By Joanna Campbell Slan, www.JoannaSlan.com "Florida is a giant bug light for crazy people." ~ Phyllis Smallman, Sleuthfest 2014 It's no surprise to any author living in Florida that some of the craziest stories we can write are actually inspired by true events in our sunshine state. Join us in exploring a different side of Florida than the travel bureau promotes with our first Blog Hop sponsored by Florida Chapter of Mystery … [Read more...] about Honey, You'll Never Guess What Rolled Up in the Surf
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Be a Dick: The Secret of Social Media Success
Marc Ensign spoke to our Florida Chapter of MWA today, explaining how he became a success in social media. Shortly after the Ensign family (Marc, his wife Amy, their two kids Bella and Zak, and their Bichon mix pup Gracie) moved to Florida, Marc had a life-changing encounter with a new neighbor, a man named Dick. Dick's genuine concern and interest in the young family made the Ensigns feel instantly at home in their new surroundings. … [Read more...] about Be a Dick: The Secret of Social Media Success
Giveaway–A Miniature Easter Egg
Yes, this adorable Easter Egg is OOAK (One of a Kind), and I made it myself so it's totally imperfect! The outside is a luscious spring green, trimmed with gold lace. Inside as you can see, there's a vintage scene of Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny. HOW I MADE IT I'll tell you how I made it in another post! Can you say, "tutorial"? Suffice it to say, I tried several methods and most of them were abject failures. HOW TO WIN IT Starting tomorrow … [Read more...] about Giveaway–A Miniature Easter Egg
How to Make Miniature Mosiacs–Or How to Have Your Egg and Eat It, Too
There are tons of ways to make miniature tiles, usually involving Fimo or paper coated with a thick glossy agent, but I think I've stumbled on a method that's easier and more fun...as long as you're okay with tiles in random shapes. Best of all, it's a way to recycle and upcycle common items. Behold! (Ha, ha.) A protein snack that recycles into a table with mosaic inlays or a birdbath. SUPPLIES for the MOSAICS: A hard-boiled egg. (an old … [Read more...] about How to Make Miniature Mosiacs–Or How to Have Your Egg and Eat It, Too
Desperately Seeking OOAK
So I'm cruising Pinterest and Etsy looking at dollhouse miniatures, and I keep seeing OOAK by the listings. Wow. I was so impressed by the detailed workmanship. And so many different types of items! I was thinking to myself, "This OOAK really knows her stuff. She must be crafting from sun up to sun down." Then I got to thinking, "I bet OOAK is the name of a company. Yeah, that's got to be it. I wonder if they offer tutorials." In the miniature … [Read more...] about Desperately Seeking OOAK
On the Back Foot — What Does That Mean?
If you're looking for colorful language, there's no better place to start than the wide world of sports. Recently I heard casters for a League of Legends game saying that one team was definitely "on the back foot." Since it was clear that the team in question was losing, I could surmise that "on the back foot" was not a good position to be in. But more to the point, what exactly did that mean? As with many English idioms, no one has a … [Read more...] about On the Back Foot — What Does That Mean?
