Unraveled Wednesday

Joining today with As Kat Knits for Unraveled Wednesday for all the knitting and reading. 

The three projects are coming along still. But it sure gets a bit boring, showing the same old things every time!

The Pool Party Leg Warmers are going to be a long-term addition, not because they are difficult but because I spend such a short amount of time on them!

I have knitted the head of the Naptime Doll but it needs to be stuffed as you go. I need to wash some more of my sheep's wool before I can keep going.

The Naptime Doll is from such an adorable book, Knitted Toys by Tatyana Korobkova. 

With Angora Tie, from my Adventures In Stitchcraft project, is getting so close to finished! Only a sleeve and a half, the tie and the sewing up to go!

And I definitely did not start a new project, after I promised that I would work on only three projects at a time until I had all my current WIPs in order.

This new yarn arrived from Yarn Stories on Etsy. How could I resist?!

It is Opal Glitter, colour 9672 which is called Flash, obviously named for my kitty! 

I have sneakily cast on my Sparkly Shawl, which is a free pattern on Ravelry called Silk Shawl by Connie Peng. 

I love the way the colours are coming together. I just love knitting with Opal. It keeps me up at night, just knitting until the next colour appears!

My current reading is Houses of Stone by Barbara Michaels. This was recommended in my reading challenge group on LibraryThing and I am so glad it was! 

This was published in 1993 - how have I never read it before now?! It has all the things!

The book is about Karen, a professor of women's literature, in particular early nineteenth century. She is offered an unknown manuscript, written by 'Ismene'. So ensues a treasure hunt to track down the author. The manuscript is a Gothic romance and as we read excerpts from the manuscript, Karen's hunt takes a decidely sinister, dare I say Gothic, turn. 

I am so enjoying this book - I am looking forward to finding more from this author, in all her many forms.

I am reading this book for a Bingo square in my reading challenge - read a book published under a pen name. 

Barbara Michaels is a pseudonym for Barbara Mertz. Barbara Mertz holds a PhD in Egyptology and has written a number of books about ancient Egypt under her own name. I love ancient cultures so will have to look for these as well. I am particularly interested in Red Land, Black Land which is about daily life in ancient Egypt. 

She is probably best known though for the Amelia Peabody murder mystery series, which has been described as Miss Marple meets Indiana Jones. I have read the first one, Crocodile on the Sandbank and it was a lot of fun. A travelling, mystery solving, Victorian feminist - what's not to love?!

There are twenty books in the series and as you can see from the covers (which are gorgeous!), the books combine her academic background in Egyptology with her story telling ability. 

Have you read any of these? 

And just a note to say thank you to anyone who has purchased using my affiliate links. It is SO appreciated! I only link to Etsy and Book Depository and only to shops/items that I have purchased myself and know are worth the purchase. I hope you enjoy your purchases too!

Happy knitting and reading, everyone!