Gettysburg get away

by Cindy on March 22, 2010

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 Can you believe it’s finally here?  Spring!  Glorious Spring! 🙂

While my parents took the older boys skiing one last time in WV, we took the younger guys on a trip to Gettysburg for the day.  It was warm and just the perfect day for milling about outside.  This might be the first time I went to PA without doing at least a teeny bit of antiquing, but this time it was strictly the Gettysburg battlegrounds and museums.  First we had a picnic….first of many more to come now that Spring is here!

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I’ve found that I’m really drawn to Civil War history.  Maybe it can’t be helped considering we are surrounded by reminders of the past living in Virginia.  I’ll never be a Civil  War buff per se, and its not military strategy that interests me.  I’m fascinated by the individuals, whether its the tale of a soldier or of a “civilian” whose life was touched in some profound way during the war.  While visiting the Gettysburg National Park Museum, the photo of a girl caught my eye.  The caption beside the picture described her feelings of anguish, helplessly watching her favorite horse being taken away by a Confederate soldier.  The picture was of Matilda “Tillie” Pierce.  As it turns out, Tillie later went on to write a book about her experience during the battle at Gettysburg.  First-hand accounts such as Tilllie’s are ones that I am compelled to read.  When leaving town later, we happened to drive right by her house (which is now a bed and breakfast)…. we stopped the car so I could take a picture.

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One day is just not enough to take in all of the history here.  We visited last summer and I’m sure we’ll be back again soon. 

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 Thank you for stopping by…. and if you haven’t already done so, you can still enter the give away for Kerry Bogert’s new book, Totally Twisted!  You can enter here through Tuesday night!

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Let’s TWIST! {psst…give away alert}

by Cindy on March 19, 2010

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Totally Twisted is hot off the press and on the shelves!  Won’t you join me as I chat with the author (and friend), Kerry Bogert, about her very first book?  Things did get a bit twisted here, as Kerry decided to interview me!  Grab a hot cup of coffee and stay a while……. we’ve got a surprise for you at the end!

Kerry: Oh My Stars, CINDY?!? Can you believe it?!? Totally Twisted is finally here!! Okay, give me your first impressions when you first got the book in your hands….
Cindy:  Kerry, so much was running through my mind when the book finally came in the mail!   As I carried the envelope in to the house, I actually savored it for a moment before I tore into the package.  I paused and remembered long ago when you first shared your dream of writing this book.  There’s that time that sticks in my head….standing on the sidewalk in front of Panera, listening to you on the phone excitedly telling me how you signed your contract to write the book….  And I’ll admit I had tears in my eyes when I first held the book in my hands and saw your name in print.  Then I think I started wildly waving your book around, showing it off to whoever was in hearing range….which was of course the boys.  But they already knew you as the “famous” one. 🙂  It was truly incredible to share this journey in some small way…. hearing the stories from you from the start:  how you finished your first chapter, selecting the amazing lampwork artists whose beads are featured, traveling to Colorado for the photo shoot (and getting your nails done!), sending in the big box of finished projects, all of the editing, finding out the title you chose would be a go……  Wow, I guess I could go on and on….so, my first impression when I got the book?  VERY EXCITED!

Kerry:Now come on, honestly, did you ever think that the lady that chatted with you on the B&B forum, and came down to teach you lampworking for a weekend, was going to end up writing a wire book?
Cindy:  Yes.  Back in the early days when we hung out on the Bead and Button forum, you were already drawing a crowd – eager to see your latest lampwork beads.  Your style evolved in to a natural combination of glass beads combined with wire work.  I just knew you were destined to go places with your jewelry….early on you created designs that were strictly your own style.  I remember when you were excited about your very first wire tutorial being published…after that it was a steady stream of publications.  You were just destined to write a book…it all seemed to flow so easily for you.  You had something fresh and exciting to offer in the world of wire work, and I think the publishers saw that right away. 

Kerry, I hope you don’t mind me sharing this 2007 picture with our friends here.  I just can’t resist.  🙂  (Now in all fairness, I asked Kerry to hold up these magazines – her first publications – she did NOT want to pose with them, but I wanted them autographed!)

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Kerry: What is your favorite project in Totally Twisted? And you know how each project has a really colorful layout to the page designs, which project has your favorite color combo?
Cindy:  You know I’m going to say it’s hard to pick just one favorite (there are 25 cool projects in this book!)…so I’ll pick two!  “Bang Gals” are just so colorful and one-of-a-kind.  You’ve really created a signature style that’s full of dimension and interest,  and nothing like you’ll find in any other wire bangle.    I like how this was selected as the first project in the book!  

Another absolute  favorite is the “Twirl-a-Gig” necklace.  This one’s an over the top amazing piece of art jewelry.  It’s a little mind-boggling how you create these links – wire coils, spirals, and lampwork discs all linked together to create a show-stopper necklace.  I dream of making one like this some day….

And you asked about my favorite color combo?   I do love your classic bright colors, but I can’t resist the projects done in blue combinations such as “Catching a Wave”, “Delightful”, and “Split Personality”.  You’ll see in a minute that I’m drawn to blues in jewelry….

Kerry: You know how me and you get going when we chat right, we could go on and on, so I will just ask one more question… how are you going to do the giveaway for the extra copy of Totally Twisted that you have?!?
Cindy:   You’re right!   I’m giving away a copy of Totally Twisted to one  lucky blog reader!  What better way to celebrate the release of  your book! 

Here’s what to do to be entered in a chance to win a copy of TOTALLY TWISTED (each item is worth an EXTRA  entry…please leave a separate comment for each way that you’ve entered):

  • Leave a comment on this post -I’d love to hear from you!  This is all you have to do to be entered in the drawing.
  • Join the Totally Twisted fan page on Facebook – here.
  • Mention this book review/giveaway on your blog or Facebook
  • If you already own this fantastic book, please name your favorite project!

The winner will be randomly drawn from all entries…. the deadline is Twisted Tuesday (visit Kerry’s blog for her Tuesday blog segments!), March 23rd, 11 p.m. EST.  Winner to be announced here on Wednesday.

 

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P.S.  Kerry’s book has been such a helpful resource to me, even though I have some wire experience.  I think you’ll find that too.  From simple things like reminding us to file the flush-cut ends of wire, to challenging us with advanced wire techniques (“Refined”) – there really is something for everyone in this book!

I just couldn’t wait to try some of the projects!  I created a couple of Kerry’s designs and have to report that the instructions are so clearly written and just about all of the steps are shown photographed.    How could I go wrong…..I used Kerry’s beads but with my twist – oxidized sterling silver wire.

“Unhinged”

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“Catching a Wave”

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Thank you so much for joining us today…..and good luck in the drawing! 🙂

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Lucky, Lucky

by Cindy on March 17, 2010

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 Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Is the luck of the Irish with you today?  I’m feeling quite lucky…. lucky that the sun is shining and it’s almost 70 degrees here!!  The baby and I had lunch outside by the lake and watched the geese.  I couldn’t ask for more considering it’s still March!

I made this quick wire charm-holder style  necklace with thoughts of good luck.  The pewter Green Girl Studios charm says “Lucky” on the backside…perfect to remind you of all of your good fortunes in life.  I oxidized the  necklace and tumbled it for a nice shine.  Perfect to wear every day, any time of the year.

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Did those mischievous leprechauns visit your house?  They sure left their mark here…. knocking over furniture, turning the milk green, and even leaving a pineapple in the trap that the kids left for them.  Maybe they were upset that we didn’t create leprechauns for our craft project as we’ve done in years past.  This year we were a wee bit short on time, so the kids made their own lucky Blarney stones.   Are you familiar with the legend of the Blarney Stone?  It’s quite interesting and you can read about it here.  Now I’m making an Irish Stew and will attempt some Irish Soda bread later.  After all, I’m a McGinnis!

Oh, I have some news for you!  You’ll want to stop back here on Friday…. things are going to get TOTALLY TWISTED.  See you then!

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