I had this song written just for you...

(Okay, if I had tons of money and a time-machine to take me back to over three years ago, I would have paid Anna Nalick to write this song for you. Yes, I love you all that much.)

And her name is....

VERONICA!!!

And since three people said Veronica, I put the names in a (virtual) pot and drew out Alyosha's name. Alyosha, email me at laguapatona@gmail.com with your address and I'll send out your copy of WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE.

Thanks for your help, everyone! Stay tuned, because I'm going to have you help me rename another character soon and another book will be given away.

Won't it be cool when I can send out my own books as giveaways?!

Hey, Is She Reading My Mind?

I have thought the same, exact things Gabrielle talks about in this video. I think I've even mentioned them on the blog. It's like she's reading my mind?! Or I'm not the only one thinking like this...

Yummy, pretty things in my Etsy shop

Is it wrong to covet things in your own Etsy store...?

These dyed howlite beads remind me of Sixlets. Mmm, yummy.

A bracelet full of miracles! (Okay, milagros, which is Spanish for miracles.)

Great balls of felt! A charm bracelet made of felted wool beads.

Excuse me, but is that a garden on your arm?!

Shine, my dear. Shine.

...If so, I don't want to be right.

Magic Garden

A Gardens Secret
Originally uploaded by sdeweerd.com

"A Book is like a magic garden hidden in your pocket."
--Chinese Proverb

Helping THINGS Find Their Purpose

My family jokingly (I think) calls me a hoarder. I am not a hoarder. I merely save things until their true purpose, their calling, has been found.

For example:

This styrofoam helped keep some precious purchase safe until it arrived at my house (not that I remember which purchase that was). I knew it had not yet fulfilled its dharma.

The top of this shelf is the perfect place to put some handmade softies I've bought as well as my Spirit in Flight doll. But it is too deep. *sigh* This is so sad.

With a few swipes of my craft knife, the styrofoam fits perfectly in the niche of my shelf and my shorties have a perfect perch. Everyone is happy!

Including me.

New Blogs from Old Friends

Both Nicole and Amy Jo have new blogs chronicling their new adventures. Take a few minutes to check them out. And have a lovely evening.

Sweatin' and Clickin' (Nicole's new blog)

The Balancing Act (Amy's new blog)

What Makes Me Happy Wednesday

A few of the things that have made me smile this past week:

These funny little guys.

My first ever roast beef! (1/2 gone before I thought to take a picture)

Pretty bits of 2 special projects I've been working on.

A beaded chain I'm making for a special project for myself. :)

Happy Hour with a Cherry-Vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper, peanut butter M&Ms, and Pegasus by Robin McKinley.

Baby (okay, 3-year old) playing in the water.

How about you? What's made you happy this week? Post it in the comments OR write your own blogpost and leave a link in the comments.

Let's share the happy!

A Name Not Ending in "y" Contest

I have a problem. Too many characters in my WiP have names ending in a hard "e" (Merci, Conchi, Lily). So I'm going to have a contest. YOU will re-name my character, Lily.

In the comments, post your suggestion for a girl's name. You can even post your own name, but be forewarned that the girl is a mean girl. She says nasty things about people and people say nasty things about her.

If I choose your name, not only will you be helping me write the book, you'll also win a signed copy of Sarah Dessen's What Happened to Goodbye. Contest is open until Sunday, August 21st 7:00 PM.

Woohoo! This is going to be fun.

Grow Up

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."

--e.e. cummings

Vermont

So, my first residency at Vermont College was pretty amazing. Here, I count the reasons why. (Along with pictures of the campus and the surrounding area, not in any particular order.)

1. Vermont is gorgeous. Did you know this? It's green everywhere and everyone has gardens that I would kill to have.

2. The Writing for Children and Young Adults program is capped at 100 people. In my semester, there were 26 people. 26? I looked around there the first day we all met together and thought, "Hey! There are only 26 first semester students, and I'm one of them! How did that happen?" And then it occurred to me: I must be pretty good. Holy boost to my morale, Batman!

3. To go along with number 2, since they cap the program at 100, that means that the other people in the program are good writers too. I just kept looking around, wondering whose book would be published next.

4. The faculty. Hello! I'm hearing lectures from and am in workshops with best-selling and award-winning authors. And they're so friendly and so helpful and they really want their students to succeed.

5. Remember how I was worried about my roommate? Yeah, I so didn't need to worry about that. She's an incredible person. And we ate chocolate together.

6. Vermont cleared up my cough! Seriously.

So, that's my summer residency adventure. How have your adventures been coming along?