Dec 2, 2014 |
Sounds simple, right? But until two years ago, I didn’t know how beautiful such an idea could be.
Holiday Candles on the Mantle
The local dollar store or thrift store is a great source for inexpensive supplies.
- Votive glasses
- Decorative stones
- Platter or tray
- battery votive candles
I found this great candle, tray and stone set two years ago for $14. I just had to add the candles. Since then, I’ve seen similar product at dollar and thrift stores, but I prefer the great selection at craft stores. Choose your product with whatever color scheme you like. Pink glass on a long silver tray. White glass on a circular white plate. Red and green glass on a gold square. Place the battery candles into the votive glasses and arrange them on the tray with the decorative stone. Although the battery candles are a little expensive ($20 for twenty-four), they last quite a while and won’t scorch the glass.
Candles on the Mantle
It makes a great table-topper or mantle decoration.
Bedford Manor: Christmas on a Budget
They also make great hostess gifts, as you can easily put together your own with as little or as many candles as you want.
For a child’s craft, select clear or solid frosted votive glasses and help them apply Christmas stickers to the outside, then coat with a clear protective gloss or decoupage glue.
Happy Holidaying!
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
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Dec 1, 2014 |
It’s back! Follow me on Instagram and be part of the #25PhotosOfChristmas fun.
#25PhotosOfChristmas
It’s the same schedule I posted two years ago, but what the heck. Let’s do it again!
Each day, post a photo for that day’s theme, tag me and hashtag #FMD25PhotosXmas.
Let’s get this internet party started, yah?
 And, Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
Dec 1, 2014 |
A few weeks ago, Dot surprised me by crafting this wonderful piece.
Autumn Wreath by Dot
The colors are subtle yet attractive. It’s the perfect fit for our Italian Coffee House color scheme at Bedford Manor.
I haven’t crafted for quite some time. Around here, we’ve been deep cleaning and decorating and working and writing. Feeling very productive. But there’s something about crafting that soothes my soul.
And Dot knows it. So on Black Friday, she surprised me by taking me to Hobby Lobby with a $20 budget. At first, I didn’t know what to do. There are so many wonderful options! I did know, rather than buying decor, I wanted to make something.
Hobby Lobby is a great store. Each week they have a 40% off coupon which you can get by email or a smart phone app. And they always have amazing sales.
With less than $20 and thirty minutes, you can make your own wreath from start to finish.
You’ll need:
- a natural wreath
- two complimentary stems, flowers, or other flora
- embellishment
- hot glue gun with extra glue sticks
- heavy-duty scissors or wire cutters
Sort your crafting product and keep everything within easy reach.
Cardinal Wreath Ingredients
Ladybug Wreath Ingredients
If it’s important for the wreath to have a “top”, make sure you decide which part of the wreath that will be, then mark it so your work isn’t lopsided. I glued a penny to the back of my wreaths.
Penny on Wreath
Separate your stems as necessary. Most pull apart but some are wired and require cutting. You can also shape most to contour to the frame of the wreath.
Shapely Flora
Working with one flora at a time (the greens), carefully glue the end of the first stem then gently push it into the wreath. Work your way around the wreath until the full circle is lightly covered. Then take the second flora and glue them in place as well. You may need to re-glue some pieces as you go along. Finally, add your embellishments. Larger embellishments sometimes come on a twining stem, which is useful for wrapping around the flora to keep it in place.
When you’re finished, gently remove any residual strings of glue by pulling them off the wreath. If you like, string a long ribbon or hang with an over-the-door hanger. I left mine as is, to let the recipients decide how and where to best display their gift.
The end result is a craft that you’ve made yourself, and can customize for your home or someone else’s.
Cardinal Wreath
Ladybug Wreath
And now, finally, it’s beginning to look … well, you know.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
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Oct 27, 2014 |
Are you on Facebook? If the answer is “yes”, hop on over to my New Inklings Press page and give us a “like.”
If the page gets 350 or more likes by November 1st, five Lucky Likers will each win an autographed copy of The Unemployment Cookbook.
The Unemployment Cookbook, Second Edition
I win. You win. It’s a win-win situation.
Thanks for your support!
Nip’s Favorite
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
Oct 26, 2014 |
Sometimes I feel I haven’t done enough to advance my writing, but looking back at the two months since I started my GoFundMe campaign, I realize everything’s a matter of perspective.
Go Fund Me: #DoingTheWriteThing
You can click on the link or photo above to follow my progress with #DoingTheWriteThing, without having to make a donation. I truly appreciate support in all forms!
At the beginning of the year, my only resolution was to do life better.
BETTER! 2014
Of course I haven’t accomplished everything on my list, but I have kept that drive alive to push forward no matter what.
I’ve been diligently working on NOLA for over a year. Almost two, if you count those months I formulated everything before writing a single word, and only worked intermittently. I drafted a few ideas, but only started writing the current story just over a year ago.
NOLA Inspiration
With the help of my writing mentor, my critique group, and the local writers club, the story has become stronger, tighter, and ~ dare I say it ~ more mysterious. In the back of my mind, I always knew NOLA was a mystery, but it wasn’t until a few months ago I realized the fullness of the mystery.
My style of writing is both discovery and intuitive. That means I write the story as it comes to me, letting it write itself, letting the characters dictate their own actions for the most part. I don’t know the technical terms for how I do what I do. I just know what works and what doesn’t. That’s the intuitive part.
For a while I got myself wrapped up in trying to follow a structure. It didn’t work. I ended up writing a new introduction to NOLA that told a good story, but it wasn’t my story. It wasn’t my NOLA. So I took the elements I liked and tossed the rest. I combined the best of the first and second drafts and now I’m working on a new NOLA. Thankfully, I have a clearer vision of how to fill in the blanks so the rewrite should only take me a few more months before this draft is fully completed.
In September, Megan departed from The New Inklings due to scheduling conflicts which means, unfortunately, the writing partnership for The Grenalia Chronicles was dissolved. While I’m sad we aren’t working together, we each have great stories to tell and intend to tell them well. I look forward to getting back to writing a fantasy next year, after NOLA.
Beckie has joined The New Inklings and we meet together at least twice a month. She’s well versed in magazine submissions and query letters. She’s a great asset to the NIP Team.
Nip’s Favorite
I’ve been speaking with Beckie as well as my friend Pam about publishing their works next year. Both have amazing stories to tell for young and old, and I’m delighted that they trust me with these writings.
November will be a busy month for writing. I’m attending three Writing Salons, co-hosting another one with Aaron, attending the writers club and the Howl At The Moon Conference.
My friend Tess has signed up for NaNoWriMo. I participated three years ago, and I applaud her determination. Writing 50,000 words for a first-draft novel in thirty days is an amazing accomplishment.
NaNoWriMo 2010 Participant
NaNoWriMo 2010 Winner
I know my writing limits, and since NaNoWriMo requires a new story, not the furthering of an existing one, it’s not on my radar this year. Maybe next year. I have quite a few stories in my mental queue, just waiting to be put into words.
For now, I’m thankful for the progress I continue to make while #DoingTheWriteThing.
Thanksgiving Table
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
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