Tuesday, November 15, 2011

New Books for Yarnies

Looking for new ideas? Here are a few new yarn art books that have come in recently:

Teeny-Tiny MochiMochi: More than 40 Itty-Bitty Minis to Knit, Wear, and Give by Anna Hracjovec
Crochet Master Class: Lessons and Projects from Today's Top Crocheters by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss (Beautiful, but not easy)
Crochet Compendium: The Ultimate Collection of Crochet Techniques by Connie Ellison
Go Crochet: Afghan Design Workbook by Ellen Gormley (Some very cool motifs and combinations)

And a couple for the KNOTTERS in the group:

Macrame Today: Contemporary Knotting Projects by Darlyn Susan Yee
The Weekend Crafter: Macrame: 19 Great Weekend Projects by Jim Gentry

Come and get 'em.

Kathi Linz

How to Write Your Best Story: Advice for Writers on Spinning an Enchanting Tale by Philip Martin.

How to Write Your Best Story: Advice for Writers on Spinning an Enchanting Tale by Philip Martin has excellent advice on structuring a story, making memorable main characters and villains, and putting a twist at the end.

One bit that I gleaned from this book is, don't make your characters too likable.  That only makes them bland and forgettable.  Some of the examples used for memorable characters were Captain Hook, Long John Silver, the Cat in the Hat, Pippi Longstockings, and Sherlock Holmes. Each one has his/her eccentricities.  Each is unforgettable once you have spent time with them.

Check this book out for more important story-weaving tips.

Kathi Linz

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Odyssey of the Gods: The History of Extraterrestrial Contact in Ancient Greece by Erich von Daniken

Once upon a time, a long time ago, I read Erich von Daniken's book Chariots of the Gods.  I love history - the older, the better. I thought his idea about artifacts pointing to extraterrestrial contact was interesting.  But what I loved most was hearing about parts of history that I might otherwise have missed.

I have always enjoyed Greek mythology, so when I saw Odyssey of the Gods: The History of Extraterrestrial Contact in Ancient Greece by Erich von Daniken, I picked it up to see what he had to say about one of my favorite subjects.  Although I don't buy his overriding premise, Mr. von Daniken has done excellent historical research yet again.  In this book, he especially describes the stories of Jason and the Argonauts, the Odyssey of Homer, the Dialogues of Plato as touches Atlantis, and some of the advanced mathematics, technology, and maps of the time.  I thought it was worth my time.

Kathi Linz

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Wreck the Halls: Cake Wrecks Gets Festive by Jen Yates

The next time you would like to have a good laugh, pick up Wreck the Halls: Cake Wrecks Gets Festive by Jen Yates.  The book has commentary by the author about photos of "professionally baked" cakes.  Trust me, these bakers will never be featured on Cake Boss or Ace of Cakes! 

I laughed so hard at a couple of the cakes that my dogs thought I was dying.  My husband laughed just as hard, but it was different cakes that tickled his funny bone.  You can't miss with this collection of humorous cakes.

Kathi Linz