely gotten better at the whole digital distressing thing. I still feel like I'm not great at it, but it was fun to play with. I hope you enjoy it!

(Click to Download)

Kit Contents: 8 Pattern Papers, 1 Solid Paper, 3 Labels, 1 Journaling Strips, 1 Set Brackets, 2 sets of sticker leaves, 1 Scallop Circle Mask, 1 Row Brads, 1 Word Art

The Blob Digital Scrapbooking Kit Freebie

Wow, it's been a long time since I put up a kit. I'm had a little spare time this morning, so I finished up this kit.

This layout is all about Griffin right now. He's a hoot right now. He's not what I would call "laid back." He has tons of quirks and challenges, but he's never boring, for sure.

(click to download)

Kit contents: 15 Pattern Papers, 3 Journaling Blocks, 3 Labels