Novel Efforts

I would like to make available, to anyone interested, a free advance copy mp3 recording.

 I am looking for early reviewers. My goal is to get the novel distributed through Amazon Kindle Fire, and very soon after, (I hope!!!) the audio version through audible.com. Now that the basic "product" is almost done, my mind is trying hard to wrap itself around all the technicalities of marketing, very new territory for me.

Cover Design "proposals" Jean is working on refinements

The Moon in the Morning:

A Fairytale with a New Twist  

Set in the present, this magical realism novel is a coming of age tale in the digital age. The heroine is a 12-year-old girl named Jean, an only child who learns to cope after her grandmother dies using the power of creativity in words, stories, music, and art.  Alone in her room, she encounters Dust Bunnies representing the Three Fates, a few special goddesses in animal form, and folk, fairytale and biblical heroines. She rescues Grandmother Spider, a Native American Goddess by releasing her from a spell. Through various activities such as designing a quilt, learning to use a sewing machine and a spinning wheel, helping on a farm, cleaning her room, using the internet, and sorting through books on her shelf, she sheds her childhood, gains wisdom, and earns respect. A blanket made for her by her grandmother is unraveled and reused to create something new that helps her through her transitions in her quest for truth, inner beauty and self-confidence. Family life, school, and the farm where her aunt and uncle have a horse she loves, weave in and out of the narrative. Over time Jean grasps that she is part of the evolving family of women on earth stretching back centuries through many cultural traditions. By the end of the story, Jean has gained in wisdom and maturity, expressed her grief, connected with the feminine divine and is ready to move on.

The Moon in the Morning has been three years in the working on and off already! Twenty six paintings, and about 175 pages. I believe I have finally edited the manuscript to a place where I am comfortable. I liken the process to sanding - first the heavier sandpaper to get rid of the obvious rough spots, but now I am at the fine grit stage and the polishing cloth. Another metaphor I like is "combing out the snarls." The biggest hurdle has been the audio version of the book. There are seven and a half hours of listening, which is a lot to comb through, rerecord and tweak.

Authentic 60's Caftan

A neighbor some years ago was not well. I kept her company and
helped her out. We had an interest in sewing and needlecrafts in common.
To thank me, and also glad to find
someone who would value the work,
she gave me a few unfinished projects that she no longer could finish.
Now I have a little time and I am cleaning out
the cluttering piles in my workroom.
I found this authentic 60's Family Circle Magazine craft kit.
She had completed the embroidery and beading
but never cut out al the pieces or sewed it.

Now it is done!

Beads, Nuts and Knitting

Becky Beads
The Yellow one sold at Spencertown

This sold at Spencertown Academy

I have been fairly busy of late getting jewelry ready for the Handmade Holiday sale at the Spencertown Academy

Knitting

My gossamer shawl - I have written more details on my Ravelry page:

 Black Walnuts

 I spent from 1 pm to 7 pm with few breaks
(ha ha no pun intended).
First I pre-cracked the nuts
using the vise in the cellar workshop
then had to use
the wire cutters to pry the meats out.
Milos joined me at about 5:30
so that we could finish up and eat dinner.
We had 2 and a half gallons
of the nuts in hard shells to do,
and ended up with approx. 4 mason jars
of nut meats.
I roasted the meats for 15 minute at 265 degrees
 before packing (smelled wonderful!).
 Note bottom of photo the perfect half:
this happened only three times during the effort.
 Mostly the pieces broke up.

Angelic Acrobats

Felted figures with inner wires for pose-ability - to honor Art Clokey

Crafts at Hancock Shaker Village

Projects at Hancock Shaker Village this October:

Needle Felted Christmas Tree Topper Angel Early Stages of Completion

Angel Complete 

Basket Woven by Kathy V. 

Weaving in Sisters' Shop

The Flowers Attend the Wedding

Gina waiting for her turn as Jean descends to the alter
Looking on left to right Simon on Guitar playing
his own arrangement of All you Need is Love
Milos (Father-in-Law and Father),
Aunt Kate, Cousin Palmer ( back of head),
Aunt Sarah, Cousin Hope, Aunt Emily

Gina's bouquet includes
Several Varieties of Dahlia,
Lisianthus - purple, soft pink with dark center,
All That Jazz Rose - vermilion red
Lime Zinnia

The Vows

The Alter

The Bridesmaids: Cynthia, Rachel, Amy, Stefanie, Jean, Olivia

One of the reception areas.
The colorfully attired group is the 80's band
that provided the dance music.

The Flowers at the Wedding Site BEFORE

I forgot to take a photo of the flowers crowded into the van.
Here are the first of many buckets unloaded
into the room where we did the conditioning on Saturday
and the arrangements on Sunday.

Flowers in garage out of sun to condition over night

Flowers waiting for attention

Morning crew wiring Double Click Cosmos stems

Bride on right appreciates all the activity on her behalf
by her bridesmaids

Bouquets and arrangements almost done -
Some of the wedding day flower crew
We had to be out of the
space by noon
to make room for the caterer

Bridesmaids' bouquets depart for delivery to the bridesmaids


more photos of wedding prep by On A Roll Photography