Color Posts - Tomorow is Pink, Next is Yellow

Just realized that since I mentioned green yesterday, tomorrow is Pink Saturday. Be sure to stop back for some neat things in the pink.

I'd like to do my own color posts - my favorite color being yellow. Send me a link with your favorite yellow items and one photo, and I'll post them Thursday for Yellow Day. Be sure to look for the post and link to me, too.
I'll email you back that I got your items. Could be fun.

So you think you're going green? No, you're not!

Going green, being concerned about the environment, is a good thing.

It's got us thinking about all the things we throw away needlessly and the affect our actions have on the world around us.

Like books. Ebooks are cheaper (or should be), you can put them on your Kindle or ereader and have tons of books at the ready. Saves gas, too.

Some people recycle rainwater (older folks did this years ago - they put a barrel out to catch rainwater, what's new really isn't) or use solar panels... they walk more, drive less, ride bikes....

We recycle cans and newspapers...

But...

there is one thing I keep wondering about and so far I haven't found any answers.

Sure that all helps, but what do we all throw our garbage away in, week after week? Big giant plastic bags! Right?

We never think about those as there really is no alternative that I'm aware of.

Until everyone can go to the grocery store and pick up reasonably priced biodegradable plastic bags or large recycled paper bags that are sturdy, what is the answer? Just one thing I've thought about.

** What do you think?

* Yes, Searching for a Starry Night is available in ebook and in Kindle

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.