October 10, 2010

Miniature Eye Candy: Mexican Corner Room


Thought I'd share a few older rooms and photos that I haven't shown in awhile. These may be familiar to some readers and new to others.

I made this corner room of foam core board covered with tinted lightweight Spackle. I liked adding the small roof and thought it added something to the room. The floor is mat board, which I painted and cut lines for tiles. Many of the items were from a miniatures group swap. I love the colors! Sometimes a smaller project is fun as you can fit a lot in, but actually get it done. (My problem. ha!) Ole!

* See more of minis at the Verstraete Miniatures Gallery.

October 09, 2010

Wear Pink and Click for National Breast Cancer Month!


In the United States alone, more than 207,000 persons will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, according to the American Cancer Society.

Practically every family in the country and across the world has been touched by breast cancer... mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, grandmothers...

Don't forget to CLICK at the Breast Cancer Site each day to give free mammograms to women in need in hopes of early treatment and continue to pray for a cure for this scourge!

** Today is also PINK SATURDAY, so stop by Beverly's blog and say hello!

October 08, 2010

National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month - Adopt a dog like Petey from Searching for a Starry Night!


October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.

Every dog deserves a loving home. Even Petey from Searching for a Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery was adopted from a shelter. For Petey, having "the energy of ten dogs," as Sam says, may have worn out his former owners. Or maybe it was because his coat was a little blotchy and less than show perfect.

No matter. Whatever the reason, Petey goes home with Helena Sanchez, the clerk at the pet shop where Sam and Lita like to go help with the animals.

For Sam and her best friend, Lita, "Petey-sitting" and spending time with their new canine companion while Helena shops for her upcoming wedding becomes a new and memorable experience, especially given Petey's often playful attitude and mischievousness. He especially plays an important role in their search for the missing miniature "Starry Night" replica that Sam and Lita hope to find.

BUY:

* KINDLE
* Print
* B&N eBook
* Kobo (Smartphone, Tablet, Ereader)
* Sony Reader

October 07, 2010

Let's Play Killer - Your Own Serial Killer Doll


I first spotted this over on the Lipstick Chronicles blog and thought... huh?

So, it appears that the character from the Dexter show, (drawn from the novel, Darkly Dreaming Dexter) whom Wikipedia describes as "a blood spatter analyst who moonlights as a serial killer" for a police department in case you didn't know, is now a doll - to be precise, a 7-inch action figure.

Gee, what a great gift huh? And he even comes with his own knife...


The show has won acclaim and the novel has drawn praise as well... I did watch a few episodes when it aired briefly on regular TV instead of cable as I wondered what it was all about. Frankly, it made me sick seeing him in his element.

I'm all for freedom of the press and freedom of expression but... I still can't get my mind past this. While some TV cop/murder shows tend to often glorify the crime, making it almost attractive to those who may be sociopathic, this is a guy who tries to do good yet his way of thinking still has him killing... and pleasuring in it.

Yes, brilliant characterization, interesting fictional idea, but... does it go too far? Should killing be "entertainment?" (Yes it often is I know in horror novels; but you expect monsters or "killers" to be creepy, not enjoying themselves like Dexter who still indulges in his 'weakness' as his "secret" while trying to live a normal life on the surface.) The worst was the radio commercial that aired having him talking to his infant daughter; it just seemed too freaky.

And now... an action figure? It's, well, creepy. Yes, creeps don't need anyone to give them ideas, but why glorify it any further? What do you think?

October 06, 2010

Halloween Partying at Haunt Jaunts!


My friend, Courtney, over at Haunt Jaunts, a travel blog for restless spirits who love haunted places, is having a Hallowen Party all month!

Get in on the prizes, spooky fun and all kinds of who-knows-what! (Leave it to Courts to talk about the pervy Halloween costumes! And she's probably right, some are kind of creepy!)

** Stop by and see what she has brewing. I'll be popping in over there later in the month.

** Also check out Haunt Jaunts at Facebook.

October 05, 2010

New Miniatures How-To: Halloween Pillows in AIM Magazine

The fun Halloween pillows pictured here are part of a new how-to I did for the spooky Halloween/October issue of Artisans in Miniature (AIM) Magazine.




All the pillows are made from cotton Halloween fabric - and beware: glitter! (I love glitter, but... you'll see my warning in the magazine. haa!) It's a fun, easy way to decorate your mini house for Halloween! (The furniture shown is half scale, but the pillows can be used in any size.) And guess what? No worry: they're no-sew! (I used glue!)


Also, here's another photo of the first pillow I did, a bat cut-out which I just love! I added a smaller bat cut-out on the end of the bed, too.

October 04, 2010

New Miniatures Story in CDHM Magazine: Sherri Colvin's Dolls

See my story on doll maker Sherri Colvin titled, "And Then There Was Magic," in the October CDHM's Miniature Way Magazine,.





** Check out Colvin's fantastic miniature dolls and detailed resin mini doll kits. (Love the kits for miniature witches or older ladies; great faces!)

October 03, 2010

Miniature Eye Candy!




For fun, an assortment of some miniature candy from past swaps that I've displayed in my wallhanging market box.

October 02, 2010

Read Something Scary! Killer Valentine Ball & Muse Masquerade Festival!


Getting in the Halloween mood! Come to MuseItUp Publishing's Masquerade Festival all month!

* Prizes, free ebooks and more! Visit the MuseItUp Publishing blog to sign up to the reader's list and check out the day's blogs!

** The perfect scary read! The Killer Valentine Ball

A party at a day camp; a blind date on Valentine's Day. Can you say loser? But this is no ordinary party...

The Killer Valentine Ball has more thrills than Jess ever expected--or will ever forget. (You've got to read it for the surprise ending!)

Excerpt:

As they walked into the shadows, Jess noticed that things weren't quite as they appeared. Sections of the room lightened for a moment before being cast again in deep shadow. What Jess thought she saw in that split second made her heart race...Buy: The Killer Valentine Ball

October 01, 2010

Writing when Hungry? Food in Searching for a Starry Night and the Killer Valentine Ball

I'm not sure if it's a matter of writing when hungry, (like shopping when hungry? Don't do it!) but food seems to appear quite a few times in many of my stories and books.

Even funnier, I just noticed the connection via a group of my favorite quotes from Searching for a Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery.

In the book, friends Sam and Lita eat favorites like ice cream (several times!), but they also enjoy other favorites like iced tea, lemonade, cookies and turkey sandwiches. (Read chapter 1 and see reviews at link.)


Memorable Quotes:

Lita: “Butter cookies. Any cookies, really. That always does it for me.”

Sam: “He (Petey) looked like a hot dog without the bun.”

Petey the Dachshund: “Woof!”

Buy:
* Print
* KINDLE
* B&N eBook
* KOBO: Smartphone, Tablet, Ereader
* Sony Reader

** Got any food favorites in your own stories or books you like to read? **


In the new ebook, The Killer Valentine Ball, Jess attends what sounds like a fun Valentine's Ball - at first... They have drinks... the tables are fully set, but not how you'd expect...

Just in time for Halloween!

A party at a day camp; a blind date on Valentine's Day. Can you say loser? But this is no ordinary party...

The Killer Valentine Ball has more thrills than Jess ever expected--or will ever forget. (You've got to read it for the surprise ending!)

Excerpt:

As they walked into the shadows, Jess noticed that things weren't quite as they appeared. Sections of the room lightened for a moment before being cast again in deep shadow. What Jess thought she saw in that split second made her heart race...

Read more & Buy: The Killer Valentine Ball

** Also available on Kindle. Buy: