Reading Challenge--October update

Ha...here I thought I wouldn't make much progress on my reading challenge for the rest of the year, but I did get some more read in October.

Award winners and mystery (youth): What I Saw and How I Lied
Classics (adult): Pride & Prejudice, The Invisible Man
Historical fiction (youth): The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
Fantasy (youth): Graceling, City of Bones
Mystery (adult): The Girl Who Played with Fire (Sweden)

Santa

At the end of September, the painting chapter had a special seminar taught by Peggy. It's a Shara Reiner design, and is so cute. There are a few more embellishments to add, but I just had to share him now.

Easter Eggs

In March and April, the Heart of Texas Tolers painting project was a set of adorable Easter eggs. I managed to paint two of them in the spring, but finished them up this month. They are just adorable.

999 Challenge--September Reading Update

I read 17 books in September, and really made a lot of progress in my challenge. Unfortunately, I need to focus on reading more for work and for the most part will have to give up trying to finish my challenge by the end of the year.

I really struggled to find any adult science fiction I could get into, and do hope to keep trying in this category. I did read a lot of adult fantasy, but didn't count the Dresden files series or any vampire books because I wanted to push myself to read new authors. I enjoy historical fiction, but found it and the classics and award winner categories just too heavy right now. Hopefully next year I will try this challenge again and will come closer to completing it!

Here's my semi-final status by category:
Award Winners: Adult 0, Youth 3
Bio/Memoir: Adult 9, Youth 7
Classics: Adult 0, Youth 3
Historical Fiction: Adult 1, Youth 4
Graphic Novels: Adult 8, Youth 9
Mystery Adult: 9, Youth 6
Science Fiction: Adult 0, Youth 2
Fantasy Adult: 2, Youth 10
Catchall Adult: 10, Youth 13

Biography/memoir Youth--Frida, The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau, The Wall
Historical Fiction Youth--Astonsishing Life of Octavian Nothing (18th C), Winnie's War (20th C), Sammy and Julianna in Hollywood (20th C)
Fantasy Youth--Creature of the Night, Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Gravity Keeper, Wolves in the Walls, Dragonbreath, Summer Spell
Graphic Novels Youth--The Eternal Smile
Mystery Youth--Half Moon Investigations
Award Winners Youth--At Night, Los Gatos Black on Halloween
Misc Youth: Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature

Eva Montage

I show the kids at work how to do different things with photos and I always use Eva as my example. I've been wanting to put it all together in a slideshow for awhile. Animoto was so easy and fun.

August Reading Status

I'm definitely not going to make the September deadline for the 999 challenge, but I think I do stand a chance for the end of the year! I've read about 78 books this year, and 10 books this month. I've shuffled a few books into other categories. Here's my status by category:
Award Winners: Adult 0, Youth 1
Bio/Memoir: Adult 9, Youth 3
Classics: Adult 0, Youth 3
Historical Fiction: Adult 1, Youth 1
Graphic Novels: Adult 8, Youth 8
Mystery Adult: 9, Youth 5
Science Fiction: Adult 0, Youth 2
Fantasy Adult: 2, Youth 4
Catchall Adult: 10, Youth 12

Biography/memoir Adult FINISHED--My Life in France, Split
Historical Fiction Adult--1916 (20th C)
Historical Fiction Youth--Luxe (19th C)
Mystery Youth (In Adult I'm reading mysteries from different countries, but it's too difficult to find for youth, so I'm just reading any mystery)--Case of the Left Handed Lady, Last Shot, I am the Messenger (pushing it in the mystery category, but I'm desperate!)
Fantasy Youth--Sabriel, Silverwing
Misc Youth--Dark Dude

July Reading

I got a bit more reading done for my 999 challenge in July. I'm not sure if I'll make it for finishing my challenge by September. I've only finished adult mysteries, and need one more book each for adult and youth graphic novels, and need one more for adult biography/memoir after I finish reading My Life in France.

Biography/memoir (adult)--The life and times of the thunderbolt kid, Girl on the couch
Classics (youth)--Are you there God, It's me Margaret?
Graphic Novel (youth)--Tales from outer suburbia
Mystery (adult)Finished!--Wild Indigo (New Mexico), Finger Lickin' Fifteen (New Jersey)
Misc. (Youth)--Being, Chosen, Right Behind You, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks

Eva

Eva's taken to lying on her back either on the bed with me or on the floor. Sometimes her tongue hangs out a little, which just makes me laugh. She seems to be settling in quiet well to the new apartment.

Merry Merry Everyday

I finished up my floorcloth this weekend. I need to add several coats of varnish, but at least it's done. It's cute!

Painting!!

Hurray!! I finally got my brain to work and spent the weekend painting with Shara Reiner and the fabulous ladies of the Heart of Texas Tolers. It was so much fun.

On Saturday, I painted the Candy Cane Parade on a wood plaque. I finished it except for the silver around the frame and adding the stitching, which I finished up today. It's so cute.


On Sunday, I painted a 2'x3' floorcloth called Merry, Merry Everyday. The center is almost finished except for the angel's hands and the linework with a pen. I'm going to paint a green border around the outside. It's a fun little piece.

June Reading

I'm definitely behind in my book challenge. I've got to hit some of my heavier topics...prize winners and classics. I didn't have much luck with sci fi. I tried reading Anthem, but it was way too dense. I also had trouble finishing the graphic novel Alice in Sunderland, although I think that's mostly because I found myself wondering about Alice in Wonderland, which I haven't read since I was a kid.

Misc.--Youth--House of Night series--Marked, Betrayed; Homeboyz; Alvin Ho
Biography/Memoir--Adult: Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair, Wishful Drinking, When you are engulfed in flames
Mystery--Adult: In the Woods (Ireland)
Fantasy--Adult: The Eyre Affair

March, April, May Reading Update

I haven't been reading as much as I'd like for my book challenge, but here's an update of what I've covered the last couple of months:

Classics--Youth: Wind in the Willows, Wrinkle in Time
Graphic Novels--Adult: Criminal: Coward
Graphic Novels--Youth: Bumperboy & The Loud, Loud Mountain, Beowulf
Mystery--Adult: The Black Tower (France), Good Husband of Zebra Drive (Africa), Edge of Midnight (Florida)
Science Fiction--Youth: Feed
Fantasy--Adult: Time Traveler's Wife
Misc.--Youth--(urban lit) Bang, Hot Girl, Drama High: The Fight, Secrets in the Shadows, Kendra

I also read, but am not including in my challenge: Grand Finale, Turncoat, Secret Life of a Vampire, From Dead to Worse.

What book am I?

You're Alice's Adventures in Wonderland!

by Lewis Carroll

After stumbling down the wrong turn in life, you've had your mind
opened to a number of strange and curious things. As life grows curiouser and curiouser,
you have to ask yourself what's real and what's the picture of illusion. Little is coming
to your aid in discerning fantasy from fact, but the line between them is so blurry that
it's starting not to matter. Be careful around rabbit holes and those who smile to much,
and just avoid hat shops altogether.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

New Hobby?

Hmmm...I went to a shooting range with my parents last weekend. I shot a little 22 pistol and a 357 revolver with 38 bullets. I did better with the 38. It was a lot of fun. We all shared targets, but the big holes, from the 38, close to the center are all mine, and then I marked the ones I did with the 22.

Beth Wagner Seminar--Saturday

The Heart of Texas Tolers is hosting a two day seminar with Beth Wagner. Today we painted a rose on a metal, star tree topper. Beth was a lot of fun to paint with and I learned a lot. She helped me quite a bit with my rose, but I do think I can do one! I'm really pleased with my piece.

999 Book Challenge--February Synopsis

I read 15 books in February.

Graphic Novels--Adults: Fun Home, Wonder Woman, Astonishing X-Men, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8
Graphic Novels--Youth: A.L.I.E.E.E.N., Emma, Courtney Crumrin
Mysteries--Adult: No Graves as Yet
Biography/Memoir--Adult: Julie and Julia
Biography/Memoir--Youth: Pale Male, We are Ship, What to Do About Alice?
Fantasy--Youth: The Witch's Boy, The Graveyard Book
Misc--Youth: The Goose Girl

999 Book Challenge -- January Synopsis

I read 13 books in January, and have 8 for my challenge.
Graphic Novels--Adults: Watchmen, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, The Alcoholic
Graphic Novels--Youth: Fashion Kitty, Runaways vol. 1
Mysteries--Adults: Neon Rain (New Orleans)
Mysteries--Youth: The London Eye Mystery (London)
Biography/Memoir--Adult: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

I also read, but am not really including these in my challenge 3 Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, Brain Droppings, Lost Duke of Wyndham, and Fortune's Fool.

I'm hoping to finish out my graphic novel category in February.

Ginger Edwards--Rose Stool

After the seminar Saturday, I was inspired to finally tackle finishing the stool I started back in November when I took the Ginger Edwards seminar. I really only had the leaves and lettering to finish. I think I might finally "get" the leaves, and I probably should have tried to redo some, but eh...they look like leaves. :-) In case you have trouble reading the lettering...it says "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

Hydrangeas

Saturday we had a member taught seminar at the Heart of Texas Tolers; it had been postponed from September. We painted a Ros Stallcup hydrangea design. I had never painted hydrangeas before so I was excited. Boy, they are hard! Val, the teacher, had a great way of explaining leaves, and I think I might finally get it!! I am actually pleased with my leaves, which is very unusual for me. I painted the piece on the top of a TV tray. I have 3 more trays, so I'll have to use them in the future so I'll have a painted set.

Santa

This santa was a Heart of Texas Toler's class I missed over the summer. I finally got around to painting it, and then it sat for a bit while I tracked down a little plug/button for his nose.

Door Mitten

I figured since it's the middle of January, I should probably think about taking down my Christmas wreath! I finally sewed the snowflake onto the door mitten I made last year. Initially I was going to use a stick and more ribbon to hang this, but I kept it simple. I still think it might need something else, but it's cute.

Snow Scene

For the January Heart of Texas Tolers meeting, we painted a winter barn scene. I did mine on a 5x7 canvas. It was a fun, easy painting day.

999 Book Challenge

Library Thing has a group that is doing a 999 challenge. Read 9 books in 9 categories by 9/9/09. You get to pick your own categories. I think it sounds like a fun way to push yourself to read new things. I'm going to be ambitious and read 9 adult and where appropriate 9 children's/ya books.

I've picked the following categories:
1. Award winners--Pulitzer, National Book Award, Nobel, etc. I will stick with fiction for these.
2. Classics--I'm going to try to keep this to classics I've never read, but I think I might sneak in a few that I just want to reread.
3. Biography/Memoir
4. Historical fiction--I'm shooting to do one book from a different time period, and try to do some different countries too. Most that I've read in this category tend to be set in England.
5. Mysteries--I'm planning on picking different locales for this one. For example, Burke's Robicheaux stories take place in New Orleans, Alexander McCall Smith in Botswana, and another in Scotland. I think this might be hard in the children's/ya area, but we'll see.
6. Science Fiction
7. Graphic Novels
8. Fantasy--I've been reading a fair bit in this genre, but I really want to get more breadth so I will try to focus on authors I haven't read before.
9. Horror--including supernatural/paranormal. This last category is the only one that I think might change. I don't do a lot in horror, because I'm a complete and utter wimp. However, I do love vampire, and other supernatural creatures, stories. A lot of the kids I've helped find books at work like scary stories.