Just some personal stuff...

I should have posted this earlier but we were out shopping for gifts to take back to the US with us. It's been a hectic week as we try to figure out what needs to go back to the US with us. We leave later this week...WOOT! Excited to see everyone, and excited to attend my first ever writer's conference. (Check out my writing blog for more details).

Many of you know I write fiction from time to time. Well, the first book in my Klondike Mystery Series is ON SALE! Here is the sale schedule:

August 23, 2014 at  8:00 AM (PST)  20h     $1.99 61%
August 24, 2014 at  4:00 AM (PST)  20h     $2.99 41%
August 25, 2014 at 12:00 AM (PST) 20h       $3.99 21%
August 25, 2014 at  8:00 PM (PST)  Original list price $4.99

CLICK TO BUY NOW

Oh, you don't have to have a Kindle to read the book - check out the Kindle Reading apps for your PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet.

Be sure to tell your friends about the sale - get it before it's back to full price!

PRODUCT: Home or Travel Accessory

We tend to travel with a lot of electronics: two Kindle e-readers, two cell phones, two iPads and often one if not two laptops. This means carrying a mass of cables and adapters/chargers, being careful of wattage requirements for the newer iPads (or other tablets, when we had Kindle Fires).

Over the years we have tried and tossed many different adapter/charger combinations, usually settling for a duplicate of what comes with our device pre-stashed in our toiletry bag. We even bought laptop bags that came with a battery and a host of charging plugs, handy but heavy.

While Stu was in the US, I ordered two of these SHARKK® 25W 5-Port USB Wall Plug Family-Sized Charger/Adapter from Amazon. As soon as he unpacked it, he put it to use. HUGE hit! He easily plugged in and charged his iPad Air, Kindle e-reader, iPod and Android phone. No muss, no fuss!

We can now travel with the one stashed in our luggage and the other works in our house. OR we can each put one with our travel stuff. Hmmm, thinking I may get two more when we are in the US this fall.

Oh, but you STILL have to remember to bring your cables! ;)

*for Apple iPad Air / iPad Mini / iPad mini Retina / iPhone 5 / 5S / 5C / All Apple Phones and Tablets / Android Smartphones & Tablets / Samsung Galaxy / Samsung Tab / Samsung Note / And other USB-Powered Devices

May 25 2014: Sunday Sundry Photo

Ecuador's Version of the Fuller Brush Man

May 18 2014: Sunday Sundry Photo

Otavalo Market Back Door Entry Vendor Area

Jewelry I've bought

I haven't bought a lot of jewelry but wanted to post about what I have bought, for those interested.

The first piece is made out of Tagua nut, it's the South American Ivory even though it's actually a vegetable. You will see necklaces, pendants, earrings in the jewelry line as well as a wide variety of carvings. I bought this last April/May from a gal selling inside San Sebas restaurant (they are too busy now to hose this type of event but I enjoyed browsing her goods).

I also bought my first Saguaro beaded bracelet from the same gal. Here is a close-up view. I think I spent $12 for both pieces.

The next two (actually three) pieces were bought from Saguaro ladies, one at the Casa de la Mujer artisan shop and one at the big celebration at Otorongo Plaza last month. I love them both, I have a hard time resisting these pieces.  I even had one converted into a hatband! Each necklace was $12 and it cost me an additional $3 for the adaptation to a hatband (made it longer and adjustable). I also bought a beaded hummingbird from the Otorongo vendor, they were asking $5 for it. I got the hummingbird and this necklace for $15. I rarely negotiate with artisans unless buying more than one item.

Another one bought recently, fell in love with it at the same Saguargo vendor in Casa de la Mujer (upstairs, towards the front). I think it as $5 or $6...

This one was bought from a street vendor while wandering around. I really don't remember where in Cuenca nor how much I spent but I am sure it wasn't more then $15.

This piece I picked up at what is nicknamed the Hippie Market. A couple dozen vendors sell mostly jewelry, most of it the same, but I found one piece I really liked. It appears to be made of mother of pearl, but one side seems to have been inlaid with a mosaic of multi-colored pieces. Very unique and he made me a lace that is adjustable.

When we were at the Hippie Market, I saw a necklace made of some type of seeds (or bean) and fell in love with the bright orange/red color. But I didn't ask the price, suspecting it was more than I wanted to pay. By the time I got home I realized I really wanted it and decided to go back and see how much it was. I was willing to pay up to $15. Imagine my surprise when it was only $5! So happy....

Next I will be looking at earrings, there has to be something I like out there! LOL!

What Stu does while Donna writes....

I was privileged to attend the Idiom Art Furniture Workshop, April 14 - 18, at Fishbon del Sur on MarIScal Lamar in El Centro, Cuenca. This wonderful program was put together by 2 wonderful ladies: Kathryn McCullough and Sara Coppler. We took unfinished, very basic handmade furniture and turned each piece into a work of art. The workshop ran from noon to 5 everyday in the wonderful old house now studio, Fishbon del Sur located on the first floor in the home of Laura and Clay Bodine. Two creative folks that have brought their energy to Cuenca in this delightful studio. I look forward to their many events.

Our first day was spent with introductions, basic ideas for completing our creations, traveling to the Rotary Market to select a piece and returning to the workshop for sanding and priming. Here's a photo of us in the back of the delivery truck and the beginning of my project, Donna's bench.

The second and third days were spent applying color and touching up areas with second and third coats of paint to get even coverage. All this time I was struggling on how I would personalize the piece. I wanted to celebrate Donna's writing and display some of the inspirational things she likes. I vacillated between decoupaging some of her book covers or putting the text of some of her sayings etc. on the bench.

On the forth day I started laying out the text I had chosen to decoupage on different areas of the bench. Experimenting with different styles and positions. I finalized the layout and proceeded to apply each item to the bench. It took some time and I had to repair/replace a few that tore when trying to position them where I wanted. Glad I made a number of copies for back up!

Our last day was spent finishing the final detail before applying clear (water based) polyurethane. 2 Coats and the project was finished and ready for transport home and a reveal to Donna. Well, she loved it. She told me nobody has ever made something just for her. It now sits at the end of our hall. We will walk past it many times and I hope it will inspire her spirit, writing and enrich our lives daily. We might even sit on it once and a while and just chat!

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Here are some photos of the others, 22 women, hard at work on their creations. I shared my "man cave" with one lady who renamed it the "diva den".

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