Monday, June 28, 2010

Want a free Silhouette? Me too!

Have you seen the new Silhouette cutting machines? From their site: It connects to your computer just like a printer, but instead of printing designs it cuts them with a small blade.

Imagine the possibilities you could do with this wonderful machine! Scrapbooking, vinyl lettering, glass etching, fabric designs-the ideas are endless!

Want to win one of these?

 Check out this post at Just a Girl for 4 opportunities to win one!
 
 And if that isn't enough, check out this post at Thrifty Decor Chick for 4 more opportunities.
 

What are waiting for? Go enter!!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Lazy Days of Summer

It is hot here. Really hot. We're lucky we have a wonderful swimming hole
less than one mile from our house. But you do need a four-wheel drive to get there. 
See those goggles? On my son?

See my son behind Otis the Waterdog? He couldn't do that last week. Then my eldest son bought him goggles and told him they would help him swim.  


Who knew? Sure not me. But he's swimming like a fish. Sometimes, older brothers are the best, aren't they!?!


  

And sometimes, they never stop being big brothers. LOL. I totally knew what he was up to!



 
But we love them, anyway. 



Oh, see that rock behind Mr. Goggles? It's  in the scene I just wrote for my new WIP! 







Thursday, June 24, 2010

A List of Things...

First off, a big Congratulations and Good Luck to my wonderful critique partner, Gillian Layne, on her final in the Golden Heart! I couldn't think of anyone who deserves it more. Gillian is such a talented writer and such a wonderful friend, I cannot imagine trying to write without the support and advice of this wonderful person!

Second, I apologize for not posting since the winter. Sometimes, a person just needs to take a break, and I was definitely needing a break. I'm glad to say that my health has improved to the point where I am almost entirely back to normal. I still have difficulty remembering where things are when I put them up-but then my Mom assures me that is merely the effects of nearing 40 and not the result of a mini-stroke, LOL.

Third, for everyone that asked for a tutorial on the wallpaper, thank you. I started to do one but felt so silly because it was so simple. The first step is to put up the paintable wallpaper-the hardest thing about this step and the entire project is matching up the seams-I hate matching up the seams. Let it dry. I then took Minwax Stain in Dark Walnut and just painted it on. To get the different tones, I was really messy with the stain. I would soak a foam brush in it, then squeeze the stain onto the paper and let it run a minute before spreading it around. Let that dry and then stand back and admire your handiwork. Easiest home improvement project ever, I promise.

Fourth, I have finally found the new story that has been lurking in my mind for months. I have the prologue (the prologue actually came to me first and set the scene for the entire book), chapters 1 and 2, and the black moment. I am writing towards the black moment because after the prologue came to me, the black moment came to me. I really hope this works because I've never tried this type of writing before. While I was never a plotter, I still wrote in a linear fashion. We'll see where this route takes me and enjoy the ride. I guess this is extreme writing by the seat of your pants.

And finally, I have finished the hole in the wall doorway. Okay, I did not finish it by myself. I got in over my head (actually, what I got in was an electric outlet and my son kicked part of the wall down to tell me to stop. It scared him so badly he told his dad -who promptly took my saw from me!) and had to call my uncle to come and save the day. He done such a fabulous job! I still need to paint the trim in my living room, and get my decorations up and then I will have some pictures for you!

Want a sneak peek? Of course you do!


More to come, I promise!