Wednesday, March 31, 2010

If you celebrate Easter and need some last minute gift tags for your Easter baskets, All Us All the Time has some free printable bunny gift tags. They are reproduced watercolor paintings that Pamela McCarville painted, illustrator of the Edible Raven. I think they are pretty cute, you can find them here at All Us All the Time's Free Printable Gift Tag Page. Happy Spring!



Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Weekly Kitty Fix - Sinks Part 1

My husband was on vacation last week, but we dubbed it a sinkation with the replacing of two bathroom sinks along with one kitchen sink in addition to a few other home improvement projects.

As you can see though, he had lots of great help.


I am not sure about this piece over here, what do you think?
I'll hold it down while you fit it in.
Hmmm, I think I might like it more without the sink.
Okay, here is what needs to happen now.
Just having a little trouble reaching it down here.
Alright, now we just need to push it a little to the right.

Next week Sinkation Part 2....The Kitchen.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Cool Purple T-Shirt with a Raven

Just a quick post to let you know today is the last day to enter to win a cool purple t-shirt with a raven. Remember, Mother's Day is just around the corner and nothing says I Love You Mom, more than a purple t-shirt with a raven.

Head on over to All Us All the Time on Facebook for more details.

Another sneak peak of The Divine Library

Getting very excited for the launch of the Edible Raven magazine which is now just weeks away vs. months. Here is the first page of The Divine Library, love the illustrations! Perhaps not on this page but there are some unusual titles on the shelves of this stylish library, especially in Science Fiction.

Divine Library

Friday, March 26, 2010

Edible Raven T-Shirt

Edible Raven
All Us All the Time, the publisher of the Edible Raven magazine, is having a Pre-launch Contest where you win yourself an Edible Raven T-Shirt (I know I am prejudice, but I think they are pretty darn cool).

Just go to their event page on Facebook, RSVP that you are attending their contest (no physical attendance required), then leave a comment on that page naming either your favorite Edward Gorey Story, Neil Gaiman book, or Tim Burton movie. A winner will then be drawn on Tuesday morning, 3/30, naming the lucky recipient of the cool purple t-shirt with a raven on it. The contest runs through midnight 3/29.

It sounds like they are getting close for the release of the first edition of the Edible Raven magazine (available through MagCloud), with stories from yours truly, Icats Nitram and another voice in my head, Iris T. Catman, featuring awesome eye candy from Pamela McCarville. Getting so excited!!!


Raven T-Shirt

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Fables Volume 9: Sons of Empire by Bill Willingham

Fables Volume 9: Son of EmpireFables Volume 9: Sons of Empire, by Bill Willingham, contains several stories as the Fables face an inevitable war against the Adversary. The Adversary, who is still keeping his identity hidden from masses of the Homeland, calls a meeting with his highest-ranking officials to plan the best strategy to not only defeat the Fables but also the mundane along with them. We also learn the back-story of Hansel and Gretel. Let’s just say not the sibling love that we are use to in other stories.

Another main story is Bigby and Snow taking the cubs to celebrate Christmas with Grandpa North Wind. Then at the end there are a handful of short humorous stories answering burning questions up to this point. As with all the past volumes, 5 out of 5 stars for the illustrations.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Weekly Kitty Fix - The Birthday Boy

It was my birthday this past Sunday. I am a big boy now, 1 year old. My Mommy and Daddy went to a pet boutique store that just opened in our neighborhood, Ritzy Rover (I am pretending Rover is a cat's name), and got me some really cool kitty toys. It was a good day.

I got a boogie mat...
Boogie Mat
and a sparkle toy...
Sparkle Toy
and a fuzzy toy...
I really like my fuzzy toy...
Fuzz Toy
then a mousy...
Hansel
oh boy! another fuzzy toy...
Kitty Birthday
and then kitty treats, but they made me share with my sister...
Treats


Also THANK YOU Grandma for my Fancy Feast Appetizers!Kitties Eating

Friday, March 19, 2010

I Like That Party Hat!

I think I drove my sister batty when I was little making her read Go Dog Go! to me over and over and over again. Perhaps somewhere deep down in her subconscious that is where the inspiration come from for her latest illy posted on the Edible Raven Blog today. Let's just say, it is one mad hat.

Check it out if you want on the Edible Raven Blog.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Book Three of The Dresden Files: Grave Peril by Jim Butcher

Grave PerilAfter the first two books I was like there is absolutely no way that Jim Butcher can put poor our poor wizard, Harry Dresden, through anymore abuse and near death experiences without, well, just killing him. Needless to say, I was wrong. I am not sure we even make it through a dozen pages before ghosts start hurtling the wizard through the air into a fiery inferno. Good stuff.

In Grave Peril, ghosts are haunting amok in Chicago. But what has the supernatural world in such a dangerous tizzy? And why does it seem like Harry’s friends are their targets? Who or what is behind opening the door between our world and the nevernever and torturing the spirits? Dresden has never encountered this sort of paranormal activity in all his years of sleuthing, but unless he can figure it out, this nightmare will literally consume him. Oh, did I mention there were also vampires? Because yes, lots and lots and lots of vampires.

To say this mystery is a fast-paced thrilling adventure would be a
grave understatement.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Weekly Kitty Fix

Hansel"Sigh..."

Hansel and Latte"I believe I specifically asked for no foam."

Monday, March 15, 2010

Another Edible Raven Sneak Peek

Divine Library Title PageHere is another sneak peek from the Edible Raven magazine due out soon. This peek is the title page of The Divine Library, a story written by one of the other voices in my head, Iris T. Catman, the one that doesn’t talk to me in rhyme.

This story is for those who not only love reading books, but love to have their shelves stuffed end to end with collections of them to have at their finger tips when need be. My sister is one of such people and I will never forget the email she sent me with the image of the new trend of color coordinating your books with the message in all caps “HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSE TO FIND MY BOOKS!”

Then shortly after I read an article in a decorating column on how to dress up your book shelves by not only color coordinating your books, but also by stacking them in different geometric shapes or putting them on the shelf backwards. Again, I am sure very stylish, that is unless you want to find American Gods by Neil Gaiman but it ended up as part of the base of your middle shelf’s book octagon sculpture.

When I finished reading the article a glimmer of a story popped in my head and remained there, well, for over a year before Iris decided to allow it to come out. It is basically a short nonsensical story about an interior designer allowed to run loose in a library, though decorators may actually find it more of a how-to book and true book lovers may view it more as a horror story.

Oh, and the illys my sister created to accompany the story are out of this world, both figuratively and literally.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book the Ninth, The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket

I saw a write-up on Lemony Snicket that likened him to Edward Gorey, my all-time favorite author, so I decided to check out one of Mr. Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events.

**Spoiler Alert**

I feel I must first point out where there were a series of unfortunate events in this story; there were no unfortunate demises of children unlike the 26 in The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey. However, even though I did not find Mr. Snicket’s style at all like Edward Gorey’s, I still highly enjoyed his book and sense of humor.

Of course when starting a series it makes sense to start with Book 1, but as we know, I rarely make sense, thus I started with Book 9, The Carnivorous Carnival. The serious of unfortunate events are those experienced by the Baudelaire orphans told by Lemony Snicket who has been researching and recording their ill-fated and disastrous lives. This particular archive of the children’s saga finds them at a run down carnival trying to keep hidden from their arch enemy Count Olaf and his misfit troupe while trying to find out the secrets of Madame Lulu’s crystal ball while also trying to avoid a pit of annoyed and starving lions.

I’m hooked. But, I would though recommend starting with book 1. Obviously I was able to follow along with no problem as Mr. Snicket does an excellent job with getting you up to speed with the unfortunate events to this point, but in doing so, I know the suspense won’t be quite as great when I go back and read the previous 8 books. Oh, and if you don’t like books that end on a HUGE cliff hanger, then this one might not be the one for you.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Sneak Peek - The Edible Raven

Here is a sneak peek of the title page for one of my stories being published in the Edible Raven magazine, which will be out in a few weeks.

The idea came from a journal page my sister did called “Closet of Curious Toys.” I emailed her that not only did I love her sketch but that would be a neat title for a book. She emailed me back that for some reason another title popped into her head she thought would make a cool book title, The Curious Curse.

For some reason that title resonated with me and kept rattling around in the back of my head. Then one day taking a shower, a line came to me about a Curious Curse, a total nonsensical line, that rhymed. Over the next few days when showering or brushing my teeth, a few more, uh, let’s say interesting lines came to me to where I finally felt I would be able to extract them from the head to the paper.

I definitely feel I was influenced by Edward Gorey’s Doubtful Guest in writing this short, nonsense, a bit on the odd side (okay maybe a lot on the odd side) tale of a Curious Curse’s visit to a town. Once I had a rough draft completed I sent it off to my sister and it seemed to amuse her and thus, the first story of the Edible Raven took flight.


Curious Curse
This is from the title page of The Curious Curse, for more sneak peeks of the story you can visit the Edible Raven website.

Friday, March 5, 2010

A Colorful Career

I stumbled upon this in the OnceWritten.com Newsletter. It is from Career Path and tells you what professions you may be suited for based on your color preferences. Thought it was an interesting approach and a good Friday diversion. Here you go if you want to check it out.

http://tinyurl.com/5mlka3

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

I am not that familiar with Norse mythology but got interested after reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman. This book is a far less intense adventure with the gods along with a boy named Odd and Frost Giants. Though I suppose Frost Giants can be somewhat intense. I stumbled upon an article in the School Library Journal where Neil Gaiman talks about writing Odd and the Frost Giants for World Book Day if any one else is interested:

http://tinyurl.com/yac93th

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Weekly Kitty Fix

We got this pet bed for them for Christmas. It first started out by my desk, then was taken out to the living room and placed by the couch, on the couch, by the chair, by another chair, then up to the bedroom by the bed, but they had absolutely NOTHING to do with. On a last ditch effort, I threw it on the landing. I think I may be on to something...

Hansel and pet bed
Hansel and pet bed
Hansel and pet bed
Hansel and pet bed
Hansel and pet bedI don't know what took you so long.