Page 56, Line 5 from Searching for a Starry Night

Someone mentioned a fun little game you can post on your blog, Facebook or Twitter pages, so I thought I'd try it here.

How to play:

Grab a book you're reading. Go to page 56. Find the fifth sentence. Post it as your status on your site, and the instructions as a comment.

I've posted the following line on my Facebook page:

"In spite of her wish that this would end quickly, Sam was enjoying herself. She felt her interest grow as she unwrapped another painting."
- From Searching for a Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery by Christine Verstraete.

** Share yours. What's your line 5 on page 56?

Easy Creative Ideas to do in Miniature or with the Kids

Summer's the perfect time to be creative and have fun with the kids. Crafting's not only a good way to relax and let go of stress, but what better way to bond and make memories? You never know what your kids will share, too, while you are busy crafting.

A few good ideas I found for life-size projects while surfing around: (Many of these can be easily adapted to dollhouse scale too!)

* How about this? Create and decorate your own cardboard furniture. The teapot table and teacup seats are fun, inexpensive kid furnishings. I can see these adapted to miniature, too.


* Create a pot person for your backyard from regular terra cotta flowerpots. (Great, easy miniature idea as well!)

* Check out this cute flowerpot fountain from artist Mary Engelbreit!(I can definitely see this in a dollhouse garden!)

* Here's a whole page of more craft ideas using terra cotta pots.

* Make a cool vintage art pendant (or wall art!) using a domino

* Useful guide to using paint primers

* Free victorian clipart pansy. Check her site for periodic free images.

* Lots of free vintage clipart. See victorian children and other images at main page. (Sample above, victorian boot)

*Have fun! Got any favorite craft ideas of your own to share?

This is Incredible! Amazing Art

I spotted this mentioned on the Women of Mystery blog and had to share it here.

Can you guess what material this man uses? This incredible artist Saimir Strati makes mosaics out of an everyday material you'd never think of using. Can you guess what?

I've never seen anything like it before. It's absolutely amazing. Such skill (and patience). If I tried it... ouch! Check out his other mosaics also.

"Public Enemies" - John Dillinger and Johnny Depp

Gangster lore is part of growing up in Chicago. Some people may find the admiration of people of the time for such violent men rather odd, but for those suffering during the Great Depression, Dillinger's Robin Hood gestures (and their understandable hatred for banks) seemed to justify their reactions. (Not that such behaviour is unique; the scene in PUBLIC ENEMIES of the people cheering Dillinger's escape made me think of OJ).

I remember years ago talking with an older shoeshine man who worked in our northwest side neighborhood. He was in his 70s and expressed that same admiration for John Dillinger as a kind of "Robin Hood" bank robber, as shown in the new movie PUBLIC ENEMIES featuring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale.

The interesting thing about such lore is you forget that Dillinger and his like were dangerous, violent men.

Some haven't given the movie good reviews, but watch actual video of Dillinger and you can see the reported charm and that smirk which Depp got down perfect.

The best part of such a film is seeing familiar landmarks like the Biograph Theatre renovated into what they looked like back in the 1930s.

Yes, as some people have said, you won't learn much about Dillinger or other gangsters like Pretty Boy Floyd or Baby Face Nelson watching this movie. It has a lot of action and I jumped several times when the shooting began. But it seemed realistic. To me, going back in time is the best part of watching a period film. I enjoyed the movie, and knew some of the background already, so for that aspect, Id watch it again. What about you?

* See the actual FBI Dillinger wanted poster

* Read the New York Times front page on Dillinger's death

* Watch the Wisconsin Little Bohemia Lodge video

John Dillinger

New Author Snapshot column, Mystery First Lines

Enjoy some new great mystery reads by checking out their first lines in my summer Author Snapshot column at Mysterical-e.com"

Featured authors include:

* Margot Justes (A Hotel in Paris);

* Gordon Aalborg, (Dining with Devils, A Tasmanian Thriller);

* Deborah Sharp, (Mama Does Time);

* Alan Cook, (Run Into Trouble);

* Sunny Frazier, (Where Angels Fear)

Enjoy!

Happy July 4th in Miniature!

Nothing is more fun than miniatures in patriotic red, white and blue! Most amazing is the food. Here are some fantastic patriotic miniature foods I came across. Check out the work of these great miniaturists! Happy July 4th!

Who doesn't enjoy a picnic? I created the picnic scene patterned after a cookbook cover.



Still hungry?

How about some cupcakes from MiniHoliday on Etsy?

Ooh! I love this celebration cake from Blue Kitty on Etsy.

Michael Jackson

What a shock to hear that Michael Jackson died.

Sure he was eccentric and had other problems, but no one can deny the sheer talent he had.

While many consider "Off the Wall" as the best album ever, who can resist the monster dance in "Thriller"?

For fun, I thought I'd share some dollhouse printies I made from our albums. Even dollhouses need MJ albums right? (click to get full image; right click to save. Personal use only.) Print on heavy card stock and spray with a light gloss.

Kids Create a Miniature Room at the Library

It was fun seeing kids get creative in the class I led Saturday called "Create Your Dream Room in Miniature" at the Schaumburg Township Library in Schaumburg, Ill. (This is one amazing library; check the enchanted forest page. I'll put up my own pix later.)

The miniature room was made in a standard size gift bag and used half scale furniture from the wooden Creatology dollhouse furniture puzzle found at Michael's Arts and Crafts.

We used scrapbook papers for the back wall and floor (or they could use a "wood" print paper.) They painted the two inner side walls. The best part was seeing what the kids came up with. Each student also received a signed copy of Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery.

Maddy mixed her own colors to create an original floor and wall to accent her avant-garde furnishings. Hey doesn't everyone have a lawn chair in their bathroom to lounge in?



Caitlyn was a future Picasso as she chose to make her own version of modern art, forgoing the standard room setting for a furnished ceiling.



Sarah took the traditional design approach and made a colorful setting that looks ready to move into. She even painted her own window and curtains!




Michael did a great job, as well, making a comfy looking room and bed. He even added his own original painting!



I loved the bright color combinations Claire used to accent the confetti-print paper she chose. I can't wait to see how she finishes it.




Here's the room I did and used for a sample.

The kids did an amazing job and seemed to enjoy it. They have enough furniture to do several rooms, so maybe we'll have some future miniaturists!

The library agreed to display the kids' finished works, so I'm hoping to get more photos when they are brought in.

Living with a Disabled Dog: Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog Blog Tour

Today, I welcome back author Barbara Techel, who is coming by as part of a multi-stop blog tour for FRANKIE, THE WALK 'N ROLL DOG, a charming book that gives children a glimpse at some of the challenges Frankie and her "mom" Barbara faced when the miniature Dachshund ruptured a disc in her back.

After a fall, Frankie had a 30 percent chance of walking again, but she ultimately lost all feeling in her back legs. By sharing the story of how Frankie continues to "roll on" with her own doggie wheelchair, Barbara wanted to inspire young (and older) readers alike to have hope and find courage in facing their own difficulties.


(Pictured: Frankie wearing her medal after her induction into the Wisconsin Pet Hall of Fame)


With brightly colored illustrations by Wisconsin artist Victoria Kay Lieffring, the book tells about Frankie's life before and after the accident.

While many editors and publishers might want to shy away from talking animal books, who better to tell Frankie's story than Frankie herself? (with, as Barb says, some help from her "human mom.") This approach helps the reader relate to Frankie's story and gives the book a more personal touch. Children, especially, can feel empathy for the real Frankie via her story and learn compassion for the disabled. The illustrations are simple, but serve as a backdrop for the wonderful, big-eyed images of Frankie whose motto is "be positive, and keep on rolling!"

Sure, there are difficulties taking care of a paralyzed dog that many dog owners may not be able to deal with, but Barbara says that living with a disabled dog does have its own blessings.

Top 10 Reasons Why Living with a Disabled Dog Is a Blessing - By Barbara Techel

1. Living with a disabled dog like Frankie helps me appreciate every moment of every day.

2. Living with a disabled dog has given me a new appreciation for patience.

3. Living with a disabled dog makes me smile watching Frankie’s perseverance, and helps me realize I can do anything I set my mind to do.

4. Living with a disabled dog means no cleaning up doggie do-do in the yard. Because Frankie is partially paralyzed I express her bladder and bowels for her, and I do it right on the toilet. :)

5. Living with a disabled dog has connected me with some of the kindest and most compassionate people.

6. Living with a disabled dog is an honor. Being with Frankie and watching her thrive despite her challenges makes me appreciate all the beauty of life that surrounds us each day.

7. Living with a disabled dog reminds me that challenges can get me down, or they can uplift me and help me grow.

8. Living with a disabled dog has taught me to be grateful no matter what.

9. Living with a disabled dog makes me smile every morning when I wake, and eager to start the day.

10. Living with a disabled dog has blessed my life beyond anything I could have ever imagined. My life has been enriched ten-fold because of Frankie, and I thank God for my little dog with tires each and every night before I go to sleep.

** See other stops on the Frankie Walk 'N Roll blog tour.

More information:

* NEW! Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Activity Workbook

* Frankie's blog

* Frankie at Facebook

* Twitter/walknrolldog

Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully by Julianne Moore

It's humor to the rescue as Freckleface Strawberry faces a bully called Windy Pants Patrick.

Acclaimed actress, four-time Academy Award nominee, and picture book author JULIANNE MOORE again teams up with bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham for their new children's book, FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY AND THE DODGEBALL BULLY.

This time, their loveable seven-year-old character encounters a bully during a game of dodgeball. Now Freckleface and her friends must figure out how to stand up to the playground bully who faces them down with the dreaded dodgeball in his hands!

Ms. Moore’s humor and heart made her debut picture book, FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY, a charming story inspired by her own childhood experience, a favorite with young readers and critics.

The story's title stems from her own childhood nickname, which she says she disliked as much as her red hair and freckles. “As a child, my hatred of my freckles was only matched by my love of reading,” says the author, who now tolerates her distinctly beautiful coloring and found amusement in telling her own kids about her childhood nickname.

** See the video of Julianne Moore talking about being a writer.

Julianne Moore is the U. S. Ambassador for Save the Children, working with children and families in rural areas, focusing on literacy and early childhood education. She successfully launched the Save the Children Valentine program in 2008 where children’s book illustrators donated art work for cards, with the proceeds benefiting poverty in the United States.

She is also a member of Reach Out and Read, a children’s literacy organization dedicated to educating parents on the importance of reading to their children.

An acclaimed actress, she has appeared in such movies as The Hours, Far from Heaven, The End of the Affair, and Boogie Nights. She now lives with her husband and children in New York City.

* Don't forget to check out the next stop on the blog tour:
Wednesday, June 24 – Chelle Cordero

* Buy Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully by Julianne Moore at Amazon.com.

* For complete tour information and schedule, visit the tour home page.

** See other videos of Julianne Moore here.