Nets, pomegranates, sky

Approximately-weekly news, #72

Harris has rested his paw*.

And gone deep and narrow for his new hole. (Is this better, do we think? Does he think? Sigh.)

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Knitting news! The Knitter-In-Residence project continues. (I wrote about in last week’s newsletter.) I’m midway through the project, which is the equivalent of the point 60,000 words into a novel when I doubt all of my choices**. However, you have been here for long enough for me to trust you with sight of my somewhat mad-looking work-in-progress:

Two cowls, both to be further embellished; I’m holding my nerve and hoping that they will come right. (The net is supposed to look scrappy. The next phase involves Gorgeous Yet Straightforward Embroidery, which I fear only exists in my head, like the red dress I have been trying to buy since 1989.)

Writing-wise, I am at the other end of the confidence scale. I’m about 15,000 words in and I love everything about this new novel. As the saying goes, if I was chocolate I’d eat myself. This feeling won’t last - and this is a good thing, because judgement, discernment and stony-hearted revision are just as important in writing as what I’m doing now - but it is SUCH FUN. Getting-up-at-5.30am-to-write-before-walking-Harris levels of fun. ***

And in Christmas Does Not Knit Itself corner, aren’t these socks pretty? I’m afraid I can’t remember what the pattern is, but they are knitted in a lovely DK sock yarn which is a godsend to those of us who are A Bit Behind This Year. (I promise they *are* the same size, though it looks as though the one on the left is bigger.)

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I went to a craft fair to do a bit of Christmas shopping. Which accidentally included buying a mug for myself. It is SO beautiful, and (I suspect) strongly implicated in my current writing jubilation. And there should be more pomegranate themed items about. (We’re over Katherine of Aragon by now, surely?) Though I may be biased because I love almost all fruit above almost**** everything else. (You can keep your bananas and Granny Smith apples, thanks all the same.)

It’s made by Abi, whose website is here. Her work is lovely.

For balance*****, my daughter is also an excellent potter, and her shop is here.

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Following some requests this week, to confirm: yes, I will be very happy to sign, dedicate, gift-wrap and post a book to you ready to gift at Christmas, or post it directly to someone else on your behalf. Just reply to this email and let me know which book and who to send it to, and we’ll get it sorted. (My last posting date will be Friday 5th December.)

Also available: gift vouchers for Zoom workshops (on plot, character, dialogue, memoir, and creating a writing life). You can also buy gift vouchers to be put towards other writing services.

And a word to the wise: requests for mentoring, manuscripts and edits always go through the roof in January, so if you think you might want us to work together in early 2026, now’s the time to get in touch for a no-obligation chat about what you need.

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Sky-wise, November continues beautiful.

Also, November berry game is strong.

It could be that November always has good berries, and I haven’t noticed before. I have developed a dog-walker’s view of nature of late.****** Or maybe a Quaker’s view (I took these photos outside Newcastle Meeting House on Sunday).

Until next week, friends, be well, and warm. I wish you a good book and good sleep. (These are the best things I can think of.)

Love,

Stephanie x

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*sorry about the bits, though he does like airing them, I’m afraid. I was going to have a go at pixellating them, but (a) I don’t know how and (b) it might draw more attention...

**and announce to Beloved Mr Butland that I will be getting an office job, 9-5, doing what I am told and no more, and burning down the studio forthwith; at which point he looks unsurprised and reminds me that I feel like this at 60,000 words every time I write a novel and then forget all about it. And I have a sad little sulk before conceding that that may well be the case.

***Yes, really.

****Exceptions: meringues, cheese, porridge after cold morning walks.

*****loyalty/nepotism

******especially strong if the dog in question spends anything up to seven minutes standing, unmoving and immovable, in a puddle, for no reason discernible to his human.