divinenanny.nl

Only a couple of hours evening stitching this week. I worked on it for 10,5 hours, for a total of 85,5 hours now. I tried to finish the top right corner of the page, while also filling in confetti spots in other places. I am real happy with the progress. I guess with such a large project each page feels like a finish, so now I am getting close to my first finish!

This weekend I hope to have more time for stitching, we are staying home so I should get in at least 7 hours each day, if not more.

On a side note, I started a small in between project, just to have a real finish. I also wanted to try out DMC color variations that I got cheaply at a local store. More about that later :D

I’d like to feature some cross stitch designers and designs that I have encountered in my browsing sessions looking for new things to make. The first one is Ink Circles. Ink Circles’ website sells the original designs of Tracy Horner (and also designs by several other designers).

Tracy designs great celtic knots, and also great monochrome designs. I especially love the design on the left, Cirque des Cercles (she also has a version with triangles and squares). They lend themselves very well to stitching with over dyed (multiple color) thread. They are quite big (but I am a sucker for big designs), and very beautiful! When you do visit the site, don’t forget to check out the gallery where her designs can be seen in many different colors.

There are also a fair few free patterns on the website (mostly celtic knots). She stages a stitch-along (SAL) last year with new free designs every month, leading to a big final piece in a month or so.

I am very interested in medieval history. I studied it for a while, but unfortunately I was unable to continue this. After graduating last July I had to make a decision, do I try medieval history again (a further 5 years at university) or do I stay at my current (very nice) job? I decided to stay at my job, mainly because even though I love medieval history, I cannot see myself becoming so good at it to find a job where I need that education. And besides, if I want to know about medieval history, I can just teach myself by reading. So, that was my plan. In England, history is very popular, and this includes medieval history. Unfortunately, in the Netherlands, it is hard to find new medieval history books, and when you do, they’re about twice as expensive. So, anytime I go to London (which is luckily a lot, for business) I try to pick up some new history books.

The time traveller’s guide to medieval England, a handbook for visitors to the fourteenth century, by Ian Mortimer is a book I picked up last December. I was intrigued by the idea presented in the book, that we can approach history as though it was a place you visit. In the same way that we can visit London or New York, you can also visit London in 1349 or New York in 1945. It is just an extra dimension, but it adds a lot to your perception. This book tries to be a sort of travel guide to a visitor from the twentyfirst century to the fourteenth century.

The book describes aspects of daily life. It does not concern itself too much with historical events, so you will not find more than a passing mention of big wars, invasions, changes in leadership and big social changes (of which fourteenth century England saw enough). Instead it delves into daily lives and describes things like clothing, relationships, religion, food, housing, law and order etc. Mortimer tries to explain things that seems strange or barbarian to us now, but that were logical for that time. For example, he explains the relationship between man and woman, and the perceptions. He explains that even though women were clearly seen as the lesser of the two, this did not mean they always were. Actually, this offered some advantages to the woman too (a husband who severly abuses his wife is unlawful, because she is weak, however, nobody believes that a wife could abuse her husband, because he is supposedly the stronger of the two). Mortimer never tries to say that these differences are better or worse than our current ways, he just tries to place them into a fourteenth century perspective. It has been said many time, never judge history with our current standards, and this is propogated throughout the book.

All in all the book offers a great insight into daily life and habits of the medieval English, throughout all layers of the population. The book does not presume a great deal of knowledge of the fourteenth century, and never delves very deeply into the reasons why things are the way they are. I am sure a whole study could be done into the footware of males in the fourteenth century, but that would soon be boring for many readers. The fact that Mortimer explains this in no more than a page or two makes the book good to read and a great introduction.

LibraryThing link

Finally I got it, my very own display cabinet for my massive Bette Midler collection. I have been wanting it and planning for it for months, and last weekend my mom came over, with her car, so we went to Ikea and got it.

It is a Besta, and I filled it with shelves, drawers, and doors :D The top is two see through glass doors, with on the top shelves objects like mugs and keychains and such, and on the bottom shelves magazines and books. Below that are two smaller glass windows with pictures in them. Behind them are my folders of pictures, clippings and magazines on the one end, and my vinyl on the other end (records and singles). Below that are two sets of two drawers, with CD’s, DVD’s, bigger booklets (mostly concert souvenir booklets) and stuff I still need to put away in the correct place. Below that are two wooden doors, one has an empty shelve behind it, behind the other is a box with yet more magazines and my clothing (concert t-shirts etc.). I love having my collection all in one place (it used to be spread out over different locations through the house) and having a nice place for it where it won’t be damaged. Other advantages are that there is a lot more free space on our bookshelves and in the CD cabinet, we need that! :)

I only managed a few hours of stitching in this busy week, just 5. This brings me to a total of 75 hours of stitching. I started filling out the upper right corner of the page. I checked the second page and marked any colors that continue in a line onto the next page. By stitching these stitches all at once I hope to prevent a major line appearing due to the split of pages.

I search the internet for free cross stitch patterns on a weekly basis. And with free I mean really free, not illegal copies. I have found several great patterns and full sites dedicated to patterns, and I would like to share some here.

The first site I would like to share is the Antique Pattern Library. This website shares scans and conversions of old, out of copyright, patterns. These patterns are not only for cross stitching, but also for knitting, crochet, embroidery, etc. There are a few gems on the website. My favourites are the DMC booklets (from around 1900), especially the Point de Croix Nouveau Designs, which are in an Art Nouveau/Art Deco style.

I am planning to use the Nouveau Designs booklet to make a piece consisting mainly of the beautiful borders featured there, they are too beautiful to not be used.

After such a massive week of stitching (see the update of week 2), I couldn’t manage that many hours again, what with work and real life and all that. I stitched for 8 hours this week, making the total 70 hours.

I finished the confeti below the rabbit, reaching the bottom of page 1. Then I continued in the upper right corner, where I am just doing the three main red colors. The confetti reaches to the right edge of the page, so I now have a feel of how big each page is.

PS, this update is a bit late, it actually concerns the first full week of january. However, I have had some trouble with my wrist, and I couldn’t stitch for a while. I put my piece away because I couldn’t stand not being able to stitch (and having a perfect three day weekend with nothing to do but stitch). The wrist trouble isn’t over yet, but I tried stitching again and I can manage. I am picking up a smaller frame later today, so I can reach the back from the right side, instead of reaching over the top. That should make it better too.

After a long absence of NGamer update posts I have finally caught up my backlog last weekend. This post will contain the games that grabbed my attention in the last four issues (December, Christmas, Januari and Februari). A more in depth update will be done starting with the next issue (March). The brackets at a game posting contain the issue and page number where information can be found. I know the lists are long, not only because they span four issues, but also because the last issue (februari) featured a look into all the great games that will/might be released in the coming year.

Nintendo DS:

• Mystery Case Files: Millionheir – A search and find game as offered by the MacGameStore in various forms. It has been out in the US for a while now, and I am looking forward to an European release in the coming months. [dec 66].
• Pipemania – A very old school game where you have to connect the pipes (or tracks, or cables, or whatever). Still sounds like a fun puzzle game. Out now. [dec 68].
• GTA: Chinatown Wars – Even though I am not one for violent games (no FPS or fighters for me), the sandbox aspect of the game appeals to me. At least, when I watch H. or my brother play the GTA games they look like fun. I might just try this one. Out in April 2009. [christmas 22-25/feb 32].
• Colour Cross – A small and cheap nonogram/picross game, but since I love those puzzles, this game is a must have for me. Out now (though unavailable) [christmas 72].
• Time Hollow – Sounds like a good point ‘n’ click adventure game, where a pen can open a window to a time in the past, so you can solve problems before they happen. Out in november (?) [christmas 74].
• Zubo – The reviews for this game are not so good, with the biggest complaint that it is a children’s game (too simple). Still sounds like fun to me, so when it is a bit cheaper I will probably get it. Out now. [christmas 75].
• Unsolved Crimes - Another point ‘n’ click game, in the style of Hotel Dusk. I can never get enough of point ‘n’ click, so this is on my wishlist. Out now. [christmas 76].
• Boing! Docomodake DS – A puzzle game featuring a mushroom. Sounds like fun! ;) Out now. [christmas 81].
• Blue Dragon Plus – The Xbox game looked and sounded great, so I am keeping my eye on this one. I do hope it will be more RPG than RTS, I am not a big fan of RTS… [jan 28-29/feb 33].
• Chrono Trigger – A remake of a great classic RPG. Sounds very good to me, and I would love to get into this one. [jan 30-31].
• Riz-zoawd – RPG game based on the Wizard of Oz. Very original. [jan 30-31].
• Ninjatown – The ninja’s by Shawnimals are very funny and cute, and this game, a “tower defence” game, sounds like the right mix of fun and games. Out now. [jan 72].
• Pokémon Platinum – The revamped version of Diamond/Pearl, but since it’s been such a long time since I played that game, I want this one. Release date is set at summer of 2009. [feb 26].
• Final Fantasy Chrystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time – A new Final Fantasy is always welcome, and this one promisses interaction between the DS and Wii versions of the game. Release date is spring 2009. [feb 27.]
• Eledees: The Adventures of Kai and Zero – I loved Eledees/Elebits on the Wii, and with all this talk going around that the puzzles in this game are similar to Zelda… I want it! Release in spring 2009. [feb 30].
• Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure – Sounds like Professor Layton. I know it isn’t, but it still seems a cool game. Release in spring 2009. [feb 30]
• Neopets Puzzle Adventure – A puzzlequest like combination of Othelo/Go and Neopets… Simple but fun I think. Release date set at februari 2009. [feb 35].
• Professor Layton: Pandora’s Box – Maybe, someday, we’ll have an English version of this game, which has been released already in Japan. TBC. [feb 36].
• Professor Layton: Last Time Travel – See above. TBC. [feb 36].
• Dragon Quest IX – Good, old school like RPG. Winter 2009. [feb 39].
• Mario & Luigi 3 – The threequel to Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. I love the GBA and DS games, so I can’t wait for this RPG! TBC. [feb 40].

Nintendo Wii:

• MySims Kingdom – I already have the DS version, but I want the Wii version too. The game is featured in two issues (preview and review) and sounds like fun. Out now. [dec 22-23/christmas 50-51].
• Kororinpa 2 – I enjoyed the first Kororinpa game, and the integration of the balance board sounds like fun. Release date is set for the summer of 2009. [dec 33/feb 36].
• Safecracker - Featured on a two page spread about point ‘n’ click adventures, this game features mostly puzzles to crack safes. Sounds like a fun and cheap game. Release date was set for November 2008, though I haven’t found it in stores yet. [dec 38].
• A new beginning – Another point ‘n’ click adventure, also with a release date of November 2008, and even more unfindable (it doesn’t help that it shares its title with the latest Spyro game…). [dec 39].
• Escape the museum – Like Millionheir, a ‘find the object’ game, but this time for the Wii. Out at Christmas 2008 (but I haven’t found it yet…). [dec 39].
• De Blob – I have read much about this game, and I really wish I could try a demo or something… it sounds like fun, but I am still not sure if it’s for me. Maybe one to find a in a bargain bin someday. Out now. [dec 58-59].
• Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party – This is just a silly fun game to play with friends. When the price comes down a bit this will be a fun game to have. I especially like the balance board integration. Released back in November. [christmas 44-47].
• Shaun White Snowboarding – The only reason I am even looking at this game (I am no fan of sports games) is that I used to love 1080 on the N64, and that memory, combined with the balance board integration makes this game sounds like fun. Out now (?). [christmas 52-55].
• Animal Crossing – Even though this game is almost exactly like the DS version (which I played so much I can dream it), and even though I know I’ll never play the Wii daily… I still wanted. The power of Nintendo! Out now. [jan 48-51].
• Tomb Raider: Underworld – I played the anniversary Tomb Raider on Wii before, and they say this is even more puzzle and less fighting. That’s good, because the fighting killed me everytime. Out now. [jan 54-55].
• Endless Ocean 2 – Mentioned in a list of rumors about this years releases. This is one game I am looking forward to, especially if, like the writers in NGamer want, the game contains more of a story, and more diving sites like ships. I loved the original game, and wish I could discover everything all over again. TBC. [feb 22].
• Klonoa, Door to Phantomville – A nice looking platformer. TBC. [feb 23].
• Another Code: R - A Wii sequel to the Another Code game for the DS. I loved that game, so I am looking forward to this one. TBC [feb 23].
• Final Fantasy Chrystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time – A new Final Fantasy is always welcome, and this one promisses interaction between the DS and Wii versions of the game. Release date is spring 2009. [feb 27.]
• Sam & Max Season Two – This reminds me, I need to buy and play season one… TBC. [feb 29].
• Little King’s Story – Sounds like a fun RPG style game. Release set at march 2009 [feb 33].
• Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the new world – A full length RPG on the Wii… I’m looking forward to it! TBC [feb 62-63].

After seeing “The Golden Compass” movie I just had to read the books that were the source for this wonderful movie. A friend had said to me a couple of years ago, when they started filming the movie, that these were her favorite books, and now I really had to read them. Another thing that attracted me to this trilogy (consisting of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) is the contrast between C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia (which feature a heavy pro-Christian imagery) and this trilogy (which is pretty anti-religion/church).

As said before, this book contains all three books in one hefty volume. The first book, The Golden Compass, features Lyra Belacqua’s journey to the north to save her friend. She lives in a paralel universe, whose world reminds us of our own (she lives in Oxford for example) but is very different too. The most important difference is the fact that people in her world have a daemon, a companion animal that is part of that person. With children the animals can change (from bird to dog to cat to moth), with adults the animals are settled in a form that gives away the character of the person (dogs belong to servants for example). Anyway, the big issue is Dust, a form of energy that according to the ‘church’ has to do with original sin.

Not to give to much of the story away, but Lyra has many adventures in many strange lands where she meets nice and nasty people. One of the paralel worlds she visits is ours, and Pullman explains many mysteries of our own world in this story. The descriptions of the worlds, people and objects are very detailled and fantastic. The ideas in the book might be a bit far fetched, but hey, that’s why it’s fantasy. It is pretty anti-church, but then again, it is mostly anti-church in the way the church is handled, faith in and of itself isn’t condemned.

I loved the book and the stories, even though sometimes I did have the feeling that too many bad things were happening to Lyra and her friend Will. It does have a semi-happy ending, and for all the fantastic lands and ideas I give the book thumbs up!

LibraryThing Link

H. and I build our own house a couple of nights ago :D. It was a gingerbread house, but still. I had given H. the kit for Sinterklaas, and it was meant as a present for him as much as for me.

We have seen gingerbread houses on TV, in American movies and TV shows, but since it is a really American (or at least non-Dutch) tradition we had never seen one in real life, let alone made one. So, when I saw the kit in a cooking shop in The Hague in the days before Sinterklaas, I couldn’t resist, and bought the kit.

It was a lot of fun to make the house. The icing was sticky and messy, and it took great force to get it on the house, but it did work. The entire table, floor and H. were covered, but the result looks great. We have decided against actually eating the house (we don’t even know if we’re supposed to eat it) because the candies were not really edible (they nearly broke my teeth!) and the gingerbread smelled a bit like cardboard.

Even though Christmas was a while ago, the house now decorates our livingroom table, where it will stay for a little while :D