Tag: acatherinenoon

  • The Liebster Award

    My online friend from Beeline Clothings blog nominated me for the Liebster Award today!  She lives in Ghana and hopes one day to travel to China.  She writes about fashion and all sorts of things and I was really pleased to be chosen by her for the award.

    As part of the award, you nominate others and answer questions – both in general and from your nominator.  It\’s a fun way to get better acquainted with other bloggers and I thought I\’d share that here.

    The Liebster Blog Award is an award offered to upcoming bloggers. The german word Liebster is a word for favorite, dearest, beloved, sweetest, cutest, nicest, kind, and pleasant.
    I think this is a lovely way to support and encourage each other as fellow bloggers.
    Well, my nominator tells me that this award comes with some rules, which are:
    Each nominated blogger must
    1. post 11 things about yourself
    2. answer the questions that the nominator has set for you and create 11 questions for the people you\’ve tagged to answer
    3. choose 5 people and link them in your post
    4. Go to their blogs and tell them in a comment
    REMEMBER, No tag backs!
    11 Things About the Noony
    1. I love coffee.  I love learning about it, tasting it, trying different varietals and, like wine, identifying where the beans are from.
    2. I am NOT a morning person.  My best and most productive time is the middle of the night, after 10:00 P.M. (20:00).  It\’s very easy for my body-clock to get thrown off if I stay up too late and, since I work a day job, I can\’t afford that.  My dream is to one day live a lifestyle that allows me to stay up at night and sleep during the mornings.
    3. I love to knit.  Knitting is applied magic.  By creating repetitive knots in yarn, I can create a fabric that will stay together.  I even started a blog dedicated to my knitting and other crafts called Knoontime Knitting, because I love to explore 2-D/3-D art.
    4. I love to write.  I feel connected to the universe when I write.
    5. I love to journal, as well as use a computer.  I get different results depending on whether I write by hand or by keyboard.
    6. I realized I love to write essays.  One of my favorite classical authors is Michel Montaigne, and I didn\’t realize that I like to do what he does, though I\’m nowhere near his level of skill.
    7. I love cats and dogs.  Some people say they\’re a dog person, or a cat person; honestly, I like them both equally.  I live with 3 cats and a dog and they\’re all very special to me.
    8. I love to travel, but I believe in traveling where one lives.  So many times, people will say to me, \”Oh, I\’ve lived in Chicago for years but have never gone up in the Sears Tower.\”  That\’s silly!  We have so many riches around us, if we just open our eyes to it.
    9. I love mustard and, mostly, hate ketchup.  (I occasionally get a taste for it, which always surprises me because I\’ve not liked it since I was a child.)  I like spicier mustards better than bland yellow mustard; German styles are my favorite though I\’m partial to Japanese ones as well.
    10. I don\’t \”get\” Twitter, but I manage many Twitter feeds.  I have my main one, @acatherinenoon, but I also started one for @knoontimeknit, and we have 2 for Evanston Writers Workshop, @evanstonwriters and @ewwconference.
    11. My phone is smarter than I am.  I just got an HTC Rezound and it baffles me.

    Answers to my nominator\’s questions

    1. Why did you start blogging?
      Good question.  I started this blog, \”Explore the Worlds of A. Catherine Noon,\” because I wanted a place to put my personal short stories and to play.  I\’ve always loved doing newsletters and such and this allowed me a potentially unlimited audience.  It also let me create a website without knowing how to program HTML.  Now, I have many blogs and I enjoy them.
    2. How has blogging affected your life?
      It\’s brought me new friends and fans, but it\’s also helped me trust that I have a voice and something to say.  I realized that I\’m an essayist in addition to being a novelist, and that essays are like letters to a good friend in which we talk about things about which we are passionate.  As long as we trust that, we can create a blog that rocks.
    3. Would you call yourself a \’blog-addict\’?
      Not really, but since I either manage or am part of over 15 blogs, then I suppose yes, I might be called one.
    4. Which two words describe your personal style perfectly?
      Elegant and artistic.
    5. What is your favorite time of the day and why?
      The middle of the night.  It\’s quiet and I can get things done.
    6. What is your inspiration in life?
      The novels I read as a child transported me to other worlds.  I have wanted to do that since I was nine years old.  I love writing and reading.
    7. How do you plan to spend the next three years?
      I plan to write many more books, both in the Chicagoland Shifters universe and the Persis Cycle.  I also plan to release, with my coauthor Rachel Wilder, Bloodlines and our Psychic Detective series.  I want to buy a house with some land and raise alpacas.
    8. What is your favorite time of the day? Why?
      Oops, I think this is the same as question 5.  I\’ll answer, instead, my favorite meal.  I love breakfast!  Eggs, bacon, potatoes, and bagels are some of my favorites, as are hobo plates, grits, biscuits and gravy, Belgian waffles, and quiche.
    9. Which blogger inspires you the most in the blogging world?
      Delilah Devlin.  She has a website jam-packed with interesting articles, fun content, books and other things that fans can enjoy.  She\’s a bestselling author and I look up to her as a role model.
    10. What is your favorite TV series?
      That\’s easy – NCIS!

    11. What is your favorite electronic gadget?
      I\’m awfully partial to my computer, actually, and my internet router since it lets me see the amazing, wide world of blogging!

    My Nominations

    1. Passionate Fiction
    2. The Puzzling Mind of Jason Runnels
    3. Writer & Cat
    4. Jean Marie Ward
    5. Two Voices

  • Friday Funnies

  • Humpday Update – Pictures and Thoughts – the Bryce Canyon Shawl

    The Bryce Canyon Shawl
    You know, it\’s hot enough here in Chicago to fry an egg on the sidewalk (maybe not literally, but it sure feels like it), so working on a shawl that is reminiscent of my time in the desert is, perhaps, fitting.

    As I work on it, I am surprised by my progress.  It feels massive, like it will never be done; as I add new yarn only a couple inches from the last addition I worry I won\’t have enough yarn and will never get to work on my other projects.  My Puritanical Critic chimes in with, you\’d better not work on anything until this is done, and I despair.

    Yet I see progress.  There are four more inches over the last medallion, which surprises me.  When did I have time to add four inches?  I only just finished that medallion this last weekend!  But this is the magic of knitting.  Stitch by stitch, inch by inch, progress accumulates.

    Kind of like life.

    My husband is the professional photographer, which you can sort of tell since all you see of me is the top of my forehead.  And MAN can you tell it\’s hot by how shiny my head is!  What a pate.

    Oh, right.  The knitting, Noony, is why they\’re reading this.  ~blush~

    See how many inches I\’ve added above the ending of the center medallion?  Wowsers.

    Okay, this time I got my eyes, at least.  I\’m still wearing my old glasses, since my new ones had to go back to the doctor to be fixed and they\’re not ready yet.  This is one of the two medallions that will be on the top.

    And this is a close-up of that medallion.  I love Barbara Walker\’s sampler ideas!  These are so fun to make.  I\’m on row 84 here.  Only about 50 more to go before the end, then I\’ll add a few inches of the lace stitch.  (It\’s called \”faggoting,\” but I keep not typing that because it makes me blush and I don\’t want folks to think I\’m being rude.)

  • Walking In This World – Friends

    Today, as I prepare for our barbecue, I am reminded of the people in my life.  My friends bring me so much, not the least of which is the process of drawing myself out of myself and into this world, this physical, concrete place in which I live.  I am grateful to my friends for so many things, but this perhaps is one of the most important.

    Thank you.

  • Organizing Tips for Crafters – Hashtags

    If you are new to the social media phenomenon, you might not have heard of \”hashtags.\”  A hashtag is the \”pound\” symbol:  #, accompanied by a word or words that groups together concepts.  Its purpose is to collect similar information from all over into one easily-searchable stream.  It\’s most popular on Twitter and Tweeps have used literally thousands of hashtags on every imaginable subject.

    Here\’s how they work:  you probably know that you have a limited number of characters to post your thoughts on Twitter, 140 to be exact.  (This comes from the limit imposed on text messaging by the servers that run the \”SMS\” messages.)  One way to become part of the larger conversation is to include a hashtag with your post, and then others who have similar interests can find you.

    I use #quotes most often, since I love to find and post quotes related to my interests.  Here are a few more relevant to crafting:

    #knit and #knitting are the most obvious.  When you have thoughts, updates, or projects to knit, add that to your post.

    #crochet

    #craft The most broad of the topics you can use.

    #sew

    #gifts I love this one, because it\’s such a broad category – it could be things you make and things you buy.

    #handmade

    #ravelry  If you\’re part of the huge worldwide community of Ravelry, this is a great way to link your Tweets to your Ravelry thoughts and pictures.

    Do you have a favorite hashtag or five?  Tell me, in the comments!

  • Tue Cent Twosday – Research

    The Nine Naughty Novelists blog hosts Rachel and I today and we talk about the pitfalls of research, as well as tips for success.  Join us!  \”Researching Beyond the Internet.\”

  • Journey Into 3-D

    This weekend I had an object lesson in the difference between 2-D planning and 3-D execution.  Namely, yarn estimation.

    When my baby Bryce Canyon Shawl was nice and small, it was easy to imagine I\’d only need a few skeins of yarn.  I\’d done other triangle shawls and wanted this one to be \”bigger\” (technical term) so I knew if I got more yarn, I\’d be fine.  So I got a few skeins.

    Then I threw in the wrinkle of the two extra lace medallions.

    But this also means that there are continuous increases, all the way up the shawl.

    Those of you who already knit know what\’s coming.  I ran out of yarn this weekend.  We went and picked up six more skeins, after running my new estimate by my husband who isn\’t as geometrically challenged as me.  We shall see.

    Here\’s a couple progress photos for you.

    The center medallion is now done, as of this weekend.  I put it on my dress form to take this picture, which turned out surprisingly well.  However, the fabric I already had on the dress form clashes horribly, which is why I\’m not showing you the view from the front.

    The side medallions are getting really big.  I love the way they get set off by the lace on either side; I think it\’s coming out really well.  I love it when a plan comes together!

  • Join the Two Tauruses today! (and say that 10 times fast…)

    Stop by the Noon and Wilder Blog, Taurus and Taurus, for my thoughts on the perils of research.  I hope you enjoy!

  • Join the Conversation! An Interview with Jennifer Colgan, Author and Artist

    I had the opportunity to interview Jennifer Colgan about her artistic pursuits in addition to her authorial ones.  She does many different crafts and gave me some awesome pictures for examples.  Come on by and see what Zentangle is!  It\’s on my craft blog, Knoontime Knitting.  While you\’re there, consider subscribing to the blog; the button is at the bottom of the blog.

    Enjoy your Saturday!

  • Saturday Showcase – Jennifer Colgan

    Kicking off my series of interviews authors who craft, I interviewed author Jennifer Colgan. As enthusiastic about her crafts as I am, she included many pictures with her interview answers and I\’m excited to be able to share them. Read on, MacDuff!

    KK: Tell me a little more about what crafts you do. What do you like to make?

    JC: I’m hooked on crocheting, painting, jewelry making, drawing and my latest obsession is the art of ZenTangle. I’ve also dabbled in candle making, needlepoint and cross-stitch, quilting, loom knitting, and building miniature dollhouses. About the only thing I haven’t tried is soap making, but that’s on my to-do list.

    KK: When did you learn to do crafts?

    JC: My mother is a knitter and cross-stitcher, so I grew up with crafts. Art class was probably my favorite subject as a kid, and I embraced every medium from clay to pastels.

    KK: Have you ever given a craft to a character? How did you go about it? What research did it require?

    JC: In my paranormal romance, The Devil’s Due, my heroine Ceara is a sculptor. I didn’t really do extensive research on the craft of sculpting, but I tried to channel my creative nature into the character.

    KK:What effect does your writing have on your crafting and vice-versa?  Does one fall off when the other is stronger, or do they synergize?

    JC:Crafting helps me through the rough patches in writing. I can work through writer’s block or tackle a difficult scene or chapter better if I step away from the computer and draw or paint or make something. Sometimes a trip to the craft store is enough of a mini-vacation to energize me and give me the drive to get back to writing. Crafts are how I unwind from most of life’s frustrations because, unlike with my writing, I don’t get hung up on perfectionism when I craft. I find I’m a lot more accepting of the imperfections in a crafted piece that I am of imperfections in a manuscript. I can let go and really enjoy the process of creating because I’m not as critical of the result.

    KK: What do you dream of making when you have the time or skills?

    JC: I’d love to build another dollhouse from scratch. I made a few of them several years ago and ultimately gave them to my niece. I’d also love to crochet a jacket or a sweater, but so far my skill tops out at making blankets.

    KK: Where do you get ideas for your crafts?

    JC: I subscribe to Crafts magazine, and I devour each issue. I also surf the web sometimes looking for craft projects or pick up ideas at the craft store – my favorite place to spend time.

    Jen shared some images of her art with me. Take a peek!

    Afghan – I crocheted this as a housewarming gift for a friend

    Miniatures – this is one of my latest projects. I wanted to display some of my dollhouse leftovers so I made a shadow box for them.

    Scrap-painting – I was never good at scrapbooking, but I love all the stickers, so I bought some along with a small canvas and made this as a Christmas present for a friend who loves England.

    Temari – I got hooked on the Japanese art of temari a few years ago and made dozens of these decorated string ornaments.
    Zentangle – I recently discovered the art of ZenTangle and now I have an excuse to doodle all the time.

    Biography:

    Having narrowly missed being crushed by an avalanche of Star Trek novels as a teenager, Jennifer Colgan vowed to one day cause the book shelves of avid readers all over the world to collapse under their own weight.

    Now multi-published under her own name and as her alter ego, Bernadette Gardner, Jennifer has arrived in the digital age and instead hopes to be responsible for overloading the memory cards of e-book readers everywhere with her paranormal, futuristic and science-fiction romances.

    To learn more about Jennifer visit her website, Bernadette’s website, or their Two Voices blog.

  • Friday Funnies

  • Organizing Tips for Crafters – Cat Litter Containers

    Do you have a cat? If you do, then you know how quickly the empty litter containers can accumulate. With a little forethought, those containers can be a huge boon to your crafting. First, find litter that comes in larger plastic containers with wide lids. I use the Petsmart generic brand and they have nice sturdy white pails with big square lids. Once the litter is gone, wash out the container. Let it dry completely. You can use it like a pail, standing up, and put supplies in it (I store yarn in mine), or you can build yourself an apothecary cabinet. Here\’s how: Locate or build some shelving deep enough to hold the containers on their sides. Using a quarter-inch drill, drill a hole through the bottom of the container and screw it to the back of the shelving or directly into the wall. (This isn\’t necessary, but it helps keep the containers in place and stable.) Then arrange your containers in whatever order you like, holding your craft materials clean and out of the way. Just watch out that \”out of sight, out of mind\” doesn\’t mean that you buy MORE stash to supplement what is now hidden. Not that I, like, did that, or anything… ~innocent~