Grey Wardens motto - the finished product

I started playing Dragon Age in December 2014. It took me a bit to warm up to the series - not because of the games themselves, but because at the time I had to share a gaming computer with spawn, which wasn't ideal.

However, J - who is handy at that sort of thing - made me up my very own computer, and I splashed out on a fancy gaming rig, and I was all set. (I play on PC. Consoles and I don't get on.) Anyway.

Once I fell, I fell hard, and started looking for fanworks. Fic, art, some meta although I'm not a big meta person as such ... you get the idea.

Then I had the notion of doing a Dragon Age-related cross-stitch and started hunting for something. There are some nice ones out there, but not what I wanted. I decided to stitch up the Grey Wardens motto, which you see above. In some versions, the first two phrases are reversed, but I like this version better. I dug up a piece of fabric - 28ct evenweave - I believe the colour is Purple Haze. I know it's from countrystitch.com.

So then it was a matter of choosing the colours. In-game, the Wardens' armor is blue and grey. Here is a terrible screenshot to give you the idea. So I knew I wanted blue and grey for some of the words, and some kind of red for the rest, representing blood.

To become a Grey Warden, in game, you drink the blood of the darkspawn, taking on their taint, making you the only people in Thedas capable of slaying an archdemon. (That's a terrible explanation but I don't want this post to get too long.)

Initially, the red I chose was brighter than I wanted, and J suggested blending it with a darker red, so the red words are a blend of DMC's 347 and 3777. I think it represents the intertwining of the Grey Wardens' destiny with the darkspawn pretty well. The blue of the "I" and the first letter of the word in the other lines is  336, and the grey is 425. The other colours are pretty minor.

I wanted, at first, for the "I" something like a letter from an old illuminated manuscript, but I couldn't find one I really liked. Then I went to the annual Rotary Book Sale, and found 500 Alphabets in Cross Stitch by Julie Hasler, which I basically picked up for nothing. I went to the sale in the last hour and it was fill a bag for $5. It was great.

So both alphabets I used are from that book. I chose the "I" because it had the height I wanted, plus a certain degree of decoration without being too fancy. And the other alphabet gives me a medieval vibe, which I also wanted.

I was going to do a simple border, but in the end decided against it. Partly out of laziness, and partly because I think it looks fine without - although "vigilance" could be nudged over a bit more. It's rolled  up and put away for now, as I want to get it professionally framed and don't have the $ for it at the moment.

Started on September 11 2015, and finished on July 9, 2016.

Cross-posted to http://janesgravity.dreamwidth.org/

Sanctuary

I’ve been thinking about sanctuary lately - the things that save our sanity and remind us that we’re people, and not just workfamilydinnerhousework drones. You know - the fun stuff.

Reading is a great example for me. Books can sweep you off your feet, break your heart, and take you to all kinds of places. (STATION ELEVEN). I mean. Um. There’s room in my brain-space for books and stories, always, is what I’m saying.

Also gaming. I’ve talked about playing Dragon Age on and off on here, and in terms of sanctuary, it’s the Big One. I can escape into  a fantasy world, where I get to SAVE the world, fight dragons and smooch on pretty elves.

The only downside there, for me, is that I let spawn start playing Dragon Age Inquisition, and suddenly my sanctuary space was a shared space. Which is a bit tricky when it’s my Top Thing To Make the World Go Away. And I don’t want to impose on spawn’s enjoyment of the game. So I decided to start up a new game, that only I know about, and I only play after he’s gone to bed.

I’m taking advantage of the fact I can swap between characters in the game, but it’s the perfect solution. Spawn and I can share the game on one level, and on another level, I can escape my whole entire life for an hour or so.

It - like reading - helps to remind me that I’m a person in and of myself, if that even makes any kind of sense. I can call up my sanctuaries, or wait until I won’t be interrupted and dive into my sanctuaries, and it’s there - in the middle of a book, or in the midst of the Emerald Graves in Inquisition, that I re-find myself as a whole person.

What about you? What do you dive into?

Sunday post 29; It's Monday, What are you reading? 17

The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba here: http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ is a chance to catch up with the week that was, plan the week ahead and chat with other bloggers. It's Monday! What are you reading? has been taken over by Kathryn at http://bookdate.blogspot.co.nz/ and the title says it all. :)

Last week we returned to a kind of equilibrium, and spawn returned to school, much recovered from his fever/infection. All hail antibiotics. (All hail the glow cloud). Of course, he had one week of school and now has two weeks off for school holidays but eh. There's never a good time to get sick.

I worked, and kept chipping away at The Girl With All the Gifts (which really is very very good) and played a little Dragon Age and an even more little Mass Effect (I'm very bad at Mass Effect so far. Like. Awful.)

I'm never up for much of anything by the time I get home from work; after sorting out tea, lunches, clothes and uniforms (and homework), so last week I finally started on the last season of The Walking Dead. I finished Versailles and needed something else. So far TWD is good. Little bit slow and there's a little too much teen angst that I just don't care about, but I persist because I think The Walking Dead is one of the best shows to come along in a long time.

Let's see ... by Friday night I was so knackered that I nearly fell asleep on the couch about the time I meant to head to bed. Just. Exhausted. And I'd started coughing, which hasn't gone away, so I guess it's my turn for the seasonal lurgy. Marvellous.

What else. I started The Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling yesterday and I have to say, I'm really enjoying it. A friend pointed out to me that she's an excellent storyteller, and so whatever story she chooses to tell is bound to be a good one. So far that theory is holding.

For this week I think I'll pause on The Girl With all the Gifts and venture slowly back into Perdido Street Station.

I did a short reviews post last week, though I didn't get around to my happy list/things that are saving my life post. Hopefully this week, I'll see. I also have an idea brewing of - I'm not sure how to describe it - the things that give us sanctuary. From our daily lives; our children - books and games and things. I'm in mind of it because Spawn is playing Dragon Age Inquisition. Which is fine, I'm happy he can handle it and all that jazz but it's like ... this is MY escape. I'm actually thinking of launching a new playthrough that he doesn't know about, so I can have a proper, real escape with it.

Anyway. I'll see if I can even get a whole post out of that idea.

What about you?

How's your week been?

What are you reading?

Sunday post 28; It's Monday, What Are You Reading? 16

It's that time of the week again somehow - time to catch up with what's been going on around the blogosphere and also catch people up on what I've been doing. The Sunday Post is hosted here by Kimba: http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is over here, at Kathryn's: http://bookdate.blogspot.co.nz/

Let's see.... I didn't blog at all last week, but I had a bit of a week, to be honest. Between work (it still feels good to say that) and the fact spawn was hit from out of nowhere by a fever and a raging ear/throat infection which knocked him off his feet for most of the week ... well. I can do some of the work I'm doing from home, so I spent a fair amount of time shuttling back and forth.

By Friday night I was ready to fight a pigeon in the pit. Tired, but also capable of making bad choices, is what I'm saying.

We took spawn to the doctor on ... Thursday I think? 39.5degC fever, and raging infection. Woop. So we got antibiotics and paracetamol for the fever. Today was the first day he started to sound and act like himself. He didn't even touch his video games all week. That's how I knew it was BAD. Also, he kept crawling into my bed and falling asleep in the middle of the day, which he only does when he's not well.

So on Friday night I fired up Dragon Age 2 and ran around killing qunari and bandits and whatnot. Trying to push the rivalry so I can romance Fenris and still be nice to the mages. Therapy, is what I'm saying.

Saturday, I put off my stitch-and-watch friend because I was shattered. I spent most of the day either reading The Eye of the Labyrinth by Jennifer Fallon (book 2 of the Second Sons trilogy) and running around Thedas again - in Inquisition this time. Then I watched some TV - Versailles, I think and an episode of Face Off and went to bed. Spawn had a bad day on Saturday - miserable and sick and tired, but he'd turned a corner this morning thank goodness. Fever all but gone, and much more himself, which was a relief.

I finished The Eye of the Labyrinth today, and really, really enjoyed it. It's such a good series. I also finished The Drawing of the Three before that, so my reading is starting to pick up again *fingers crossed.*

I have The Girl With All the Gifts on the go on the ibooks to read at work, and after eating in the cafe once and being interrupted (grr) I now eat at my desk. I'm in an empty office so it's pretty peaceful.

What else. I'm hoping to do a short reviews post this week, and I picked up an idea from Trish at http://www.lovelaughterinsanity.com/ so I'm going to be doing a happy list/things that are saving my life post - hopefully this week.

So.

How's your week been?

What are you reading?

The year that was

I have to say, 2015 was a bit average for me. Not the worst year I've ever had - 2011 and 2006 vie for that title as those were the years I lost my mother and father, respectively.

This past year, however, we did lose three cats - two to the ravages
of time, and my sweet girl, Morgana, to a car. She was my lap buddy and only two and a half. That hole in my heart is still open. That photo on the right is very typical of her. Every time I sat down, there she was. I miss that quiet weight so very much.

Let's see ... I also rolled the dice on my job and took redundancy. Which, so far, hasn't been a bad thing. I've taken the chance to kick back at home, which I've never really been able to do. But it's getting to the point, now, where I do need to find something fairly soon.

Cross fingers for me? :)

What else. Spawn turned eight in May, and he's a happy, healthy gamer kid. So that's something to be thankful for. Here he is with one of the kittens we adopted last month - Felicia, I think. Inevitably, he's fascinated by them, but he's pretty good with them and of course kittens have little claws and teeth as warnings if things get to be too much.

Speaking of kittens ... they're both black, so getting good pix is nearly impossible, but I do try. That's Felicia and Ivy in the basket. I think Felicia is on the left - her coat is a bit lighter and glossier. They're very typical kittens and so a joy and a burden to have around - lol.
What else have I done this year? I ...... have played a lot of Dragon Age. Especially since I finished work in September. I'm on my third Origins playthrough since last year, and my third Inquisition playthrough since .. well. Since September. I'm trying to limit it at the moment a little bit because I play on PC and I've found that I'm getting pain in my right index finger knuckle, if that makes sense.

I've "traced" it back to the gaming, and much mouse-clicking, so I'm taking a few days off. But look at my Inquisitors; Ellana and Gethriel (I call him Dorkvellan because well, I accidentally made him look like a dork). Anyway, don't get me started on Dragon Age, I'll never stop.

I didn't expect to love a game so much, but good golly gosh, I love it so very, very, very much of a lot.


Anyway. I also made my goodreads goal this year: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2015 and I'm thinking of pushing the boat out and aiming for 80 books in 2016. We'll see.

I also took up baking again, something I haven't done in 20 years or more, with various rates of success. I enjoy the process though, and with it being school holidays, I can drag spawn in to help me with some of it, which he seems to enjoy.

Oh! I also moved! Sort of - lol. From http://justaddbooks.blogspot.co.nz/ to here. It felt like the right time. :)

How was your 2015? Good? Bad? Average? Great? Let me know :)

Sunday post - 12

The Sunday Post is a chance to catch up - with other bloggers' weeks, and to catch other bloggers up on your own week before and also ahead. Hosted here: http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/

I actually managed to blog last week. I'm still mildly shocked but I did it! I did a post of short book reviews here: http://lifetheuniverseandcats.blogspot.co.nz/2015/10/short-reviews.html and a review of the movie Crimson Peak, which is here: http://lifetheuniverseandcats.blogspot.co.nz/2015/10/crimson-peak-review.html

I also finished another book - The Rules by Stacey Kade, which is the first book in her Project Paper Dolls series. I enjoyed it well enough, and there should be a review coming this week (fingers crossed).

I'm halfway through, now, Welcome to Night Vale, the novel based on the podcast. I love the podcast and the book is shaping up to be my 2015 equal-favourite along with Station Eleven. I think listening to the podcast definitely helps with reading the book of Night Vale because it is steeped in weirdness. Also, Cecil Baldwin - the voice of Night Vale - has recorded the audiobook, if audiobooks are your thing.

What else. Last week was pretty quiet around here these parts. I stayed home a lot and watched a fair bit of TV and finished my first Dragon Age: Inquisition playthrough. It was nice, but it's starting to be time to put on my big girl socks and like ... look for work.

Anyway. I did buy books last week, because somehow I keep forgetting that I'm not buying books at the moment. They were the three for $15 sort out of the remainder bin, but. Still. No more books. (Including ebooks. For some reason in my head, ebooks aren't included in the ban. But yes. Yes they are.)

I had a makeover at the local Revlon counter on Friday because I'd bought some makeup there before and accidentally said yes instead of no to the makeover thing, but it was fine. The woman was lovely and it was actually kind of relaxing. I also went up to my old office to say goodbye to a former workmate who is also moving on - to a new job in his case.

I went to my friend's on Saturday night for our weekly stitch and watch, and made a bit of progress on my Grey Wardens pattern. I hadn't picked it up for a few days and it was nice to get back into it.

Anyway.

First on the to-do list for this week, is to study the road code and go and get my learner's licence, and then driving lessons. It's very easy for me to be complacent and stare into the void for far too long because it's cosy and I think the void is actually a nice place, but - no offence void - it's not exactly productive.

So, hopefully, by the end of this week I will be in possession of a learner's permit, and also  have booked some driving lessons.

I'm also going to venture back into baking this week, and I'm going to give the chocolate chippie biscuits another go, and hopefully make a lemon loaf, as we accidentally have too many lemons at the moment.

I'm also also nano-ing this year, hopefully I can actually write something instead of just signing up and forgetting like I usually do.

What are you up to this week?

The Calling by David Gaider - review

(Aside: That cover makes it look like the guy's head is bursting out of his chest. It's weird.)

Anyway. The Calling is the second novel set in the world of Dragon Age, the fantasy RPG game from BioWare.

After reclaiming the throne of Fereldan from the Orlesian Empire, King Maric has allowed the Grey Wardens - an elite and secretive group who can sense darkspawn (the little, medium and Big Bad of the series) - back into the kingdom after a 200-year exile.

Of course, nothing is that simple. And when a small group of Wardens tell the King that one of their number has booked it for the Deep Roads (where the little, medium and Big Bads live and the  source of MANY GAMING FRUSTRATIONS) and has aligned himself with the darkspawn. Which is bad, because well, darkspawn, but also the Warden - Bregan - knows the location of an Old God. If an Old God comes to the surface, it becomes an Archdemon and a Blight is unleashed.

So, no one is having a good day. Maric, against the advice of his closest associate Loghain Mac Tir, decides to go into the Deep Roads with the Wardens, as he's one of two people who can find one of the entrances. (The other one is Loghain, who thinks it's a fool's errand.)

The Calling (for me) felt like a prequel to the DLC, Awakenings. The Architect (a highly-evolved darkspawn, somewhere between a medium bad and a Big Bad) is in it, as is Utha, who is at the Architect's side in Awakenings, and who is one of the Grey Wardens in The Calling.

It's set about ... 20? 30? years before the events of Origins, which I'm 100 per cent basing on Duncan being about 18-20 in the novel. He's a young rogue, plucked from the streets of Val Royeaux in Orlais to join the Wardens.

I'm getting off-track.

I really enjoyed The Calling, I have to say. It felt familiar and comfortable - in the best way. It referenced events from The Stolen Throne, which I haven't read, but I was never confused (though having played Origins and Awakenings did help).

It's an easy fantasy novel to read, and it was nice - for me - to get lost in the Dragon Age world in a different medium.

Also, it made me cry.

Twice.

Sunday post 8

What's kicking world?

The Sunday Post is a chance to catch up - chat about what's been going on on your blog and in real life, and what's coming up.

Hosted here: http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/

It was my first week as a non-employed person, but spawn was sick for much of it, so I haven't quite settled in to any kind of a routine yet.

It was one of those weeks where you feel like you get absolutely nothing done but you're still exhausted by the end of it.

I did manage to blog a couple of times though.

I reviewed Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay: http://lifetheuniverseandcats.blogspot.co.nz/2015/09/in-effort-to-broaden-my-own-reading.html#comment-form

and also the movie Scream, which I watched for my Friday movie night: http://lifetheuniverseandcats.blogspot.co.nz/2015/09/scream-review.html

Coming up this week, hopefully will be reviews for The Rest of Us Just Live Here, by Patrick Ness and Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller.

I pretty much inhaled the Ness in a couple of days, and I have about 100 pages to go on Our Endless Numbered Days, so fingers crossed. Hopefully spawn will be back at school this week, and I can settle in to something that looks like a routine.

Up next, for reading, I have The Calling, by David Gaider, which is a Dragon Age novel, Prophecy by Ellen Oh, which I picked up at the library and fits with my personal 1/3 diversity reading challenge, and either Uprooted by Naomi Novik, or Finders Keepers by Stephen King.

For non-reading ... I didn't watch a movie this past Friday; instead I watched a couple of episodes of Empire, in order to clear some space on my hard drive. I love Empire - it's so, so, so clever. It's basically King Lear, set in modern times at a recording company wherein the owner is trying to decide which of his sons will succeed him.

I finished my 10 hours of stitching on Circe (I stitch in a rotation, of sorts) and I've started my Grey Wardens pattern. Which I'm keeping very simple because I'm floating without a net on this one.
I'm doing it on 28-ct lugana (I think) hand-dyed purple haze (I think) and I'm using 336 and 415 for the wording. I just need border colour ideas:
https://twitter.com/justaddbooks/status/642244102721945600

I met with the job consultant on Thursday, and I have "homework" of a sort to get done. Nothing taxing - just working on updating my CV and registering with job websites. Our next meeting is Tuesday week.

Speaking of, my redundancy payout came through (yay) so I can feed my family and pay my rent for a bit, which is nice. I'm still waiting on the superannuation though. So that's on the to-do list for this week for sure.

I'm hoping to finish Empire, and maybe Salem this week. I need to choose a movie for Friday night (suggestions welcome) and I'm hoping to finish Our Endless Numbered Days, and read Prophecy. I want to at least catch up on my Goodreads challenge.

I'm still batting at Inquisition and playing it badly but it's so pretty. *_*

How's your week been and/or going?