Hardcover vs Paperback 79

The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith

Hardcover

Paperback

Amazon.com:

Introducing Isabel Dalhousie the heroine of the latest bestselling series from the author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Isabel, the editor of the Review of Applied Ethics and an occasional detective, has been accused of getting involved in problems that are, quite frankly, none of her business.

In this first installment, Isabel is attending a concert in the Usher Hall when she witnesses a man fall from the upper balcony. Isabel can’t help wondering whether it was the result of mischance or mischief. Against the best advice of her no-nonsense housekeeper Grace, her bassoon playing friend Jamie, and even her romantically challenged niece Cat, she is morally bound to solve this case. Complete with wonderful Edinburgh atmosphere and characters straight out of a Robert Burns poem, The Sunday Philosophy Club is a delightful treat from one of our most beloved authors.

Nooo. This is another case of a wonderful cover being thrown away for an ok one. I love love love the photographic covers used for the first few in the series until they turned them all into the simple illustration covers. Nothing wrong with those covers but they aren't nearly as exciting! They look very similar to his other series and while that's nice for an author to have a "style" it doesn't really make it very easy to tell one series from the other. Speaking of which I need to get this book, I think I started it at one point but never finished!

Hardcover or Paperback?

Have you spotted a Hardcover vs. Paperback you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

GIVEAWAY: Nightshade + The Eternal Ones

With the arrival of the utterly awesome Penguin Box I find myself with extra copies of the ARCs of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer and The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller which I would love to give away to one of you! I look at giveaways as I way to say thanks for stopping by and reading, commenting etc. Hope you feel the same way!

Here is a bit about the books.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

AndreaCremer.com:

While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all.

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Amazon.com:

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Here's how to enter to win the ARCs of Nightshade and The Eternal Ones!

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.

The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S. only.

The giveaway will end May 10th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

**Copy provided by the publisher, sent by me**

Musing on a Craft Fair

Yesterday I got the chance to go to a local craft fair, something I wish I could to do far more often. I had been to the same one about three years ago and this is the second time I attended. The first time I went it seemed more crowded vendor and shopper wise but I might just be remembering it differently. There were a lot of people selling notecards, children's clothes, jewelry and posters/prints. I was interested in seeing what others were selling in comparison to my own crafty interests in case some day I decided to have my own booth!

I saw about 2 people selling yarn, maybe 1 person with knit pieces (I wonder if this had been a winter show if there would have been more?) a few booths with plush dolls, only one with what I would call felties, two with embroidery, one which happened to be very cute kits and only one with crochet amigurumi. I felt like the last time I went I found more of interest but again, this was awhile ago and my first time at a show like this. The people were very nice and fun to talk with, sharing information about how they create their pieces and such.

Overall it was a fun day and I spent about $20 all at one booth for Fantastic Toys which was by far the best booth there. (Everything in the photo except the owl postcard and noodleroll business card is from Fantastic Toys.) I love events like these because I always leave really happy and inspired. Wish they happened more often!

If you have experiences with craft fairs either as a shopper or vendor I'd love to hear them! I'm also considering starting an etsy shop so yeah would love to chat with some crafty people!

Thanks to Irish who mentioned she'd love to hear about the craft fair!

Weekly Dose of Crafts!

So somehow I didn't post last week!

This turtle is from Tamie Snow's Tiny Yarn Animals, I think I would have preferred that it had been smaller and I don't really like how my spots turned out. Overall still cute.

This mouse is from Amigurumi: Super Happy Crochet Cute by Elisabeth Doherty. He turned out very cute and tiny! Original pattern color was blue but he's totally cute in pink too!

This owl is from Amigurumi World. Turned out really cute as well. I made the body out of sport yarn which allowed me to finally make the amigurumi the right size instead of an inch or so larger!

Also from Amigurumi World it's supposed to be a hedgehog but I think it turned out more like a lion's head with a wig on. 0_o Not so good.

This is a monkey from Super Cute by Annie Obaachan. I fear it came out more like a teletubbie though instead of a monkey. Oops.

Banana from a Raverly pattern you can see here. I was sort of confused by the pattern instructions and the bottom half ended up thicker and inside out. I think next time I would make the peel part that's already peeled separately and sew it on later. Very cute and tiny though!

This hippo is from Easy Crochet Critters. He's totally tiny too!

This Week In Books Or Look I Didn't Buy A Craft Book! (or wait, it just hasn't come yet)

Monday:

A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp

Amazon Vine and the start of a new series!

Tuesday:

Burned by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

For review. Still haven't tried this series yet.

Urban Sensation by Debra Webb
Scene of the Crime: Bridgewater, Texas by Carla Cassidy
Italian Groom, Princess Bride by Rebecca Winters
One Night with the Wealthy Rancher by Brenda Jackson
Deadly Redemption by Kathleen Korbel
Dark Seduction by Kathleen Korbel
Dangerous Temptation by Kathleen Korbel
Wild Wolf by Karen Whiddon
Winter Kissed by Michelle Hauf and Vivi Anna
Vanished by Maureen Child
Eternally by Maureen Child
Holiday with a Vampire 3 by various
The Sicilian's Innocent Mistress by Carole Mortimer
The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain by Abby Green
A Scandalous Marriage by Miranda Lee
The Antonides Marriage Deal by Anne McAllister

Bookfairy G strikes again!

The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Kidnapped by Yxta Maya Murray
Duplikate by Cherry Cheva
Troy High by Shana Norris
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

These are some books I got in the Fall that are being returned, yay!

Wednesday: nothing

Thursday:

The Replacements by Brenna Yovanoff
Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Matched by Ally Condie

This was a very awesome package from Penguin. It showcases 5 of their fall titles from 5 genres one from August through December! It even came in a special box aside from the beautiful slip case. Definitely the nicest and most creative packaging I've seen!


Friday:

The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha
The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen

For review. The Book of Awesome from Amazon Vine.

Saturday:

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Sample copy for an upcoming contest. :)

This Year In Movies: April

This month I watched 9 tv seasons and 3 movies.

Make It or Break it Vol 1- Better than I thought it would be! It also got more interesting as it went on.

Glee Vol 1- Rewatched this while crocheting. AWESOME.

Gossip Girl Season 2- Hadn't realized I had seen 3/4ths of this already but now I've seen the whole thing! This show is addicting!

The Guild Season 1- Funny and very very nerdy. The episodes are really short so basically I watched it as one long episode.

Mad Men Season 3- I've heard this is the best season yet and the worst yet. I guess it was sort of the same as the others, ha! I can't wait to see what happens in Season 4 though!

The Guild Season 2- A bit better than Season 1. I believe this is an internet show? So interesting that they gave it a dvd release!

The Informant- Strange. I saw it listed somewhere as a comedy it wasn't really that funny but it also wasn't a drama.

Nip/Tuck Season 5 Part 2- This show keeps getting stranger and stranger but I keep watching. Probably a good thing it's ending soon, hard to believe it's from the same guy that made Glee!

Up in the Air- Really liked this movie, minus the ending.

Friday Night Lights Season 4- Great season. A lot of new characters but the storylines are still great. Love it!

Nurse Jackie Season 1- Interesting show. I really like Jackie but also really dislike her in some ways. Great character study.

The Young Victoria- Beautiful movie, I wish it was twice as long though, ended too soon.

Lookalikes 99

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen

Spooky Little Girl by Laurie Notaro

I like Spooky Little Girl because the invisible person is a bit smaller and I love the yellow background in this case! Also I don't like how the type runs right over the dress on Mennonite.

Have you spotted a Lookalike you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

Blog Tour: Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

Today I'm pleased to host author Susane Colasanti and her new book Something Like Fate (out May 4th). Have some fun stuff today for you including a guest post from Susane on Palmistry (she's talking about a different topic related to fate at every tour stop!), an interview with her and a giveaway! To check out the rest of the tour stops click here.

Here's the book's summary:

Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?

From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend.

What if the boy who is your destiny is the one person you can't have?

Take it away Susane!

Topic 9: Palmistry

Some people don’t have a lot of lines on their palms. I am not one of those people. My palms have so many lines it’s not always easy to tell which is which. Maybe that’s why I’ve always been interested in palm reading. I remember ripping out a few pages from Seventeen back in the day (can you believe it’s been around for over 60 years?) that had diagrams showing what each line on your palm means. Palmistry is used to determine characteristics about a person and foretell key events in the future. Major lines on your hand all represent an aspect of your life, like the heart line and the fate line. Hand shape also has significance, classified as earth, air, water, or fire. I’m pretty sure I have water hands. Then there are a bunch of minor lines and other markings like stars and triangles, all with specific meanings. If you’re interested in reading your palm (use the hand you write with), I suggest starting with a palmistry map and building from there. Oh, and if you happen to have fire hands, no worries. It just means you’re enthusiastic and creative.

My Interview with Susane

1. I love the concept of fate and how it plays into people's lives. How did you wrap your head around something so abstract?

Although the idea of fate is abstract in a lot of ways, I tend to focus on its concrete aspects. I believe that we’re the architects of our own destiny. We shape our lives by the choices we make. That said, life is a wild thing. There are some things we just can’t control. Which can be really scary, since there’s no way to know exactly how our futures will look. Understanding that everything is connected helps to eliminate this fear of the Unknown. Everything we do not only affects our lives, but the lives of people we don’t even know. Exploring the possibilities of these connections opens up so much in terms of plot development. In Something Like Fate, I examine how the small choices my characters make on a daily basis result in huge consequences.

2. You seem like such a positive person and it really comes across in your writing. How do you maintain that positivity?

It’s hard to stay positive when life is sucking so massively you wonder how things will ever get better. When times get tough, I hold on to the hope that things will eventually get better. Reminding myself about the goals I want to accomplish helps to push me forward, even when I’m feeling like I just want to hide under the covers and never come out. We all have our bad days. The trick is to find some good within the bad.

3. What types of books do you personally enjoy reading? What authors inspire you?

There are so many excellent teen novels out now! Finding new authors to love is one of my hobbies. My favorite books are ones that feel completely real. Whenever a book can keep me awake until three in the morning because I have to know what happens next even though I can barely keep my eyes open, I’m inspired. Some authors in this category are Laurie Halse Anderson, Blake Nelson, and S.E. Hinton. Sandra Scoppettone’s YA novels from the 70s completely captivated me. I also love reading lots of adult fiction, especially everything by Jodi Picoult, Garrison Keillor, Jonathan Tropper, Nick Hornby, Anne Tyler, and Tom Perrotta.

Here's how to enter to win a signed hardcover of Something Like Fate!

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.

The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S.

The giveaway will end May 13th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

**Prize provided by the publisher**

E-book sampler (updated to until 3 chapters from Something Like Fate)
Susane Colasanti website
Susane Colasanti twitter (trending topic is #fatetour)
In Person Tour Dates

"Waiting On" Wednesday 80

The Journal Junkies Workshop by Eric M. Scott and David R. Modler

Amazon.com:

Discover a truly no-nonsense approach to documenting your life with a visual journal. You?ll be relieved to see how easy it is to use a plethora of art techniques and not only how to make marks, but how to translate your experiences and thoughts to your journal. In addition to discussion about various types of journals to work in, you will be walked through step-by-step instruction for everything from drawing and doodling to watercolor and stenciling.

Released May 20th 2010

I've been trying to keep a sketchbook/journal for years but I just never seem to stick to it for more than one entry so this seems like it might be a lot of fun!

What can't you wait for to be released?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Winners of the Runaway Blog Tour iTunes cards and giveaway update

The winners of the 2 $50 iTunes gift cards are:

Ronni S
Lydia

I have emailed you so please respond with your full name and mailing address by Friday April 30th to claim your prize!

Also, there is a change being made to my Harry Potter contest that ends today. Instead of an Amazon Giftcard it will now be a Visa Cash Card, same value. I will be making the adjustments to the giveaway post as well.

The winner of the Harry Potter contest is nomadreader!

Hardcover vs Paperback 78

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen

Hardcover

Paperback

Amazon.com:

"It is rare that I literally laugh out loud while I'm reading, but Janzen's voice—singular, deadpan, sharp-witted and honest—slayed me." —Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

Not long after Rhoda Janzen turned forty, her world turned upside down. It was bad enough that her husband of fifteen years left her for Bob, a guy he met on Gay.com, but that same week a car accident left her injured. Needing a place to rest and pick up the pieces of her life, Rhoda packed her bags, crossed the country, and returned to her quirky Mennonite family's home, where she was welcomed back with open arms and offbeat advice. (Rhoda's good-natured mother suggested she get over her heartbreak by dating her first cousin—he owned a tractor, see.)

Written with wry humor and huge personality—and tackling faith, love, family, and aging—Mennonite in a Little Black Dress is an immensely moving memoir of healing, certain to touch anyone who has ever had to look homeward in order to move ahead.

Hardcover. The paperback looks vaguely like at least one other book (check back Friday for Lookalikes) and the whole outfit on an invisible person is just very FLAT. I love the movement, color and illustrative elements on the hardcover as well.

Hardcover or Paperback?

Have you spotted a Hardcover vs. Paperback you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

The Castle of Galomar (New Brighton Archeological Society Book 1) by Mark Andrew Smith and Matthew Weldon

Amazon.com:

Out of the ashes of misfortune will rise the next generation of great adventurers! After their parents are lost on an archeological expedition, four children begin to unlock the secrets of their parents' mysterious lives, discovering a hidden world of mystical artifacts, mythical creatures, and arcane knowledge. Soon they find themselves drawn into a conflict over a great library that has kept two kingdoms at war for centuries, the children must save an enchanted forest, the birthplace of magic itself. Join us as these children become the latest members of the fabled New Brighton Archeological Society, and take their first steps towards their true destiny!

The Castle of Galomar is a fun and adventurous graphic novel for the younger set (middle grade). Instantly it gives off a bit of A Series of Unfortunate Events vibe for me, parents disappearing under mysterious circumstances but this time around the kids have more than their siblings to rely on!

The Castle of Galomar is a mixture of mystery, adventure, fables, goblins and fairies! I think most kids that are interested in mysteries and adventures would enjoy this graphic novel. It's definitely set up as the start of a series but can just be enjoyed on its own as well.

I loved the full color illustrations which a lot of graphic novels do not have and I especially loved the full frame pages, some really beautiful imagery. There was a nice balance between sharp detailed facial features or more abstract backgrounds. I did encounter some confusion as to what was going on in a few cases where dialogue wasn't being used and I was supposed to rely just on the imagery to understand what was going on. I think if the jump between the frames was shorter maybe those instances would have made more sense, it would have meant more frames but things would have been clearer for me.


The Castle of Galomar was released on March 4th 2009
Genre: Graphic Novel/Middle Grade
3/5 Stars
Review copy provided by author

Winner of the Envelope Purse

The winner of the Envelope Purse is Jessica M! Jessica I've emailed you so please respond with your full name and mailing address by Wednesday the 28th! Thanks!

This Week In Books Or Book P*#^

Don't even say it.... I already know, it's crazytown up in here.

Saturday (night):

Creature Crochet by Kristen Rask

Got this at Barnes and Noble thanks to Irish who told me about it! If you want your own enter her Craft Stash giveaway and maybe mine too!

Sunday:

Knit Knack Knit by Kris Percival
Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
My Wicked Marquess by Gaelen Foley
Never Romance A Rake by Liz Carlyle
Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas
Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare
Surrender of a Siren by Tessa Dare

Got these from Half Price Books for $20, not bad!

Monday:

A Lady of Persuasion by Tessa Dare

Got this at a local used bookstore so I could complete the trilogy!

Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and J. Bone
Alison Dare: The Heart of the Madien by J. Torres and J. Bone

For an upcoming blog tour!

Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma
Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards

For review.

Tuesday:

The Carrie Diaries by Candce Bushnell

I pretty much screamed when this came! For review!

Wednesday:

More Than Words Vol 6 by Various

For review.

Thursday:

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

I loved Going Too Far and The Story Siren pointed out a quote from my review is in the ARC of Forget You! For review!

Friday:

Fantasy by Various
When Strangers Marry by Lisa Kleypas
Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas
Never Lie to a Lady by Liz Carlyle
Bride of a Wicked Scotsman by Samantha James
The Lady and the Spy by Monique Ellis
Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr
Angel's Peak by Robyn Carr
The Elusive Bride by Stephanie Laurens
A Belated Bride by Karen Hawkins
Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady by Bronwyn Scott

These are from my local library's annual sale! (Different from the library book store I usually go to.)

Softies by Therese Laskey
The Sheikh's Forbidden Virgin by Kate Hewitt
Every Breath You Take by Hope Tarr
Reckless by Tori Carrington
Just for Kicks by Susan Andersen
The Best American Comics 2009 by Various
She's Got It Bad by Sarah Mayberry

Half Price Books (different store than the one I was at on Sunday but still OMG!) I only went there because I was in the area for something else, honest!

The Six Rules of Maybe by Deb Caletti
The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek

For review. Six Rules from Vine.

Saturday:

Wed Him Before You Bed Him by Sabrina Jeffries
What the Duke Desires by Jenna Petersen
Lady of Desire by Gaelen Foley
Lord of Ice by Gaelen Foley
The Courtship Dance by Candace Camp
Conquering King's Heart by Maureen Child
Take On Me by Sarah Mayberry
Lady of Spirit by Edith Layton
Lord Barry's Dream House by Emily Hendrickson
An English Alliance by Dawn Lindsey
The Secret Nabob by Martha Kirkland
Night of the Hunter by Jennifer Greene
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
Serendipity by Louise Shaffer

Library Booksale a bag for $6 and the bag included more than this!

Sunday:

Since the Surrender by Julie Anne Long
Private Confessions by Lori Borrill
Paradise Valley by Robyn Carr
Don't Tempt Me by Loretta Chase
Just Imagine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Larger Than Life by Adele Parks
The Bridegroom by Linda Lael Miller
Wedding at King's Convenience by Maureen Child
Stealing the Bride by Elizabeth Boyle
Bride by Command by Linda Winstead Jones
Lady in Red by Karen Hawkins
The Maverick by Diana Palmer
Lone Star Seduction by Day LeClaire
The Maverick's Virgin Mistress by Jennifer Lewis
How to Propose to a Prince by Kathryn Caskie
Slow Dance by Jennifer Green
One Night of Sin by Caelen Foley
Sins of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan
A Christmas Scandal by Jane Goodger
Always a Scoundrel by Suzanne Enoch
Confessions of a Little Black Gown by Elizabeth Boyle
The Melting of Maggie Bean by Tricia Rayburn
A Fine Passion by Stephanie Laurens
Her Every Pleasure by Gaelen Foley
Wild Heart by Lori Brighton
Secrets of a Scandalous Bride by Sophie Nash
The Mighty Quinns: Brody by Kate Hoffman
Under Your Spell by Lois Greiman
Taken by Tori Carrington
Fool Me Once by Fern Michaels
To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn
Confessions of a Scoundrel by Karen Hawkins
Seduction of a Proper Gentleman by Victoria Alexander
A Rake's Guide to Pleasure by Victoria Dahl
Bride at Briar's Ridge by Margaret Way
Beguile A Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt
Sealed with a Kiss by Carly Phillips
The Ideal Bride by Stephanie Laurens
Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz
The Seduction of Sara by Karen Hawkins
Family Matters by Deborah Bedford
A Lady of His Own by Stephanie Laurens
Westmoreland's Way by Brenda Jackson
To Tame Her Tycoon Lover by Ann Major
One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake
Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels
One Night Standards by Cathy Yardley
His Favorite Mistress by Tracy Anne Warren
The Governess Wears Scarlett by Sari Robins
All Night with a Rogue by Alexandra Hawkins

Library book sale, last day $3 a bag. 3 bags for $9. I think I got 62 books but some were not for me so they aren't listed here. I need a nap and extra storage.

Pop Culture Junkie on the Nook

Today there was a pretty major update for the Nook including the addition of games (suduko!! and chess) and a beta web browser! Apparently some of the nuts and bolts of battery life and page turning have also been fixed. So I stopped over at Barnes and Noble, hooked up to their wi-fi with the help of a bookseller and tada! Even checked my email and sent one as well, all on my nook! I never even considered the fact that the Nook would eventually do something like that but it's a wonderful update and surprise! And Pop Culture Junkie looks pretty awesome on there, I've always been a fan of black and white! You can zoom in and out and you control it via the touch pad (and also see the webpage in color).

Lookalikes 98

Very Le Freak by Rachel Cohn

Album De Boda (Spain) by Nora Roberts

I like this picture so I think they are both sort of nice. I do think the Nora Roberts cover loses the full impact of the photo because of the wider cropping. Both pretty though.

Thanks to Melissa Walker for pointing out this lookalike, she snapped this picture in Spain!

Have you spotted a Lookalike you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

Winners of Facebook Fairytales and Get Lucky

The winner of Facebook Fairytales is xxsquigglesxx!

The winner of Get Lucky is Steve C!

I have emailed you both, please respond with your full name and mailing address by Monday the 26th to claim your book! Thanks!

Craft Stash Giveaway!!!!

Well, as you know I've been doing a lot of crafting lately, especially of the yarn variety and I love to share pictures of what I make. I also love seeing what others make so hence this giveaway, the Craft Stash Giveaway!!!! My book buying addiction has turned into a craft supplies buying addiction so I've got extra supplies I'd like to share with you! And the best part, head over to Ticket to Anywhere where Irish is co-hosting this contest with me and you can win a totally different set of supplies! Join the craft craze! The giveaways are crochet and amigurumi centric but use the supplies however you like!


The craft stash includes:

-Crochet Today! (May/June 2010 issue-including 6 amigurumi patterns from Ana Paula Rimoli author of Amigurumi World and Amigrumi Two!)
- 2 crochet hooks (3.75 mm and 4 mm)
-8 small skeins of worsted weight cotton yarn (red, bright blue, yellow, bright orange, black, light purple, tan, and off-white)
- Small pouch of Polyester Fiber Fill
-Small pouch of sequins
- Small pouch of assorted buttons
-Small pouch of assorted beads
- 8 9mm black safety eyes
-1 skein of black embroidery floss (to make faces)
- 3 small pieces of felt (peach, white, light pink)
-6 row markers
- 1 plastic needle

(and yes I actually already had all of this except for the magazine and crochet hooks- ADDICTED!)

Here's how to enter to win the Craft Stash Giveaway!

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.

The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S. and Canada only.

The giveaway will end May 6th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

**Prize provided by me**

"Waiting On" Wednesday 79

Craft-In edited by Kathleen McCafferty

LarkBooks.com:

The recent resurgence of interest in craft circles, stitch-and-bitches, and indie craft fairs shows that crafters want to connect in person. But what group projects will scratch everyone’s crafting itch? Each of the 12 booklets in this boxed set is chock-full of projects by stand-out authors, top etsy designers, and the brightest indie crafters. The host of each booklet provides a unique perspective on prepping the gathering space, the best supplies, and even music to get everyone in the mood. The hip projects include a retro paper doll, funky crocheted cacti, shrinky dink earrings, and an embroidered pet portrait. Beginner friendly and easily portable, these guides are the perfect way to get friends, families, and craft dabblers together to try something new.

Released October 5th 2010

I personally think crafting is more fun when you have someone to do it with! And this "book" just sounds awesome and so current with what people are doing right now! It sounds like it's not actually a book but a group of booklets in a boxed set, so even the presentation of this "book" is crafty! It basically sounds like the coolest thing ever!

What can't you wait for to be released?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Hardcover vs Paperback 77

The Local News by Miriam Gershow

Hardcover

Paperback

Amazon.com:

When fifteen-year-old Lydia Pasternak’s popular older brother Danny disappears late one summer night, she unwillingly becomes a celebrity in her community and an afterthought to her bereaved parents. In Danny’s absence, Lydia blossoms from a bookish outcast to the center of attention, all while grappling with her grudging grief for a brother she never particularly liked. When an intriguing private investigator enters the picture, Lydia finds herself drawn into the search for clues to Danny’s whereabouts. The shocking end to that trail of clues—an end that Lydia never prepares for—will haunt her for the rest of her life. An authentic and at times surprisingly funny dissection of public and private grief, The Local News is an accomplished, affecting debut.

I always thought the hardcover was very interesting for this book. I've never held the paperback in my hands before but from what I can see online it's hard to make out that that is a girl kneeling in the snow (if that's even what it is). I do like how the type turns into a male profile that wraps around the girl's head though. And I think the type is interesting on both.

Hardcover or Paperback?

Have you spotted a Hardcover vs. Paperback you would like to contribute? Send me an email!