Hello, October! 🎃
So many of us love this time of year and month for many different reasons. For me, I really enjoy seeing the leaves crisp up and bring some variety in colour to so many trees, not to mention the abundance of new horror films that come out this time of year, too!
I’m sure I’ll have my little Scream movie marathon at some point, however as of late, I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from the sewing machine or cross stitch patterns. I’ve had a great month when it comes to completions of patterns, so let’s have a little chat about them before I get into my picks to help you craft away!
I’m always a fan of a sort out and the start of September saw me go through my large pattern folder and computer downloads. Being in those sorting out moods is the perfect time to get rid of some of those things we find ourselves unnecessarily hanging onto things we’ll never make.
Armed with a cuppa and some Garage anthems turned up a little too high, I set to and am now proud to say that all that’s in my folder are the patterns I actually want to make. Hence why there was quite the influx of makes during last month! I’ve even made a couple more bits and pieces, but The Eye of Horus, the cutest little pizza-eating ghosts and my tray topper were some of my favourites.
This one’s a bit of a secret, so hopefully my Mom doesn’t suddenly decide to catch up on this month’s picks!
She absolutely loves poppies and after stitching some lillies of the valley for her a couple of years ago, I thought the poppies would be a nice addition to sit alongside her favourite flowers.
I’ve been a big fan of Antique Stitch‘s patterns for many years; after digging through my pattern stash, I felt compelled to make this one!
I love the depth of colour with only 13 different shades used throughout the entire piece. Hopefully I can get this one done way ahead of time, as I’d like to head onto some more festively-themed patterns next.
Shh…don’t tell Mom!
Being busy with my crafting projects has certainly called for some serious listening to keep me going through those colour changes. While I’m always sure to bring you the content warnings regarding adult language and/or sensitive topics, please be extra mindful this month as some of these themes and plot lines are a quite a bit darker than previous months’ posts.
With that being said, let’s get into it!
📖 Audiobook – Rock, Paper, Scissors – Alice Feeney
For many couples, ten years of marriage is certainly something to celebrate. But for Adam and Amelia, those ten years have been full of secrets.
However their hope of rekindling their romance over a weekend in the Scottish Highlands quickly takes a turn for the worse.
As they navigate both past and present, circumstances quickly offer the most glaring question of them all – can they trust one another?
Featuring dual narration from Stephanie Racine and Richard Armitage, Feeney delivers yet another tense thriller in Rock Paper Scissors that’s sure to keep you hooked in any project.
🎙️Podcast – Borrasca – QCODE
Before we dive into a brief plot of this excellent show, please be sure to check trigger warnings for this one.
Based on the 2015 short story of the same name by C. K. Walker, Cole Sprouse co-produces and stars as Sam Walker in Borrasca. A troubled character, we hear Sam in therapy, speaking of the summer that changed his life completely, due to his sister’s disappearance.
Along with recalling the tale, Sam’s friends Kimber and Kyle are ready to uncover the truth of what really happened in Drisking, Missouri.
Also starring Sean Maguire, Borrasca delivers a heavy-hitting psychological thriller that will have you returning time and again. And with two completed seasons, there’s no need to put down your WIP whilst you wait for another episode.
It’s my fifth listen at this point and I’m continually amazed by the writing, delivery and sound design – another fantastic series from QCODE.
💿 Album – Meteora 20 – Linkin Park
Linkin Park have been making the rounds as news of their new album and tour have been making headlines, along with the addition of new lead vocalist Emily Armstrong.
However, I’m going back to the 20th Anniversary edition of Meteora. Solidfying their place in Hybrid Theory, Meteora proved that Linkin Park had no issue delivering an incredible sophomore album.
Featuring the unforgettable vocals and pensive lyricism from the late and terribly missed Chester Bennington, Meteora holds some of the finest tracks in the bands career thus far. Lying From You, From The Inside and Faint are just a few of my many favourites on the album, yet this celebratory edition boasts a wealth of live tracks, as well as many previously unreleased songs and demos.
Fighting Myself and Lost are two standout completed tracks, however the haunting gaps around Mike Shinoda’s vocal demos where Chester’s voice is sadly missing, certainly stick with you. Of course, these weren’t used for the album for one reason or another, but hearing those demos well after Chester’s passing further proves what a wonderful powerhouse he was within the band.
That rounds out my top three for this month! I hope at least one of these keeps you in good company throughout your WIP. What are you making? We’d love to see – use #WWCrafters when posting and we’ll share some of our favourites.
Right, those poppies aren’t going to stitch themselves – see you next month! 🎃