Friday, February 12, 2016

About Me: Crafting


One of my resolutions this year (and to be honest almost every year) is to talk more about myself on the blog. Me in a nutshell: I'm a Librarian. I'm a blogger. I'm a reader. Here's a little bit about me outside the bookish world.

I've always been crafty - partly because it's fun and partly because I love homemade items. I like giving them as gifts and receiving them.

I started knitting in high school - I thought I would knit a scarf for a boyfriend for a present - we didn't last that long. But the knitting took. I only knit baby blankets and scarves but someday hope to include hats and sweaters. I knit most nights while I'm watching TV, it keeps my hands busy. I give a lot of them away at Thanksgiving to charities who make up Christmas baskets. Recently I found out about Knit Your Bit, who donates scarves to Veterans. Last year I boxed up 18 (all I could fit in the box) and sent those along. I like to make a difference where I can.

In my adult life, my college best friend introduced me to jewelry making. And I became hooked. I spent hours making necklaces - some great and some not so great. Then I moved on to earrings. Now I dabble with necklaces, earrings, charm  bracelets, and pendants. I love finding new ways to make jewelry. Jewelry making is perfect for gift giving because each piece is made with love.

I also started making cards. I send out a lot of cards for Christmas and I remember thinking that I should start making them instead of buying them. From then on, I was hooked. I now send out Christmas, Valentine, and Halloween cards for the holidays. Birthday cards, thinking of you cards, and special occasion cards are also fun to create. The only cards I don't create is sympathy cards, because I never know what say inside.

The box of cards:

I dabble in making soaps and spa scrubs. The scents combine to make the house smell wonderful.

I just purchased a sewing machine. I haven't worked on it yet, but it's waiting for me. I'll probably try making a few gifts for Christmas this year.

Of course, I'm addicted to Pinterest. I have boards filled with ideas.

During my years a Teen Librarian, I had an outlet for crafts. Everything I wanted to try out, I did as a program. Teens loved it and I loved it. Since I left the library, I've missed it. So I decided to start up my own Etsy shop. It's not big but it's a little something.

If you're on Etsy - would you take a look and maybe favorite an item if you find one you like? I would appreciate it!


Thursday, February 11, 2016

Book Connection with Ella Martin: Guitar Notes


Books and music are similar art forms in that they can transport you back in time to when you first read a passage or heard a song, and they can mean different things to different people. Like other art forms, they can touch your heart and make you think, but I’ve yet to find another medium that can strip my soul bare after countless readings or listens. Even movies lose their luster for me after the second (or sometimes fourth) viewing. And now that I shuttle my son to and from music lesson every week, I have a whole new appreciation for musicians and the music they write.

Mary Amato’s GUITAR NOTES is a story about two very different kids on different paths who find a connection through music. Lyla is a cellist and a straight-A student destined to follow in her late mother’s footsteps. Tripp is so grief-stricken over his father’s death that the only thing that matters to him is playing his guitar. Early in the book, they are assigned times to share a practice room: Lyla gets to practice on even days, and Tripp gets to play guitar on odd days. What begins as petty correspondence over trash becomes something much deeper. It turns out Lyla’s life is full of static, and Tripp isn’t the unintelligent loner he appears to be.

I love books in which we see a relationship progress. There’s no instalove—or even instalust—in this book. What we do get is a girl who rediscovers her love of music by playing guitar and a boy who learns to open up and care about more than himself. The two of them develop a strong bond that could lead to romance, though it’s never explicitly stated, and by the end of the book, there’s a strong sense of how much these kids need each other. (There’s a hint tension between them underneath their strong friendship. You can’t help but root for them to get together.)

GUITAR NOTES is about doing what makes you happy, about finding that thing that makes your heart thrum and pursuing it. With Tripp’s help, Lyla found something she loves; in Lyla, Tripp found someone who understands him and his music. And though the story felt a little rushed at the end, the conclusion was satisfying and left me feeling hopeful.

“Maybe it explains the reason why one person likes another. It's because their souls both thrum at the same frequency.” ~ Mary Amato from Guitar Notes
Ella Martin
Bio: Ella Martin is an award-winning young adult author and self-described “prep school survivor” from Southern California. With a keen sense for combining relatable teen characters with engrossing stories, her books blend aspects of romance, angst, and intrigue. Her Westgate Prep series of books tackles female friendships, quirky characters, and sensitive topics with equal tact.


I Love Him, I Love Him Not blurb: Talia Nicoletti’s life has been turned upside down–and that’s probably an understatement. Her mother goes off on a business trip… and comes back married! Her estranged father wants to be less estranged. And her best friend Jake DeSantos suddenly has a new confidante who Talia doesn’t want to like but kind of does anyway.

Talia has to unravel her tangled up emotions to figure out what she really wants. Does she want to accept her father back in her life? Can she trust her new-stepfather? There’s too much hitting Talia at once, and she’s not ready to deal with any of it. The one person she can always turn to is Jake, and he’s being secretive and isn’t exactly available. And that hurts her more than she thought possible.

Talia hates that she’s jealous of the new girl in Jake’s life, especially since she can’t decide if she loves him … or if she loves him not.

Goodreads Contests for Ella's Books:

Buy links for I Love Him, I Love Him Not:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Him-Westgate-Prep-Book-ebook/dp/B015X8QM2S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1443515729&sr=1-1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-love-him-i-love-him-not-ella-martin/1122726640?ean=2940150866867

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/i-love-him-i-love-him-not
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/581268
Indiebound:
http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781621354529

Check out the rest of the Tour:

o   February 8: Read. Sleep. Repeat. - Getting Over Garrett Delaney
o   February 9: Cuddlebuggery - Better Off Friends
o   February 10: Ageless Pages Review - The Stepsister's Tale
o   February 11: YA Book Nerd - Guitar Notes
o   February 12: On Starships & Dragonwings - These Broken Stars
o   February 13: Read Love WriteReaper
o   February 14: The YA ClubRebel Mechanics

 Giveaway One copy of Guitar Notes available for giveaway to readers in the U.S


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Author Visit with Chris Grabenstein

Last night I was at RJ Julia's to see Chris Grabenstein. He was really funny and engaging - there was lots of laughter  from the audience. It was great to see so many kids attending the author event - two introduced him.
Reading from Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics
Answering Questions
We found out a few details:
 * A third book is in the works
* The options have been sold
* He has four brothers
* He used his imaginative play with his brothers in The Island of Dr. Libris 
* He enjoyed improv (just like Jamie in I Funny)
* He worked in adverting writing commercials (with James Patterson)
* He wanted to make research and learning fun - more like a game
* He's a reluctant reader himself
* The idea for the sequel came from a 5th grade during an author skype session

Getting books signed (one for me and one for my library)

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Fictional Crushes

This week's topic is Fictional Crushes (AKA book boyfriends) - which is both easy and hard to create. There are so many great ones to choose from... So here they are, the first ones that came to mind.  
Mr Darcy:
Mr Knightley 
Gilbert

Wes * Dimitri * Michael * Duval
The Truth About ForeverVampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, #1)Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1)

Po * Sam * Owen
Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)Catching JordanThe Geography of You and Me

Monday, February 8, 2016

Review: This Way Home

Elijah's a god on the basketball court. During the summer before his senior year of high school, he's determined to win the three on three tournament with his two best friends. Together, they can out play anyone.

When Michael comes to them with  new shoes, Dylan and Elijah can't believe their good fortune - especially when Michael swears they come without ties.

Elijah wants to win and he wants that prize money. But at what cost? Between avoiding the gangs of Baltimore and leaving this city behind through basketball, Elijah has plans for the future. Right now his plans include winning and holding down his summer job.
My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book - read it in one sitting. I loved the basketball scenes - it made me want to go shoot hoops. 

I really liked the banter between the three friends. I loved the moments between Banks and Elijah. 

That ending really surprised me - I didn't see it coming. It made me sad, but it also made me think about the entire book. Part of me wanted to go back and read it again.

Cover Thoughts: It's hard to see the basketball on the book - I wish it was easier to see.
Source: My Library
Final Thoughts: Teens will dig this book

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Teen Program Ideas: Teen Tech Week




Teen Tech Week is fast approaching, so I thought I'd throw out a few ideas - all from pinterest
Be sure also to check out the official page


If your kids love exploring science and technology I bet they would love to explore robotics.  These are all robots that kids can make!:
Robot Building
Make this awesome color changing slime that changes color with temperature! Thermochromic slime makes STEM learning fun.:
Heat Activated Slime
100 pennies in a cup...see who can make a bridge to support it using the smallest amount of legos. Great for after the state tests or during the last week of school!:
Lego Bridge Challenge 
For the Community (for the kid's room inside the library or a place in the community). Have teens create a road way for kids to play with cars.

Turn STEM into STEAM. How to incorporate art with science, technology, engineering and math and WHY it is essential to your child's learning!:

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Mysterious Saturday Review: Death is Like a Box of Chocolates


* First Book in a Series * 
Michelle and Erica got roped into hosting the Great Fudge Cook-off - partly to promote the town and partly to promote their combine chocolate and bookstore business.

When a body is discovered inside the shop with a chocolate stuffed in the victim's mouth - everything could change in a heartbeat.

Michelle's worried that her shop won't last and that her business customers will cancel their orders. Just as she's finally found herself, she faces losing everything.

Michelle starts looking into the murder in order to get her life back on track.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this mystery with the small town charm, the chocolate and bookstore business, the friendships, and the potential romance. I loved learning more about Michelle and her chocolate making - this book made my mouth water. I craved chocolate while reading it (who wouldn't). I liked both Michelle and Erica's brothers and I'm interested in learning more about them. I really enjoyed the Great Fudge Cook-off and how it came together. I'm looking forward to learning more about these characters. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My Library
Final Thoughts: If you're looking for a fun mystery with lots of chocolate and great friends, look no further.