Thursday, March 31, 2011

Why do favorite authors have to die?

It's happened again.  One of my favorite authors, Diana Wynne Jones, recently died and there have been many blogs written in response.  Since I never personally knew her, I am grateful to those who were able to share some of their memories with us, like Patricia Wrede, Robin McKinley, Neil Gaiman, and Emma Bull

I began reading her books in the 1970.  Because I was a young mother, married to a college student, one of my favorite places to visit was the local public library. Since there was no inter-library loan in those days, I was stuck reading whatever the library had in their possession.  I do remember reading Dogsbody, Cart and Cwidder, Drowned Ammet, and The Spellcoats.  I think I also read Charmed Life, The Magicians of Caprona, The Homeward Bounders, Witch Week, Howl's Moving Castle, and Archer's Goon at this time.

Then we moved again to a town where the library did not have any of her books and no way to request them.  One day, while visiting a local bookstore I found the complete Dalemark series including the fourth one, which I had not read.  I decided to splurge and get it.

Once the library had free inter-library loan available I made sure to request all of her books that I could.  I made sure to introduce my children to this wonderful author.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Links to the past: Net hairnets and snoods

I just found a wonderful list of links to hairnets (snoods).  Some are net with embroidery; some have the design net into them; all are different and beautiful.  A special thanks to Alys for compiling the list and for Alwen for directing me to it.

Progress is being made toward the second beginning netting class in Rita's Netting Nook.  I think I've decided on the techniques that will be taught (increases, decreases, square mesh netting, and creating a net chain), finished the first time through the patterns that will be included (more rectangular bags, more headbands, dishcloths, and maybe a hairnet / snood), and photographed half the finished projects.  I am almost ready to start writing scripts and filming the videos.




If I do decide to include a pattern for a hairnet or snood, it would be this one.








I hope to have the photos up on a new Projects page posted on Rita's Netting Nook by the end of next week (if not earlier).