Eclectic Closet Litblog, Book Reviews & Knitting Designs

A litblog dedicated to book reviews/recommendations, as well as literary and publishing news. Now enhanced with knitting designs.

Vittorio Cowl

December2

I’m so happy to finally be able to talk about this new design. Introducing Vittorio Cowl, designed for Shall We Knit? yarn store advent calendar and knit with 24 of Koigu’s mini skeins. It comes in two sizes and uses up all the yarn. Join in the advent calendar fun with this Missoni-inspired cowl, named for Vittorio Missoni who turned the fashion brand into a global powerhouse.

Note: This cowl was designed using Koigu ‘Minis’ which are labeled at 11 yds (10 m) each. On average, these skeinettes are longer than labeled and the cowl was designed to use up as much yarn as possible. Therefore, the overall yardage used is more than the equivalent of 24 skeinettes of the Koigu ‘Minis.’ If you are substituting yarn, please use the listed yardage rather than calculating from Koigu ‘Minis.’ You will use up almost every bit of yarn for this project, I finished with about 5 yards left (made up of bits of different colours).

In the photo showing the three cowls on the fence, the cowl on the left was knit using the Minis randomly, the one on the right was knit after having organized the Minis in a gradient. The cowl in the middle is the smaller size, knit with the Minis in random order.

Available to purchase through:
Ravelry: Click here
LoveCrafts: Click here
Payhip: Click here

Sauveuse des Anges

October20

Outlander Knits is released today and I am so pleased to be part of an amazing group of designers with my design Sauveuse des Anges. Outlander Knits was edited by the amazing Kate Atherley. Thanks Gale Zucker for the stunning photographs!

Inspired by the stunning mustard coloured cape/cloak worn by Claire in Season 2, Episode 3 and named for the hospital she visits, this design is a lace capelet that can be worn tied with ribbons or using a pretty closure.

The lace patterns were selected based on the lace on the front of Annalise’s gown, worn at Versailles.

For a younger look that pays homage to kilts and aprons, the capelet can be worn over a short (or long) skirt, knee high boots, and fastened with JUL toggle closure.

Knit top down, the design begins with a stable edging of linen stitch and the linen stitch continues down the sides for a smooth edging. The shape is created using Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Pi Shawl shaping between the lace patterns.

Help Fight Illiteracy

December1

It’s Giving Tuesday, a movement to balance the consumerism of Black Friday/Cyber Monday and Grammarly has chosen to focus on the problem of illiteracy this year. From their website:

“…help stomp out a truly global problem: illiteracy. A few months ago, in honor of International Literacy Day, we gathered the latest statistics from around the world to raise awareness about the importance of literacy. Literacy is an essential skill and human right, yet the numbers show that there are still 757 million adults who can’t read or write a simple sentence.” The infographic below shows these statistic.

Global Literacy Infographic

Infographic courtesy of Grammarly

#GivingTuesday

Some thoughts on “Under Magnolia”

March25

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted book reviews here. Life has a funny way of subverting even the best of intentions. The result is that I have a huge backlog of books and reviews. I won’t necessarily post all of them but I do plan to get back to posting reviews periodically. Today’s selection is Under Magnolia by Frances Mayes.

Under Magnolia
I should start with a brief admission – I’ve been a fan of Frances Mayes since I first read Under the Tuscan Sun in the late 1990s. Like many, I dreamed of visiting Tuscany and breathing in the scents of the Tuscan hills. In moments like today, when snow is still falling after months of frigid weather, I dream of escaping to a sweet life as an ex-pat in Tuscany. So when her publisher offered the chance to read her new work Under Magnolia, about her life growing up in America’s Deep South, I jumped at the chance.

Frances Mayes shares a sense of place through her descriptive language, luring the reader to experience sensations with her. This is what draw readers to her works and makes her “armchair travel memoirs” so powerful, her use of language evoking a place so real that it pulls readers away from the everyday.

I’ve visited Georgia several times over the years, both small, rural towns and bustling Savannah. To my northern eyes, it’s as different as Tuscany. The pace of life, the smells, the food, are all deeply embedded in the landscape. When Mayes describes the sun as something that “could melt a bar of gold,” my body knows exactly how that sun would feel.

In Under Magnolia, Mayes continues her exploration of “place” and the meaning of “home” in the signature style so beloved in her earlier works.

ISBN: 0307885917
ISBN13: 9780307885913

Hardcover
336 Pages
Publisher: Crown
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Author Website: www.francesmayesbooks.com

(Disclosure: A review copy of this novel, e-book version, was provided by the publisher.)

Finley is not amused

February7

I'm hiding out in my basket until it's safe to come out!

“Too much snow, how’s a guy to explore when his feet keep getting wet. Make it go away!” At least, that’s how I’m interpreting this expression. Batten down the hatches, the storm’s inbound.

Me? I’m working from home tomorrow. Three cheers for tele-commuting.

Bookninja

December6

A big Eclectic Closet shout-out to Bookninja for being featured tonight on The Arts Tonight with Eleanor Wachtel. The feature which ran just after 10 pm tonight should be posted in a few days on the Arts Tonight website so check it out if you get a chance.

Congratulations as well to Bookninja for winning the Canadian Blog Award for Best Entertainment Blog.

Selsi Sea Rocks – a new Toronto shopping establishment

November17

If you’re looking for something different for gifts, you should visit Selsi Sea Rocks. Celebrating everything salty, this unique sea salt bar offers truly flavourful gift ideas. Owner Andrea Brockie used to have an outdoor stall at the St. Lawrence Market but decided to move to a retail location to expand her range of products.

As a special treat, every Sunday in December you can experience complimentary sea salt mini massages and reflexology, to help combat the stresses of holiday shopping!

Selsi Sea Rocks
2 Gladstone Ave.
(at Queen St. W.)
416-854-9088

UPDATE (February 13, 2007): Due to condo construction, Andrea had to give up her storefront. You can now find her back at the St. Lawrence Market but indoors on the lower level.

Welcome to the world Matthew Timothy

November15

Making his first appearance, my four-hour-old nephew – Matthew Timothy. Weighing in at 7 pounds, 14 oz. and 20 inches long, Matthew has brown hair with curls.

Happy Birth Day Matthew!

A blogger’s apologies

November1

Into every blogger’s life comes a week when they can’t seem to post at all and this has been mine. Life explodes with craziness and good intentions of daily posts go out the window. The stack of books waiting for reviews to be typed up has grown monstrous, so expect a flurry of posts next week.

Tonight I head to Baltimore to attend Stitches East – entering that nirvana of yarn goodness. I wish you all days filled with books and will report back next week, refreshed and overflowing with creativity.

I’ve been quoted!

October21

What a thrill to discover that you are being quoted by an author in their press material. I’m still waiting for that elusive quote on the book jacket!

Here are links to quotes I’ve discovered:

For The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster

For Anonymous Lawyer by Jeremy Blachman

For The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair

For The Unwritten Girl by James Bow

For In Arctic Waters by Laura Crawford

For Some Like it Haute by Julie K.L. Dam

For Troubling Love by Elena Ferrante

For A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch

For Waking Lazarus by T.L. Hines

For The Exquisite by Laird Hunt

For Miss Understanding by Stephanie Lessing

For The Inhabited World by David Long

For The Things That Matter by Edward Mendelson

For The Restoration of Emily by Kim Moritsugu

For Luxury Knitting by Linda Morse

For Damsel Under Stress by Shanna Swendson

For Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce

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