Art + books + knitting + life
I've decided I need to practice doing drawing-things more. I'm planning to do updated versions of old bookmarks to see where I'm at now so that I can set practice-goals. Under the cut, the old and new versions of the Mother of Dragons:
The new version is a lot more even-looking than the old one, but I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing. I really need to work on light-dark balance, varying line widths, and textures other than lines.
I'm almost out of library books. So far I've finished:
I tried to take a break from knitting by teaching myself to crochet. Unfortunately, I needed to take a break from knitting because my wrists were starting to hurt all the time, which makes crochet not all that useful a thing to take a break with.
I've gotten to the point where social interaction more than twice a week makes me twitchy. And I'm counting going to my therapist as social interaction. Hopefully having Ben at home all the time for the next two months will help increase my tolerance for people.
The new version is a lot more even-looking than the old one, but I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing. I really need to work on light-dark balance, varying line widths, and textures other than lines.
I'm almost out of library books. So far I've finished:
- Red Glove by Holly Black: Excellent sequel to White Cat, and now I'm waiting impatiently for Black Heart. It's a lot of fun seeing how much trouble Cassel can get himself into (and out of) in a single book.
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: Words cannot adequately express how delightful I found this book. I feel like I ought to read The Jungle Book now and then re-read this to compare.
- I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett: It's been a little while since I read the previous Tiffany Aching books, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. The Nac Mac Feegle are always fun.
- Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce: This was delicious. I really loved "Student of Ostriches" and "Lost". (Darkings are adorable.) And the pair of stories "Elder Brother" and "The Hidden Girl" were an interesting look at the same concept from different viewpoints.
- Un Lun Dun by China Mieville: I really, really wanted to like this. And there were parts I did really enjoy. But as a whole, it just... didn't do anything for me. Curdle was adorable, though.
- Nightspell by Leah Cypess: Sort-of sequel to Mistwood, which I originally picked up as a ARC at ALA Midwinter... what, a year and a half ago? Mistwood was excellent and so was Nightspell, though mostly because there's one secondary character who crosses over between the two and I spent the entire last half of the book giggling over her shenanigans. Oh Clarisse, never change.
- Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon: I feel like Sarah Rees Brennan wrote the best review ever of this book. (It's in the middle of this entry of hers.) I would like to read more books like this book. I think I'm a little bit overdosed on fantasy set in an Expy of Europe... (Granted, Expy is for exported characters, not exported landmasses and cultures. But close enough. Also that link goes to TV Tropes, so beware.)
I tried to take a break from knitting by teaching myself to crochet. Unfortunately, I needed to take a break from knitting because my wrists were starting to hurt all the time, which makes crochet not all that useful a thing to take a break with.
I've gotten to the point where social interaction more than twice a week makes me twitchy. And I'm counting going to my therapist as social interaction. Hopefully having Ben at home all the time for the next two months will help increase my tolerance for people.