extra yarn

in an effort to work from my stash, i made a felted yarn bowl with wool on hand, extra yarn. the cut out happened after the felting and the bowl was dry. i'm surprised, it's working fairly well, the wool does catch some, trying to think what i can do to remedy that.
this is brown sheep lamb's pride bulky weight in the color eggplant. i think. i've misplaced the band somehow. inspired by watching one of my favorite movies last week, and trying my hand at needle felting again, i added a small red fox, into the bowls bottom. he seems to be content, curled up and asleep, snuggled in his soft nest.

i have three books to share this week!
i received 'a knitter's home companion' as a gift from a dear friend. i intended to savor it, keep it in my knitting basket, taking it out here and there for inspiration. instead i read it in two days time. it is charming and i loved it, and i think it's going to stay in my basket as much for the patterns and recipes, as for the friendship it came with. you can find the book here.

then after reading a review (in the knitter's home companion) for the book 'safe return', i knew i needed this one for my library too. here is the review (i hope it's okay to share):

safe return

by catherine dexter

'safe return', a middle - grade novel named after a swedish mitten pattern, is one of my absolute, hands-down, all -time favorite children's books. a beautiful and moving tale, 'safe return' takes place in the stark setting of sweden's gotland island. the main character, ursula, an orphan from the mainland, is being raised there by her aunt and uncle. her outsider feeling is reinforced by her inability to knit, a skill acquired early  by the other children in visby, their fishing and farming village.

many books for kids that involve knitting are about the process. in 'safe return', the character learns not only how to knit, but how knitting can soothe even a reluctant knitter's turbulent times. there is an authentic tenderness to the text that reflects the author's understanding of the setting, character, and knitting. you can almost feel the lanolin in newly spun wool, the fierceness of the wind, and the darkness of the night in a time and place before electricity. and in 'safe return', you will experience the joy that comes in a very satisfying ending.

it really was a lovely read, it arrived this morning and i finished it in a couple hours, the more i think about it, the more i love it. there is something so comforting about reading books at this middle grade level. i'm also loving the fact it's based not only about knitting, but about a true event that took place in 1824. and it's about sweden, which is where my family is from. happy. book found here.

the third book is 'extra yarn' by mac barnett illustrated by jon klassen. this book caught my eye in a local children's bookshop, it says it's intended for ages 4-8. but i bought it anyway. i am still those ages, plus a few more. i love the short sweet story, and i think the pages would look great framed. link here. joining with:

p.s. the bowl pattern can be found in this book!