A Little Fantasy - Always Worth the Time!

Ah, fantasy -- where would we be without our fantasies?? It's a world of escape - that provides danger, adventure, exotic locales, imaginative themes, and ...yep, enough heat to keep any one of us warm on a winter evening.

Today's romantic fiction includes more erotic novels, published by a host of different houses that deal only in erotic romances. I can remember in high school hiding a book written by Harold Robbins while I was reading it. Oh my! such a racy book!. My mother would have killed me for reading such trash. But then, I can also remember asking my Mom when I was very little why Rickie and Lucy (OK, you had better know who that was!) slept in twin beds instead of a big bed like at our house. I can tell you that she didn't answer me ... that would have meant explaining and she wasn't ready to do so. Come to think of it, I don't think she was ever ready to explain things. And sometimes, I'm not ready for the "explaining" that's done in some of today's novels (yep, I've picked some up, read a few pages and quickly put them back down). I'm amazed sometimes that I still look around guiltily to make sure no one sees me reading "that book."

But the good thing is, I can pick and choose what I want to read without guilt and I value that.Be that as it may, we do have a number of novels in our stores that tip the scale of romances that can be termed erotic....some that have scenes of intimacy woven into the story line and some that seemed to have lost a story line in the scenes of intimacy. Stop by KC's Kozy Korner and check them out.

Deep, Dark & Dangerous by Jaid Black -
Fed up with Hollywood backstabbing, famous movie actress Madalyn Simon decided to escape the spotlight. Her new back-to-basics existence in an Alaskan cabin did take getting used to, but at least she was in control of her own destiny...or so she thought. While snowmobiling on the frigid coast with her sister, the pair is taken hostage by a band of rough men who want them...for reasons beyond imagining.They are neo-Vikings from a hidden underworld, in search of women Outsiders to breed for the New Sweden clan. Their leader, Otar, wants only one woman: Madalyn. Madalyn must become Otar's wife or face the marriage auction block.


Elizabeth's Wolf by Lora Leigh

Dash thought himself alone, a soldier, a fighting machine and no more. Elizabeth made him realize he was a man. Danger surrounds the woman his soul marked as his mate, death and blood and treachery that go beyone even his worst nightmares. But he will protect her and what she claims as her own. he was created to kill, trained to do it efficiently, and only a man bound to her, heart and soul, will have the strength to save Elizabeth and her prized possession.

The Paper Lion Meets Raphael Tuck

One of Paper Lion's favorite manufacturers of paper treasures is Raphael Tuck & Sons. In 1821, founder Raphael Tuck was born in Koschmin, in East Prussia. He moved to England in 1865 and by 1866 had opened a small shop selling furniture and chromolithographs printed in Germany, and offering picture-framing services. In 1870, three of his sons joined him in the family business, and they began to publish paper items such as fine art prints, chromolithographs postcards, books, calendars, puzzles, and paper dolls. They were printed in Germany but the subject matter - animals, soldiers, children, flowers, & country scenes - was chosen to please a British audience.
In 1881, Adolph Tuck succeeded his father as managing director of the company and they registered the familiar trademark of an artist's easel, palette and brushes with the initials R.T.& S. In 1893 they began to carry the
Royal Warrant of Appointment granted by Queen Victoria. Adolph Tuck produced their first picture postcard in 1894 of Mt. Snowden in Wales, which was sold to tourists visiting the site, and the first series of numbered postcards was printed in 1898, which was a set of 12 lithographed vignette views of London, numbered 1 to 12 with the "Tower of London" being postcard #1. The company introduced the oilette series of postcards, usually based on specially commissioned paintings, in the early 1900s. The oilette postcards were organized in sets, all cards in the same set having the same number.
Raphael Tuck & Sons established an office in New York and hired American artists to design images for the American market. The postcards were printed in Germany or England and then returned to the United States. By 1904, the company had 15,000 postcard designs in print.
Most records of the Raphael Tuck & Sons company history, as well as many of the original postcard paintings were destroyed in 1940 when the London head-offices were hit in an air raid.
Raphael Tuck & Sons dominated the die-cut market in Britain during the 1880's decade. Germany and Britain developed a method where their images could be cut into shapes during the printing process by a type of punch-out tool called a die. By 1880 the die-cut chromolithograph reached its pinnacle with the most colourful and complex imagery standing out in direct relief. Original die-cut chromolithographs have today become very scarce. Most have suffered from chipping and breakage, and very few remain in fine condition.
Several fine examples of Raphael Tuck & Sons work can be found at Paper Lion. Check it out. As Paper Lion always tells me, Tuck is grrrrreat!!
October 10 addenda: Since putting up this blog nearly all of my Raphael Tuck stock has been sold, but Paper Lion still has lots of other wonderful Victorian paper treasures.

Serendipity 3 Frozen Hot Chocolate: Paula Deen's Recipe

Annabella's Gift Shop is proud to sell Serendipity 3 Frozen Hot Chocolate products! We carry mixes, gift sets, and the complete line of bath & body. As the signiture dessert of the New York restaurant of the same name, Serendipity 3 has been named one of Oprah's Favorite Things, and has been featured in InStyle magazine.

Most recently, Serendipity 3 Frozen Hot Chocolate has appreared on two Food Network Shows, $40 A Day with Rachael Ray and Paula's Party, the latter being a new show by Southern cook Paula Deen.

You can easily prepare Serendipity 3 Frozen Hot Chocolate by blending the mix with ice and milk according to the directions on the package. However, on Deen's new show, she shared a variation on making the Frozen Hot Chocolate...one that will make your packages of Serendipity 3 last even longer!

PAULA DEEN'S SERENDIPITY 3 FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE

3 ounces chocolate
2 teaspoons Serendipity 3 Frozen Hot Chocolate mix
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups iceWhipped cream for garnish (optional)
Chocolate shavings for garnish (optional)

Chop the chocolate into small pieces and melt in a small, heavy saucepan or in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted. Add the Serendipity 3 Frozen Hot Chocolate mix and sugar, stirring constantly until blended.

Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup of the milk, stirring until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

In a blender, place the remaining 1 cup of milk, the chocolate mixture, and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, if desired.

Makes 2 large servings.

FREE SHIPPING Thru October 9 at Annabella’s Gift Shop!!

Celebrate Columbus Day by saving some money at Annabella’s Gift Shop! Now through Monday, October 9, get FREE SHIPPING on all orders within the United States. Whether you win an auction, purchase a Buy It Now item, or a combination of both, shipping is FREE*!

To take advantage of this offer, simply use the “Contact Seller” feature or email us at ann@annabellasgiftshop.com and mention this offer. We will send you an invoice with the shipping reduced to zero.

There is no minimum amount to purchase. This is a great way to beat the store crowds and stock up on gifts for the upcoming holidays!

*Shipping will be via USPS Priority, Parcel or Media Mail, or via UPS - our choice. This offer is only good for shipments within the United States and APO addresses. Offer ends 10/9/06.

Start With A Digital Camera!

Conventional cameras depend entirely on chemical and mechanical processes, however, all digital cameras have a built-in computer, and all of them record images electronically. It's amazing what has happened with the camera in the past 20-30 years. At this point, digital cameras still cannot create the quality of picture that film does, but improvements are being made all the time.

I have to be honest here...I have no real clue what to do with or how to operate a camera - either film or digital. On the other hand, my husband never has enough cameras -- of both types. The only thing he doesn't do is develop his own film (oh, thank you God!) But.... it is one more avenue for me to search for books that I thought might be interesting. Trouble is, whatever I bring home he appropriates for himself. So, only now and then do I actually get to put a book out on the website. But this one is available on the eBay store KC's Kozy Korner.

Start With A Digital Camera
The Indispensable Guide to Getting the Most Out of Your Digital Camera
by
John Odam

If you are about to buy a digital camera, or if you're not sure what to do with the one you have, this book gives you the knowledge and the inspiration to take them in dozens of designs and projects.You'll find out what kind of camera is best for you and how to manage memory and storage, how to set up your computer for photo editing, and how to photograph both people and landscapes. Learn from loads of real-life examples, and discover essential image-editing techniques in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Elements.With hundreds of clear step-by-step explanations, "Start With a Digital Camera" will help you overcome the limitations of digital photography, and maximize its unique advantages.