A good read? Wednesday book review and writing comp longlist

Hello and welcome to Wednesday's craft book review.  Yes, I know.  It's Thursday.  Oh well, better late than never.  I was distracted by other things yesterday.  One of which was good news.  I'd entered a short story competition earlier this year, and was convinced I wouldn't get anywhere with it.  

But it turns out my story's been long listed for the HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Award, the HWA being the Historical Writers Association.  The short list and winner are announced in October, so we'll see what happens then.  I think there are maybe 25 on the longlist so I'm trying not to raise my hopes too high.  

I've been having a fallow period when it comes to creative writing, for the last year or even two.  It's difficult when it's just you, tapping away at a keyboard, not being part of a wider writers community, feeling like you're the unlikeliest person in the world to ever be published. I mean, properly published.  Hardback, paperback, books stacked up in Waterstones, that kind of thing.  But after yesterday's good news I powered up Word and began working again on an idea set in Victorian England.  A lonely young woman with a mysterious past, an enigmatic widower, a Gothic setting and plenty of references to crows and axes ... I'll say no more ...

Actually, on the subject of historical Gothicky fiction, I just finished 'The Clockwork Girl' by Anna Mazzola.  Delightfully creepy and well worth reading.  

Okay, let's do my belated Wednesday craft book review.  I've picked a book for any knitters or weavers out there.  'Intertwined.'  

Subtitled 'The art of Handspun Yarn, Modern Patterns and Creative Spinning' by Lexi Boeger.  My copy was published back in 2009.  It's a hefty book at over 300 pages, and crammed packed with glorious photos of handspun yarn that'll make your drool and wish you had an unlimited budget.  

The book's contents include: sources of inspiration, non-traditional spinning techniques, approx 30 patterns including hats, scarves, ponchos, mittens, a bag, a necklace.  Some of the designs are a bit more 'out there' than the usual knitting pattern, but they use such a wide range of colours and textures, such glorious yarn, they're very appealing.  

If you like browsing on Instagram or Pinterest for handspun, original wool then this is the book for you.  Also, if you spin your own wool but want to experiment with adding elements to it to make it unique, then there are lots of ideas.  You can learn how to add nubs, cocoons, knotty little slubs, crescents, semi-felted bubbles, tuffs, pom poms, silkworms ...  

It's a lovely book for leafing through, for daydreaming and challenging yourself to be more inventive with your crafting, whether that's knitting, spinning, weaving, crochet, any kind of 'fiber art' (as the book calls it).  It's practical as well as pretty with lots of instructions, patterns, how-to explanations and information all beautifully presented.  

This book gets the thumbs up, highly recommended and guaranteed to send you to the nearest wool shop in search of luscious yarns to swoon over.  

By the way, on a different topic, my meandering through crafty videos on YouTube has bought up the subject of snippet rolls.  Never heard of 'em before, but now I have the urge to make one.  Will tell you more of that another time.