The 2019 Reading Challenge

On 2019 my aim was to read books in Finnish, English and Swedish plus one fat magazine in German. I managed to reach that aim. Even to over it because one small book was in German and I also read one German newspaper. I also read several science books and articles mainly in English but also in Finnish, German and Swedish because of my studies. So, completing these 12 novels despite working and studying is pretty well done indeed, don't you think so. 

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On 2020 my aim is to keep going on this; to read books in Finnish, English and Swedish plus one fat magazine in German. Only Swedish one I can buy, others need the be the ones I own already when writing this; unless I get some as a gift or recycled / second hand. 

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See what I read on 2019:

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George (in Finnish, mine). SantaClaus brought Me this book on Christmas 2018. I chose it to be the 1st one for 2019. It is very cheerful and joyful story despite of the grief at the background. Monsieur Perdu would understand the difference between a good end and a happy end. And He definitely would not let Me to have a book with only a good end. Happy ends medicate My soul.

Corpus by Milja Kaunisto (in Finnish, mine). This time Kaunisto's books was a huge disappointment. If you ever plan to skip a book, this is good for that. I've read all her previous books but consider seriously not to buy any of them in the future. I already have the last part of this trilogy so I will read it some day but that's it then I think... 😞

The Inner Life of Animals by Peter Wohlleben (in Finnish, mine, thank you SantaClaus). I read The Hidden Life of Trees last year challenge. With this book I was -again- very satisfied with Wohlleben's work. He writes in an interesting way. Despite he writes science books, his texts definitely are not challenging at all for even a child to read. I love his work because he uses latest information and introduces them in fascinating way. Great bonus for him is the simple fact that he includes references. The references don't disturb reading and you won't even notice them if not interested. But to us who like to know more or just check up the fact, he offers the possibility to do so.

An animal and a human - what do we have in common? by Helena Telkänranta (in Finnish, mine). This is absolutely fabulous book about animals. It has it all you could not even dream about to find out! Hope it would be available in English. It is full of facts but her style to tell them is very interesting and not boring at all.

Death in Sunset Grove by Minna Lindgren (in Finnish, mine). Despite it is all about elderly people and their life in nursery home, also YoungLady found this book very amusing. She had to read it because she had finished all her own books and this was the only one left when travelling. Also she will read the rest two of this trilogy.

Escape from Sunset Grove by Minna Lindgren (in Finnish, mine). And the adventure goes on...

The End of Sunset Grove by Minna Lindgren (in Finnish, mine). And the adventure finds its end... or does it...

Cornelia Karlsson: Ohyggligt Deprimerad - Jublande Lycklig by Pernilla Oljelund (in Swedish, I borrowed this one from YoungLady) (no links because I can't find any in English). Last year I challenged MySelf to move on to books from magazines what comes to read in Swedish. This year I pick up a book for teenage girls. In past years I have read also children and teen books. That is a great way to make you to remember how it was back then. After reading this book I am happy I am here, not a teen back then! Wow!  With warm wishes I recommend every parent who has teenage daughter to read this. 😆

Oxford - Pitkin City Guides by Pitkin Books (in German, mine, thank you for this DearA). How fascinating way to describe Oxford. I never ever planned to go there but after reading this book I must go and see it by my own eyes... on some day...

Hola:n takaa by Juha Vuorinen (in Finnish, mine). Well well well... He is not actually my genre but in my opinion we all should stretch out our genres a bit every now and then. If you wonder how to get young men to read (even teens) and stay out of the troubles; offer them Vuorinen's books...

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (in English, mine). I bought this book already on 2015 from Scotland. Now it was time to take it and read it. I've never before read anything from Charles Dickens. I do have been seen films etc. about his stories but actually never read a book. It is written in old English because it was originally published on 1843 and that makes it a bit challenging to read. Over 170 years the language and culture have changed, also the writing style of the words. That's why this book is an excellent way to learn more and it is not too thick (118 pages) to be read twice. Not to mention about the story, which idea bears the time and is always (unfortunately) topic.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery (in Swedish, mine). I bought this book only to practice my Swedish skills. It is pretty fat (320 pages) of being an exercise book but amusing, warm spirited and bringing memories from childhood. I bet this book or author doesn't need any further introduction.

Xmas Gift Tags

This time I made Christmas Gift Tags. I used old illustrated Advent Calendars. I really loved to work on with this project. Tiny and amusing!

Recycled FurHood

Do you remember my FurHood -tutorial? Three years have passed by and dear MrW's old snowboarding jacket has become to the final end... after me using it for 3 years and him using it at least 5 years. Now it has been taken to there were all our waste is: to the factory that burns it all up turning the waste to heat energy for arctic living. 

That's why I had to buy a new outdoor jacket for myself. It came without the fur around the hood. Which is great because the faux fur is an environmental catastrophe. I took off the fur from the hood of the old jacket and sew it to my new jacket and here we go again. This is the 3rd jacket it is on and it still looks like new. 

Pay attention on the hood and the fur. In this jacket I sew it actually inside the hood. In that way it warms up even better because the fabric edge of the hood blocks out the wind better. In this way the fur settles down closer to my face even when the hood is not on.

AAW SingleCable Socks No3

I designed and knit this pair of AWW woollen sock for myself. I need thin but warm sock for my horse riding hobby in arctic weather. For these socks I used only our AAW snag grey yarn (40% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% FinnSheep wool, 10% arctic dog wool and 10% nylon). I have already used them and they are really really warm.

I started them already in October but after my injury it has taken for weeks to finish the last sock. At first I could knit only few rounds, then max ten per day. But, now they are finally here on my blog! Yeppee! Craft making is such a good rehabilitation also for shoulder injuries. Just make sure your knitting needles and yarn are light enough. Make sure to make just a little bit and go on with small steps. It also keeps your mind out of depression because of the injury and pain.

Beautiful Scene

This beautiful scene card is made of recycled package picture. I used Fiskars punch to create the stars on the sky. I have used the punch many times but I think never mentioned about it before. When you view the web version and see card making label you will find more ideas.

SpoonBookmark No1

I designed and made this silver spoon bookmark. It is made of a spoon I won from a skiing competition when being a child. These spoons are made of GermanSilver (alpacca) so they include a lot of other metals than silver itself. But they still are beautiful and nice memories from the past.

OnStrike

MammothCard

For card making I used again Anatoli Tomilin's book How people discovered the shape of the Earth, illustrated by Juri Smolnikov. This is the 3rd card I made by using the book. I made AncientWorld and Shape of Earth before.

WarmFeet

In August I knit SnagGrey woollen socks. After that I knit this pair using only Nykälän Lanka's Amanda (75% wool, 25% polyamide) (100g = 200m). From the pics posted you can see how the look varies if you add another yarn. Amanda yarn nearly vanishes when using together with AAW.

1000 posts

Wo-hoo! I've been blogging since January 2011. This is my 1000th BlogPost! Hoo-ray! Still, I don't share this gluten free cake recipe with you despite I made it -assisted- by using buck-thorns from my own garden. I share far more important thing with you... and it is Agar Agar.

I used Agar Agar for the first time when making this cake. It is vegan and very expensive -at least up here in the north- but on the other hand you don't need much to use it. I found out it works well and decided to introduce it to you. As you all know I do eat meat (self hunted) but Agar Agar seems to be excellent option also for gluten free baking if you want to avoid industrially produced meat. You can replace the gelatin leaves by it according to the package instructions also when baking my own gluten free KinderCake and CrispyRiceCheeseCake.

As you have noticed, this year I have not blogged as often as before. It is because I went back to the school. I've graduated earlier than planned. But I've also got injured. That's why I am not able to do as much craft anymore as before, despite I have already graduated. At the moment I am very slow in craft making and need to take time to finish anything and take craft more like rehabilitation, not obsession. This will take for months but I am very determined with it and progressing well at the moment.

MohairShawl

I designed and crocheted another shawl. It is bigger than AlpacaShawl but made with the same idea.

The tassels make the shawl even bigger and warmer. Giving a shawl as a gift is a good way to send a hug to a friend far away.

I used rose Schachenmayr's KidLight yarn (38% nylon, 32% polyacryl and 30% mohair) (100g = 600m) for the shawl. It is very light but warm.

IronBoardCover -tutorial

My old iron board cover was really worn out. I took it off, washed and removed the padding. I used the padding as a pattern to make new cover.

I cut the fabric approximately 5 cm bigger (all around) than the padding. I used old duvet cover a friend gave me few years ago to be used in sewing. I have already used it for Autumn Pillow No1 and AutumnPillow No2.

At first I neaten the edges. I used seaming machine but traditional zigzag is just fine too.

Then I attached the elastic band all over the edges. It helps the edges turn under the iron board and stay there to keep the cover on its place. When you attach the elastic band you just need to stretch it as much as you can when sewing; also around the corners.

It was quite easy to do and needs only beginner 's level of sewing skills. Anyone can do it from recycled materials. If the result is not perfect just use safety pins to fold the extras and attach the cover on its place proper.

AlpacaShawl

I designed and crocheted a shawl. It's long tassels create even more warmth to snuggle up in a hug created by a friend.

I used natural white Drops Alpaca Silk yarn (brushed) (77% alpaca, 25% silk) (25g = 140m) for the shawl and rose Schachenmayr's  KidLight yarn (38% nylon, 32% polyacryl and 30% mohair) (100g = 600m) for the tassels.

Falcon

Lambert's Birds of Garden and Woodland is back for my card making to carry happy birthday wishes over the sea.

AncientWorld

This ancient map decorates a special birthday card. I used pages cut off from Anatoli Tomilin's book How people discovered the shape of the Earth. It is illustrated by Juri Smolnikov.

ShoppingBag -tutorial

You can choose which ever size you desire for your shopping bag; or finish it according to the left over fabric you have. I cut one 60 x 27 cm and two 36 x 7 cm pieces for this bag. Which ever your sizes; are fold the pieces like this and sew the edges.

You can use seaming machine or zigzag.

Pin the bottom of the bag.

Match it with the side edge...

by folding the central bottom to the side edge to form out a triangle. This is not necessary but creates more space in your bag and makes it easier to fill with shopping.

I used 5 cm distance; which ever is your choice, pin it...

...sew it...

...on both side corners.

It looks like this when finished.

Neaten the upper edge of the bag.

Pin it equally; at first the exact central point (the half) and then 1/4 point of the front and back sides.

To turn the right side out of the handles...

...use safety pin.

It is a bit difficult...

...but eases up very soon. Just pull it through; gently.

Neaten by iron and stitch the handles.

Pin the handles to the 1/4 points of the upper edge.

Attach the handles by sewing.

Pin the upper edge at desired distance.

Fold the upper edge...

...and sew the fold and the handles.

Ta-dah! Your bag is finished. I have used fabric shopping bags for ages.

OOW WoollenSocks

I designed and knit a pair of woollen sock by using OOW yarn (25% arctic dog wool and 75% Finnsheep wool). We have also hand dyed it by plants so I could include few stripes to decorate them. 

KnitThroughAutumn

I designed this pair of woollen socks for SantaClausFactory. With the grey I used loose end yarn from the long woollen socks I knit for myself January 2019 and January 2016. I used only Novita's 7 veljestä yarn (75 % wool, 25% polyamide) (100g = 200m) with different shades.

AnotherLittleLeaf

 I made another little silver leaf. I used the same technique as before. You can see how different they both look. So many things influence on the result; even the leaf you use.

I love Art Clay Silver; especially the paste type. Did you know that it is made of recycled silver? They get it from computer waste for example.

WarmYouUp

It is autumn; time to warm up your love ones. I am creating a warm gift pack for Him. I already knit SnuggleUp SnagGrey socks. I designed and knit this pair with the same idea. With AAW snag grey yarn (40% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% FinnSheep wool, 10% arctic dog wool and 10% nylon) I used Novita's 7 veljestä Pohjola (45% wool, 30 % Finnish wool, 25% polyamide). This pair is one size smaller than the previous one so He can wear one over the other. (Yes, sometimes that's the only reasonable way and needed up here in the north; especially if you hunt and outdoor a lot.)

LittleLeaf

I made a silver leaf by using a rose leaf from MyGarden and art clay silver (paste type).  I made BerryLeaves and SliverLeaves also last year. I sew a cute little felt case for this leaf and sent it away to a friend for her birthday.

Each leaf is always a special and individual character. When you start you may have an idea how it will turn out but you never can be sure what kind of trace the leaf leaves behind when it is burnt away.