Greetings Unravelers!
Welcome to the weekly making/reading check-in!
October has a Gnome… and what a Gnome she is! Meet Gnutkin! She is all in for fall! She is based on this pattern from Imagined Landscapes… sans beard, but I made some Pippi Longstocking-esque Leicester Longwool braids… and these sweet acorns were the perfect adornment for her!
However… there has been some sewing! I have an almost completed pair of pants – they just need a waistband and hemming! Up next is a fill in denim tunic (thanks Kym for suggesting this one!) and one more Sew House Seven pattern made out of some challenging (slippery) fabric. I am still waiting on my corduroy from Blackbird Fabrics… sigh.
Several of you asked why all the procrastination on sewing. And honestly, it is 100% the set up of my sewing that is causing all the procrastination. Any amount of time sewing be it 5 minutes or an hour and I get a back ache. I have tried different chairs and nothing really works. I think the issue is the height of the table I sew on… so it is what it is. Anyways, that is the sticky-wicket in my sewing and the thing that causes all the procrastination. But I am gritting my teeth and powering through.
On the reading reviews… I am changing things up a bit here. Rather than posting the full review here (you can find the link to the review in the side bar to the right) I am just going to high-light my finishes and talk more about my current read. If you’d rather I’d go back to the “old way” of posting the full review here… please let me know in the comments!
It has been a very blah reading week for me. I have one finish: John Banville’s Ancient Light. I did not love it.
And my current read is not much better… I am listening to Ruth Ozeki’s The Book of Form and Emptiness. The narration is so incredibly horrible… this might be the most impossible narration ever. The contrived voices for so many of the characters in the book are so off-putting to me. My advice… read this one with your eyes because the story is fascinating. I am just half way through and should finish it up today, I hope!
With my eyes, I am reading The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths. It is the second book in the Ruth Galloway series… and I am loving it. I am reading this at night and I am about a quarter of the way in and so far… so very good! I needed a mystery and this one is a mystery and a bit of fascinating history!
I picked up a book from the library this week but I have not cracked it. I stumbled across it on Twitter of all places… Setsuko’s Secret by Shirley Ann Higuchi. It is her parents story of Heart Mountain and their experiences with Japanese American Incarceration during WWII. I am eager to sink into this book but I am waiting until I have all my sewing done! Ha!
And that is all I have for this week… as always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below!
Thank you and I will see you all back here on Friday!
Acorns for the Win!!! I just adore your October Gnome Kat – she is wonderful and so Fallish. I sympathize with you over sewing conditions. My issue is that my sewing area is so incredibly cramped it is hard to get comfortable…or move things around. Oh well! I’ve read all of the Ruth Galloway books and have enjoyed them all. They are quick, light mysteries with a bit of history with them and I enjoy all the characters in the stories. As I posted, not much from me this week…knitting and reading were very light during vacation.
Machine sewing….what’s that?? My sister received that gene – I received the knitting one….my other sister jokingly says she received the arthritic one😊
I’ve read several of The Brighton Mysteries by Elly Griffiths but never any of her Ruth Galloway series. Maybe it’s time for me to try them out.
Gnutkin is a great addition to your gnome clan. Definitely a female with her pointy hat and plaits. A tried and true pattern and an unknown author have had my attention this week. At the moment both are easy to get on with but the week is young yet
Oh! Those acorns are the sweetest touch for your October gnome! As for John Banville . . . I have such a love/hate relationship with his books. Sometimes I think I’m just not “smart” enough for them, and sometimes I just love them. He does create an atmosphere, that’s for sure. I can’t wait to see your tunic. And . . . sewing is all about comfort. I found I was avoiding sewing because my lower back always got “tired” and it made me cranky. I finally broke down and bought an inexpensive rolly-chair to use at my sewing table, and it has made all the difference in my comfort. Now . . . if I could only convince the cut-out-fairies to come and take care of the cutting I’m sure I’d procrastinate less! 😉
I do love everything about Gnutkin – her fall colors, the acorns, and her braids. She’s delightful! I was not a fan of Book of Form and Emptiness and when I look back at my reviews I also thought the narrator made the voices sound like cartoons. It’s a wonder I finished it! I wish you good reading and pain-free sewing!
I love the slouchy hat 🙂 Too cute!! I am on number five gnome out of hopefully 8 if I reach my imposed goal.
I love all the little touches you add to your gnomes — I think you actually improve upon Sarah’s designs! Gnutkin is darling.
I’m sorry there’s no easy solution for your sewing issue. Maybe it would help to pause every 10-15 minutes and stretch your back?
I seem to fall in love with every single one of your gnomes, Kat!!
I am rooting for your back over here (in a terrible spot with my own, now, so sending loads of extra back love your way). If any pattern could motivate me toward a solution, it’d be a tunic. That’s my go-to to wear, hands down
And isn’t it something how narration can make or break a listen? I’ve walked away from a few because I couldn’t bear it. Such a shame–so I’m glad you pointed out how worth it the book is, with eyes on the page.
Another wonderful gnome! I love the colors and those tiny little acorns! I actually listened to AND read The Book of Form and Emptiness and I loved listening to it. I didn’t have any issues with the narration, I’m sorry its bugging you. I’m currently reading Stephen King’s new book Fairy Tale and it is utterly engrossing. Highly recommend.
Your gnome! I love her!! How adorable 🙂
I’m sorry you’re struggling with the narration on The Book of Form and Emptiness. I think I know what you mean though — I found the narrator’s depiction of the mom’s voice to be cringeworthy. I hope the story and the ideas of the novel helps outweigh the awful narration! So glad to hear that you’re enjoying the second Ruth Galloway – she’s one of my favorites!
Loved everything about this post Kat! Those acorns are adorable and just make me smile! I have been looking at that tunic pattern for weeks now, its time to move on sewing it up. Thanks for the book recommends , I so enjoy a good mystery.