:PRINTABLE: Winter poem by Torrey Miller

The snowflakes are on the way for us... Here's a printable freebie for you...just print, frame and you have some instant seasonal decor. Enjoy!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Take a moment and check out my other free themed printables.

:WORD ART: Winter Word Art Pack

There's a brand new word art pack available in My Memories store...have you had your first snow yet?

Winter Word Art Pack

Check out this and all my other word art packs available through My Memories, Scrapbook Boutique and PrintMaster.

While these designs are in available in several formats for use with any digital software program, if you are looking for an easy and affordable digital scrapbooking software, you should definitely give My Memories Suite a look. It is great for digital scrapbookers of all levels or even traditional scrapbookers that are looking to supplement their paper crafting in order to complete more layouts and/or be able to craft even when away from home and supplies.

My Memories Suite is currently the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software on the market.

Read more about all the great features of My Memories Suite here.

GET $10 OFF!!

My Memories Suite already has a great price, but I have a $10.00 OFF coupon code for you to try it for yourself! Simply copy and paste the code STMMMS74998 at checkout to receive you discount.

:LAYOUT: Fall Meets Winter

We haven't had our first snow yet this year.

We've been lucky, but it's bound to be on the way anytime now. A couple of years ago, we had our first snow in October...as evidenced by this layout.

(click for a larger view)

The green base of this two page spread pulls out the single green tree in the photo while the shimmering blue paper highlights the wintery theme. The brown, shimmery title stickers and gems further support the theme.

Journaling:
Would you believe that all these photos were taken on the same day? Leaves of green, gold, and red…and all of them blanketed with snow! Fall has always been my favorite season because of the cooler (but not cold) temperatures and the warm, rich colors. It’s not too often that you see the transition of seasons in a quite-so-obvious way, but I have to admit that the combinations of brilliant white snow softly swathing the leaves was quite beautiful.

October 12, 2009

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: My Mind’s Eye, Cosmo Cricket
Letter Stickers: Making Memories
Gems: ZVA
Ink: Colorbox
Corner Rounder: Marvy
Scallop Trimmer: Fiskars
Font: American Typewriter

:REVIEW: A Mercy by Toni Morrison

I recently finished reading A Mercy by Toni Morrison.

First...here's a general description from Goodreads...

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
A powerful tragedy distilled into a jewel of a masterpiece by the Nobel Prize-winning author of Beloved and, almost like a prelude to that story, set two centuries earlier.

In the 1680s the slave trade was still in its infancy. In the Americas, virulent religious and class divisions, prejudice and oppression were rife, providing the fertile soil in which slavery and race hatred were planted and took root.

Jacob is an Anglo-Dutch trader and adventurer, with a small holding in the harsh north. Despite his distaste for dealing in “flesh,” he takes a small slave girl in part payment for a bad debt from a plantation owner in Catholic Maryland. This is Florens, “with the hands of a slave and the feet of a Portuguese lady.” Florens looks for love, first from Lina, an older servant woman at her new master’s house, but later from a handsome blacksmith, an African, never enslaved.

There are other voices: Lina, whose tribe was decimated by smallpox; their mistress, Rebekka, herself a victim of religious intolerance back in England; Sorrow, a strange girl who’s spent her early years at sea; and finally the devastating voice of Florens’ mother. These are all men and women inventing themselves in the wilderness.

A Mercy reveals what lies beneath the surface of slavery. But at its heart it is the ambivalent, disturbing story of a mother who casts off her daughter in order to save her, and of a daughter who may never exorcise that abandonment.

Acts of mercy may have unforeseen consequences.

WHAT I THOUGHT:
I read Morrison's novel Beloved years ago (in high school actually, I think). While I don't really even remember what the story line was, I do remember loving the lyrical writing style.

I was a little worried as I started the first chapter as it begins in the voice of Florens, whose dialect is extremely thick. I wasn't sure I'd make it through the whole book in that voice. However, I soon discovered that the voice changes with each chapter and while each is unique, none are quite as difficult as Florens. With that said, even her voice became easier to read (and more lyrical) as the characters and plot lines developed.

Wild is certainly a good word to describe the place and time of this book. While there are certainly examples of goodness and hope in both events and people, there are also a strong presence of corruption and despair as well...the true dichotomy of life in this earlier period of development in our country.

While it's nice to have a nice tidy, happy ending, you won't find it in this novel. What you will find is a novel that is though-provoking and beautiful in its complexity of character and plot.

NEXT ON THE BOOKSHELF:

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

:HAPPY THANKSGIVING:

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” 

W.T. Purkiser

:SALE: BasicGrey Sale @ Scrapbook.com...TODAY only!

Scrapbook.com has an amazing deal today!!

They are offering an additional 20% off the lowest-marked price on ALL BasicGrey products!

No coupon required...but the offer is good TODAY only!

So, if you could use some BasicGrey lovliness, now is the time to stock up!! The discount is valid on collection packs, paper, embellishments, albums, card kits and MORE!

Happy Shopping!

:MEMORYWORKS EXPRESS: December 2011 Sneak Peek - "Vintage Findings"

Watch for further details on this kit coming soon!

In the meantime, enjoy the details of a few past MemoryWorks Express Kits!

A MemoryWorks Express Kit subscription is ONLY $29.95 (plus $6.50 S&H) per month! They are chock full of the latest and greatest in the scrapbooking industry, the items are always timely in terms of the current season or holiday, and the price can't be beat!

The monthly kits are often sold out by the time the full details and contents are released, so if you are interested in subscribing or would simply like more information, please don't hesitate to contact me!