Saturday, April 16, 2011

CODENAME: DANCER Book Release!

Remember my post about an up and coming book called CODENAME: DANCER? I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to design the cover for this exciting new book. 

Well, now you can have your own copy!!!


Purchase your ebook edition for just $2.99 at Amazon.com.


You won't be disappointed! ENJOY!!!






Thursday, April 14, 2011

New Camera, New Hobby

Thanks to all of you who voted and helped us with "The First Yum" photo contest, we now have an amazing new camera!!!

We won a Canon EOS Rebel T1i, and it's just gaw-geous!

As if I don't have enough hobbies to keep up with, I'm fully prepared to dive head first into the world of photography. Maybe even pursue a mini career? I'm pretty excited!
 *Note to self...start saving now. Camera lenses are expeeeeensive!*


Anyway, I thought I'd share just a few photos I've taken in the last couple days since we received our camera. I still have a lot to learn, and it's difficult getting used to a new toy and all its fancy settings, but I'm having WAY too much fun already!!








 More fabulous photos to come! Thanks again, everyone!







Monday, April 4, 2011

A Year of Sewing

Special thanks to everyone who voted for my daughter's picture in the photo contest, mentioned in my previous post titled: 


All of you helped us to WIN!!! That's right, we won. And we're so excited. Stay tuned for lots of great photos with our new camera!


Well, it's been a year. A full year since I sewed my very first project. And what a great year it has been!

Want to know how I got started?

Last year I was given a sewing machine by my wonderful mother-in-law. Only problem was, I had no idea how to use it. I took a sewing class in middle school where we were taught how to sew a straight line. But that was more than 12 years ago, and Lord knows my brain does not retain technical information longer than the amount of time I actually use the skill.

Alas, my poor sewing machine sat unused and collecting dust for months. 

A year ago, my mom came to visit. I had almost forgotten about the sewing machine until I was cleaning out the guest room, and...*LIGHTBULB*... I came across a brilliant idea.

My mom had always sewn our dance costumes. She made numerous Halloween costumes, and repairs to my dad's old work pants. I needed a teacher, and naturally, my mom was the one for the job!

That week we bought a romper pattern and materials from the fabric store and set to work. Mom let me do most of the cutting, and I sat and watched as she sewed the pieces together. She let me try my hand at piecing the parts together once, but let me tell you, it's much harder than it looks! And my mother, bless her, stayed up until passed midnight just to help me finish this one project. 

Wanna see what it looked like?


I did make the hat myself, after my mom left. And it turned out pretty okay!

But, my goodness, my skills have improved exponentially!

I will say that I have never bought a pattern since that first project. I have downloaded a few online, but they are so much more readable than those you buy at the store. Other than that, I like to come up with my own designs when I can.

So, to compare that first project to my most recent project, here is my latest creation. Designed and sewn by yours truly.


I just love this dress. I made it specifically for my daughter's Easter attire, and it turned out even better than I pictured it!


And I'm pretty sure she loves it too!


If I had known, one year ago, that I would be sewing like this...I would have started 10 years ago! 

What a wonderful skill to have. I feel confident about making my own daughter's future dance and Halloween costumes, and repairing my husband's old work pants.


If you haven't yet, now is a great time to work on your sewing skills! Just think of what you will be doing a year from now. Go ahead. Reward yourself with a very rewarding and productive hobby!

Happy sewing!




Now go make something and enjoy the day!



Friday, March 18, 2011

We Need YOUR Help! (UPDATE: WE WON!!!)

 UPDATE: We won the contest!!! Thank you everyone for your votes and support!


As many of you know, I have a love for photography. Unfortunately, I have no camera to support my little hobby. This is where you come in.

I have entered my daughter's picture in a photo contest. Grand Prize: a $500 gift certificate and a CANON REBEL T1i DSLR!!! 

Oooh I drool just thinking about it. 

It just so happens that my little bug's photo is a finalist in the contest!

I took this with a borrowed camera from a friend of mine. I would LOVE to be able to take photos like this on a regular basis.
So, I am enlisting your help. The contest is fully voter based from here on out, so the more votes we get, the better! You can vote once a day, every day, until March 26th.

I truly appreciate your support! 

Help me make my blog a better place with better photos for YOU!
THANK YOU!!!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Meet the Author

I hope some of you took the chance to purchase J.S. Laurenz's historical romance  To Conquer the Heart of a King.

If you're looking for more information on the book,
the author (also known as Renate Wildermuth) had a radio interview about it.

Listen, and enjoy!

featuring Renate Wildermuth


Now go make something, and enjoy the day!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

For Your Reading Pleasure

After working on the cover for Amanda Brice's book, Codename: Dancer, I was lucky to land another design gig!

I was approached by author J. S Laurenz to put together a book cover for another self-published novel. Who likes historical fiction and romance?

*raises hand* ME!
If you find yourself raising your hand too, then be sure to check out this exciting new book!

 Turned out pretty nice, if I do say so myself  ;)

Here's a blurb about the book from the author.

A woman who knows the future but not her own past.  The son of a king who must fight for his crown.  They will come together to get what they each desire.  Their pact will turn to passion…but will they realize it before intrigue tears them apart? 
Before Lukas of Falkenberg returns to the Black Forest to take the throne from his dying father, he pays a visit to the nameless and sightless Seer at the Cloister of Mariendorf.  He takes her captive to use her intuition to establish his reign.  She willingly trades the punishing confines of the cloister for a palace prison in the hope of gaining her ultimate freedom.  Although blind, she can see what the future king cannot—the needs of his subjects.  She will win them over, but can she conquer the heart of a king before his half-brother Magnus separates them in a plot even she cannot foresee?


Now, at 99 cents per copy, you CAN'T pass up finding out what happens! Purchase your own copy for your PC, Mac, Kindle, Iphone, or Ipad on amazon.com.

By J.S. Laurenz




Now go make something, and enjoy the day!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Book Covers and Book Lovers

I was recently presented with an opportunity I just couldn't pass up.

Wanna know what it was?

Are you sure?

Okay, okay, I'll tell you...


I was approached by the extremely talented up and coming author, Amanda Brice, to design a book cover!

(*squeals with delight*)

Amanda is self-publishing her award-nominated book,

Codename: Dancer

What do ya think? Pretty eye catching, huh?

Wanna know what it's about? Here's a blurb from the author herself:


Aspiring ballerina Dani Spevak is thrilled when hit TV show Teen Celebrity Dance Off comes to the campus of her performing arts boarding school. She trades the barre for the ballroom and gets set to cha-cha-cha to stardom with Hollywood wonderboy Nick Galliano.

But someone wants her off the show. Bombs, poisoning, arson… Will Dani's 15 minutes of fame be over before she reaches age 15? Dani and her friends are suddenly at the center of some serious sabotage. And if she doesn’t find out who is behind it, her next pirouette could be her last.


It's like “Nancy Drew in toe shoes” in this light-hearted tween mystery, a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Award for Best Young Adult Romance.


Oooh how exciting! I guarantee you, this book is worth reading. Young romance, suspense, mystery, what more can you ask for?

For more information on Amanda Brice and how to purchase her upcoming book, visit the Fictionistas' blog, and Amanda's personal profile.



I have to say, designing this book cover was one of the funnest things I've done in awhile. A special thanks to Amanda Brice for asking me to do this!





Now go make something, and enjoy the day!