Memoir of a Life With Truman Capote

Available on
KC's Kozy Korner

"Dear Genius..."
A Memoir of My Life with Truman Capote
by
Jack Dunphy

This book is an intimate portrait of one of America's most colorful personalities, one of the literary geniuses of our time. Truman Capote's public image was charming, engaging, and always controversial. His private life was tormented by demons...writer's block, drink, drugs, self-doubt.

Jack Dunphy was Truman Capote's companion for thirty-five years. This is a book only someone who was as close to Truman as Dunphy could write. Dunphy has adopted an ingenious literary device: Juxtaposed against the compelling story of Truman's and Dunphy's lives together in Europe and New York is the fascinating fictional story of the unforseen influence a priest, Father John Synge, has on that unrepentant sinner Truman Capote. As Dunphy write in the preamble - the priest is Jack Dunphy himself.

The book is a riveting account of tempestuous times, of people famous and infamous, of times good and bad.

Planning a Beach Themed, Tropical or Destination Wedding?

Welcome to Scarborough Seashells!

We have everything from beautiful one of a kind jewelry pieces to seashells & sea life that will help you create the perfect ambience for your special day!



Stunning One of a Kind Sea Glass Jewelry

Narragansett Sea Glass Jewelry pieces are sold online exclusively at Scarborough Seashells. A perfect gift for yor bridal party and elegantly simple beauty to accentuate your wedding theme. We can create one of a kind custom sets for any size wedding party to match your color scheme! We sell sea glass bracelets, pendant & earring sets, and individual pendants and earrings as well.

Contact Us for a consultation; We will create a custom listing just for you!




This first set was created for a classic New England Beach wedding, complete with bare feet and sand between the toes!






This set was created for a September Destination Wedding in the islands. The bridemaids' dresses are a rust color fading from dark to light. The amber hues of this glass picked up the shades of the dress perfectly!



Seashells & Sea Life Wedding Decor and Favors

Creating the perfect atmosphere for your wedding is essential to help set the tone of the day. A beach themed wedding can range from casual and simple to elegant and luxurious. We have seashells and sea life to meet every budget and every style!



We carry a large variety of crafting & scatter shells which are perfect for use as wedding confetti on tables or in bowls & vases. They can also be strung into leis, used for garland or given as part of a favor that you create yourself!
We also carry larger seashells such as Nautilus, Murex, Whelk & Conch which are perfect additions to your wedding day centerpieces! In our Sea Life department we carry White & Blue Pencil Starfish as well as Sugar & Knobby Starfish, different sizes and varieties of Sand Dollars & Sea Biscuits (perfect for adding raffia or a ribbon and giving as favors or to be used as place cards for arriving guests!)
The possibilities for using these fantastic seashells are only limited by your imagination!




We are always happy to create custom orders and will work with you to ensure that you have everything you need to make your ceremony and reception as magical as you dream! You are not limited by the items or quantity currently available in our store, we are continuously adding new merchandise and will be glad to accommodate larger/special orders.
If you don't see it, please ask!

Magic of the Celtic Green World

There are so many interesting books - covering so many ideas and concepts. Sometimes it's just plain fun to explore new or different ideas. This one caught my eye when searching through stacks of books.

Available on

KC's Kozy Korner

GLAMOURY

Magic of the Celtic Green World

by

Steve Blamires

Glamoury is a life-affirming, holistic, magical system that will break down the barriers between you and teh natural world. This system is deeply connected to natural cycles -- the "Green World" of the ancient Celts...and is based on truths embedded in the rich archetypes of Celtic myths...myths compellingly retold in this book.

This book brings together concepts from the Irish Celtic spirtul tradition, practical techniques, and extensive research into Celtic history, literature, and myth to provide an unparalledled tool for personal evolution. Let these myths reach deep into your subconcious to plant the seeds for personal transformation.

Glamoury will guide you back to harmony with the Green World that our ancestors knew--and give yuo the tools you need to live up to your true spiritual potential.

Steve Blamires is a Celtic scholar and founder of the Celtic Research & Folklore Society (CRFS).

What's Up With That?

Pluto no Longer a Planet. How can that be? Does it mean that we're going to have to reprogram our minds to exclude Pluto as a planet?

Or will we begin to refer to Pluto as the blob that was formerly known as a planet? How embarrassing is that? Read the story for yourself. Here’s the link. Pluto No Longer a Planet


Later,

Lorna/
Lorna’s Re-Use It Decor

Who Doesn't Like a Good (Romantic) Vampire Novel?

Available on KC's Kozy Korner

Vampires are no longer scary! Did you hear??? Hmmmm, maybe not scary, but certainly a bit of a thrill and quite a fantasy. Sigh....this genre is certainly entertaining to read - whether the tone is humorous, sensual fantasy, or more of a dark fantasy - just a little short of the old-fashioned horror novels about vampires. So here's just a few that may interest you .....

Hunting the Hunter by Shiloh Walker - After two years Kane Winter still doesn't know what really happened the night his bounty hunting partner was murdered. What he does know is that there was a mysterious woman at the scene, and he won't rest until he finds her... Kendall is accustomed to vampire games. After all, she is one herself...part of an elite group of warriors who keep the other vamps in line by destroying the ones who prey on the weak and innocent. But now she's the one being stalked.... When all trails lead to Kendall, Kane is consumed by a desire greater than vengeance--a hunger to possess this woman for himself. Together, they will travel down a dangerous path of seduction and surrender, until there are no rules left to break---and nowhere left to hide.

I Hunger For You by Susan Sizemore - Mia Luchese comes from a long line of vampire hunters but has never believed in the supernatural. When she's attacked by vampires, though, Mia must accept her family's dark legacy. What she doesn't know is that sexy SWAT tem leader Colin Foxe, her rescuer and former lover, is also a vampire. Colin doesn't want to mate with a mere mortal, but his attraction to Mia is blistering. To get to the bottom of the attack on her, he is forced to reveal his true identity...and Mia hers. But a generations-old battle that should rip them apart cannot break the bond that has their souls hungering for an eternity in each other's arms.

Even Vampires Get The Blues by Katie MacAlister - Paen Scott is a Dark One: a vampire without a soul. And his mother is about to lose hers too if Paen can't repay a debt to a demon by finding a relic known as the Jilin God in five days. Half-elf Samanth Cosse may have gotten kicked out of the Order of Diviners, but she's still good at finding things, which is why she just opened her own private investigation agency. Paen is one of Sam's first clients and the only one to set her elf senses tingling, which makes it pretty much impossible to keep their relationship on a professional level. Sam is convinced that she is Paen's Beloved -- the woman who can give him back his soul...whether he wants it or not.

I Burn For You by Susan Sizemore - The world holds great danger for Alec Reynard and his kind. As the dark hollows of his soul threaten to overwhelm him, he undergoes secret medical treatments that allow him to bear daylight. Living a double life as a bodyguard, he must also battle the powerful chemistry that explodes between him and Domini Lancer, a mere mortal...and, unbelievably, his soul mate. Domini knows nothing of Alec's true nature. But when danger threatens, he kidnaps her to his clan's stronghold to protect her....and there, he can no longer hide who--or what-- he is. As the forces aligned against Domini draw near, Alec wonders whetehr she'll accept the darkness within him...or whetehr she's actually a vampire slayer who's cleverly infiltrated his clan.

Everybody Pays - A True Story of a Mob Hit Man

A signed copy is available on

KC's Kozy Korner

Everybody Pays

byMaurice Possley and Rick Kogan

Two men, one murder and the price of truth.

This book is an astonishing true story of shocking corruption and an ordinary citizen who had the courage to challenge a mob hit man.

On the warm early-fall night of September 27, 1972, on a quiet tree-lined street, one man was about to die. And two others, strangers before this evening, would become locked in a reluctant but inevitable relationship that would span more than a quarter-century and transform their lives. Though both were products of Chicago's West Side, the two men couldn't have been more different. One was cultured and charismatic, a dark and complex prince of organized crime, an assassin who enjoyed his work. The other was a modest man of modest means, an auto mechanic who wanted little more than a steady paycheck.

Bob Lowe was the sole witness to a brutal murder. The victim was a neighbor, blown away by the blast of a sawed-off shotgun. The killer was Harry Aleman, one of the most notorious men in mob history. And Lowe could be the person to finally put Aleman behind bars. Promised refuge as a protected witness, Lowe agreed to testify. But through a tangled web of politics and payoffs, Aleman was acquited, and Lowe feared for his life. Disillusioned and depressed, he spiriled into alcoholism, drugs, and crime, losing his family and his self-respect. Finally, after twenty-five years, he emerged to confront Aleman, and his own personal demons.

Aleman was reindicted for the murder of Logan while in prison and eventually retried in September 1997. In 1998, a federal court ruled (Harry Aleman v. Judges of the Criminal Division, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, et al., 183 F.3d 302 (1998)) that an acquittal by a bribed judge in a bench trial is invalid because the defendant in such a case was never in jeopardy in the first place, and that the legal concept of double jeopardy is therefore inapplicable. This meant Aleman could be retried, and thus he became the first person in U.S. history to be retried by the same government for a crime which he had previously been acquitted. Aleman was convicted at his retrial.

Katiyana's Handmade Collectibles is back up and running!

Katiyana's Handmade Collectibles was shut down for a month due to a family emergency. But I am back up and running again, and once again selling my custom handmade doll and bear sweaters. My listings have moved back to my main store under the eBay ID katiyana - and are limited to the following sizes: American Girl, Bitty Baby, Cabbage Patch Kids, Build A Bear, and Build A Bear Cubs. I do plan to have my holiday themed listings up for Betsy McCall, Hopscotch Hill, MSD Dollfie, and Baby Face just during the holiday season. I have also cut back on the number of designs listed, but all of my designs will still available by request or on my website.

For Halloween, I have the following designs available: Pumpkin, Ghost, Jack O Lantern, and Witch Hat.

For Christmas, I have the following designs available: Christmas Tree, Christmas Present, Snowman, Candy Cane, Train Engine, and Gingerbread Man.

For Hanukkah, I have the following designs available: Dreidel, Star of David, and the Israeli Flag.

As always custom creations can be purchased as well, whether its a name, initials, or a new picture image to be added to my collection. All items are made to order in the colors of your choice, and made with 100% acryllic yarn. Please allow up to 30 days for shipment to allow time for sewing, and if you're buying for the holidays, shop early!

If you have a new holiday picture idea, please let me know - if I can sew it up, I can add it in time for the holidays.

Also, even though my listings have moved, my Super Shopper Reward Program is still in effect! Make $40 in purchases of handmade merchandise (excluding shipping & handling charges, gift certificates, or sweater of the month club memberships) and you'll receive a gift certificate redeemable for a free sweater!

My Sweater of the Month Club memberships are now Website Exclusives - so you'll need to come visit my website for more information on them.

FREE Shipping Offer At Annabella's Gift Shop!

Spend $50 or more now through August 21 at Annabella's Gift Shop – on auction and/or Buy It Now items – and shipping within the United States is FREE*!!

This is a great way to stock up early for holiday gifts...or to treat yourself to some new items. We carry a wide selection of collectibles (Garfield, Disney, Italian Chef, Mary Engelbreit); memory journals for mom, dad, grandma and grandpa; home decor such as picture frames and candles; kitchen accesories including cheese spreaders, cookie jars, and coffee mugs; plus special gifts for babies and children.

To begin shopping, simply visit our eBay Store at http://stores.ebay.com/Annabellas-Gift-Shop!

*Free shipping offer good for U.S. buyers only. Shipping will be via USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground, our choice. Simply wait to pay and we will invoice you with the shipping cost removed. Offer good through August 21, 2006 only.

Spray painting sounds like a lot of fun.

I never really thought about spay painting as art form until I ran into some very cool videos on youtube.com
These artists in the videos are having soooo much fun! I had fun watching them too. I shared these videos with my teenager daughter and she had a blast watching them. She felt motivated to do some art and try spray painting.
Spray painting seems like a great art idea for older children, but I will be checking for toxicity and environment safety. If it is safe, we might purchase a few cans of spray painting and a mask to give it try before school starts.

Google spray painting or check youtube.com to find more.

I have one link for you. Have fun!






Borges Studio features original oil, acrylic, watercolor, and high quality Giclee reproduction. Subjects include non-representational abstracts, landscapes & seascapes, still life, figurative. Style includes Expressionism to Modern Contemporary Impressionism.
I enjoy abstracting and painting things, places and people I encounter everyday.

Craft Time Ideas and Do It Yourself Craft Kits

Get creative with craft time...

Find a novelty craft kit to fit the theme you need. Crafts are a great team-building project for Scouts, classrooms and other groups or organizations.

We have glow-in-the-dark solar system kits, T-Rex Dinosaur Paleontology kit, kaleidoscope kit and an insect/bugs/ant kit just to name a few.

http://stores.ebay.com/Abbeys-Carolinas-This-N-That_Juvenile-Arts-Crafts-Hobbies_Do-It-Yourself-DIY-Craft-Kits_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ38773QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Make your mark with colorful stickers! Personalize invitations, posters, art projects and more to take them from ordinary to extraordinary!

At Abbey's Carolinas we have the ultimate writing guides to assist you in composing pose for that special greeting card.

For scrapbooking, we have the 300 piece American patriotic scrapbook stickers. Sticker Extravaganza is an explosion of sticker fun! These patriotic stickers are perfect for decorating hats, bags, cards, letters, picture frames, or anything under the sun.

With over 300 fabulous freedom stickers, you'll enjoy a sticker for almost every day of the year.
Inside this fun-filled sticker set, you'll find stickers with:

Red White and Blue Ribbons

America Signs

Statue of Liberty

American Eagle

Liberty Bell

American Flag

Patriotic Stars

Hearts Freedom Sign

And more!

The perfect way to show that you're proud to be an American!

http://stores.ebay.com/Abbeys-Carolinas-This-N-That/Stationery-Craft-Scrapbook-Notions.html

What Is A Mass Market Paperback?

KC's Kozy Korner

A mass market paperback book is a relatively cheap version of a book. It will be smaller than a traditional hardcover book, usually measuring 4 1/8" by 6 7/8". It will be non-illustrated and often sold in non-traditional bookselling locations like supermarkets, retail outlets, as well as traditional bookselling locations, i.e., stores devoted primarily to the sale of books. This cheap(er) version of a book usually comes out about a year after it has been published as a hardcover. In more recent years, quite a few books are published directly as paperbacks - were never published as hardcover.

The mass market paperback has become an enviable source of reading material for the general public. Changes in the costs of printing materials and costs of shipping have led to the creation of trade paperbacks (usually referred to as "trade-size") - closer to the size of a hardback, but similar in format to the mass market paperbacks. It should be said here, that traditional mass market paperbacks are printed on paper stock of much less quality than hardbacks, thereby limiting their lifespan.

British publisher Allen Lane launched the Penguin imprint in 1935 with 10 reprint titles - which started the paperback revolution in the English language book market. This was not necessarily a new concept. Mr. Lane bought paperback rights from publishers and ordered huge print runs (20,000 copies) to keep unit prices low. He then made them available to non-traditional bookselling retail locations. Woolworth's Department store was one of the original retail businesses to place a large order of these paperbacks and they sold quite well. After this initial success, booksellers were less reluctant to stock the paperbacks.


Simon & Schuster helped to found the Pocket Books imprint in the late 1930's. The American versions though, adopted illustrated covers - to reach an even bigger market. Genre categories began to emerge, and mass market book covers reflected those categories. And some of them could be quite garish.

In today's market we find that the "mass market" paperback or trade-size paperback competes very well with hardbacks. It certainly cannot compete with the prestige of having a book published in hardcover format...any number of today's very popular authors have started out having their works published as paperback first. As their work becomes more and more successful, they are often published as hardcover first with the mass market paperback being published at a later date.

Publishers are also increasing the quality of paper stock being used for trade-size softcover books, making them more attractive to buyers. These books tend to be the mid-way point of a mass market version and the hardcover version -- and still of a quality to last for quite a while.

It's Not Too Early For Holiday Shopping!

Greetings Everyone!
As we approach mid August, the realization of summer soon being over is acknowledge.
So, you ask? Well that means back to school, back to regular routines and perhaps thoughts also turn towards this year's Holiday Season. This is the perfect time to really plan ahead and get a jump start on all your holiday shopping.

I know most of you are thinking, geez it's way to early, there is plenty of time left. I, for one, know that is the type of attitude I hang on to each year and then come mid-December start asking myself "what happened..why again am I not ready"?

C'mon, you know what I'm talking about....last holiday season did you promise yourself no last minute shopping frenzies. Did you swear that by Thanksgiving you would have all your presents bought? Well if you want to accomplish that you should start now.

Ebay is a wonderful place for you to start your holiday buying early. One can find something wonderful for anyone on their list. You may want to check out the Ebay stores listed right here on this blog. Just scroll down to the Go Shopping area on the right-hand side. The sellers of these store here have wonderful items for you to choose from and they all offer wonderful customer service. You can't go wrong.

If you are looking for toys, I invite you to stop by HTF Toys and More where you can view a wide selection of toys for various age groups. Chances are that special toy that your youngster has been talking about for a few months will no longer be available at your local stores come this fall. We specialize in stocking discontinued items so we might just have exactly what you are looking for.

So let's see....shopping on Ebay this holiday season will:
1. Save your Gas
2. Save your time
3. Provide items that are difficult to find or one of a kind items that would make fabulous gifts.

What are you waiting for?
Now remember, this is the year you will get it all done early!!

Look What I Found at the Auction!

I found this unique toy metal car at a live auction.

Antique Ford Model T Touring Car

The only thing I know about cars is to put gas in the tank, add the various fluids and of course drive it. So you can imagine that I don’t know anything about vintage or antique cars let alone toy cars. I tried to remember some of the names of the cars from yesteryear and I hit the jackpot with the Ford Model T. Ford Model T Touring car to be exact. The toy car is made from metal. That is, it is made out of metal door hinges and screws among other things. Click on the link here or the one above the picture to view the full description.Lorna’s Re-Use It Decor


For all you cat lovers out there here’s this adorable Lithograph of a little girl and her kitty.

Antique Ford Model T Touring Car

Click on the link here or the one above the picture to view the full description. Lorna’s Re-Use It Decor


Until next time.

Lorna/
Lorna’s Re-Use It Decor

Reading Requirements

Ah, yes. I remember high school - back in the day (as my daughter refers to it). We had a required reading list associated with our English classes. No excuses, no exceptions --- we were required to read and review books from a list of "classics." Now, if we wanted to attend college, the list of required and/or suggested reading grew even longer. By the time my youngest daughter was making her way through high school, reading requirements were a thing of the past. While I complained about it myself when I was in school and college, somehow I believe my daughter would have been better served to have had the same kind of requirement and to have discussed them in class with fellow students; not on a voluntary basis but as part of the normal requirements.

When younger I set a task for myself to continue to read all of the books on the then "suggested" reading lists -- just to be able to say that I had read them (which of course meant that I could view myself as particularly well educated!). And then, as a secondary task I started to read anything else written by the author on the orginal list. Whew!!! These days, I simply read what I enjoy -- doesn't matter whether its on a list somewhere or not. I like books that tell good stories...and that entertain me or suit my mood. Which for me means everything from westerns, science fiction, fantasy, historical romances, action & adventure, contemporary romances, especially today's current crop of vampire(or like characters) novels, to cozy mysteries and thrillers. Yep, I'll read just about any genre -- with the exception of horror novels. Now those will give me sleepless nights and continuing nightmares.

That said, I thought it might be interesting to list some of the books that were required reading, once upon a time:

Robinson Crusoe - written by Daniel Defoe in 1719

Gulliver's Travels - written by Jonathan Swift in 1726

Tom Jones - written by Henry Fielding in 1749

Pride and Prejudice - written by Jane Austin in 1813

Wuthering Heights - written by Emily Bronte in 1847

Moby-Dick - written by Herman Melville in 1851

Les Miserables - written by Victor Hugo in 1862

War and Peace - written by Leo Tolstoy in 1865

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - written by Mark Twain in 1885

Ulysses - written by James Joyce in 1922

The Great Gatsby - written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - written by Betty Smith in 1943

These are only a few from the list - but I thought these might be more familar to people today. All of these books are a part of our modern culture -- names that we recognize no matter where or how they are used. You may not have read the book, but you are familiar with it nonetheless.

KC's Kozy Korner

Pokemon ex Crystal Guardians coming soon

The next hot release of Pokemon cards from Nintendo is due out in late August. The name of the new set is Pokemon ex Crystal Guardians. Here is some more information about this new set of Pokemon cards:

Only the Best Shall Pass the Crystal Guardians

* Unleash the power of favorite Pokémon as new Pokémon Delta Species!
* 10 new Pokémon-ex, including 1 Pokémon-ex Delta Species!
* Discover mysterious crystals that will change how Pokémon Trainers do battle!
* Expand your strategy by collecting all 100 cards!
* Complete a collection of holographic parallel set!

Katiyana's Collectibles will be listing cards as singles, and in partial and complete sets as available in early September. Please come stop by and check out the hottest new Pokemon cards when they are released.

katiyana

A Favorite Author - Adventure and Action!

For those of us who read a lot, we have favorite authors. And just like anyone else, we tend to have favorite authors for different types of books. Now I'm an armchair action-adventure fanatic. Love to read about adventures, but also prefer to do it from my chair surrounded by the comforts of my home. One of my favorite authors is James Rollins. He writes books that are full of adventure and action, not to mention that he tells a good story. Some of his available books are:

Subterranean (1999)
Excavation (2000)
Deep Fatham (2001)
Amazonia (2002)
Ice Hunt (2003)
Sandstorm (2004)
Map of Bones (2005)
Black Order (2006)

I would happily recommend any one of them to you. I enjoyed each and every one. Below is a very brief intro to three of my own favorites:

Subterranean - Travel to the bottom of the earth to a place you never believed existed. A team of specialists makes its way toward the center of the world -- but they are not the first to venture into this subterranean labyrinth. Those that they follow did not return. Breathtaking wonders...and terrors beyond imagining...a mystery waiting to be solved.

Excavation - The South American jungle hides many secrets...and a remarkable site nestled amongst the mountains, hidden from human eyes for centuries. Ancient catacombs where ingenious traps have been laid to ensnare the careless, where earth-shattering discoveries could be the reward for the courageous willing to face the unknown. But something terrifying is waiting...something created by Man but seemingly not humanly possible.

Ice Hunt - Buried deep in the earth's polar ice cap is a secret laboratory - abandoned years ago by the former Soviet Union and called Station Grendel. Intended to be lost to human memory, it was discovered by an American undersea research vessel that saw something alive inside. Something that should never have survived.

KC's Kozy Korner

Back to School

I love this time of year. The dog days of summer are coming to an end and autumn is just around the corner. I love autumn!

Buying Back to School items for you or your child can be fun and exciting. It's like getting a fresh start. We currently have several fun items for Back to School.

Lego sets have got to be the coolest toy ever invented. I grew up with them and now my children are playing with them. I wish they had such neat sets when I was little. If you have a Lego Maniac at your house they might enjoy a Lego themed Desk Set. We have Clikits for girls and Bionicle or Knights Kingdom for boys. They come with pens, pencils, colored pencils, rulers and other handy accessories. These also make great gifts for birthdays! You can check out our Lego Sets here.

Magical eBay Moments

My Mom died in November 1998. At the time, there was only one granddaughter in our family who was 16 at the time.

LB married in 2003 at the age of 21 after finishing undergraduate school one year early by taking full summer loads. I really wanted to get her something very special for a combination wedding/graduation gift. So, I asked her. And her reply astonished me. She said, "Aunt Ab, more than anything I would like to have enough place settings for the immediate family's table at the wedding reception that are complete with pink depression glass."

My Mom had left her several pieces of pink depression glass upon her death, but there was not a complete place setting, let alone 8. So, began my mission.

And with only three months to accomplish, I found the pieces to make those place settings using the assistance of 12 sellers on the eBay site. To my surprise and happy tears, at the immediate family table on the night of the wedding reception there were nine settings. LB used the pieces she inherited from my Mom to make a place setting for "Nanny" right next to her.

The entire table looked amazing. One of the sellers whom I had purchased the most from and shared the story with connected me with some referrals to assist me when I was having difficulty finding the last few pieces. Madeline, the seller, went even further and provided the pink and white carnations for the table's center piece that evening as a surprise gift to me for the amount of purchases that I had made from her eBay store.

This was indeed a magic moment. LB sent personal thank you cards to each seller for making her wedding wish a reality.

Abbey

Making the most out of Summer

It's August, which means the hazy, lazy days of summer will be fading soon. Before you know it, the kids will be back in school, leaves will be falling off the trees and if you live up north like we do, cool weather will be rolling in!

Take advantage of these last days of summer. Consider these ideas for making the most of the time we have left:

Attend a small town festival. Many localities have terrific arts, crafts, music and even food festivals. Here in RI, this weekend was the 22nd Annual Charlestown Chamber Annual Seafood Festival,A gastronomic extravaganza of Rhode Island's best seafood, lobster, steamers, chowder, fish and chips, clam cakes, corn on the cob and a raw bar. Arts and crafts, amusement rides and rock climbing wall in addition to children's shows and car show. Coming up next weekend is the 331st Annual Narragansett Indian Pow Wow, Native American dancing in full regalia, foods and crafts. We also have the Rythym and Roots Festival, The Washington County Fair, and the Summer's End Festival at Narragansett Town Beach! To check out all the RI festivals for 2006, click here!

Go to the beach! Build sand castles, dig a hole and splash around with your kids! You'll be longing for it come February!

Enjoy a picnic lunch at a local park. Add to the fun by bringing along a Frisbee, boccie ball set, or a good book!

Buy a day pass to the nearest water park!

Gather your family or neighborhood together for a game of softball.

Go camping- whether at a campground or in your own backyard.

Have lunch at an outdoor cafe.

Learn a new activity such as inline skating or golf!

Host a backyard barbecue- complete with lawn games such as badminton, croquet and horseshoes!

Grab a friend and go play checkers at the neighborhood park.

Find a local stable and try horseback riding!

Take in a baseball game, whether at a major league stadium or a little league field. Here's my personal favorite!

Organize a neighborhood block party!

Take an afternoon bike ride.

Go fly a kite!

Last but certainly not least, stop by Scarborough Seashells and purchase yourself or someone special something to remember all the good times you've shared this summer! We have beautiful display shells, shells for crafting memory boxes or displays and one of a kind handmade shell and sea glass jewelry!

A few photos of Scarborough State Beach taken this week:

Free Rubber Stamping Ink Pads !

That is right, you can earn free Memories ink pads with every purchase from the Simple Treasures Rubber Stamping store !

Get a free Memories Ink pad in YOUR choice of color for every 24 Treasure Dollars you redeem ! When you receive your order of qualifying products (shown below) you will find your Treasure Dollars attached to your invoice in your box. Just save-up your Treasure Dollars and then mail them back to us with your ink selection. We will then ship (for free) your Ink Pad to you. No limits.

You will receive Treasure Dollars for the following purchases:

* Earn 1 Treasure Dollar for every $5.00 spent on Individual stamps purchased in our store OR won in one of our auctions. Examples: 1 stamp at $5.99 earns 1 Treasure Dollar, 2 individual stamps at a total of $13.50 earns 2 Treasure Dollars, 2 individual stamps at a total of $20.50 earns 4 Treasure Dollars, and on up !

* Earn 3 Treasure Dollars for every $13.50 Rubber Stamp Set purchased in the store at regular retail.

* Earn 5 Treasure Dollars for every $26.95 Rubber Stamp Set purchased in the store at regular retail.

* Earn 8 Treasure Dollars for every $31.50 Rubber Stamp Set purchased in the store at regular retail.


Offer open to US residents only.


As always, the latest and greatest unmounted rubber stamps can be found in our Simple Treasures Collage store at this URL:
http://stores.ebay.com/SimpleTreasuresCollage

Tips to Successful Homework Strategies

Yuck is really all we have to say about the subject of homework. We didn't like it as students growing up. It interferred with our after school playtime. We are convinced the below bullet points are age-old and our parents had access to this "secret" information.

• Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Youngsters need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy.
• Set aside ample time for homework.
• Establish a household rule that the TV set stays off during homework time.
• Be available to answer questions and offer assistance, but never do a child's homework for him/her.
• To help alleviate eye fatigue, neck fatigue and brain fatigue while studying, it's recommended that youngsters close the books for 10 minutes every hour and go do something else.
• If your child is struggling with a particular subject, and you aren't able to help her yourself, a tutor can be a good solution. Talk it over with your child's teacher first.

However, as time has progressed, we realize the contribution that homework discipline attributed to our education. There was no way a classroom teacher could teach us everything in 50-60 minutes/day in one subject area. As we progress to high school and college students, homework allows the student to apply what is learned in the classroom. Parents and teachers can use homework time as an opportunity to identify areas of strengths and improvements needed to each specific subject area.

And we at Abbey's Carolinas want to help you in this area as well. We have stocked our store with over 65 items that can be used in stand alone homeschool programs as well as to supplement the public classroom environment. These products may be used by parents at home or by teachers in the classroom.

Checkout our selections here:
http://stores.ebay.com/Abbeys-Carolinas-This-N-That_Educational-Books-Software_
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Finally, saving those precious memories from your child's school days is made easier through scrapbooking techniques. Scrapbooking is a hobby that both you and your school-age child can participate together. We carry several scrapbook kits that are just perfect for capturing those school memories. Check out our selection here:

http://stores.ebay.com/Abbeys-Carolinas-This-N-That_Scrapbook-Accessories_
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What's so Great About Mineral Makeup?

Mineral makeup is all the rage and for a very good reason. Mineral makeup is unlike any other makeup! Here is a list of just some of the benefits of our mineral makeup.
*Does not contain mineral oil or other cheap petroleum derived ingredients.
*No preservatives. Minerals do not need preservatives. Keep them dry and they last forever.
*Heals and calms inflamed and upset skin.
*Many rosacae and acne sufferers notice a decrease or elimination of redness and breakouts.
*It looks so natural. Works with light, rather than covering you with a mask.
*Does not settle into fine lines and wrinkles.
*Makes pores and wrinkles less noticeable.
*Contains natural sunscreen protection of SPF15 or greater.
*Very water resistant. Won't run down your face in heat or rain.
*Great price and quality.
*Can be used dry or mixed with moisturizer to make coverup.
*Only takes a couple applications to get the knack. Very quick and easy to apply.
*Very few people have allergic reactions to mineral makeup. In fact, most people are able to wear it when they can't wear traditional makeup.
*All our foundations are Vegan.
We offer a wide range of foundation shades, blush, eyeshadow and more at Divine Nature Cosmetics. The best way to try mineral makeup is to order samples and find out which color works best for you. Then you can order the full size with confidence. And with mineral makeup Less really is More.

And What Do You Do With Your Spare Time?

Sometimes I truly wonder what we've gotten into! The idea of a website of our own has been one of those "someday" ideas and like any other novice, I had no idea what it would take to get it up and running. I still work full time - simply because I like to eat regular meals and sleep indoors - and my husband has his own business as a contractor, now that he's officially retired from corporate life. We've been operating on e-Bay for the past few years with a store-front selling used and new books. It's been a gradual thing, and growing quite nicely too. But when looking at it objectively, we spend every spare hour working on this "home" business of ours, in one way or another. I think I've got "buttritous" from sitting in front of a computer all day at work, and then doing that for several hours each evening at home.Earlier this year we began to seriously work toward a separate website just for our book business. It seemed to take forever and I was impatient. I mean, how hard could this be, for heaven's sake? Uh, huh. Well, we now have an established website that our consultant has put together for us. It is wonderful...It is just great.... Ohhhhhh, Gawd - there's so much work to do just to put in inventory....and learning that I can't rely on someone else to pick up the pieces with general information about anything. The great news is that KD Web Page Design, our consultant, is absolutely wonderful to work with and we cannot ask for a better resource.Even though it is in the bare bones of inventory, we invite you to check the new website. We will continue to stock our e-Bay book shelves and are always happy to "see" you.Sigh, the bad news is that we have a s----load of work to do. It is literally like starting over -- and did I mention that with the reviewing of our inventory for the e-Bay store we're also chasing books back and forth all the time -- ah, yes, who needs spare time? Come see us on e-Bay! KC's Kozy Korner

Speaking about spare time, has anyone seen a weekend yet? I seem to remember that we used to have weekends. Hmm, maybe that will happen "someday."

Live Auctions

OK so most of us are hooked on eBay’s online auctions. I’ve got a store on eBay. Here, check it out. Lorna’s Re-Use It Decor But attending live auctions can be just as much fun.

My first experience with live auctions was about 4 years ago. I’m embarrassed to say that until then I hadn’t known that such an animal existed.

The auction house that I visited was not far from my home. It was what we New Yorkers would call a “little hole in the wall” but as many people as could fit in attended regularly. As a matter of fact for many that was their weekly Friday night entertainment complete with complimentary sandwiches and coffee with soft drinks, water and chips for a dollar a pop.

There are some things though that you should know about live auctions. Listen VERY CAREFULLY to the auctioneer! Listen out for phrases like “times the money” and “five or ten or etc. times the money” or hold bid, because you can get stuck spending more than you’d planned, for things that you have no desire for owning.

A couple of definitions
“Times the money” – each item will sell for the winning bid. For example, if there are lets say 100 widgets left that the auctioneer does not want to go through and sell individually he may choose to sell them "times the money." So if the winning bid is say $5.00 it means that you’ll be takiing home those 100 widgets for $5.00 a piece! So watch out!

Hold bid – the winning bid of each item in a set would be "sold" then held. When each piece was “sold” they were put back together by adding each winning bid plus a percent usually 10 percent. That would be the starting bid for the complete set. If there were no bids at the combined amount the pieces would go to each individual bid winner.

But, if you are not able to get to a live auction, or there’s not one near you, or the idea of mistakenly biding on 100 what-ya-ma-call-its, then there’s always eBay. The auction action here is much slower which gives you time to change your mind…that is if you must. Check out my eBay store at: Lorna’s Re-Use It Decor. I have many items that are Buy It Now. No waiting. No pressure.

Happy Auctioning.

Until next time
Lorna/
Lorna’s Re-Use It Decor

Blown Glass Ornaments

No matter the time of year, I'm always looking for something to add to my Christmas collection. It seems that there is a never-ending array of items that can be found most anytime and most anywhere! One particular item that has caught my interest is blown glass ornaments that can be hung from the tree or hung from its own special stand.

A bit of history for this type of ornament:
During the dark ages, German natives in northern Bohemia developed a new form of blown glass in the 4,000 year history of glass. They learned the glass blowing skills from wandering Venetian traders, and created glass decorations to adorn the Tannenbaum (fir tree) for the winter solstice festival.

Early Christians adapted this custom to celebrate the birth of Christ, and the Christmas tree ornament was born. The invention of the blowpipe by some unknown artisan helped bring about the craft of blown glass. Glass blowing in Germany dates as far back as the 1500’s. The craft began as a cottage industry in Lauscha East Germany and it spread through most of the German country side. Beginning in the 1860’s Germany would change the world when glass blowing expanded to include delicate ornaments made from glass molds. For many years, Germany was the major world source for glass ornaments.

Today, we can find all varieties and all shapes and sizes of blown glass ornaments. And we can find them for virtually every holiday imaginable. If you decorate for it, you can find appropriate blown glass ornaments made for that holiday! My own interest still remains primarily Christmas, but I will admit to collecting a few for Halloween also. Those I have been collecting in recent years are from a particular designer by the name of Susan Cherry. I enjoy the whimsical nature of her work. I also thought it would be fun to create a very small niche in our bookstore to carry some of those ornaments. So, like a lot of other collectors - I too found that I wanted to share my interest by providing an inventory, if only a small one, of product that fit within my collection.

In our store, you will find a small inventory of blown glass ornaments made by Cherry Designs, Inc. - each of them brand new. We invite you to view them at KC's Kozy Korner.

Oh, and of course, while you are there - check out the books! We have a few books in our store(hmmm, that may be an understatement!). Books are always our first interest.

Old School Scrapbooking

Old School Scrapbooking

I certainly remember my scrapbooks from high school - pictures of my favourite bands, lyric quotes, pictures of friends, feeble attempts at poetry and all that other embarrassing stuff! When I first started "grown up" scrapbooking, I eshewed my past habits and stuck to pictures on pages and only occasionally using pocket pages to save cards or certificates. Recently though, I've been reverting to my old habits and I've been including all sorts of bits and pieces of memorabilia on my pages. Of course now I'm careful to mount it all properly on archival quality paper and in photo safe plastic pockets, but the feelings are still the same. Here's an article I found with more ideas on different bits to include in a scrapbook.

Adding Other Items to Your Scrapbook by Audrey Okaneko

Scrapbooks are not meant just for photos. I tend to often date myself. When I was in elementary school, I had a scrapbook. Of course back then I used paper that is now yellow and I used glue. However, what’s important is I remember the contents of that scrapbook.

I kept movie ticket stubs, concert ticket stubs, love letters from boys I like, a test with an A+ on it and many other items.

Today, we can still preserve those memories by adding these extras to our scrapbooks. I always recommend making copies of everything. Unless the original paper is acid free, it will yellow and crumble with time. So, do include the original in your scrapbook, but also keep a copy.

So, what types of “extras” are fun to put into scrapbooks?

• Report Cards
• Essays from School
• Birthday Invitations
• Maps of Cities Visited
• College Brochures
• Greeting Cards
• Post Cards
• Decorative Napkins
• Place Cards from Table Settings
• Pressed Flowers
• Receipts from a Favorite Restaurant
• Play and Concert Programs
• Sporting Event Tickets and Programs
• Magazine and Newspaper Articles
• Old Drivers Licenses
• CD Covers

These items can be added to individual pages or they can be left in tact and put into a sheet protector alongside photos of the events they represent.

There is no limit to the items you can put into your scrapbook. Extra items can help tell the overall story.


Audrey Okaneko has been scrapbooking for several years now. You can reach her at audreyoka@cox.net or http://www.scrapping-made-simple.com

Article Source: http://articlebeam.com

Down with the old and in with the new. New tubes of oil paint and Picasso quote

Studio notes:

I just received a new shipment of Gamblin Artist's Oil Colors.
I usually purchase paint in cans, but this time I ordered tubes.
A new set of paint sets me in a new creative mood and sparkles my creativity.
I use Gamblin for oils, Golden for acrylics, and Winsor Newton for watercolors.
Sometimes I pick a bargain here and there, too, but I am picky about purchasing
art materials. I buy only high quality paints.



Artist quote: Pablo Picasso, the prolific painter.

Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.
Read more quotes by Picassso

I am NO Picasso, but I am an artist too.

You can enjoy my artwork at:
ebay gallery

Thanks for visiting!