KEEPER SHELF

"One For the Money" - Janet Evanovich - 1994

2012-03-19T13:55:00.001-04:00


Cover pre-dates Bridget Jones by 3 years...

Finally.

2012-03-19T13:44:00.000-04:00

Last night I spent hours scraping, chiseling, and melting with my trusty heat gun. I have a few scraped knuckles, but I didn't hit the element, not even with the awl and hammer. So not only does my fridge still work, I have freezer space I've never had before. I bought these for Matt last xmas, and now we can finally use them. Also pierogies, so excited!

Spring is here, but it doesn't feel the same.

2012-03-19T02:08:00.000-04:00

Blame it on the change in the weather or gold old germs, but I felt pretty poorly last week. A runny nose and a tattoo machine do not mix, that's for sure... On the upside, the weather change has been beautiful (and let's face it, freakish and unnatural) so we did a bit of spring cleaning at the studio.

I did not have a very productive or creative week until Friday evening, when I did the responsible thing and thought about stamina and energy for long tattoo sessions. I stayed home to work and rest instead of going to a party, and I channeled middle school by chopping off bits of hair and dying the ends with kool-aid.

My Thursday consisted of naps and a rock show, and the joy of discovering I could watch Season 8 of Project Runway in its' entirety. Reality tv competition shows are so good when you watch a marathon of it, and by so good I mean they are an emotional roller coaster. By part one of the finale, I was crying right along with Michael C and even though I knew the outcome, it still hurt to see Mondo lose. I said from the beginning that they made an All-Star season just for Mondo, we'll find out on Thursday if he gets the biggest prize package of all, and I'll start looking for the controversial Season 6.

Spring Ahead.

2012-03-14T02:10:00.000-04:00

"To Catch a Bride" - Anne Gracie - 2009

2012-03-14T02:02:00.000-04:00

Ugh, I hate this cover with the single white rose.

Apparently this book is part of a four part series focusing on war heroes after returning from the Napoleonic wars. "To Catch a Bride" falls into place as Book Three, but you do not need to read the first two books to enjoy this one. The references to the other heroes (and their loves) are minimal, mostly contained to the beginning of the novel. Rafe is attending Book Two's wedding and meets an elderly woman (a childhood friend of his own beloved grandmother) looking for her long-lost grand-daughter. She believed her son, his wife and only daughter all died of the plague in Cairo, but has recently discovered her grand-daughter, Alicia may still be alive. Since Rafe's older brother the Earl of Axebridge has just arranged Rafe's marriage without consulting him, he decides a trip to Egypt will be just the thing to piss off his brother and relieve some pent up post-wartime aggression. As you may have guessed he will fall in love on this trip, but there are monkey wrenches and twists as he does.

You could break this novel into three sections: Egypt, The Journey to England by Boat, and the Arrival in England. The final section is actually the shortest, and felt a bit rushed. While the journey had plenty of potential for closeness and tension, if I'm being completely honest the book started off well in Cairo, and went down hill from there. There were too many added elements and silly plot twists, along with some pretty silly misunderstandings. This would have made a wonderful novella in an anthology, but does not hold its own as a full-length Historical Romance. The pacing was off, and I one minute I would really be enjoying it, and the next my mind would trail off to dinner plans or my to do list..

Overall, it was a pretty average story that could have been better.

My Book Came This Week!

2012-03-10T03:03:00.001-05:00

Wow, this momentum thing is real, and it goes both ways...

2012-03-09T01:40:00.002-05:00

I'm on a roll in the kitchen, and the crafty thing is kicking in - but damn, if it hasn't been too long since I've held a machine. Less than a week, and it feels so strange. I feel like I played hooky the past few days, but really I was just centering myself. What's the fun of being self-employed if I can't make my own hours?

Tomorrow it's back to the studio and Saturday as well. Sunday I am going to force myself to break out the oil paints. I compiled a list of projects/paintings/promises I need to make good on...

I find it's not impossible to make my own structure - but it is impossible not to take naps! Next week is back to normal - and back to reasonable hours of waking and sleeping (hopefully!) It almost feels like I took an agoraphobic mini-break, but really, I truly do love the days where I'm working in my room, making real food, hanging out with the best cat in the world and watching tv while Matt writes songs in his head, and only leaving the house for treats and caffeine.

Lists do help me by organizing my thoughts and breaking down intimidating goals into easier to swallow pieces. Conversely, when I see items I've been slacking on for weeks (or even months) and in a few cases, gulp, years - I start to get down on myself, and the negative thoughts come flooding back. I'm going to put this out there anyway.

Paintings that should have been done a long time ago - they weigh on me the most.

One - A man and his best friend

Two - A tiny girl, while she's still tiny.

Three - Simple Matching

Paintings I conceived some time ago, but haven't even started.

One - Face/Textures

Two - Walls

Three - Hat/Sunset

On the tattooing side of things:

3 major compostions for 3 lovely ladies.

3 watercolor flash sheets

Paint - Birds, DotD girls, and Pandas

Here's hoping it's the magical motivational number, as well!

Some proof of creativity - and I made bread machine bread, twice!

2012-03-08T23:23:00.001-05:00


Tins for utencils...


Martha Stewart leaf punch and pre-folded cards...

And just for fun, Preview Image Correction...

2012-03-08T21:56:00.002-05:00

V and Co Tutorial

2012-03-08T12:27:00.001-05:00


Wrapped twice as a bracelet...


Once as a necklace...

Another pinterest find, this one took me a minute (or 20) to wrap my head around, but the concept is truly simple. All you need is 1" strips of jersey (or another light fabric with stretch) and scissors - I already had a large piece of fabric so this project cost me 0 dollars. Woot!

I could see lots of different ways to use this skill (which some might call finger knitting/crocheting??) For example, I see long chains of jersey for a scarf/necklace hybrid, or embellishing the chain with a pendant... It's a bit chunky for a necklace, so I think you really have to push it all the way into statement piece. I don't think it would work as a headband, but right now I have it wrapped up in my messy bun, I just could not get a good picture of it... The bracelets are super cute, there's a more elaborate method I will be trying since I've wrapped my head around this process.

Bonus - as with other hand crafts, this project takes the guilt out of mindless television!

You may have done this at camp, or understand this concept already, but the instructional video certainly helped me, you can find it here.

PIN - TER - EST - IRL

2012-03-08T01:32:00.002-05:00

MADE - "Sailor's Knot Bracelet

Pinterest could very well (does) suck hours from my life...

Here's why: so many pretty things to look at, so much good food to make, so many DIY craft projects - SO MANY TATTOOS! And those are just the regular things I look at - I haven't even begun to really explore.

I am trying to bring the beauty of pinterest into my real life, so I have a digital board called MADE and it's for projects and food that I saw on pinterest and followed through with (I like a little bit of visual confirmation along with my irony).

The MADE board has 8 different items so far. Seitan has been very successful, as were the Mexican stuffed shells.
**************

To my surprise cooking has become my favorite part of the life of a working artist (probably because it's actually a stress reliever now). I always said I would do more if I just had more time... Tonight we attended a vegetarian pot luck, and while I didn't make anything fancy, I did make my Pap's mashed potatoes for the third time in as many weeks - and brought home an empty bowl!

***************

The cooking is going well, but I had my first bomb in the DIY department tonight.

I've seen tutorials for small scale screen printing before, and I have the hoops and 'mesh' as well as ink, oh and I was a professional screen printer in a past life - but this did not work for me.

Now, my contact paper was purchased for 50 cents at a garage sale, and my mesh was a polyester scarf - so I'm not giving up on this one's potential, I just may have to revise my materials.

Same size, Same pallette.

2012-03-08T01:06:00.000-05:00

"One True Love" - Barbara Freethy - 1998

2012-03-07T13:28:00.000-05:00

One True Waste of My Time!

(Despite three love stories and really good reviews, I just could not get into this book.)

"Attachments" - Rainbow Rowell - 2011

2012-03-06T01:36:00.000-05:00

"Attachments" by Rainbow Rowell

(Can't believe I found a picture with Billy Elliot on the marquee!)

I just read it again, it's still great.

This time I skipped all the bits about the ex-girlfriend, but read the ending several times over. In fact, I just purchased a handy dandy book light for a steal - 99 cents at Goodwill - and the batteries died just before the theater scene. But damn if I was giving up before the end (sure I could have read in another room, but without blankets or a comfy chair, even - please!) I found 2 AA batteries after searching 2 rooms and fumbling with remote controls in the dark...and sigh, full on heart string tugging.

Oh, and did I mention the protagonist's name is Lincoln - and this book is set in Omaha, Nebraska? I read it after Lincoln Nebraska came to live with us, but really, could there be a more perfect favorite book for 2011?

"delirium" - Lauren Oliver - 2011

2012-02-28T08:28:00.002-05:00

Book One of a Trilogy. Another YA Dystopia, this time the US has closed its' borders from the world and closed its' cities from the forests. Oh, and love is a disease. People have a 'procedure' when they turn 18 (think controlled brain damage...) to save themselves from the hurt and pains of love. It also turns them into walking, talking cogs in a big propaganda machine.

When we meet the heroine, Lena, we learn her mother had the procedure done 3 times, at least once without anesthesia, and killed herself before they could attempt it again. She has felt the stigma of suicide her entire life, both at home (raised by an Aunt and Uncle) and at school. Schools are segregated by gender, she only has one very close friend, Hana, who is also her running partner.

The novel begins with Lena and Hana preparing for their evaluations, which will determine their future spouses and the entire course of their lives. Lena's evaluation is interrupted by a protest from 'Invalids' from the Wilds...opening her eyes to the world beyond her controlled sphere of Portland. As 'delirium' (slowly) progresses Lena's world is cracked wide open - by love and freedom - and inner strength. "Pandemonium" promises to be a faster ride, one I look forward to taking...

"The Artist" - The Academy - and me.

2012-02-28T07:31:00.001-05:00

We lost a very special lady last week, a woman who always asked me about my art and why I wasn't showing more at the shows she read about in the paper...guilt induced by the best of intentions, because she always came out and supported me when I actually did create enough work for an audience. She will be greatly missed.

I know she would support this quest of self-improvement and creative independence, and I think of her as I try to slowly cross things off lists, and one by one get rid of these tiny lead balloons that are holding me down.

For example, last week, I cooked three meals with seitan I made from scratch, and actually cleaned the kitchen along the way. I hung cute shelves for all the newly useful spices, making one empty wall more appealing, and I have one more to go (next up: over-sized glitter silverware). I'm trying desperately to like the kitchen more by using it, but at one point on Saturday, I did scream, "I HATE THE MAJOR APPLIANCES THAT CAME WITH THIS APARTMENT!!" (and I swore a good bit, too.) We have a crappy apt sized fridge, with an ice box instead of a freezer and a stove with only two working burners blow out if you try to use the oven at the same time. They are truly terrible, if anything edible comes out of them it's a small victory in itself.

I also spent a ton of time on pinterest - but some of that time led to delicious seitan recipes and the discovery of new tattoo artists - so it can easily be a valid tool. My only concern is that some of that time spent online translates to the real world. I have a DIY craft board, and the goal is to make the items I pin. First up: I made this jewelry hanger last night and added it to the wall of misc art and frames in our living room. My giant earrings end up all over the place anyway, so it's both pretty and a functional corral - I just have to keep them safe from Mr. Nebraska!

The tattoo studio has a big charity event coming up in March, and I need to get some physical evidence of my work into peoples' hands, and have just under a month to do it.

I made business cards, finally.

I also spent literally all but two hours of my waking day yesterday online editing my apprentice portfolio into a hardcover book. At one point the save failed, Firefox crashed, and I lost three hours of work. Frustrating? You betcha. I almost cried, but instead, I kept working and swearing, and now I'm down to the tiny tweaks and final proofread.

On a side note, the Oscars were on Sunday, but I don't have tv, so I streamed a bit of the red carpet (which felt silly even as I did it) and tried to watch "The Artist." I basically failed, because it's really fucking hard to multi-task during a silent film...
I did however successfully avoid yahoo and the internet, and watched the Oscars 'live' on Monday minus commercials! I knew 'The Artist' would be a big winner on style points alone. I love a flapper look, but I know those dresses are meant for boys' frames. I'll stick to the cloches and finger waves.

"Crooked Hearts" - Patricia Gaffney - 1996

2012-02-24T04:54:00.001-05:00

No matter how many re-issues or new covers they smack on it, you can pretty much tell when a book was originally written and published. "Crooked Hearts" for example, takes place in the 1880's, but feels very 1990's. Not in an anachronistic way, but in an overall effort way. 90's romances moved away from the early bodice rippers, often by introducing beta heroes and outspoken strong heroines. The best examples from the 90's introduced complicated couples and intricate plot lines full of emotion, intrigue and of course, tons of sexual tension. "Crooked Hearts" technically has all these elements, but not enough soul to win me over (just like the Olympic short program in "The Cutting Edge") I found the H/H emotionally immature and kind of annoying, but initially I enjoyed reading about their swindles and escapades. Unfortunately, the villain was a lisping cartoon, their first romantic encounter is drug-induced and ridiculous, and I saw the how the happy resolution would play out from the first few chapters of the book. AAR gave it an 'A' grade, but I found it just about average.

"Anyone But You" - Jennifer Crusie - 1996

2012-02-21T13:26:00.001-05:00

1996 vs 2006

Both are pretty accurate!

This series romance made it's way to hardcover, so that says quite about Jennifer Crusie's fanbase and publishing power.
"Anyone But You" holds up pretty well to the passing of time, the book is far less dated than its' original cover.

Includes many of my 'Favorite Crusie Quirks': Childless by Choice, Victorian apartments, old movies, books, cool bff, a delicious dessert, small town Ohio, and most importantly to this one, the iconic pet (his name is Fred and he loves bras and oreos).

An afternoon with a classic...

2012-02-20T15:14:00.001-05:00

My favorite scene...enjoy!

On the life of a 'working artist' - what I've learned so far...

2012-02-17T10:41:00.002-05:00

Making art is not the easy choice.
TV/Entertainment/Drugs/Alcohol/Hanging Out/Reading, those are easy choices.
You have to create for you, and do it every damn day whether it comes easily or not
(and it's hardly ever easy).

I've struggled for years under the misconception that all I needed was Virginia's message - a room of my own - to finally make new and meaningful work. But I've learned, a new setting won't help if you don't change.

Three truths that are hard to admit:

All the free time in the world doesn't mean anything if you let it slip into the voids of the internet.
That day job was a great excuse for not producing.
Having the space to create doesn't mean you will.

In fact, your will is the only thing that really matters.

A studio doesn't care if you use it, but the people you're asking for support do.
A room doesn't have arms - it won't grab you and force you to put needle to thread,
paint to canvas, words to the page.

Waiting for inspiration can take a long ass time.

                              It's all up to you to create the things you want from what you have -
                                to 'make it work' instead of building up castles in your mind.

                              When you get the thing you think you need and still don't use it,

you feel twice as bad as you did before.

The List.

2012-02-16T14:12:00.000-05:00

AAR Top 100 Romances 2010

- I've read 72

- I would like to read Joanna Bourne and J.R. Ward

- I will probably never read about 15 or so romantic suspense titles.

- Some books only made it due to their recent publication status.

- there are entirely too many books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

"Naked in Death" - J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) - 1995

2012-02-16T13:36:00.001-05:00

The fantastic website All About Romance compiles a "Top 100 Romances" list every few years, based on science and reader opinions. I always mean to send mine, and somewhere there's a Word document with 80-some books on it, but I never make the deadline in time. I consider reading all 100 books a vague life goal, and I must say I've put a decent sized dent in it. However, there are a few repeat authors that I've read once, didn't like, and don't feel the need to waste time on (Linda Howard I'm looking at you). I read one Nora Roberts book, Sea Something or other...the 4th in a series of brothers, that was boring and typical and not great by any means.

"Naked in Death" ranks pretty high (#19 in 2007 and #24 in 2010) - so when I came across this horrific metallic cover at the Goodwill, I bought it, despite plenty of misgivings. I admit to near total ignorance about this series. In fact, I didn't know much other than Nora Roberts was extremely prolific (so how can they all be good?) and that J.D. Robb was her pseudonym a la "Richard Bachman" to see if she could sell without name recognition.

My dumb ass didn't realize that "Naked in Death" was set in the future - so, I was all "air commutes and Autochefs, whhhaat??!" I can accept and even enjoy books set in the future when they are relegated to the genres of Science Fiction and Young Adult - but I don't believe I've ever read a futuristic romance by choice (narrow-minded, perhaps - but I don't like medievals either, a girl's allowed to have preferences). Look at that cover, how can it not be cheesy?

Another strike against it, the BILLIONAIRE hero. When did romance authors/publishers decide that a MILLIONAIRE is too run of the mill and easy to come by in real life to populate the pages of a romance? Was this the first, can we pin it down to N.R. in '95?

Despite it's ranking on the Top 100 Romances, I feel "Naked in Death" is primarily a murder mystery, and the romance is secondary - which now that I'm thinking about it, is probably the definition of Romantic Suspense - a genre I tend to avoid at all costs.

The main character and heroine, Eve Dallas is a tough cop with no memories before the age of 8, who grew up in the foster care system. She has short hair, great features, wears jeans and leather jackets - written 4 years before S.V.U - but come on - she's perfect! How could I prevent that mental casting?

And as for Rourke, it's funny because I had to think of 90's Irish actors, so Liam Neeson, OBVIOUSLY.

But that didn't stop this hilarious google image search: "Handsome Irish Actors"

Sure, there's some good ones on there (and Brenda Fricker) but look close: far left, second from bottom - Bradley Cooper! I guess he's just so incredibly handsome, geography ceases to matter!

As I mentioned earlier, I don't read much romantic suspense, so I will admit a change of pace was interesting, if not exactly refreshing. The murderer was pretty obvious - plenty of hints and foreshadowing. Eve is a character you grow to care about - and Roarke he cares about her, too. It's just a damn good thing he couldn't possibly be the killer - because he was in a space meeting (yeah, you heard me, a meeting in space about a space station resort for the uber-rich). How about that for an air-tight alibi? (Bad pun, I'm sorry, couldn't help myself...)

Overall, I didn't hate this novel. I do hate the forceful language Roberts uses to describe kissing and desire - it feels dated, very much of the old school Judith McNaught variety, which is never very appealing to this modern reader. Also, the 'future technology' feels dated, a hilarious concept in itself, it's a 90's FUTURE - a world before smart phones and thumb drives - don't worry though there's still tubes of Pepsi to quench your future thirst.

Just because I didn't hate it, doesn't mean I will read the 43 OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES! 44 books in 17 years! It's too many, it just has to be.

I have a new obsession.

2012-02-14T17:23:00.000-05:00

Now the only question is if it will conquer my magazine hoarding tendencies, or if I will simply transfer this image obsession to the digital realm.

Day 13...

2012-02-14T17:18:00.000-05:00

...now officially known as the day the heat came back!

And I wasn't bullshitting that it was just too cold to work, cause as soon as that studio was toasty I got my ass in there and started drawing. 3 cute (tiny) paintings to be shown off soon! Also, did some housework and general singing about the house, 'cause I was just so fucking happy to be warm and out of bed!!

We didn't make it to the Philly Convention...

2012-02-13T12:38:00.002-05:00

...which is both practical and a bummer. However I did get to spend a Sunday like this:

Series 1 of 'An Idiot Abroad' + hot tea, heavy blanket, and a sketchbook.

Not the inspiration of a convention, but easier on my savings!

A subtlety that will never translate to a generic rom-com...

2012-02-11T00:41:00.001-05:00

I put off watching it, I expected the worst - in fact, I was pretty sure they would change the ending, they didn't - but that doesn't mean it was good or even close to the book I really enjoyed. It had a few nice moments, I mean who doesn't love 'Push It' and choreography? All the surface elements of the novel are there, but that's all it is. Surface. And I don't know if they were struggling with the MPAA on this one, but there is very little evidence of an affair (scenes are cut short, there's a hell of a lot of PG kissing in the street) for a book with adult themes such as adultery and the Hamptons.

As far as casting, I liked Kate Hudson (although I think she was pregnant during filming and I found myself focusing more on her changing waistline and flowing dresses than the movie). I didn't mind Ginnifer Goodwin (better than she was in that barf bag, "He's Just Not That Into You") or the guy that played Dex (who I totally recognized as the Jess look-alike Rory flirts with on Spring Break - ONE EPISODE , PEOPLE -and I called it!) Hilary Swank produced this movie and they didn't even bother including the character of Hilary, Rachel's no-nonsense co-worker, she couldn't have stepped and done it herself? - Well, I guess she couldn't because the screenwriter made a giant Hilary/Ethan living in New York character destructacon. Which leads me to my second biggest issue with this adaptation...

A plea to movie producers everywhere: Don't cast John Krasinski as the smitten yet silent best friend, unless his character's name is Jim Halpert and he's looking right at Jenna Fischer. Please, all you accomplish is the gaining of my sympathies for a manipulated and inaccurate character translation. I'm not supposed to root for Ethan 3/4+ of the way through this movie - I've read the book, I'm supposed to be rooting for Rachel and Dex EVEN THOUGH HE'S ENGAGED TO HER BEST FRIEND!

But that's not even my number one complaint - NO 'THUNDER ROAD' or mention of Springsteen, at all! Just pop crap like every other upbeat romantic comedy with no soul. If Bruce said no, or you don't get why the songs are important to the characters, at least give me Jimmy Durante or Harry Nilsson - instead of 8 million songs by Colbie Caillat!

Oh, oh, and is it too hard to find one dive bar in all of New York City?

So, you failed, "Something Borrowed" and now, no one, and I mean no one, will give a shit about "Something Blue" (and here's the kicker, Kate Hudson and John Krasinski had a surprisingly funny, bickering chemistry, but they won't get their own movie now, cause this one Bombed...)

Day Ten (...a day of chores)

2012-02-11T00:11:00.000-05:00

...and I still don't feel like I accomplished anything! No fights, no magazines to browse/take, still fighting with the gym over automatic renewal policies (total scamming BS!) and to top it off, I am still regularly over-sleeping. Piss on this one.

Day Nine (...first full Wednesday at the Studio)

2012-02-09T13:42:00.001-05:00

Fingers Crossed!!

1) Up at 5:30 am to take out last minute trash

2) Super quiet sorting of studio (unfortunately Lincoln decided to play fetch on stairs...)

3) Back to bed!!!! sigh.

4) Research and Tattoo prep (1/4 sleeve and a big cover-up)

5) Touch up/Catch up, dates added

6) FREEZING COLD HOUSE, again...

7) Wasted two hours on Snapfish, grrrr!

If you are ever feeling down or sad, google image 'baby chick' it's like prozac.

"England's Perfect Hero" - Suzanne Enoch - 2004

2012-02-09T13:23:00.000-05:00

Well, this stepback actually makes sense - these two do it in a garden - so yay, for realism!

Book Three of Enoch's "Lessons in Love" and my favorite (actually, one of my Top 10 Romances) but strangely it didn't do anything for me this time around. I still love Robert (suck,suck,sucker for a tortured hero) but Lucinda seemed even more shallow and led by family then Evie (from Book Two) did! Or, maybe it was just my mood, or I shouldn't have read two Enoch's in a row, or I've grown and changed since 2004...Oh, and the anachronisms really stood out and bothered me...

Really, Lucinda you want to 'have sex' with Robert again? Even in her head, she should be using euphemisms, this is a REGENCY MISS!

Verdict - I'll keep it for nostalgia, and in case it was just my mood.

Week Two (Day Eight...as a working artist)

2012-02-08T12:24:00.002-05:00

Bryce Dallas Howard always looks beautiful, and it must be all the period pieces messing with my head (or when she was preggers...) because she looks so young in this movie! A movie I only half paid attention to - looking up tattoo artists on facebook instead - then felt I would have liked, and probably should have just sat down and watched. Also, spent a big chunk of this movie wishing I was watching Dying Young instead (not to slight 50/50, but Campbell Scott as a rich boy with cancer? C'mon!!).

1) Another irregular sleeping schedule

2) Freezing house is preventing anything other than reading/watching tv/sleeping under 2 blankets.

3) Fun cover-up that actually took my quoted time!

4) Booking for Feb under way and new contacts established...

Goals for WEEK TWO:

~~Walking path/room to paint in studio!~~

~~All possible yellow post it notes gone!~~

~~Snapfish and Vistaprint finally done!!~~

~~Two paintings by next Tuesday....~~

Magazines recycled!

Books to studio!

~~Sketches for sleeves and cover-ups done!~~

~~One proper book, read! As well as one Keeper!~~

Author's Note:

Yes, it took me a month,

but everything's basically done except some heavy lifting.

I feel pretty good about that.

Day Seven...

2012-02-07T07:22:00.001-05:00

Less accomplished in the way of art, but a lot in the way of friendship -
so it all works out in the end.

1) Good start on whittling away those colored post it's...
2) Errands and Favors and Shamrock shakes...
3) Goodbye to excess work shirts no longer needed...
4) Clearing out the lost world under my desk...

Sappy Monday!

2012-02-06T14:14:00.000-05:00

                 No, watching figure skating clips on YouTube is not a productive use of my time....
                                             Go ahead and laugh, but this still makes me cry!

Day Six (the day of rest...)

2012-02-06T13:51:00.002-05:00

Yeah, me and Lincoln - we took two naps yesterday and then ate way too much food

at a Super Bowl party where no one likes football.

But, MIA flipped off the camera during the half-time show, so that's cool.

Day Five (as a working artist...)

2012-02-06T13:44:00.000-05:00

Awesome fox print on Etsy

1) Coffee and last night's Spak Brothers seitan melt!
2) Re-coloring some older work (not mine) for a nice lady (who knew my grandparents - small world)
3) Started a painting of leaves...
4) New people, great conversations and tattoo planning.
5) Made a present (discovered the joy of printing from a standard printer on heavy cream card stock).
6) Got lost and irritated on the back roads of Northern Cambria.
7) Games, great food and more new people.

"London's Perfect Scoundrel" - Suzanne Enoch - 2003

2012-02-06T13:28:00.000-05:00

I love when the google image search turns up with the stepback - I also love these covers, which lead you to believe every ball has shirtless men accosting women on the balcony! For a while in the early 'aughts Julia Queen and Suzanne Enoch were my favorite historical romance authors, in fact I would read pretty much anything their publishing house Avon (also home to Lisa Kleypas) put out. As I discovered online reviews my interests branched out to include many other publishers, but the Avon styling will still pop out to me to this day. "London's Perfect Scoundrel" is one of two Enoch books that survived three moves to maintain a spot on my Keeper Shelf - but since I'm in purging mode in all other rooms, I figured it's only fair to evaluate the 'Keepers' again, by re-reading of course!

Enoch (and Quinn) definitely fall in to the 'wallpaper historical' genre, which works for me for a light and entertaining read and usually a quick one at that. While not a perfect plot or story, I have to say I love Saint (the Scoundrel of the title) - he makes this a keeper still. I love how his rake's reformation progresses almost against his will, and it's almost too late when he realizes he actually wants to marry Evelyn, not just bed her. As for the 'bedding' in at least two, but possibly all three of Enoch's "Lessons in Love" trilogy (it's been a long time since I read "The Rake - not a keeper) the H/H make love/lose virginity in a somewhat uncomfortable space and then have a quickie in a public place. The pattern annoys me, because it feels like Evelyn and Saint never get to properly honor their love for each other. Books with 8 million love scenes in a row are also annoying, but I could have done with one more for these two.

Verdict - it can stay for now.

Day Four (as a working artist)...

2012-02-03T17:01:00.001-05:00

1) Still having trouble waking with alarm (stayed up from 7 am and then back to sleep for a bit).

2) First timer - small chest piece - no outline

3) Cleaned studio back room (found pizzelles from xmas - still delicious!)

4) Home then a trip to PGH to see Olivia's Solo Show

and the Beagle Club at the new Mr. Roboto Project!

Day Three (as a working artist)...

2012-02-03T01:13:00.000-05:00

Day Two (Evening)

1) Gave away a large bag of fabric to someone who will make great use of it!
2) Scanned even more fabric and images for textures and brushes.
3) Kept the cutest cat in the world company while loud drums and trombones invaded his home.

Day Three

1) Tattoo Thursday - still sleeping in a bit longer than I would like...
2) Custom work with a historical background - bonus learning experience.
3) Really great repeat client...
4) 'Groundhog Day' and fried ravioli - delicious!
5) More work with photoshop brushes.

I cannot believe that only this past Monday (4 days ago...) I was still slinging coffee and setting alarms for 5:45!! Yes, this life is stressful, yes, $ is still a concern, but I feel 100% on track and I am not looking back! Up next - studio overhaul and tiny paintings!

Day Two (as a working artist)...

2012-02-01T16:53:00.000-05:00

1) Definitely need to get up with Matt - slept even later today!
2) Healthful walk to bank, followed by not so healthful stop at Donut Connection...
3) Arrested Development and photoshop brushes (see previous post).
4) Scanning in for textures and possible brushes of my own.
5) Dishes and black bean burgers....
6) Upcoming tattoo designs and more studio organization/purging!

Awesomeness I never knew about...

2012-02-01T16:48:00.000-05:00

Free Victorian Photoshop Brushes

Day One (as a working artist)...

2012-01-31T14:41:00.000-05:00

1) Set alarm for 8:30 am slept 'til 10:30 (room for improvement)
2) Woke up positive and excited for this next chapter of my artistic life.
3) Starting some housecleaning to make room for the band practice happening tonight.
4) Spent a little too long on facebook. (room for improvement)
5) Lunchtime $$ freakout - on phone with student loan company! (definite room for improvement)
6) Decided not to let panic ruin my day - so I....
7) filled out necessary relief paperwork.
8) Messaged some friends for advice/help
9) Advertised painting commissions
10) Continued cleaning and prepping studio space!!

Project Runway All-Stars

2012-01-28T21:11:00.000-05:00

While it may not work for Miss Piggy, it's the only outfit on the history of Project Runway that Matt can remember me ever saying, "Oh, my! I want to wear that!"

3 Year Anniversary!

2012-01-27T00:33:00.000-05:00

Three years of reading, writing, and sporadically posting random art! While the volume of posts and my reading habits change month to month, it does feel good that I've kept up with something even with the additional changes Facebook and Tumblr represent. It's funny, I've successfully compartmentalized most of my internet life - fb is for tattoos and the public, tumblr is for 4 other ladies, and this one is just for me (and a few random readers!) I have some time coming up - maybe I'll do a round up of art, resolutions, and good intentions - might be lovely and nostalgic, or it might make me feel like a naive slacker!

Step 2

2012-01-27T00:14:00.001-05:00

Step 1 was cleaning out the studio closet, and thinking long and hard if those dresses, t-shirts, or random costume accessories would every be necessary again. I'd been holding onto some tacky ass items for years, without ever touching them - and I recently realized I didn't like the dress so much as I liked the pattern.

Can you imagine the polyester monstrosities I not only purchased, but saved in hopes of revitalizing or transforming a la Martha Stewart or the Austen Craft Mafia? Half of the items in my studio are there because someone could do something awesome with it, and I always think that person is me (or should be me)... Since I've started tattooing I've reaffirmed that my skill set includes an entire spectrum of artistic mediums, but not sewing or dressmaking, and that's ok!

So, I cut a sample, chucked the dress and put my scanner bed to good use.

I know the same rules apply to my fabric stash. So, that's next on my scan for print hit list, and I'll be giving away the actual fabric to someone who can do something great with it! A real win win situation!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns) - Mindy Kaling - 2011

2012-01-23T15:35:00.001-05:00

Dear Mindy Kaling,
Thanks for the behind the scenes Office talk, especially for the peek at the mind of Executive Producer Greg Daniels (he seems terrifying). Thank you for sharing the self-deprecating stories and images from your childhood. I'm glad to learn we share a love of Conan and comedy...
(I had completely forgotten about Amy Poehler!)

Thanks for the words about romance and boys vs. men (especially this man) -

And finally, thanks for making me feel like a huge slacker (the rest were genuine, this one's sarcastic...you can't always tell in print!)

Yours etc,
Laci Hess

I'm not the only one.

2012-01-21T22:48:00.000-05:00

Nubby Twiglet

Aspertame shame?

2012-01-21T22:37:00.000-05:00

Not this girl. In the past 20 days I've had less than 12 oz of any diet drinks whatsoever!

I have not had a drop of:

That logo screams, "Just like water!" - but I'm not fooled (anymore....)

And I only drank I small amount Galliker's Diet to avoid a caffeine headache emergency while working. Pretty good, I'd say.

Let's do this again, shall we?

2012-01-21T22:26:00.001-05:00

Sigh. My copy is sad and a bit falling apart - but it also opens directly to my favorite scene,
because I've re-read it so many times.

There are three kinds of kisses, this is the second...

Just lovely.

2012-01-21T22:15:00.001-05:00

I found this while searching for Austen tattoos.

Me too.

2012-01-02T01:44:00.002-05:00

"True Life" I am a craft hoarder,

This is something I'm working on in 2012. Being honest about what I will use. Focusing on real strengths and skills instead of 'ideal' strengths and skills.

I realize I am a bit of a hoarder across the board (the whole house is subject to this overhaul) but no area of my life is as stuffed to capacity as my studio space. According to the books I've been reading, unloading a bunch of unused clutter will also eliminate a bunch of guilt. It's strange as part of the reason I kept I keep so much stuff is because I feel guilty - guilty because it was a present, guilty it will end up in a landfill, guilty that I could make something out of it, someday, eventually, maybe. But really, all this crap is pretty damn stifling - I keep buying, finding, adding to the piles, but nothing gets made.

First step was to recognize the problem (I've known for a while...)
The second step is purging. It feels pretty damn good.

It was free and I am thankful.

2012-01-02T01:22:00.000-05:00

I'm trying.

"A Regency Christmas" - Anthology - 1993

2012-01-02T01:17:00.000-05:00

Trying for a little bit of xmas spirit, I suppose...but all I got was some so-so novellas and a Balogh story I had already read in another Christmas anthology...

"Smooth Talking Stranger" - Lisa Kleypas - 2009

2012-01-02T00:38:00.000-05:00

Just re-read this one, I still would have like to see Jack's POV, strange they didn't fix that for the paperback.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T00:33:00.000-05:00

Hello, 2012!

Good Bye, aspertame!

Well, that's the plan anyway.

I just re-read "As You Desire" by Connie Brockway...

2011-12-12T19:38:00.000-05:00

...it still rules.

"Love, Unexpectedly" - Susan Fox - 2010

2011-12-12T18:30:00.002-05:00

I read a really good review of this book last year, and now it's free for Kindle!

"Love, Unexpectedly" combines two plots I love, 'Friends First' and 'Road Romance' and throws in a makeover and role playing for good measure. It takes place in contemporary Quebec, and begins in the apartment building laundry room of neighbors (and best friends) Kat Fallon and Nav Bharandi. Kat is bubbly, social and a bit superficial, she works at a swanky hotel, while Nav, a photographer, wears a beard and old rugby jerseys, and looks the part of a shaggy starving artist. He has been interested in Kat since the day he moved in, and as she flits from one bad relationship with one flashy ego-centric douche after another, he keeps falling more in love. But Kat, though attracted to Nav, does not want to ruin the one good and stable relationship in her life with sex, so he is forever stuck in the dreaded 'friend zone.' The game changes a bit when Kat's little sister announces she is getting married in Vancouver in a week, and Kat needs a date. Nav sees this as the perfect opportunity to make his move. His plan involves the makeover and role playing I mentioned, then cleaning himself up and flirting in Continental French and crisp British vowels on with Kat on the train from Quebec to Toronto to Vancouver. Nav gambles that seduction will lead to far more, and as they ride the rails both Kat and Nav open up and learn more about each other acting as strangers than they ever allowed themselves in their daily life.

I read "Love, Unexpectedly" in one day, and think it could be my first e-re-read, I really, really liked it. My only concern was the POV shift from third for Nav to first for Kat - it was a bit confusing, and I didn't understand Fox's reasoning for it... Oh, and there's also this:

So, the hero's name is Nav, short for Naveen and he is of Indian descent but raised in London, and has curly black hair, athletic and unkempt at first, then posh and elegant as he plays a part for Kat. I try to resist the impulse to cast actors for characters while I'm reading, but there is no fucking way I'll believe that Susan Fox didn't want me picturing this:

Even Jodie Foster looks smitten...

...and of course this. My first Naveen Andrews sighting, well before I saw him break a neck with only his feet on Lost, I swooned along with millions of middle-aged ladies as he wooed Juliet Binoche in "The English Patient"

and finally, just looking dapper, I mean come on!

Susan Fox also wrote a story for Kat's sister Jenna, which I would like to read, and I will be certainly be glomming her backlist as well!

"The Other Guy's Bride" - Connie Brockway - 2011

2011-12-02T22:35:00.001-05:00

Well, I broke down and actually purchased an e-book. Here's what it took: the Kindle version was less expensive, already reviewed well, and published a full month before the paperback. I was excited to read a 'sequel' of sorts to a favorite re-read from my Keeper Shelf, 1997's "As You Desire" featuring Harry and Desdemona's oldest child.

"The Other Guy's Bride" was fast and fun, and I did like it, it just doesn't come close to "As You Desire" for me. A few issues that detracted from the story included some editing problems (maybe will be fixed for the paperback...) especially a time line difference between the two novels. To be honest "The Other Guy's Bride" felt really modern, which translates to anachronistic for many readers, and I have a pretty high tolerance for such dialogue and actions, so those history buffs will just hate it! My biggest issue lies with the heroine, who was kind of spoiled and bratty at times - supposedly concerned with living up to her brilliant Egyptologist populated family, then realizes her dreams don't have to match theirs, but the epilogue really only shows the hero's dreams...

It should be noted that the hero was perfectly lovely.

All in all, I'm not unhappy that I purchased this novel, I think it might deserve an undisturbed re-reading, but instead I am re-reading "As You Desire" and it feels like meeting old friends.

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" - Lisa Mondello - 2000

2011-12-02T22:29:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed this holiday story, but not as much as I enjoy this song...

"The Guy Next Door" - Anthology - 2011

2011-11-24T11:19:00.000-05:00

The first 'real' paperback I'd read in a while...huge bummer to find out it consists of two fucking prequels and a forgettable novella!

I began reading out of order, because I really like a few of Susan Donavan's novels. Her story was fine, could have done without the annoying teenagers - but I could not get past the fact that the heroine was a professor at "Beaverdale Collage" in Beaverdale, PA. I grew up 10 minutes from Beaverdale, PA which features Bud's Auto Sales, an EZ Shopper, a pool hall my 30 year old friend is still not 'allowed' (by the parents) to go into - and a defunct punk house. I had several laughs thinking where the college would fit in! Unfortunately it's just one of those little things an author can't control, and I'll remember the setting long after I've forgotten the story.

Next, I read "Just One Taste" by Victoria Dahl, who I've never read anything by. I was enjoying the story (even though it stretched the boundaries of fitting under the heading 'guy next door' a bit) of two business people who meet at a local convention. However, the story ends after their one night stand and sets it up to buy not only their story, but his fucking brother's stories as well. Bull shit. I never mind a teaser for a series at the end of a novel, the first chapter to wet your whistle and get you pumped, but as a story in a novella? Ahhh! I read anthologies when I don't have time or energy for novels - they are supposed to wrap up neatly and be done. So pissed.

Well after that, I did my research and learned from the AAR review (that I should have read first!) that Lori Foster's story was a teaser for a series as well! I didn't even bother.

I hope this is not a trend.

Only because they were free...

2011-11-05T21:21:00.001-04:00

"Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch - B.J. Daniels - 2009

I might have really enjoyed this book back in 6th grade when I was in my Mary Higgins Clark phase...

"Speed Dating" - Nancy Warren - 2007

Uh, yeah. That's a NASCAR book...

I know, I know - but it was free! I think I'd actually feel better about reading "Speed Dating" if it had been good. However, the plot was asinine, the hero was a jerk and worst of all, it featured NASCAR driver Carl Edwards as a character, and I just can not handle that!

Only because they were free...

2011-11-05T21:16:00.000-04:00

"Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch - B.J. Daniels - 2009

I might have really enjoyed this book back in 6th grade when I was in my Mary Higgins Clark phase...

"Speed Dating" - Nancy Warren - 2007

Uh, yeah. That's a NASCAR book...

"Throwaway" - Heather Huffman - 2010

2011-11-03T17:45:00.000-04:00

"Throwaway" is not your typical romance novel - wrapped up in a typical romance.

It features many favorite romance novel conventions:

Wrong side of the tracks/Opposites Attract

Secondary Romance

First Love

Nice Guy Cop (hero)

Small Town/Diner/Family

Running from Bad Guys (typical of Romantic Suspense)

But, this is what makes it NOT a typical romance, the heroine is a prostitute.

I've seen many historical romances featuring courtesans and mistresses - and movies frequently reference the 'hooker with a heart of gold' but Jessie doesn't really fit either of these stereotypes. She was forced out of the state foster care system and ended up with a pimp who won't even free her when she 'retires' because then he'll just keep her for himself, she doesn't have any real outs...even after she meets a cop named Gabe who knows what she does and still falls for her.

I liked this novel, it felt self-published (it's published by Booktrope which seems really cool actually) not in the sense that it was full of grammatical errors and typos, but in the sense that a contemporary romance published by the big houses would not feature a heroine like Jessie.

I enjoyed this book, it's really a light read despite the subject matter -

most of the darker issues are avoided or explained away - and she does encourage donating money to the cause of girls like Jessie on her Blog.

"Dancing in the Moonlight" - Raeanne Thayne - 2006

2011-11-03T17:09:00.000-04:00

I enjoyed this series romance, but every time an author uses song lyrics as a title it's in my head the whole freaking time....the upside, at least now I know who sings this song!

"The Bride's Baby" - Liz Fielding - 2008

2011-11-03T16:59:00.000-04:00

Let's face it, sometimes a cheesy romance is exactly what you need.

I really enjoyed this series romance - despite it's unbelievable plot, and the hero being a billionaire.

Honestly, when did being a plain old millionaire become not good enough? I know romance is a fantasy, but you would think recession would make romance writers more reasonable with their characters, but instead it's all sheiks and billionaires!

But anyway, I had an undisturbed evening and guzzled this one down - even got a little choked up a few times!

Adventures in E-Reading...

2011-10-11T23:08:00.000-04:00

Featuring some free stories and a constant high-pitched buzzing.

"Wicked Games"- Jill Myles - 2011
First E-Read! A quick entertaining read about 2 people who fall for each other on the set of a "Survivor"like TV show...

"Slow Hands" - Leslie Kelly - 2008
Pretty boring, but free!

"Attachments" - Rainbow Rowell - 2011

2011-09-19T15:48:00.002-04:00

"Attachments" introduces its' characters through a series of emails alternating with sections of prose. The protagonist, "Lincoln" is 28 years old, holds multiple masters degrees, recently moved back in with his mother, and hasn't had a girlfriend since Freshman year of undergrad. When we meet him, he is just starting an internet security position at the local (Omaha) paper. This means he looks for red flags like gambling and porn, but also inter-office personal correspondence - basically he reads any email that pops up on his 'WebFence' filter. This is how he gets to know to Jennifer, a married copy editor and Beth, the paper's movie reviewer, best friends who understand someone was hired to and probably is reading their emails. That knowledge doesn't stop them from writing really personal (and funny) messages for most of their work days. The two women are great, their relationship is real, their issues are very relatable - they are funny and cool, I would love to be friends with either/both of them and it's easy to see why Lincoln would fall in love without even knowing what Beth looks like. He's painfully shy, and oh, can't stop reading personal emails, so that's awkward, and she has a long-term cool guy musician boyfriend, too. A lot of things stand in their way, but you just root for these two the whole time!

Needless to say, I loved this book! I stayed up 'til 3 am reading to finish it, and my alarm goes off at 5:25 so that certainly says a lot! It features so many things I love, but first and foremost, a beta 'hero' with a smart and funny love interest. Plus referenes to "Quantum Leap" and "The Goodbye Girl" as well as several other beloved romantic comedies. It's laugh out loud funny (more than once). It takes place in the fall of 1999, during the Y2K scare, which as far as I can recall only affected one thing...

There were a few scary moments as I approached that late, late hour and also approached the end of the novel - I mean, less than 10 pages left - where I feared it could turn out to be a wall banger. It's not a traditional romance and a HEA is not guaranteed! Thankfully for me (and this borrowed library book) I haven't read a more romantic ending in the last year of romances! I finished it, and immediately read the ending again...and maybe one more time before finally trying to get a little sleep before work!

"Sunshine and Shadow" - Sharon and Tom Curtis - 1986

2011-09-19T15:44:00.000-04:00

Yeah, that cover is 100 % gold foil. What's up, 1986?

"Little Children" - Tom Perrotta - 2004

2011-09-19T15:40:00.000-04:00

I love this cover art, so simple but somehow still encapsulates various themes of the novel - childhood, childcare, innocence, boredom, and romance.

"Election" - Tom Perrotta - 1998

2011-09-08T16:15:00.000-04:00

After hearing an interview with Tom Perrotta about his latest novel "The Leftovers" stories of people 'left behind' after a rapture-like event and learning our local library did not have a copy yet, I decided to do some proper glomming. It didn't hurt that the backlist includes two popular novels which were promptly adapted into films, "Election" and "Little Children" - "The Leftovers" is already being reworked by Perrotta into a series for HBO. I haven't seen "Election" since it came out in '99, and just so happened to coincide with my own senior year of high school. I remember not quite hating it (but I know someone who did...) and not really liking it either. Since "Election" Payne went on to write and direct two movies I did hate: "About Schmidt" and "Sideways" - so I'm not holding my breath, but I do plan to revisit "Election" soon to see just how much or how little my tastes have changed over the years.

Next up, "Little Children" book and movie (I know someone who loves it...)

I caved.

2011-08-20T14:08:00.000-04:00

Tattoos and tattoo related topics will be on there. While this blog is still and always will be devoted to romance novels and my other creative endeavors!

"Love Will Find A Way" - Barbara Freethy - 2002

2011-08-20T14:02:00.000-04:00

Hooray! Hooray! The streak is broken! Thanks, Jess for the recommendation - can't wait to glom!

A good solid character driven book, with believable leads and so much tension! Fantastic.

"The Duke and I" - Julia Quinn - 2000

2011-08-14T01:40:00.001-04:00

I did it! I finished a book! Hooray - moving on...

- to that fucking dress. While my copy has the same (reissue) cover, it does not have that ridiculous stepback. I know Julia Quinn is known for her anachronisms, but I don't think the heroine should look like a hunky man who lost his shirt sidetracked her from her Saturday Night Fever audition. All I can say about that dress besides it's complete lack of historical accuracy - 1 tug, 1 inch - disaster.

As for "The Duke and I," I enjoyed it despite a third act 'big misunderstanding.' The scope felt much smaller than I remembered, but both Daphne and Simon are great leads, so it was nice to revisit their world, so much so, I've moved on to "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton" a re-read that will feel new again because it's been so long.

July/August Wasteland

2011-08-12T09:47:00.000-04:00

I guess it's due to the fact that I have less free time than I used to, but I can't get anything finished. I started Libba Bray's "Going Bovine" after finishing and enjoying "Beauty Queens" - but there is sits, untouched for weeks and soon will be overdue at the library. After re-reading "The Viscount Who Loved Me" I decided to re-read "The Duke and I" which I had only read once - I am creeping through that mother at a snails pace! If I have the time, I fall asleep.

I just need a few hours and something so great and funny or sweeping and romantic I can't put it down.

On the other hand, I've been busier for good reason, so I can accept the dearth of good reads. This won't become a tattoo blog, although I do have some plans in that respect!

#2 - 8/9/11

2011-08-09T23:07:00.000-04:00

Well, actually #1

2011-08-03T21:33:00.000-04:00

#2

2011-07-17T22:33:00.000-04:00

"Beauty Queens" - Libba Bray - 2011

2011-07-17T22:26:00.000-04:00

This cover pretty much says it all. A plane full of "Miss Teen Dream" contestants crash on an island, but they are not alone on the island - also, there are pirates (and commercial breaks and footnotes).

That's right, footnotes. How fucking awesome is that?

In addition to the quirky and fun writing style, Bray gives the reader a diverse cast of characters several of which, in the hands of a less talented author would have been straight up, after-school special drivel, but Bray handles with an equal balance sensitivity and humor.

"Beauty Queens" takes a highly satirical look at the beauty industry, pop culture, and teen self-image through the eyes of third-wave feminism, but truly does cut to the heart of issues teen girls face today. The young women in the novel thrive in adversity (and some James Bond type scenarios) they reinforce that: girls can be smart, girls can be outspoken, they can wear make-up only if they want to, they should never apologize for taking up space and having an opinion, and always, always use a condom!

"The Viscount Who Loved Me" - Julia Quinn - 2000

2011-07-05T15:02:00.000-04:00

When I initially read the Bridgerton series, I favored Colin's story, but over time I've realized that it is the eldest son Anthony and his love, the remarkably real 'plain jane' Kate who's story I keep going back to.

"Abandon" - Meg Cabot - 2011

2011-07-03T00:14:00.001-04:00

A modern retelling of the myth of Persephone and Hades, also the first in a trilogy. "Abandon" packs in tons of the obligatory setup and not much action, leaving me a bit divided. I had trouble really getting into this book. It has a storytelling style that grated on my nerves a bit - a jumpy flashback every few pages. Also, I kept wishing the main character was slightly older than high school. But there were one or two swoonworthy moments, so I'm down for the rest...as long as that bed that "big enough for two" gets used in the second book! Cabot, you're such a tease!

"What Happened to Goodbye" - Sarah Dessen - 2011

2011-06-27T21:56:00.001-04:00

I've yet to meet a Sarah Dessen novel I didn't like. This one's a little light on the romance, but heavy on restaurant culture - so, I'll take that trade off.

Um... does that not look just like Iris?

2011-06-26T21:46:00.000-04:00

arancia e cannella (clipped to polyvore.com)

With A Little Help From My Friends

2011-06-23T00:36:00.001-04:00

I have a confession to make. I cannot pass up a good deal on a potential craft supply - clearance racks, thrift stores, rummage sales, I don't discriminate - and as every crafter knows, anything can be considered a supply. So, in an effort to cut down on my overflowing stash and also the amount of misc. stuff that never makes it from my car, I'm declaring a Hoarder's Challenge - both to myself and to others.

The Challenge: To take some of my unused supplies and make something.

What you will receive: a box of random craft supplies, ephemera and tools from my stash.

What you do with it: is up to you, as long as you follow these guidelines.

1) You can make multiple projects, however - you must use all items in box.
2) If your box includes a book for collage purposes, you do not need to use every page - but you must use at least parts of the book.
3) You may use your own additional items/supplies/tools in order to complete the challenge.
4) You have 3 months from the day you accept a "Hoarder" box to finish.
5) You must document (and temporarily return to me) the end results.
6) Finally, just have fun crafting and creating!

If you would like to participate you can email me at Laci_Hess@yahoo.com or we can arrange to meet if you live in the Johnstown area.

Thanks all,
Laci

The Hoarder's Challenge! 2011

2011-06-21T23:08:00.000-04:00

2011-06-21T23:07:00.000-04:00

An old photo...

A fake record cover...

A lazy cat...

Nothing in common. Just putting up pictures.

Polyvore

2011-06-14T00:03:00.003-04:00

Untitled by Keeper Shelf featuring a bodycon dress

Bodycon dress
$64 - topshop.com

Chiffon evening dress
£35 - axparis.co.uk

Michael Kors cotton dress
$957 - bergdorfgoodman.com

Heart necklace
$306 - coggles.com

My fashion collage habit goes digital!

2011-06-09T21:51:00.001-04:00

Why is it that last week when I was preparing for finally having the internet at home, I was reading the New Yorker and planning to get up to speed on working artists, highlighting (with an actual highlighter!) names of painters to look up - and then I get the internet, and what do I do?

Watch the catch up episode of CYCLE 16 (America's Next Top Model), and discover the winner just now by doing a damn google search...

Wouldn't have guessed, the non-role model girl - however, Louise Brooks style, still sexy after 80 years.

Still gonna watch the rest of the season, cause I have the house to myself and a six-pack of Miller Light pounders.

I made a tiny book.

2011-06-09T07:02:00.000-04:00

You can find it here.

"Call Me Irresistible" - Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 2011

2011-06-08T23:17:00.004-04:00

aka

"Call Me Spoiled" (Heroine)

"Call Me an Emotional Robot" (Hero)

"Call Me Out of Touch" (Author)

"Call Me Never Interested Golf, Ever"

"Call Me Insulting to the Working Class"

"Call Me Chock Full of Insipid Characters I Chose Not To Read About Before"

The heroine learns life lessons while working for minimum wage and tips (how hard for her). The hero is a multi-millionaire boy genius who cannot show emotions (how hard for him). There are approx. 8 million cameos. Golf is boring. They don't really like each other. Golf is really boring. Despite being a romance novel, the hero and heroine don't really like each other.

I understand the value of fantasy and escapism in romance, but you can find that without rich and/or famous characters. Contemporary millionaire heroes just upset me, however I have a higher tolerance for the rich in historical romance. If I'm reading about a duke, marquess, earl or even a baron - I'll buy that he's rich, it's 1814, being rich means he's also bathed recently - but if I'm reading about two 30 something's in a small Texas town in 2011, they don't have to be rich, just interesting and likable.

"Sweet Valley Confidential" - Francine Pascal - 2011

2011-05-31T15:15:00.003-04:00

Thank you, Cara.

And Thank you, Back Cover, for finally teachin me what a MFin' lavaliere is!

I never would have made it through the audiobook, and it didn't have the sweet inside cover featuring Jessica and Elizabeth's classic Book One cover art.

I spent a hot Memorial Day, lazing about on the couch, surrounded by a haze of nostalgia and cheese!

Terrible book.

Also, I don't remember nearly as much about this fictional world as I thought I would. I bet the summaries in the ridiculous (on purpose?) epilogue would be funnier if I did though...

Also, no mention of much from SVU (no, not Special Victim's Unit - Sweet Valley University, also, there was definitely some date raping, kidnapping, etc) and no William White (a favorite sociopath).

Also, Bruce Patman is the nice one? And I bought it? (I'm such a sucker!)

"Bossypants" - Tina Fey - 2011

2011-05-24T17:40:00.001-04:00

Tina Fey, I love you.

You are hilarious.

Thank you for 30 Rock,

and thank you for writing this book.

2011-05-24T17:37:00.001-04:00

I found a B/W disposable camera from a few years back.

It only had 4 pictures taken on it. One of which was this gem:

Hey Anj!

You're a weirdo, just saying.

2011-05-24T17:31:00.000-04:00

Cats know you love it when they lounge in your workspace.

They also know you love shedding on materials and hard bites to the forearm.

You love these things.

p.s. see that handsome man behind my handsome cat?

That's just the best birthday present ever, an original Bret Sarlouis painting of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.

p.s. Please ignore the bright blue bra hanging around my studio - it's for art, I swear.

Carl the Eisegete (The Making Of, My End Anyway)

2011-05-24T17:22:00.000-04:00

Sketch for Cover

The Album

"The Lady Most Likely" - Anthology - 2010

2011-05-24T16:59:00.000-04:00

I love a house party. I love couples falling in love while forced to participate in games and nonsense at said house party. This novel features three couples all falling in love (or realizing love) at a house party. I enjoyed all three stories, but especially liked Julia Quinn's section, a surprising bonus when I haven't liked any of her novels in years, also reading at 3 am may help the heartstrings along.

Stephanie Bond - "She Did a Bad, Bad Thing" - 2007

2011-05-24T16:51:00.000-04:00

I think Stephanie Bond might be my go-to for series romance.

Another light, fun, and most important for a series novel - fast read.

"Leaving Normal" - Stef Ann Holm - 2005

2011-05-24T16:33:00.001-04:00

I have never read Stef Ann Holm before, but “Leaving Normal” was on my looking for list, has a very cute cover, and just so happened to be in my TBR pile. I had pretty high expectations, and started out enjoying this story of a reluctant divorcee resisting a relationship with a strapping younger man. True, the story felt like half “Anyone But You” (Jennifer Crusie) and half “Just One of the Guys’ (Kristin Higgins) since the hero is a full-time fire fighter. The heroine, Natalie a young looking 43, thinks she’s feeling hot flashes, and no, not the sexy kind, and has an 18 year-old daughter off at her first year of college. When we meet Tony, he’s Natalie’s neighbor living with his wife and young step-daughter. That’s right, I said wife. So, you know things have to change pretty quickly. The progression of Tony and Natalie’s relationship feels pretty believable, despite all the reasons it shouldn’t – so I kept chugging along.

The more I read the less I liked the characters, their story, or the author. There’s a too cute (and very transparent) secondary love story which takes place almost entirely at Target, and one scene of the daughter on her own at college, included merely to set up a later event. Even in a story that is not 1^st person POV, a jump like that is disorienting.

Natalie and Tony get super annoying after they finally have sex, and Tony of course wants a baby of his own, but Natalie has been there and done that, plus she’s got her supposedly peri-menopausal uterus. This major issue is tied up neatly, without much comment however in the epilogue.

Now for my biggest problem with this book: the conservative opinions of the author, such as waiting for marriage to have sex (the daughter, not the mother) and wanting marriage and a baby, in that order (the hero, the heroine already did that) there was a detrimental line referring to birth control as well. It’s not really the values themselves that bother me, it’s the preachiness of it. Then there was a moment that truly bothered me, and I should have stopped reading, but I wanted to see how far it would go. Here’s the gay joke that appears on page 153.

The hero did and said the following:

“He and Rob had taken this morning’s personal section of the newspaper and highlighted the men-seeking-men gay ads and left them on Walcroft’s bed. It was juvenile, but damn funny watching his reaction.”

“You guy’s are a bunch of pussies. You were looking at those ads for yourselves.”

“Not me” the Captain denied. “Tony”

“Bullshit.” Tony countered, grinning. “If anyone is gay, it’s Gable.”

That was the MFing hero! Very mature and open minded of you, I can’t wait for your HEA. Now this 34 year-old man, we’re supposed to believe wants a mature older woman, just made a middle school joke (and if I don’t approve of it from middle school boys, then why would I want that in my romance novel?)

So, yeah, I didn’t like that at all. And honestly it soured my whole perspective on the rest of the book. Turns out the best part about it was the cover.

My Idea of Fun Rapture May 21st, 2011

2011-05-24T16:02:00.001-04:00

Wow, it's been a busy few weeks leading up to the 'Rapture' - which didn't happen, but look at the output that did! I had the pleasure of working with Dan Oatman on his release (which led to the creation of my release, and a new obsession with bookmaking) as well as giving my 2 cents for the Tech Ep mixes (both solicited and unsolicited). It was great to see 3 tables full of work, and more online, including some projects that have been in the works for years. Good Job everybody!

Digital Collages

2011-05-03T08:14:00.003-04:00

They only exist on the scanner bed for a few minutes

then it's back to the folders, binders, piles

from which they came.

2011-05-01T16:18:00.002-04:00

Mom and the Half Notes

"After the Ashes" - Cheryl Howe - 2003

2011-05-01T12:05:00.003-04:00

Sometimes things work on what I like to call the 'poached egg principle' - the universe keeps throwing weird little quirks of repetition at you - so, it figures that the next books outside of Mary Balogh's Huxtable series would also have iconic (to me at least) television character names. The H/H of "After the Ashes" names are (see picture) that's right, "Christopher and Lorelai." It may or may not be on purpose, but when I googled Gilmore Girls 2003, the year this novel was published, images of "Gilmore Girls" Season 4 came up - that's the season where Luke and Lorelai finally kiss and begin a relationship - do we have a Luke hater here? Or perhaps an early draft was written around the very likable Chris in Season 2? Or perhaps it has nothing to do with the tv show at all, as the actor who plays Chris, David Sutcliffe is very charming, but in no way does he resemble the hero in "After the Ashes" a West Point Grad, Union Captain and bad ass bounty hunter.

As for the book separate from my second favorite television show, it was a big let down. Granted, Howe's debut novel came from my DIK review list of books to look for, so I had high expectations, too high it seems. Despite a ridiculous setup and an interaction that felt like a scene straight of a "Longarm" novel - I was very much enjoying the first half of the book. It went way downhill from there. It felt a bit like the 90's novels of Jude Devereaux, sacrifices for no reason, forced misunderstandings, and relationships built almost exclusively around sex and mistrust. I found another review on The Romance Reader which only gave "After the Ashes" three hearts, and listed quite a few of the same issues I had, so now I'm going to take some time searching for a second opinion of all those books I'm looking for.

April Leftovers - Orange

2011-05-01T11:23:00.000-04:00