Geek Pick of the Week — a little shameless, but what can you do?

This week has turned into a whirlwind of…stuff. Mostly stuff I can’t talk about yet, but I hope to soon.  Sorry for all the cryptic non-telling, but it is what it is and I can’t yet reveal it. I promise when I can, I will.  It’s also the last week of summer vacation, so it’s a little weird. I want to just spend this week sitting on my butt enjoying the last days of freedom, but I have a long list of stuff to get done, son is in football, yadda yadda yadda.

Oh, and we started the choir season a little early because we have a lot to do and little time to do it. Which leads me to my Geek pick of the week. If you’re a music geek, that is. The Choral Arts of Southern New Jersey, of which I am a member, has updated their website, and it includes audio from our Spring concert season.

Boy, we’re good. If I say so myself. So I’m linking to the site this week, and you all should go and listen. Especially to “Dark Night of the Soul”, because, well, it’s awesome and it was a hard piece for me to learn, so I’m pretty proud to be a part of it.

Go here: Choral Arts of Southern New Jersey. And then click the “Audio” link.

Enjoy!

Media Monday — Fall TV Preview

I’m back! Things just got away from me in the last couple of weeks, but I’m here now and working on keeping up with this blog schedule. One way is to pre-write posts a bunch at a time, which I will try to do. 

It’s the end of August, and we all know what that means. Back to school. End of beach days. Winter is coming (ha!). And…fall TV. The new fall lineup always excited me as a kid, my favorite shows picking back up where they left off, new shows taking a shot at grabbing some market share. This fall will see the return of some of the shows I can’t wait to get back to, like:

N.C.I.S. (CBS)– with the leaked news that Cote de Pablo is leaving the show during the premiere, it makes me sad, but I love this show, so I can’t wait to see how they write her off. I know they won’t kill her character, like they did with Sasha Alexander (who is now rocking’ it on Rizzoli & Isles, so I can’t complain about that one), but it’ll be interesting and sad to see her goodbye.

C.S.I (CBS)– I know, what’s with the acronyms? I’ve watched this show since day one, and of the two ‘spin-offs’, I only like the NYC one as much as the original. The big question at the end of last season was “Where are Ellie and Morgan?” Brass’s and Eckley’s daughters are missing, Morgan seeming to disappear before our eyes.  Sources say someone will die, and the premiere begins at a memorial service, but don’t know who it is yet. 

Bones (FOX)– If someone looked at my DVR, they’d think I was planning a murder. But again, love this show. Booth broke of the engagement with Bones after Pelant threatened to kill five people if he didn’t. I hear they will eventually get married, but it won’t come easy. Good. 

Revolution (NBC)– I cannot wait to see what happens now that the power is back on and that idiot released all the missiles…

Once Upon A Time (ABC) — While the show fell a little flat for me in Season 2, Season 3’s trip to Neverland promises a return to adventure and life-or-death situations and more flashbacks from the Enchanted Forest. I hope they leave the soap opera back in Storybrooke. 

Arrow (CW) — I have to admit…I’ve never seen this show. I should, especially now that John Barrowman is on it. Bad fangirl!

Grimm– I am not caught up on this, so don’t spoil it!! 

OF COURSE, how can we forget…

NEW Doctor Who (the 50th anniversary show AND the Christmas Special) !!!!!

NEW Sherlock (sometime…)

Next week I’ll post about NEW shows that I think I need to watch… 🙂

What returning shows are you looking forward to this fall??

 

Get Back to School — with Wizards!

I almost forgot! It’s back to school time, and what’s better for back to school than a new book about wizards going back to school? Right now, until Friday, you can get Wizard Academies: The Kingsbridge Chronicles FREE on Kindle.

Enjoy! If you like it, please give the sequel,: Wizard Academies: Once Upon a Sorceror a try.

 

Disney Collection by Vera Bradley Coming to Walt Disney World Resort on September 21, 2013 « Disney Parks Blog

This is the official release date of the Vera Bradley Disney Collection. And even better!!! In October (Just in time for Christmas shopping), they will be available in the online store starting in October!

Squee!!

Disney Collection by Vera Bradley Coming to Walt Disney World Resort on September 21, 2013 « Disney Parks Blog.

Look Who’s Been Playing with Clay again –Pt. 2

So I’ve spent a few days in the studio, playing with my new toys. I finally got my hands on some proper tools, and a toaster oven. Which has proven to be the most trying part, because I used to use my oven, which is gas. The toaster oven is calibrated differently and electric. I burned a whole bunch of stuff before I realized that I needed to turn the temperature down and just cook it longer, because the clay gets really close to the elements.

Anyhoo, I also purchased a book about making miniature clay food and made a couple of things out of it. Mostly it was good practice for working with the clay. I made a few things that will go up on my Etsy store, and plan on making more. Because, quite frankly, it’s fun to turn lumps of clay into recognizable shapes. I also worked on other…stuff. Which came out MUCH better than the last time.

A variety of Police Boxes. I think the style on the left will be what I go with. The two lighter ones, second and third to the left, will become a pair of earrings. The far left will be a bracelet charm, to go with these:

A MUCH better Sonic Screwdriver than last time (again, easier when you have the right tools), and River Song’s diary. Also, these, which are AWESOME.

I used a ball stylus to make indentations in the clay to hold the little black balls, and some liquid clay to make sure they stayed put. Also, I have switched to Premo clay, which is a little harder than Sculpey. And I learned that I should quench the pieces when they’re done to make them super hard and strong. This guy took some time, but I think once I get the process down it will go faster.

 

These were a bit of work. They are two different styles, and I think I like the one on the right best. I will combine the way I do things from both the next time. I like the dress on the one on the left, but the the hands and wings from the one on the right. It’s a work in progress.

Oh, and these are small, FYI. How small? I put a bottle of acrylic paint next to them for scale:

I have ideas for Harry Potter charms too. Next time I get time to work on them. Meanwhile I also finally pretty much perfected my large hole beads:

These are the kind that will fit the Pandora-style bracelets. The leopard skin ones are a bit big, because they are covered with a cane that I made, and I haven’t quite got them down yet. But they are easy enough as swirled/marbled. I will probably make a bunch of different kinds and sell them as mixed batches.

More Vera Bradley and Disney — the secret pattern

Okay, so I posted before about the new Vera Disney line. The patterns that are available at the parks (only! Grrr) are all over the place and my favorite is this one:

 

 

Duh, it’s pink. There is also a black one. Here are close ups:

 

 

 

But there’s another Disney pattern out there, and I have seen a picture. I can’t find it anywhere on the internet, and I can’t share the picture because it’s not my picture.  But it’s deep blue, with light blue and light green paisley, with Mickey head outlines in the pattern. It’s more subtle than the other two, because no Mickey or Minnie directly. But it is ADORABLE.  I have to find a picture so you can see.

I still want the pink one.

Blog Poll

Okay, so I have been slacking. I admit it. I have spent the last few days in my basement studio, playing with clay, learning how the new oven works with the clay and what temperature to set it at so as to not burn the clay (I have thrown away quite a few items in the last few days), and working on new stuff.  I will post pics of them soon, because they are SO CUTE!

Not been blogging, and I need to catch up.  I have a list of things I COULD blog about, but I’d like to know what YOU want to see.

So, leave me a comment and let me know what kinds of things you want me to blog about. What god or goddess should be next? Do you have a business to suggest for my Geek Pick of the Week? Something cool for Media Monday? Suggest an author for me to interview for Ten Questions With…! Do you want some polymer clay and/or jewelry making tips? Publishing stuff? Writing stuff? More Vera stuff — what specifically? Another topic you want me to blog about?

Give me your suggestions!

Ten Questions With…Christine Hughes

Today on the blog I interview Christine Hughes, author of TORN, which comes out TOMORROW!

• 1. Welcome to the blog, Christine. Tell us a little about yourself, and about TORN.

Hi!  My name is Christine Hughes and I’m the author of TORN, a YA paranormal, its sequel – the soon to be released Darkness Betrayed – and the Women’s Fiction Three Days of Rain.

• 2. How did you come up with the idea for this book? What kinds of things inspired you?

I was watching the final episode of season 1 of the Vampire Diaries – Founder’s Day. A song came on when Elena was dancing with Damon, as Stefan was going all Vamp-crazy, and suddenly the entire storyline for TORN popped into my head. I immediately downloaded the song and built a playlist around it. That’s the kind of thing that inspires me – songs, lyrics… I have a playlist for everything I write, everything I think I want to write.

3. Tell us something no one else knows about the book—a ‘behind the scenes’ moment.

It wasn’t originally supposed to be about angels! That characterization happened organically and at the time I queried, I kicked myself. Rejection after rejection said the same thing – angels are over. One agent even went so far as to ask if I would change the angel aspect. When I asked “To what/” she replied, “Anything but angels.”

4. If you could go anywhere with your main character, where would it be? What would you do?

Samantha needs a break. A moment to actually grieve for her father. I’d probably take her somewhere secluded so she could do that properly.

5. What are five things most readers don’t know about you?

I met my husband when I was 14.

I love the cartoon Avatar – The Last Airbender

I am a klutz.

I’m not a big fan of chocolate  – or sweets in general. I’d rather eat something salty. Chocolate covered pretzels are the exception.

I think cheeseburgers are the greatest gift to mankind.

6. Pantser or plotter?

Panster. All the way. I am so unorganized when I try to plan.

7. Favorite junk food?

Pizza. (Cheeseburgers are not allowed to be considered junk food)

• 8.  Camping or hotel with room service?

ROOM SERVICE!!! Camping? Bugs? No electricity? No thank you.

9. What’s next for you?

Working on an untitled thriller – mash together Clue, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and Lois Duncan’s I Know What You Did Last Summer (book, not movie) and you’ll have an idea.

• 10. Anything else you want readers to know about TORN?

Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly publishing has picked it up and added a shiny new cover, so it’s changed publishers. The sequel will be out next month!

 My publisher: http://www.crushingheartsandblackbutterfly.com

Look Who’s been playing with Clay again? (no pun intended. Well, sort of)

I have, off and on, made things with polymer clay. I’ve made dragons, and fairies (and sold them all, eventually), and on my Etsy shop now there are a couple of cute pairs of earrings that have charms that look like food. They are super fun to make, but kind of hard to get the right size for jewelry. It’s hard making tiny things sometimes.

But there’s something I’ve wanted to try and today I just busted out the clay and gave it a go. Here’s how they came out:

 

These are just a first go, but I think they came out pretty cool, actually.  In case you’re wondering, these are all under 1″ tall, just the right size for bracelet charms (I can make them a little larger for pendants).

When I make these for selling, I am going to do them in stages with multiple curings. Because that Dalek is a pain in the rear end when the little dots keep falling off. I’ll use some liquid Sculpey to attach them next time.

I’m not crazy about the Sonic Screwdriver, but I think doing it in stages will solve the problem.

Same thing for the police box, which came out nice but a little weird:

The fez was, of course, the easiest.

 

 

These aren’t yet glazed either, they’ll be a little shinier. I think they’ll go on a silver plated link bracelet with blue and clear beads between. I might add a charm or two — I have plans for a weeping angel and Cyberman head.

The great thing about fandoms is that I can work on all kinds of stuff to make more fan jewelry. I could do a Hunger Games or Harry Potter group…

As for these experimental ones, they have already been claimed by my son.

Dooney & Bourke | Disney Store

Apparently, Vera is not the first high-end bag maker to get in on the Disney thing. I’m not a huge D&B fan, they’re just not me, but I could totally see myself sporting one of these:

Dooney & Bourke | Disney Store.

Not for $300, mind you. No frecking way. But they are very cute.