New Christmas Miniatures!

See I did make a few things! New Christmas bags and Christmas medieval books

Remembering John Lennon

Today's the anniversary of John Lennon's tragic death.

Imagine... what other wonderful music he might have made...

Oprah picks classics; what about small, indie and midlist authors?

Looks like Oprah has dug in the classics archives for her next two Oprah's Book Club picks: “A Tale of Two Cities” and “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens. She reportedly hasn't read either one.

I admit, I can't remember all of these two, either, but playing devil's advocate, why not pick the appropriate "A Christmas Carol" (most having seen the movie, probably never read it in print) or "Oliver Twist?"

While Oprah can choose whomever she likes, it's a shame that author Jonathan Franzen, not only lied but got a second chance on her show. Not that second chances are bad, but at the same time, perhaps some lesser known authors could have better benefited from the push?

It's a shame that only names from big publishers, "literary"-style books, and much older classics have been chosen. While everyone should read the classics, will they, even with the "Oprah" touch?

With eBooks and the Kindle selling like gang-busters, wouldn't it be "novel" if Oprah or any of her staff perused some of the many worthwhile eBooks and short story collections by lesser known small press, indie and mid-list authors?

Wouldn't a Kindle or any eBook reader with a selection of books be a neat gift and focus? A suggestion perhaps?

** What do you think?

Merry Christmas! Free Artisans in Miniature December issue

An early Christmas gift! Check out the free December issue of the Artisans in Miniature (AIM) magazine.

And don't forget to check out the daily miniatures projects in the free AIM Advent Calendar.

My New "Baby!"

Just brought her home yesterday late afternoon... 7 wk old German Shepherd. Still deciding on a name - Cleo, Gracie, Lacey? Ideas? (We're calling her Gracie it seems. :>))

AIM: Artisans in Miniature Miniatures Advent Calendar

How fun! Enjoy a miniature Christmas project a day by AIM artisans.

Click door one and two at this link to access the AIM Advent calendar. Use this link to go to a door each day in December.

Wisconsin Regional Writer's Contest

WISCONSIN REGIONAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION SPRING WRITING CONTESTS OPEN JANUARY 1

WRWA Spring contests open January 1, 2011. Entries must be received by March 15.

WRWA Spring contests include the Florence Lindemann Humor Contest, for nonfiction essays or articles with a humorous theme, and the Al P. Nelson Feature Article Contest, for nonfiction articles with a link to Wisconsin. Reminiscences have dominated previous contests, but profiles, essays, how-tos, travel, humor, and round-up articles have made their mark, too.

The contest rules PDF can be found on the WRWA website.

Miniatures Monday: Beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

For a change, I decided to put a Christmas scene in the Victorian parlor box I found at the flea market this summer.

The old Christmas card I found (the tree is embroidered) made a great backdrop. Funny, I couldn't find any of my smaller Christmas trees anywhere...

* Are you ready for Christmas? Working on any Christmas minis or crafts?

Happy Happy Award!

My pal Courtney at Haunt Jaunts gave me this Happy Award (who doesn't need some of that right?) so I thought I'd post it and share it with others.

HAPPY 101 AWARD RULES
1. Copy the award image into a post
2. List 10 things that make you happy
3. Tag 10 bloggers who brighten your day
4. Put in a link to their blogs
5. Notify the award receivers
6. Award recipients link back to sender’s blog

10 Things That Make Me Happy (in no particular order!)

1 Miniatures
2 Family, friends
3 Puppies and dogs!
4 God, faith
5 Writing (when it goes right!)
6 Blog pals
7 Fellow writers who inspire me
8 Computers (love 'em, hate 'em)
9 Seeing something new
10 Music

I tag - Some great writers and blogs I enjoy:

1 Morgan Mandel's Double M blog
2 Marian Allen
3 Camille Minichino and the ladies at Killer Hobbies
4 Kat the Hat Lady
5 Lea at Muse It Up Publishing
6 Patty Benedict, Woopitydooart
7 Katie at Katie's Clay Corner
8 Joann Swanson for sharing her how-to's with us!
9 Kitty at Minis by Kitty
10 You the reader! Feel free to grab the award and share it with others!

Gobble Gobble! Happy Turkey Day in miniature!

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! Here's more turkey in case you didn't get enough. haa! Scene is my mini Thanksgiving table, with items I got in a past swap.