The Most Fabulous Store on Etsy - Mine!

 

 

"The most fabulous store on Etsy - mine."

 

So maybe that would be a bit narcissist, not to mention not entirely true - there are tons of way fabulous-er shops on Etsy. Like, stores full of awesome fandom geekery thingies. And hair swords. And ridiculously amazing medieval costumes. And Galadriel inspired perfume.

 

Yes, there is certainly all of that. And it's truly fabulous. (It also can be slightly addictive, scrolling the vast pages of Etsy...)

 

But that's beside the point here! See, as the title dictates, I'm now the proud owner of my own Etsy boutique, full of my own fabulous, original, quirky things.  Things you'll find nowhere else in the whole 'verse, because I made them!

 

Oh, and I'm currently having a shop-opening sale - buy two bracelets or earrings and get one free!

Now you're definitely obliged to go have a peek. I know you want to.

 

Here's the link. CLICK IT. -----> The Turquoise Tempest - My Official Etsy Store!

 

There will be a lot more stuff coming, trust me. I literally have a whole inventory of jewelry items, cards and poetry books just sitting here in my room waiting to be bought and enjoyed.

 

Anyway, hope you guys are faring marvelously! Have a blessed weekend!

 

Action Kids' Club Blog Tour!

 

(Hey people! Today I'm participating in a blog tour post from Lydia Howe, the author of this awesome new kids' book Action Kids' Club! Turning the microphone over to her now so make sure you keep reading!)

 

Today we’re at the forth blog tour stop, celebrating the release of the first book in the Action Kids  series, Action Kids' Club. . Read the post from yesterday at this blog. 

The answer to yesterday’s quote puzzle is: Failure is an event...it’s not a person. - Don Howe

Today I’m really excited to have an interview to share with y’all! Leah, who illustrated Action Kids' Club, will be answering some questions!

1. First off, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Well, I'm 18, I live in the rural north Florida countryside, and I have four younger brothers. I love telling people about Christ, drinking hot tea of various sorts, and laughing, among many other things! If you really want to learn more about me you can check out my About page up there at the top of the blog. :)
2. How long have you been drawing?  Since I could first pick up a writing/drawing instrument. So basically, all of my life.
3. Tell us a little bit about your process? It depends on what I'm working on. If it's an illustration project like what I did with this book, I have to visualize the subject in my head first. Then, when I've come up with a satisfactory mental image, I start sketching casually with pencil. When I get a nice pencil draft done, I bring out the inks, which consist mostly of Prismacolor illustration pens. Then comes the coloring, which is probably the most enjoyable part. Afterwards I do mild touch-up work and scan the picture.
4. What is your favorite thing about being an artist? The freedom it gives me to express the ideas in my head. I have an excessive amount of creativity, and being an artist allows me to manifest that creativity in a physical form. It's very satisfying.
5. What inspires you to draw? Mostly just random people. Specifically, faces. Every face conveys so much uniqueness and beauty. God's incredible design never ceases to amaze me, and I love to study it through art, which helps me to understand it better. For example, sketches of the skeletal system help me in my comprehension of anatomy. Also, being a writer, I'm constantly in the mood to draw my characters which inspire my art projects significantly.
6. If you had one piece of advice for aspiring artists, what would it be? Practice, practice, practice! Every fellow artist I've known, when I asked them this question, said the same thing. Literally the best thing you can do to improve your skill is to actually do it. The more you draw, the more you will understand the craft and develop your own unique style.  

___

 

Here’s your quote puzzle for today. Figure it out and leave the answer in the comments section and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a great prize! And, check out my blog to find out about the $50 gift card I’m giving away!

 

Khuh lv d vlpsoh exw srzhuiro uxoh... Dozdbv jlyh shrosh pruh wkdq wkhb hashfw wr jhw. -Nelson Boswell

Make sure you check out this blog tomorrow for the answer to the quote puzzle and the next stop on the blog tour. Thanks for stopping by! 

 

Action Kids’ Club Back Cover Blurb: 

Twelve-year-old Olivia Hall’s dream of a friends' club ends when she finds out her family is moving. Her parents assure her it's a good thing, opening a new world of possibilities for the Halls. But going from ‘miss popular’ to ‘the new girl’ won’t be easy, and Olivia is not convinced.

Soon she begins to realize that although her life has suddenly changed, there's plenty of adventure to keep her on her toes. From making new friends at Forward Focus, to hanging out at the world-renowned Kids Zone, to meeting the curious head chef, she discovers that there's much more to life - and her new surroundings - than she ever imagined. How will she make the most of these new opportunities? Or will she let them slip away?

 

 

About the Author: 

Lydia Howe (aka Aidyl Ewoh) is a twenty-something adventurous author who enjoys hiking in the mountains of Asia and South America, building life-size models of dinosaurs, taking road trips across Europe and cooking for large crowds. 

Lydia grew up in a barn and has always dreamed of living in a tipi. She is trained as a John Maxwell coach and her passions include self-development and Christian apologetics One of her life-long dreams was realized when her first book, “Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl”, was published by Answers in Genesis in 2013. Her second book, “Action Kids’ Club” was published in November of 2014. Find her online at her Blog, Facebook, Twitter,  Google+, Goodreads and Pinterest.

 

---

 

 

(Answer key to puzzle)

A B C D E F G H I  J   K L M N O P Q R  S T  U V W X Y Z 

D E F G H I  J  K L M N O P Q  R S T  U V W X Y Z  A B C

 



In Which She Writes Relationship Advice...

 

Relationship advice?

 

I feel kinda silly on one hand. I mean, it's not like I've had years of experience knowing what exactly to do with the opposite gender. I'm a single girl who just turned eighteen a few months ago. What could I possibly know about the topic, a naïve thing like me?

 

Guess what. I'm not writing relationship advice. I try to dabble more in just plain ol' common sense, and more importantly align everything with Scripture. If you click HERE you'll found out what this whole thing is even about.

 

 I wrote a post for APOC entitled "The Foolproof Guide on How to Treat Guys" 1. It took several hours out of my sleep last night, and 2., I think it's safe to say it has some valid points, so I wanted to share it with y'all on here. Notice that this is a 'girls only' kind of post, so, sorry you male readers - go find something else to do.

 

In other news, I've been working up a storm on Radicals and last Friday held the second audition for the project. God provided somebody to play Griffin and Sam for the promotional material! (Remember, you can follow the progress of it all on the production blog here.) Anyway, so then yesterday I started doing rough sketches of wardrobe concepts for each character. An hour or two on Pinterest may or may not have helped inspire some of the looks...hehe. I love Pinterest for costume design ideas! Even though it did suck a little more time away than I anticipated - looking up slightly-futuristic clothing turned out to be somewhat addicting. Here are my favorites of what I came up with for the main characters.

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you're having a blessed week!

More of My Music Available on Amazon!

 

That's right, folks! Two more of my piano compositions have gone up on Amazon for you to purchase if you wish!

 

Which songs exactly?

 

My medieval-novel inspired score, Apriorian Lore! (Click HERE to be redirected to the Amazon page for it.)

 

Annnnnd.....the Hobbit-inspired piece...

 

 

Pursuit of the Dragon! (Click HERE to see it on Amazon)

 

EEEP! I am so incredibly excited. I now have three pieces up on Amazon!

 

So. I'd REALLLY appreciate it if you checked these out and shared them with your friends, family, writing buddies, anybody you think would enjoy it! It would mean the world to me!

 

I know I've not been posting much on this blog lately. But, life has been so crazy busy. I hope you guys understand - I'm sure many of you have some pretty hectic schedules yourself!

 

Hope everyone's having a blessed winter so far! Keep an eye out for a blog tour this Wednesday, from Aidyl Ewoh and Answers in Genesis!

 

 

 

Marred Legacy Now Available on Amazon!

 

Hola amigos! I have some exciting news for you today!

My song Marred Legacy is now available for mp3 purchase/download on Amazon!

Click here! It's only .89 cents a download!

 

So. I'm excited. Very, very excited. This is my first song to be made available for purchase to the public.

I would really, really REALLY appreciate it if y'all fabulous people could help me get the word out about this. I'll have more songs on the way, but I really could use some help with promoting my music here. So. If you could just share this with your friends...family...anybody who likes instrumental piano music...I would be sooo appreciative!! Mucho gracias, queridas!

 

Happy Saturday!

Blessed

 

Can you believe it? September is here already!

It's been said a million times but let me say it again - where does the time go?!?

 

Obviously I've continued to maintain a status of blogging irregularly, and not doing my regular columns like before. I hope y'all understand my reasons for this. Time is precious to me and I want to make sure I spend it the best way I can. Blogging just for fun doesn't fit in that plan anymore sadly.

 

So please try to understand. I love y'all readers to death, and I hate to neglect this whole thing but "for everything there is a season."

 

This season of my life, I'm just trying to take advantage of the blessing God has bestowed abundantly on me, and use it to bless others in return.

 

Ways I am trying to do this:

• By spending quality time with my family/brothers/parents.
• Trying to help with projects and endeavors at church.
• Finishing the projects I've started, musically, writing-wise and film so that others might enjoy the finished products and be pointed to God.
• Learn as much as I can about the world God's created, and His Word, so I can once again be a blessing to others with knowledge and wisdom to share.

So yeah. These things alone take up plenty of time, and I don't even spend enough time on them as I'd like sometimes. a lot of the time.

This is another of those random ramblings posts. In other news, I cleaned my room and decluttered a number of things I didn't need. Above is my renovated desk bulletin board. Doesn't it look fabulous?

 

 

 

Also, I was notified that I won a writerly survival box giveaway from Meghan at her blog Every Good Word! Today, the package came and it was so exciting. I ran out there at 10:30 PM to retrieve the mail and there it was - this big, fabulous box. (Couldn't get the mail earlier because I was out all day with my lovely grandma, aunt and mother on a shopping trip a couple hours south in snowbird/tourist land!)

 

The box included a lovely handwritten note from Meghan, a set of mechanical pencils, pens, a planning book, notebook, issues of The Writer magazine, and two writing related books!! Not to mention a pack of M&M's, suh-weeeeet - overall, the collection equals perfection!

 

I can't wait to read these! Especially that "What Would Your Character Do". *grins*

 

 

OTHER delightful news: on Sunday, we got the chance to visit some wonderful, incredibly sweet friends of ours from out of state. We'd not seen them in about a year!!

 

I love these people. They're like family to me. Everyone has grown up so much though!! It's so immensely hard to believe. I feel so short - as you can see in these two pictures above, I'm not the tallest girl in the bunch here anymore, like the old days. It's scary when you're 5'8" and that is short, next to your friends. Eeek. And I liked being the tallest. *sniff*

 

Our two families all together. This is quite possibly my favorite picture of 2013 so far. I think I shall insist upon it being printed, framed and hung in some well-noticed spot in our house, okay? Very RARELY do any big group pictures we take result in such a good photo overall. We'll typically have somebody making a face, not looking at the camera, or the photo is out focus. It's hard getting the perfect picture when you have a bunch of kids in the family. So. It's really quite amazing that, this, only the SECOND attempt, turned out so fantastic! We're even slightly color coordinated.

 

Okay, okay,  I'll stop bragging on this and quit yacking. (In conclusion, I was so thankful for this visit, and it was such a refreshing time of fellowship and fun. Praise God for sweet brothers and sisters in Christ!)

 

This week has been good. To think of it, so has this whole year.

 

And the best is still yet to come.

 

 

Soli Deo Gloria,



70 Followers Giveaway!! TWO WINNERS!

 

Soooo guess what we have starting today, folks?

 

A GIVEAWAY. Yesss, that's right, finally another giveaway! The occasion? This blog reached 70 followers about two weeks ago.

 

70 followers!

 

I can't believe how this blog has grown in the last year. You all have really blessed me with your encouraging comments and just the fact that you take the time to even read my crazy stuff. I know I'm a mess and hard to put up with a lot of the time. So, just so you peoples know, I love you guys. Thank you for being who you are!

 

Sooooo. I guess most of y'all probably didn't know that I am actually already a published author.

Self-published, I'll admit, but still published. So there.

 

Anyways. How that applies to today's big giveaway?

 

 

When I was 12 years old, my awesome writer/journalist dad helped me self-publish my first poetry book. How exciting that was for me way back when.

Now, it is pretty amusing getting to look back and read the work of a 12 year old version of me!

 

 

When I was 14, another volume came along, also once again self-published with the help of my dad's skill. I'm a lot more 'proud' of this one I'll admit, since my writing greatly improved in those two years.

 

So. Today, I'm giving away a copy of both books, plus a pack of organic eye shadows from Willow Tree Minerals, and a pair of homemade earrings from Wonder and Whimsy.

 

 

 

So, I think this time I'm gonna split this into two different winners. Two lucky peeps will get something here - a poetry book, and either some eye shadow or earrings! How fun is that? Now you have all the more chances to win. *wink*

 

(Note to any guys who might be reading this/might want to enter. I know there's girly stuff predominantly in this giveaway...the eye shadow, earrings...I wish I had something to include that was more masculine. :P So. If you want to enter just for one of the books, and say you do *win*, I can leave out the eye shadow/earrings or give them to another winner. :P)

 

Now get entering! And why not spread the word around about it, too? Pretty please?

 

Have fun and 'good luck!'

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Handmade Ear Cuffs {review}

 

Who here has ever worn/tried wearing ear cuffs?

 

I came across this shop and was fascinated by the concept of ear jewelry which doesn't require pierced ears, to wear...and yet, it's not the old, cumbersome snap-on earrings, either!

 

Anyways, Jennifer, at Merlin's Apprentice, sent me two different ear cuffs to review.

 

 

My favorite is the simple swirly one. It's considerably more solid and fits better on my ear.

 

I like these cuffs because they look somewhat reminiscent of Elvish couture.

(Majorly messy hair day.)

 

(Yuck.)

 

The only negative with these is, I am still trying to figure out how to wear them properly without them falling out. Maybe I need to just readjust the size of the opening where it hooks around the ear cartilage.

(Edited: Actually, Jennifer commented and told me I was wearing them wrong...this is probably why they kept falling off! See photos of how to really wear them here. Sorry y'all!)

 

Find where you can get your own hand-made ear cuffs here!

 

This is definitely a unique accessory. I will likely be using these in upcoming elvish costumes and movie attire.

 

 

What do y'all think of ear cuffs? Have you ever worn them?

P.S. Only four more days to enter my guitar string earrings giveaway! Go check it out while you can!

Oh, and what do you think of the new blog header I fashioned the other day? I thought it was time for a change...something brighter, and more summer-y.

 

Blessings!

 Note: I was provided this item from Merlin's Apprentice in exchange for my honest review. All opinions remain mine and mine alone.

Links to the Past Chainmail Bracelets {review + giveaway!}

Greetings y'all!

Today I received in the mail an awesome package from Links to the Past, a shop which fuses modern and ancient alike in its cool chainmail jewelry and accessories. 

I was sent a Slytherin bracelet and also a custom-ordered blue and black bracelet. (Click on the first link to find where you can get your own green Slytherin bracelet!)

Both of these bracelets are surprisingly stretchy. They are very lightweight and made from a durable plastic/resin-ish material which is what allows them to stretch. The middle links are metal. The green one, which I'm keeping, has silver metal links in the middle, which I like. The colors are a nice contrast.

LTTP was very quick in sending out the package. I had barely finished corresponding with them, and already the package had arrived! So a huge thumbs-up for speediness in shipping. 

The packaging was simple but professional. 

Both bracelets are very comfortable to wear. My favorite thing about them is there "rugged", metal-inspired look.  I'm pretty sure my brothers would wear one if they had it, since it isn't overtly feminine or girly. In fact,  these could appeal to either guy or girl!

And of course, what makes these bracelets the most unique is their chainmail inspired look. In my book, anything chainmail related is already going to be inherently epic!

SO. Overall, I give these bracelets a thumbs-up. They're simple, yet durable; as well as inexpensive and not to mention sure to please any medieval or chainmail enthusiast! *grins*

If you'd like to see more of LTTP's work, check out their Etsy shop, or "like" them on Facebook! Also, find them on Tumblr! They're currently having a promotion where you can buy one of their bracelets and get another half off, so don't miss out! Click here.

Now, the fun part for y'all! Links to the Past also donated an item for a.... *drum roll please* *brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*....giveaway!

You can have the chance to win this cool, edgy blue and black chainmail bracelet just by entering the Rafflecopter widget below!

Tell your friends about it, and be sure to check out Links to the Past! (A big shout-out to them for hosting this review on Apassionata!)

Note: I was provided this item from LTTP in exchange for my honest review.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Come Check out Creation Gals!

Howdy y'alls! I just wanted to invite you to come visit a new Creation Science blog a friend and I started. We named it Creation Gals since it is the two of us writing the articles.

 

The blog is still under construction so bear with us for a couple days while we straighten things out.

 

We will be posting about all things Creation Science related...everything from fulgurites and astronomy to marine biology and physics. Also, information on debunking evolutionism and atheistic theory.

 

We'd love to have you come check it out!

 

 

Blessings,