2012 Immortal Reading Challenge

I’ve decided to scrap the Paranormal Reading Challenge and just do this one as there would be crossover anyhow. Per challenge guidelines I’ve copied and pasted the original post below.

2012 Immortal Reading Challenge

 The complete guidelines can be found here. Our list is over on our 2012 Reading Challenges page.

Here’s the rundown:
1. The Immortals Reading Challenge runs from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. You can join at anytime from now and throughout the year. This is a 2012 challenge, so books read before January 1 will not count to your progress.
2. You pick your goal! Read as many books as you’d like for each species. This means that you can do just one category or all five or a combination of. The choice depends on you and your reading pace.
*We have chosen to have a three book per species standard. However, if this is a breeze for you, then feel free to tackle on the additional bonus entries of two more books of the same level.
3. Re-reads are acceptable.
4. Books chosen can be of any genre.
5. To participate, copy and paste this post on your blog along with the challenge button. We ask that you provide a link back to the sign-up page in case others wish to participate.
6. Readers without blogs can still participate! Keep track of your progress with Goodreads, Shelfari or LibraryThing.

To sign up:

1. Make a sign up post announcement, listing the level you’ve chosen and a list of books you plan to read. If you don’t have a blog, post on GoodReads or another site as a thread where we can access your list of books. Be sure to take the image code above.

2. Come back here and using the list below, add your entry with a link directly to that post so we can see what you’ll be reading.

You’re done! Every month during 2012 we will make a challenge update post where you can come and updates us on how you’re doing with your challenge.

Category 1: Vampires
Some ideas for Vampire books
Read any THREE books with vampires as the main characters.
Bonus Entries: Additional TWO books with vampires

Category 2: Angels and Demons
Some ideas for Angels and Demons books
Read any THREE books with angels and/or demons as the main characters.
Bonus Entries: Additional TWO books with angels and/or demons

Category 3: Fae
Some ideas for Fae books
Read any THREE books with Fae as the main characters
Bonus Entries: Additional TWO books on Fae.

Category 4: Shifters/Werewolves
Some ideas for Shifter books
Read any THREE books with shifters or werewolves as the main characters.
Bonus Entries: Additional TWO books on shifters or werewolves.

Vampires

1. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
2. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
3. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
4. One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost
5. First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

Fae

1. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
2. TBD
3. TBD

Shifters/Werewolves

1. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
2. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
3. Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

I’m not sure that I’ll read any from the Angel/Demon category but as the year goes on, we shall see. I love paranormal fiction so I’ll commit to a goal of 30 books for this challenge.

2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge

Wrong link in the last post. Click the pic for the right one.

I’m going for the Mother level with 11-15 books.

I’m in the process of collecting books for this challenge. Goodreads and Shelfari’s lists are my main inspiration. Plus wandering around the bookstore picking up books that look interesting (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ll proudly judge a book by its cover any day). The following list is (as always) subject to change at my whim.

1. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (scheduled release June 7, 2012) The sequel to A Discovery of Witches, I’ve been waiting for this sequel since finishing the last page of the first book.
2. Witch & Wizard by James Patterson Not normally a Patterson reader, this book was brought to my attention by my mom. She seemed embarrassed by the choice when I saw her reading it, so I’m figuring it might be right up my alley.
3. Wicked by Gregory Maguire This book has been sitting on my shelf for at least a year now, probably closer to two or three. I stopped and started it, only to pick up another Maguire read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have to give it another shot based purely on the fact that it was a book I borrowed from a coworker and didn’t get a chance to return prior to losing contact.
4. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins Found on a Shelfari tag list.
5. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice Another Shelfari tag list book.
6. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong Ditto.
7. Witch Child by Celia Rees Goodreads list suggestion.
8. Magyk by Angie Sage Goodreads list contender.
9. Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan A Goodreads list book that seems to be one of the “you’ll love it or hate it” variety. Here’s hoping I love it.
10. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley I’ve always loved the world of King Arthur. It will be interesting to read it from the female perspective.
11. A Nameless Witch by A. Lee Martinez I’m loving the whole fairytale resurrection thing. I’ve always loved tales of magic, faeries, and unicorns and now that it is popular, I can just gorge myself on the genre. 
12. Witch Song by Amber Argyle Goodreads list suggestion.

That’s all I’ll commit to right now. My local library just might have to build a “hold” bookshelf for me alone. Speaking of bookshelves… I need to travel to IKEA or something as I have officially run out of space (even after my latest book purge). I think if I read myself of my nightstand (which only serves as a holder for books anyhow) I can fit in another bookcase. I may eventually need to buy a house if for nothing else, the space for books.

Never Without a Book: 2012 Reading Challenges

This year I’m all over these challenges. With a reading goal of 100 books, I figure that this will help me stay on track. So without further ado… The challenges (I’ll break these down into individual posts and once I do, click the link under the challenge to see my starting post):

Obviously there will be others (first and foremost, Mother Reader’s 48 Hour Book Challenge which I will complete at 48 hours this year if I have to mainline caffeine!) but this is the list as it stands for now.

A Year of Books in Review: 2011

1. Libyrinth by Pearl North
2. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
3. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Myer
4. Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
5. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
6. Reaper by Rachel Vincent
7. The Valley of the Horses by Jean Auel (reread)
8. The Mammoth Hunters by Jean Auel (reread)
9. The Witch’s Daughter by Paula Brackston
10. The Land of the Painted Caves by Jean Auel
11. Fat Vampire by Adam Rex
12. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
13. The Know-it-All by A.J. Jacobs
14. Hush by Donna Jo Napoli
15. Zel by Donna Jo Napoli
16. Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
17. Soulless by Gail Carriger
18. Changeless by Gail Carriger
19. Blameless by Gail Carriger
20. I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali
21. Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli
22. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
23. Split by Swati Avasthi
24. Beast by Donna Jo Napoli
25. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
26. Dirty Secret by Jessie Sholl
27. Throwing the Perfect Shower by Jill Williams Grover
28. Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford
29. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
30. The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal
31. Bound by Donna Jo Napoli
32. Sold by Patricia McCormick
33. Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran
34. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
35. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
36. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
37. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman
38. Where She Went by Gayle Foreman
39. Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
40. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
41. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
42. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
43. Heartless by Gail Carriger
44. One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
45. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
46. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
47. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
48. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
49. Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
50. The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks
51. At Grave’s End by Jeaniene Frost
52. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
53. Grave Witch by Kalayna Price
54. Silver Borne by Patrica Briggs
55. Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Since  I surpassed my original goal of reading 50 books last year, I’m going to make my goal to read 100 books in 2012. There were a few times this year that I pondered the question of audio books. On the one hand, listening to audio books meant that I experienced the book. On the other, I didn’t actually read them in the truest sense. I’m still on the fence on that one.

Sadly enough I didn’t meet my goal for the A-Z Challenge (missed E, N, X, and Y), Vampire Challenge (short by 4), or Shifter Challenge (five less).

All in all, I think I had a pretty good reading year. I found quite a few memorable books, added to my library (to The Husband’s constant dismay), and am somewhat satisfied by my year end count. This year I need to be better at recording as I missed quite a few that I forgot to record and can no longer remember.

I’d break it down further for you but honestly, I did almost zero reviewing last year. This year I’m going to be better than that. I’ll aim for something crazy like five.

Christmas Tutorials 7

Bitty Gnomes

 

Pocketbots

 

Felt Lettuce

 

Felt Pancakes

 

 

Christmas Tutorials 6

Felt Tomato

 

Farmer's Market

 

Felt Popsicle

 

Regency Silhouette

Pears

 

Felt Food 101

 

Felt Breakfast

 

Pastry Bag

Christmas Tutorials 5

Here it is, part two of today’s tutorial blast. If you, like me, are rather far behind on your Christmas crafting, pick one and get to it!

Iced Sugar Cookies

 

Cut Apart Felt Food

 

Felt Banana in Peel/Felt Corn in Husk

 

Romaine Lettuce

 

Felt Doughnut

 

Felt Peas

 

Tomato Slice

Christmas Tutorials 4

It was my intention to put up a link page of tutes every day in December. Well, we all see how that has been going. But to make up for it today’s post is HUGE. For those with slow connections/checking this out on your mobile, I’m breaking up the post into a few posts so check back often today to see all that I’ve found.

Follow the tutes…

5 Easy Christmas Gift Tutorials

 

Tea Wallet

 

Grinch Pills

 

Felt Winter Scene

 

Felt Mistletoe

 

Corned Beef and Cabbage

 

Sliced Bell Peppers

 

 

Christmas Tutorials 3

If you’re anything like me, you’re behind in your Christmas decorating. I’m a down-to-the-wire kind of gal, so I tend to thrive off of the last minute rush. however, it also means that I don’t get to enjoy as long of a Christmas holiday as I would like. This year, I vowed, this year I would be on time. Before time, really. I would have my handmade Christmas complete with decorations and gifts and it would blow everyone away.

Yeah. Not so much. Anyhow, my tardiness benefits you as in my search for the quick, simple, and beautiful I’ve found plenty of links to share. Keep scrolling…

Pottery Barn Knock Off Advent Calendar

 

Ribbon Christmas Trees

 

Felt Holly Decoration

 

Rolled Paper Christmas Wreath

 

Christmas Candy Trees

Christmas Tutorials 2

No need to buy a Christmas pattern book or magazine this Christmas. Not when there are so many creative, FREE tutorials popping up all over the place. But I know you didn’t come here to read my ramble. Here you go:

No Sew Christmas Stocking

 

Snowflake Curtain

 

Cone Ornament

 

Fabric Ornament

 

Acorn Ornament

 

Santa Candy Cane Holder