Writing a novel

This is my tenth year participating in NaNoWriMo, hoping for my ninth win (2012 was a blowout for several darned good reasons). I thought I was writing a different story, and it turned out to be a prequel to my series. Book 1 is finished, book 2 is almost done

Words to a new software QA

We're not after the developers. We're after their code. It's not personal. If they didn't want us to find the bug, they shouldn't have written it in the first place. QA starts with the requirements, if those are vague, the

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

I'm working my way through Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards, and one of the early exercises is to copy an upside-down line drawing. Right-side up, this is what I got: There's a few lines out of place or missing, and

A Flock of Hats

I'm not sure what the correct collective noun is for hats, but I seem to knit them in batches. Three of these four were destashing hats, made from yarn that I had before the start of the year. Pattern: Seaworthy Gansey hat from Churchmouse Yarns and Tea Yarn:

Drawing class

I've been taking a weekly class at the St Louis Artist's Guild (acronym SLAG, which makes me giggle) and the teacher, David Zamudio, has been gently working us towards drawing an actual human. Prior lessons focussed on spheres and cubes, working on shading and accuracy, this

Accomplished: 3rd degree brown belt

Four years, two months, and one day, that's how long it took me to get my third degree brown belt in Chinese Kenpo from Tracy's Karate. My first lesson was on Monday 17th November 2008, I got my brown belt on Friday 18th January 2013. That

A parade of finished objects

It's been a busy January so far.  I've released a pattern for small drawstring bags, burned my hand with boiling water (making proper tea is a hazardous business) and I'm training for my third degree brown belt in Chinese Kenpo.  And I've

New Year’s Resolution Reading Challenge

I don't normally make extensive New Year's resolutions, beyond my annual "I will not stab anyone in [insert year here]."  I borrowed that one from Rachel Herron in 2010 and it is a worthy goal worth re-committing to each year (I never resolve not

Ink sampling

I've been sampling various combinations of ink and fountain pens.  It's a huge surpise how different pens with the same ink give wildly different results.  Using my TWSBI 540 pen with Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses ink gives a nice even burgundy line.

Projects in progress and stalled

If ever there was a year where I don't complete NaNoWriMo it's this one.  Too much going on to have brain real-estate tied up with a novel.  I may stage a dramatic comeback mid-month but it's not looking very likely today.  I'm