The Reading Challenge 2024

On 2024 I encourage you to read books in different genres. No other rules but the genre. The meaning is to introduce different kind of literature and authors to yourself. But, you can still choose your favorite one if the genre is familiar to you. Notice, you can always drop out the book if you dislike it. It is highly recommended to use second hand books, borrowed books and your local library collection. If possible, read in all the languages you can. Also, don't be afraid of to pick up a book you have already read in the past. The second round at different age may bring you new experiences. 

1. Poetry : Kirsi Kunnas' Puut kantavat valoa
2. Short story: Maria Jotuni's short stories
3. Fable: Bear Goes Fishing
4. Speech: Martin Luther King Jr.´s I Have A Dream
5. Folklore: Bear, wolf and fox starting to slash and burn
6. Comedy: Pertti Jarla's Fingerporin päiväkasku
7. Epic poetry: Jouni Marjanen's Suomen kansan jumalrunoja
8. History: National Board of Antiquities: Costume in Finland 1750-1900
9. Drama: Marja Jotuni's Miehen kylkiluu
10. Literary criticism: Literary Criticism
11. Satire: Satire
12. Pastoral: James Herriot's Favourite Dog Stories

I've read also the following books in 2024 and many other craft and science books not mentioned on the list.

Alfie the Doorstep Cat by Rachel Wells (in Finnish, borrowed by YoungLady). This book was warmly recommended to me by YoungLady. She said I absolutely must read it. I crab on it only to please her but she really knows what I like. It is a warm spirited adult fairy tale that reminds -on the begin- a true story. This is good for all who have had enough about blood, murders, mixed relations etc. 

Gamla, i lappmarken kända Växtfärgningsrecept by Lisa Johansson (in Swedish, library item). I usually don't list here the science books I read because there are so many of them every year. This one I want to mention because it is extremely rare (at least aboard) and not translated. It is written over 70 years ago and is up to old plant dyeing tradition in Lapland. This book really wants me to go to search university archive in Sweden!

Merenpeitto by Olli Jalonen (in Finnish, mine). In 2023 I read Taivaanpallo by Olli Jalonen. Merenpeitto is the next of the story. Merenpeitto means "blanket of the sea". This book is not translated into English and it continues Angus's story and now he has a change also to investigate the sea depths with Edmond Halley. Still the literal style was a bit disturbing but not as bad as it was with the 1st book of the series. Interesting and worth of reading. Also, educative.

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (in Finnish, mine). This was my 1st ever Kate Morton with 727 pages. After a long -far too long- time I read a book I noticed I got addicted into. I found myself thinking about the book when I was not with it. I really think this is the book for all those who want to read intelligent literature with mind-capturing plot and characters that feel so real that for a moment you think this happening to them and you are watching it. It is full of words and surprises all the way to the end when you think it already ended but it didn't.  Hope Morton's books are not copies from each others and she will be able to satisfy my mind also in the future. 

Life and Death from the Late Iron Age to the Middle Ages by Jari-Matti Kuusela (in Finnish, mine). This is The regional Museum of Lapland publication no 26. It includes the latest information and research considering Lapland human life. It is very interesting, informative, refreshing and available both in Finnish and English in the same book. 

The Legend of the Ice People: The Witch Hunt by Margit Sandemo (in Finnis, audio book, library item). I decided to try out Margit Sandemo and her famous fantasy saga The Legend of the Ice People. Could not find the 1st part of the series so I picked up the second. I listened it in my car and it was full of action all the way so I didn't get so tired when driving a long way alone. To me this was too much with actual mistakes, sex and scifi but it still was amusing enough not to drop out. This might be my first and last book of the series.

LondonPenCase

I designed and made this little pen case. I used recycled zipper and left over material from LondonCovers. LondonCovers are still in use and the system works perfectly in our daily life routines. 

The pen case has a brand new lining inside. The recycled zipper was so long that only half of it was used for this project with the lock. The rest of the zipper is still in perfect fit so I decided to seek another lock to match with it so I can use also the left over piece if I just happen to find the new lock.

The back side of the pen case is also "right side up". It is possible when you make a seam at the bottom. In that way you can read the map always "right side up".

James Herriot

In 2024 I encourage you to read specific genres of literature. December 2024 theme is pastoral. I found out that finding non religious pastoral story is a bit challenging. That's why I ended up good old James Herriot and his Favourite Dog Stories that I found in Finnish in my own library. James Herriot was a vet who worked also on sheep farms. His stories are not exactly pastoral but they at least slightly touch the topic.  I like his stories quite a lot also because they are suitable for all, no matter the age or sex. (On the pic you can see dear Pii who was disturbed during her daydreaming and recovery over the Santa's visit.)

WaistBag

I designed and made this leather waist bag for a very special friend for Yule 2025. It is made of left over leather. I used a leather burning tool and beeswax to finish it.

It is easy to attach to your belt (or another bag which has an opening strap). But you can also put it inside a bigger bag to keep your little things organized.

It has a magnetic lock which was easy to place but difficult to find for the project. Actually, I managed to buy one when visiting Turku in November.

MerryYuletide

AAW Fair Isle Socks No10 (mustard)

I knit one more pair of my own design AAW Fair Isle Socks No 10. For the Fair Isle design I used plat dyed AAW (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool, 10% nylon) (100g = 238m). I used tea and fire weed to get the shades of light brown and yellow. The basic color mustard is Kotikulta's Tuokio yarn (75% wool, 25% polyamide) (100g = 200m). My mom gave me some yarn of Kotikulta. I have never used it so we will see how good or bad it is. 

StrollerSleepingBag

I designed and made this beautiful stroller sleeping bag for arctic outdoor. We have one but it is 28 years old and I wanted to make a new one. The old one and this new one are both made of old fur coats.

The sleeping bag has woolen fabric cover all around it. It also has a beautiful traditional Sámi decoration of my siida. 

The sleeping bag has two full length zippers. That makes the bag open proper. When it opens with full length on both sides it is so much easier to use when putting in or taking the child out. Also, if it turns out too hot, you can open it to get some cool air in.

It is very warm. Everything else except the zippers and glittering decoration ribbon are made of 100% natural materials. The fur is up-cycled. It is FashionNOW stroller sleeping bag!

AAW Sweater No1

I designed and made a sweater for me & myself. I used snag grey AAW (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool, 10% nylon) (100g = 238m) for the project.

Both back and front side look similar. I wanted to make a turtle neck and slim fit design because I already made PolarBear sweater which is bigger, thicker and warmer. ThePolarBear is for wearing it over something and this WolfPawPrint sweater is meant for wearing it under something. 

I knit the shoulder part twice because I ran out of the green yarn and I wanted to make it even and match with everything. It has simple Fair Isle design of different kind of stripes and paw prints.

I could not go to a yarn shop and by more because it is FashionNOW and made of our own yarn AAW. I do have more of it but not the green. I plant dyed the snag grey AAW yarn by Surprise Webcaps (Cortinarius semisanguineus) (browns) and red onion (green). So, at the end there was just 40 cm green yarn left. Well done!!! 

AAW Fair Isle Socks No 9 (short leg)

For the Christmas I designed and knit one more pair of AAW Fair Isle Socks No 9. The leg part is shorther but otherwise they are similar. I used AAW (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool, 10% nylon) (100g = 238m) for the leg part Fair Isle design and Novita 7 veljestä (75 % wool, 25% polyamide) (100g = 200m) for all the dark green parts.

I used plant dye for the AAW Fair Isle stripes. I used garden lupine and nettle to make the shades. I really love to work with our own yarn!

AAW Fair Isle Socks No10

I designed and knit another pair of AAW Fair Isle Socks. These are quite similar to No 9 socks. There are few little differences with in the stripes and the toe part.

This year I have not had as much time as wished to make enough sock for the Yuletide 2024 because of other duties and obligations.

For these socks I used our own wool AAW (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool, 10% nylon) (100g = 238m) which I plant dyed by tea, reseda and cochineal. The foot part's red shade is made of Novita 7 veljestä yarn Novita's 7 Veljestä (75 % wool, 25% polyamide) (100g = 200m).

The Reading Challenge No12

 The Reading Challenge 2024 is here!

On 2024 I encourage you to read books in different genres. No other rules but the genre. The meaning is to introduce different kind of literature and authors to yourself. But, you can still choose your favorite one if the genre is familiar to you. Notice, you can always drop out the book if you dislike it. It is highly recommended to use second hand books, borrowed books and your local library collection. If possible, read in all the languages you can. Also, don't be afraid of to pick up a book you have already read in the past. The second round at different age may bring you new experiences. 

December 2024 theme is PASTORAL!

I didn't know about this genre before this challenge. Now when I've read about it I know I've read it before. Just never realized it's called pastoral. Just jump in and have fun over the holiday season!

Satire

In 2024 I encourage you to read specific genres of literature. November 2024 theme is satire. At high school my literary teacher introduced us many genres. One of my favorites was satire. But it was not high school when I got familiar to satire. Already at early childhood I found satire. It was something my grandpa introduced me into. I never saw him reading them but he had all the books of Kari Suomalainen and more keep on appearing when more was published. When I was visiting him, he had left the books in a pile on the table. I am sure he had read the all books because he seemed always to know for what and why I was giggling. My grandpa and Kari Suomalainen introduced this excellent genre of satire to me. I didn't know until my visit to Visavuori last summer that the famous Finnish sculptor was kari Suomalainen's grandfather. Or if I had been told, I had forgotten.