Bargain...

I've had my iPad a while now and I've only just got round to using the Kindle app on it. I also have a Kindle which I must admit I don't use as often as I should given that it cost £89. I find myself taking it along whenever M has a day off and we go out for the day. Inevitably he has to take business calls when we're having lunch or coffee and I get bored looking at the back of his phone.

M takes his iPad everywhere and therefore always has something to read, something to take notes on, something to look up the nearest... whatever (wool shop!) So I thought I'd get my Kindle App up and running and make a start on my backlog of free novels. Somehow I got browsing and stumbled across this American crochet book, One Skein Wonders, and couldn't believe it was only £1.49. The paper version is nearly £10 at the moment. I orderd it and downloaded it and hey presto, it's in colour! Doh. I'm not sure why I thought it would be in black and white, perhaps because my Kindle is.

It's a big improvement on owning a Kindle I must say. I like being able to click on something of interest in the table of contents and go straight there. The book is organised in yarn weights with a good variety of projects. I've resisted buying this kind of book in electronic format until now but at this kind of price I'd gladly buy any of my paper crochet books for Kindle just for the portability aspect.

a kindle hug...

I looked at my 'to do' list this morning and realised that 'try out needle felting tools' and 'make kindle cover' could be combined. Shame it couldn't also be combined with 'attend basic sewing skills workshop' but you can't have everything can you?

The applique method of needle felting is simply punching the needle tool gently down on top of the wool into the felt below, using a brush mat underneath. 100% wool works best apparently so I used Freedom Spirit in DK weight. You can also use merino tops (see previous post) My felted base fabric was a 'shrunk in the wash' cardigan.

I think there'll be other felty projects in the pipeline. I'm not finished with that cardigan yet!

All at sea...

I've just finished reading Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch on Kindle. I've only had the Kindle since last October and I've continued to read paperbacks as well. I'm not sure I'm a total convert yet. It's easier to take the Kindle when we're out and about; particularly if Mr H has a day off and we go to a nice cafe for lunch. Invariably he still has to take care of the many business calls, texts and emails, leaving me sitting like a lemon drinking my coffee whilst receiving sympathetic looks. Now I can whip out the Kindle and we just look like we've got a terrible marriage where we never speak instead!

In Jamrach's Menagerie I was transported right there, with Jaf, and the sights and smells of the docks. I loved the almost poetic language which carries you along a bit like being at sea. I won't spoil it if you haven't read it, but there's a nasty outcome of their voyage which was a tad unexpected, and so I ended the novel with a slightly downhearted feeling.

I've chosen something altogether lighter for my next Kindle read; Breaking the Silence by Diane Chamberlain - the free sample drew me in. I like to mix it up and American novels are something of a guilty pleasure.