Painting for Fun – Turtle Shells

Hello friends. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe out there in the world. I have been working diligently on a new novel, but sometimes I need to take a break and express my creativity in different ways. This week I want to tell you about the turtle shells.

A brightly colored turtle shell marking my path through the woods.

I have about 30 acres of forest around my house. I love taking long walks through the woods to fuel my imagination. I find all sorts of interesting things on my walks, but my favorite treasure is the turtle shells. I’ve started collecting and decorating the shells and then returning them to the woods. I like to use them as trail markers as it’s very easy to get turned around when I am exploring.

cleaning the shells

The first thing I do is let the shell sit in a tub of soapy water for a day. As you can see from the picture above, sometimes the turtle shells are very dirty when I find them. After soaking, I scrub them with a stiff-bristled brush to get them really clean.

preparing to paint

Next I coat the shell in Acrylic Gesso. I believe this helps prep the surface to hold the paint better. Finally I paint the shells. I use a variety of mediums – water color, acrylic paint, permanent markers. Eventually I want to attempt to Mod Podge one of my shells, but I’m not sure if it will work.

finally finished

After the paint dries, I coat the entire shell in clear varnish. This is just to set and protect the paint, as well as help it hold up to the elements when I return the shell to the woods. The picture above is my handy work from this week. The picture at the top of this post is the first shell I painted, resting comfortably on a tree letting me know that I am still on the trail.

I painted this one a few weeks ago…looks very formal with its bow tie.

So there you have it…just another one of my creative endeavors. I like to read every day and do something creative every day, or as I tell my husband – doing activities keeps me sane.

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As always, thanks for stopping by MyWhateverBlogsite. I hope you have enjoyed yourself. On a side note, I am looking for 3 people to read and review my latest book, Climb. Please click the link to read the description and message me in the comments below if you are interested. I will gift 3 copies in exchange for reviews. And don’t forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletter also. Thanks and happy reading.

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Another Book Review – Cirlce of Seven by Clay Jacobsen

I finished reading this book last week, and it’s been sitting on my desk waiting to be reviewed. Circle of Seven is Christian suspense fiction. This is the story of a reporter researching how the media reports opinion polls and how those polls influence the public.

This is my first time reading anything by Clay Jacobsen. The premise caught me, and the story kept me all the way through to the end. (I do want to mention that the first chapter has several characters and the narrative seemed to be head-hopping a lot. I had to read it twice to get a good feel for what was going on. But after that, the writing was smooth sailing. So don’t let chapter 1 discourage you from continuing.)

The story is realistic, all of the main characters are well thought out and I genuinely cared about what was happening to them. I also really like the way Jacobsen weaved scripture into the story line and dialogue. It is informative without being overwhelming, and I feel like he did a good job of presenting the Gospel in a way that will be understandable to non-believers.

I recommend this book for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction, Christian fiction, and thrillers. Here is a link to the Amazon listing so you can get a copy for yourself.

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Thanks for stopping by MyWhateverBlogsite. I hope you enjoyed your visit. If you’ve read Circle of Seven, please leave a comment below and let me know what your thought of the book. And I would be honored if you will subscribe to my monthly newsletter by clicking here. Happy reading everyone.

With Jesus in Your Boat

I love this post from Brit’s Nook. I hope you all will too.
Happy Reading. 🙂

Brit's Nook

During one of my years working at camp we learned a song (plus the hand motions) called With Jesus in Your Boat.

It goes like this…

With Jesus in your boat, You can smile through the storm
Smile through the storm
Smile through the storm
With Jesus in your boat you can smile through the storm
When your sailing home
Sailing, sailing home (Clap)
Sailing, sailing home (Clap)
With Jesus in your boat you can smile through the storm
When your sailing home

Cute song, right?

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking!

Life is hard…

It’s hard to smile through difficult times …

This is just a kid’s song…

Yeah, you may have a point on all of these, but it doesn’t mean that this simple kid’s song is telling us a lie of any kind.

With children it is easy to over complicate things.

They just stare as you!

They might nod their heads and…

View original post 581 more words

Have You Read This Book?

I am a huge fan of the movie The Princess Bride. No shame, I will tell anyone – I love it! So, that being said, when I found this book in a thrift store I just had to have it. (Thrift store, resell shop, antique store…call them whatever you want. The part of Texas I live in is peppered with them. I love going on treasure hunts in them.)

The Princess Bride
S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and Adventure
by William Goldman

There are many aspects of this book that I love. First, it pretty much follows the movie point for point, with lots of extra stuff added in. I was introduced to the movie long before I ever knew this book existed. And now that I’ve read it, I will get so much more enjoyment from the movie the next time I watch it.

Second, all the extra stuff is like icing on the cake. The backstories of Fezzik and Inigo; the drama of Buttercup’s beauty; the ongoing feud between Florin and Guilder. I love all of it.

Finally, it’s written like a memoir, but it is actually a complete fiction. Of course, I didn’t realize it was fiction until after finishing the book. I thought it might be because parts of it just seemed too fantastical, so I did a bit of digging, and sure enough – completely made up. Good one Goldman, very sneaky. I have to admit, Goldman is a master storyteller. (If I only ever achieve one-tenth of his ability at weaving tales, I will consider myself a success.)

If you are truly a fan of The Princess Bride, you must read this book.
I believe any true fan will love it.

As always, thanks for stopping by MyWhateverBlogSite. I hope you enjoyed your visit. Please take a moment to click the link below and subscribe to my email list. I promise not to overload your inbox with junk. Just a message occasionally letting you know of new books I have available.

I forgot to tell you….

Hey Everyone!
I am such a dodo brain sometimes. I was so excited last month to post the cover reveal for my new middle-grade chapter book, and then I got bogged down in last-minute edits, life, and other stuff. I completely forgot to share with you all that Climb is finally available in digital format.

Abby doesn’t want to go to summer camp. She wants to hibernate in her room all summer reading and mourning the loss of her mother. But when she meets her dad’s new girlfriend, she’d rather be anywhere other than home with them. Abby will soon learn that Camp Soaring Eagle is the perfect place to grieve and remember her mom.

This chapter book explores the emotions of losing a parent while also encouraging kids to be kind, independent, and courageous. It’s available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Booktopia, and iBooks. I do hope you’ll check it out. And if you like it, please consider leaving a review. Indie authors like me thrive on readers like you sharing the books you love with the people around you.

Thanks so much for stopping by MyWhateverBlogsite, and happy reading.

 

 

Cover Reveal!!!!

We are just one short week away from release day for my new book, and I am beyond ecstatic to finally share the cover.

Cover Design: SelfPubBookCovers.com/goodCoverDesign

Abby’s mother died a year ago, just before Abby turned ten. And Abby has felt lost ever since. She quit the track team and spends lots of time alone. Her best friend Olivia tries to cheer her up, but it’s no use.

Then Abby learns that her dad is sending her to summer camp. He claims it was one of her mother’s last wishes, but Abby is suspicious. She thinks he is really trying to get her out of the way so he can spend time with his new girlfriend.

When she arrives at Camp Soaring Eagle, Abby discovers that it really was her mother’s idea – and for a very specific reason. Now Abby has no choice. She must deal with her grief and try to overcome her fears in order to live up to her mother’s expectations.

Climb by Andrea Cannon
Available July 25, 2020 – be sure to look for it wherever e-books are sold.

July Update

Hello all. It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, so I thought I would send out an update on what’s been going on in my world.

The biggest part of my time for the last two months has been spent preparing my new book for publication. You know…final edits, proofreading, cover design, interior design. For indie authors like myself (as many of you know), the workload falls entirely on our shoulders. Yes, I have contracted out some of the tasks, but budget restrictions have left a great deal of the work to me. Not to worry though. I am in the home stretch finally.

I don’t want to reveal too much just now, but be ready for a fun cover reveal in the very near future. I am so excited, and I hope you will be too.

Image by BarBus from Pixabay

So what else has been happening. Well, I have been reading a collection of Jack London stories. As soon as I finish, I will post my review right here. It’s another wonderful and worn out edition that I found at a resale shop. I must be an old soul, because I seem to prefer old books to new ones for reading. I do still enjoy new stories and the convenience of e-readers, but nothing beats the feel of a well-loved, old book in my hands.

In other news, I did manage to do a tiny bit of non-novel writing in May and June. I am happy to share this essay about reading the Bible was published in Koinonia over on medium.com.

https://medium.com/koinonia/devouring-the-bible-f7b550f70205?source=friends_link&sk=4729fbaa937c6ed8b736a1f900a49ae4

And finally, I wrote this poem for my son who had a birthday last month. He’s all grown up now and it’s just a little difficult for me to see him not needing me any longer. Weeds and Wildflowers was kind enough to publish it for me.

https://medium.com/weeds-wildflowers/for-my-son-4a1114c338fb?source=friends_link&sk=49b2a6d9bb972e060c91f6644d884c67

I do hope you’ll click over to Medium.com and read some of my work there. And if you do, please hit the clap button a few gazillion times; and feel free to share my work with others. I write to spark feelings and inspiration in others.

Until next time, happy reading.

Book Review: Made in Hollywood by Michelle Keener

From Amazon.com…When a pastor’s son saves her life, can a prodigal daughter dare to believe in second chances?

I snagged this book a few months ago during a promo. I had no idea what to expect because I don’t read a lot of romance. I chose this out of my desire to support other authors and to broaden my library.

I truly loved the story. The characters are well-developed and Keener’s writing brought the plot to life. This is the story of two lost souls finding their way home on intertwining paths that end up in each other’s arms. It is sweet and fun and dramatic.

This is the first Christian romance I have ever read. I love the way Keener uses scripture to show readers the change in Hannah’s character. She did a great job of sharing The Word without being preachy.

Made in Hollywood is book two in The Red Carpet Romance series, but it works fine as a stand alone. I did really enjoy the book, and I plan to read more of Michelle Keener’s work. If you have read any of the books in this series, please share your thoughts in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by MyWhateverBlog ~ Happy Reading!

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What is Your Posture During a Crisis?

Like everyone else in the world, I’ve been holed up with my family for more than a month. For kicks, my teens and tweens started listing phrases they…

What is Your Posture During a Crisis?

Creating an Art Journal

Hi everyone. I am so excited to share my new hobby.

My Art Journal from mindseyejournals.com

This is a beautiful handmade journal that I purchased from Mind’s Eye Journals. I bought this journal a couple of years ago and it has been sitting on my desk all these months, empty, waiting for its pages to be decorated.

The journal itself is a work of art. Teresa, the owner and creator of Mind’s Eye Journals, puts her heart and soul into every one of her creations. Just visit her booth at an art festival, meet her and browse the inventory, and you can see these wonderful journals for yourself. You can also check out her website: www.mindseyejournals.com.

You see, I had not written a single line of poetry or fiction, or drawn so much as a stick figure in my art journal because I was afraid…afraid that my creations would not do justice to the fantastic cover they were bound in. That all changed after I subscribed to the Mind’s Eye Journals email list.

Teresa sends an email every week called Tidbit Tuesday. I love this feature. She shares art techniques, tips for journaling, and best of all – encouragement to be unafraid. She reminds viewers that there is no wrong way to create art. If something isn’t turning out just the way you want it, keep working at it, change it up, and create something magnificent. Or as Bob Ross used to say, have lots of ‘happy little accidents.’

So I began watching Teresa’s Tidbit videos. I converted the garage into an art studio, which I lovingly refer to as my Lair of Creativity. I practiced painting in an old sketch pad that I had. And then one day I got brave. I finally was ready to paint in my art journal.

On the left side (above), I used Teresa’s technique of covering the page with plastic wrap before the water color dries to add texture and pattern. I love the way it turned out looking like little splashes of light.

These pages above are painted using bubble wrap. It was fun and you can see how each side turned out slightly different.

This is the painting space in my Lair of Creativity.

So this is my new hobby. Drawing, painting…it’s very relaxing and therapeutic. If you’ve never tried it, may I suggest that you do. Remember, there is no wrong way to create art. Just have fun and be unafraid! And do please visit mindseyejournals.com to see Teresa’s wonderful creations. You can access all of her Tidbit Tuesday videos on the website, and here is a direct link to her YouTube channel.

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As always, thanks for stopping by MyWhateverBlogsite.

Happy reading and happy journaling!