November 30, 2011

Christmas Sale! In Miniature Style II

Now until Dec. 31, get the pdf ebook version of IN MINIATURE STYLE II at a 20% discount at the publisher's site.

- See link here.

November 26, 2011

Writing and Minis - Common Ground


While I've gotten a kick out of the fun food earrings and necklaces I've seen on places like Etsy, here's something the bibliophile, writer and miniaturist will equally enjoy - mini bookcase necklaces.

Author Cheryl Rainfield shared this on google+ and I had to share it here as I admit, I hadn't seen these before. Clever idea!

* See miniature bookcases by Cory of Coryographies on Etsy.

November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!



A healthy, happy and safe Thanksgiving to all! Count your blessings (not the calories!) ha! (Scene - my miniature Thanksgiving table.)

November 23, 2011

Haunted Hot Dogs in Wisconsin?

If you're interested in the unexplained, check out my post today at Courtney's Haunt Jaunts blog.

Check out the pix, and you decide if Hot Rod Dogs is haunted...?

November 22, 2011

Short Christmas fiction: Christmas at the North Pole Compound - more eBook formats!

Got a Nook or other e-reader? My short fun Christmas story, CHRISTMAS AT THE NORTH POLE COMPOUND, is now available at Smashwords in several eBook formats (epub, sony, pdf, etc.) It also is available for Kindle. And it's less the price of a cup of coffee!

Feeling the holiday stress? Relax with a fun story and have a chuckle!

It's not all Fa-la-la and Ho-Ho-Ho at the North Pole Compound when Santa's elves find someone's stolen the gifts!

Can Chief Elf Investigator Finius Flaherty crack the case by Dec. 24th and save Christmas?

A Holiday Crime Story for all ages!

November 21, 2011

E-Readers - Got a favorite?

Today at Acme Author's Link, I'm talking e-readers.

Which is your favorite: Kindle, Nook, Blackberry Playbook? Follow the link and weigh in....

November 17, 2011

Welcome to fantasy author and illustrator Vonnie Winslow Crist


Today I welcome author Vonnie Winslow Crist, who has a new collection of fantasy tales out. The Greener Forest is an eclectic collection of (lucky) 13 tales with a "pinch" of poetry and several illustrations.

(The cover alone is a delight! And if you love fantasy art, check out the detailed and adorable maze she drew and is free at the publisher's site. See link at end of post.)

This charming book (print, eBook, Kindle and other formats) is sure to delight those who love the fanciful, with tales of spriggans, goblins, swan maidens, angels, dragons, ningyo, and other Faerie creatures. But all is not good and light -- there are some dark and uncertain times lurking between the pages.

About the book:

"In 'The Greener Forest' anything is possible. Silver maples sing in angel-song. Spriggans skulk about cypress knees and wreak havoc at an amusement park. The Applehead Lady's true identity is revealed by moonlight filtering through the branches of an ancient tree.

A scarecrow finds true love in an ash grove. And a wayward beech tree root sends a woman into the arms of a kindhearted giant. These stories and more lead the reader into the depths of The Greener Forest, where Faerie and the everyday world collide. There is dark and light, evil and good, and uncertain dusky gray lurking between the pages of this book. Discover that all is not what it seems at first glance, and wondrous things still happen in 'The Greener Forest.'"

Vonnie, who's been "drawing and painting as long as I can remember," was encouraged by an artistic grandfather to pursue her talent. She's since taught art for the Community Services Division of her local community colleges, illustrated magazines and books, taught poetry for 10 years for the Maryland State Arts Council's Artists-in-Education Program, taught creative writing, and more. Some of her work has been published in The Vegetarian Journal and Faerie Magazine. Learn more about Vonnie at her blog.

* Bonus: Download a free maze at Cold Moon Press, illustrated by Vonnie - a must see! You can also listen to an audio excerpt of the story, "Birdling" from "The Greener Forest" at the same page.

** BUY: THE GREENER FOREST

* Assorted links at Cold Moon Press

* (Amazon, print - click cover)


November 16, 2011

Show Seen 4: Dollhouse Rooms - A Room with a View



This is the last set of pix from the 2011 Wee C Miniatures Club Show in Elk Grove Village, Ill. And my favorite, I think. I've been saving things to make an Egyptian room and still haven't decided on the exterior. This is a great idea. (Please ignore the glare on the acrylic.) See the first pix on Day 1.



This is a clever, unique way to do the outside. Love it! Florence made the room look like books by using paper towel rolls with Styrofoam (TM) packing. She covered the edges and painted. It sure looks real. I love the portrait on the outside wall!





November 15, 2011

Show Seen 3: Dollhouse Rooms... Holidays and Themes







Show Seen 3: More pix from the Wee C Dollhouse Show. This show is great in that they have a whole room for exhibits only. There's so much to see, so I only took pix of some of the projects, though all were great! Come back tomorrow for the last pix (my favorite project, I think). See Day 1 - Next: Day 4.

Holidays:
Two cozy Christmas scenes.



More formal rooms:






More detail: Milady's wardrobe:
Love it!



A Touch of Whimsy:

A creative project - what a cute idea for another way to display minis!



November 14, 2011

Miniatures Monday: Show Seen 2 - More Dollhouse Show Rooms and Houses



More of the amazing dollhouses and rooms from the Wee C Miniatures Club Show in Elk Grove Village, Ill. There's more pix coming the next two days, so be sure to stop back. See Day 1 pix. Next: Day 3.

Holiday Scenes:

The fall leaf house (above) was one of my favorites. Not only is the design unique, but it's neat to see the amount of detail you can get in a small project. Sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed or unsure of where to start, but this let's you do a lot in a little space. There is also a kind of leaf collage on the roof.



Courtyards:

I always liked the look of having the outside - inside. I want to do one of these yet. Two different takes on the same theme, one fall themed and two in Tudor style.








A smaller scale Southwest scene: