Author: cvegnad

March 2, 2017

Paint March Away with Artist’s Painting Techniques

Love to paint on a variety of mediums? Maybe you love the look of watercolour but not too sure on how to start a painting? Artist’s Painting techniques will show you the hows to create beautiful watercolour, acrylic and oil paintings.

About Artist’s Painting Techniques

Artist’s Painting Techniques is your practical guide to learning how to bring out your inner artist with a wide range of painting styles, whether you want to learn how to use acrylics, watercolors, or oil paints.

With progression in mind, this master class will teach you the basic principles of painting and then inspire you to move on to new challenges and create masterpieces of your own. It explains which tools, materials, and methods should be used along the way, but lets you develop your artistic skills on your own terms rather than providing a series of steps to be followed.

Whether you are a beginner wanting to take up a new hobby or an experienced artist who wants to expand your horizons and learn new styles, Artist’s Painting Techniques will set you on your path to creativity.

My Thoughts

I love to paint – water colour is one of my most favourite mediums but I have started to branch out into oil painting. My first worry when I start new mediums, I am always unsure of how to start, how to use the new paintbrush and the new paint strokes. Believe it or not it is not just as easy as throwing some paint on a piece of paper or canvas.

The book starts off with the basics everyone show know: colour theory, perspective, pencil drawing basics and how to create tone. While these may seem basic, they are very important when you start your own composition especially when you begin to mix colours and even the different type of pencils and how they affect detail and shading!

The book is then divided into watercolours, acrylics and oils, while further being divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced techniques. I really liked that the beginning of each section took some time to explain the time of brushes you will need, the paints you will be using and the extra supplies needed as well as brushstrokes. Sometimes the hardest part can be figuring out how to hold the brush!

Regardless of which stage you are on, the instructions were very easy to follow in all three sections and were accompanied by pictures showing how to hold and achieve the effect. If you ever get stuck with some of the terms, they also include a glossary at the back of the book to help you out.

When I first picked up the book, I went through each page just admiring the work and running my hands over the design. There are so many beautiful pieces of work in this book. I also have to mention that the actual cover of the book has parts of the cover elevated (the brush, printing and the yellow paint). I am one of those people who when I see artwork in a book I am always touching the drawings and working my mind through the design, so I truly appreciated the extra touch of care to the cover of this book. This is truly a special book for the art fan in your life, that they will treasure for a long time.

You can purchase a copy of Artist’s Painting Techniques on the DK Canada website.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

March 2, 2017

Supercraft Your March Break #MakerMarch

Do you love to craft in your spare time but are never quite to sure where to start? Then Supercraft is the book for you!

About Supercraft

52 creative craft and sewing projects easy enough to complete in just one weekend, designed to keep crafters busy all year long.

Supercraft is packed with DIY craft and sewing projects that use everyday materials and innovative techniques so you can up cycle your way to creating something new and stylish. Embroider a notebook, print fabric with star fruit, make a hanging garden for your bathroom, and much, much more.

Each of the 52 projects in this book include everything you need to know, with step-by-step photographs and detailed instructions, and are simple enough to finish in a weekend. Craft your way through spring, summer, winter, and fall with Supercraft.

My Thoughts

Are you looking to change up your home for the season? Maybe add some small but sensational pieces that put some life back into the room. Then Supercraft is for you!

The book is divided up into seasons with easy, medium and more difficult crafts to complete. There is a good collection of crafts for the home and personal items. I love that you can incorporate recycled items from outdoors and indoors into these new crafts (a hanging garden, pressing leaves, leaf prints, etc..). There are even some great projects that you can do with your children, they were very excited to make Mommy a special coffee mug just from them.

The instructions are all easy to follow and never leave you feeling confused. Each stage of the instruction also comes along with a helpful photo in case you do get a bit confused but I promise you wont. The authors also include templates, basic embroidery and stitching skills at the back of the book in case you need to brush up on some of your skills before you tackle some of the projects.

There are a total of fifty two project ideas in this book, which makes it the perfect year long craft partner. It will help you to never run out of ideas!

You can purchase a copy of Supercraft on the DK Canada website.

About the Author

Designer Sophie Pester is the founder of one of the largest craft fairs in Germany. Author and designer Catharina Bruns has written about creative inspiration in the workplace. Together, they founded Supercraft, a popular craft box subscription service in Germany. They are widely known in the craft blogger scene and are often featured in women’s and craft magazines.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

March 2, 2017

Kill and Run Book Review

In Kill and Run, five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed.

About Kill and Run

Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed.

Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their murderer.

The case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night shift on the turnpike.

In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime join newlyweds Lieutenant Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to sift through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning killer?

My Thoughts

This has to be by far my favourite book from Lauren. In this novel, we have several murders that don’t seem to have any connection to each other. But slowly as the novel evolves, we learn that there may be more to these murders than previously thought and the depth of lies is unbelievable.

The plot line is incredible and well developed. Lauren put a lot of thought and effort into this novel and you can tell from the many layers of this story. As the story develops, you are left at times in a state of shock and even anger. The story is set in the background of the military and this is where the corruption lies. When you realize the extent of the corruption and hidden secrets, you find yourself even getting angry and praying Lieutenant Murphy uncovers it all and reveals the truth. Lieutenant Murphy takes on his first case in this story and he does an amazing job and Jessica even finds herself caught up in the action! By the middle of the book you don’t want to put the novel down. The ending blows your mind – it was not what I was expecting but it fit the novel perfectly.

Kill and Run is a definite must read. The plot is well developed and will have you reading long into the night. The characters are the same ones that you have fallen in love with before and the plot ties in their past into the story in an extremely interesting manner. I loved every moment of this story.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Book Trailer

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

March 1, 2017

A Fine Year for Murder Review

After months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.

About A Fine Year for Murder

When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family living near a winery owned by distant relatives she was visiting and suppressed the memory.

Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple?

My Thoughts

A Fine Year for Murder is an excellent novel! It was so full of suspense, mystery and murder. Lauren spins an excellent web where you never really know what to expect next.

In the beginning, my favourite characters Jessica and Murphy are starting to see that something is not quite right. Jessica seems to be suffering from something in her past and it is something that she is not quite aware of yet. It is beginning to cause a strain at times in their relationship. When she finds out about a new investigation into the Pine Bridge Massacre, her whole world is turned upside down. She realizes that she may have been a witness to a brutal murder at the winery her family owns. It was so traumatizing that she may have suppressed every memory of it.

Jessica knows she needs to uncover the truth to help her own mental health and to save her marriage. They head down to the crime scene and begin their own investigation into the crime. This is when the case really becomes bizarre. They are met with resistance, they uncover evidence and become targets. In the middle of this is Jessica’s wacky family who may have many secrets of their own they are hiding!

The plot unfolds amazingly and will blow your mind! The ending was not anything close to what I possibly expected to happen!! But it was exciting and amazing at the same time. This is an amazing novel that you will want to re-read over and over again. A definite must read!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Book Trailer

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

March 1, 2017

How To Find Your Dream Dog

In How To Find Your Dream Dog, bringing a new dog into the household should be one of life’s happiest events.

About How To Find Your Dream Dog

Bringing a new dog into the household should be one of life’s happiest events. The process always starts with excitement and high expectations. Too often, though, it ends in disappointment. The new puppy wakes everyone three times a night, gnaws on furniture, piddles everywhere, knocks the children down. The new adolescent dog is too wild. The new adult dog growls at your neighbors. And where did all this dog hair come from?

Most people spend hours researching a new mattress, days researching a new car, and weeks researching a new home or job. Yet for a new dog, a companion for the next 10-15 years, the most they do is visit the nearest shelter or pet shop and buy whatever looks cute and appealing. It’s no wonder they end up disappointed.

Whether you are looking for a purebred puppy or a charming mixed-breed, the type of dog you bring into your home matters. A quiet owner will struggle to keep up with a high-energy labrador mix, for instance, while an active outdoor family will be impatient with a snoozy bulldog. And finding the right kind of dog means becoming the right kind of owner—a task that takes some forethought and planning.

How To Find Your Dream Dog is here to fix the disconnect of dog ownership. It walks you step-by-step through the process of choosing the right type of dog for you—not only exploring the canine qualities that can determine your perfect puppy, adolescent, or adult dog, but also assessing your lifestyle to make sure you’re a good match for the dog, too. The book also looks at good (and bad) sources for finding healthy and sound pet dogs, gives guidelines for evaluating individual puppies, and warns of some red flags to watch out for during your dog search. With this guidebook in hand, you can be confident that the next puppy or dog you bring home will be the right companion and friend for you for the rest of its days.

?Dixie Tenny is a Certified Training Partner with the Karen Pryor Academy of Animal Training and Behavior. During her 30+ years spent working with people and their pets, she has seen again and again how mismatches between dog and owner can create “behavior problems” that never would have happened if the right dog had been matched to the right owner in the first place. She wrote this book to help puppy buyers and dog adopters start out on the best possible foot with their new pet dogs, and stay on that path for years to come. If you’re a true dog lover then you may have considered owning a doggy daycare. If you haven’t already considered it, you should definitely check it out!

My Thoughts

When we purchased our dog we knew we wanted a small breed due to the size of our home but other than that our decision was mostly impulsive. My husband came home with a dog for Valentine’s Day to surprise me and our son! While it was a great decision in the long run, the first months were very hard. I spent nights laying on the floor with her not sure how to comfort her as she cried at night.

I loved how this book started out, explaining about there is a perfect match between dog and humans but you need to know and learn what it is. Those cute little puppies can have different temperaments and grow up to be quite differently. Understanding your needs, expectations and the breed personality is so important. It will save you and the dog heartbreak as well as unnecessary dog drop offs at shelters.

This book gets down to the nitty gritty on everything you need to know about buying a puppy or older dog. She doesn’t sugar coat the hard parts but instead makes you understand the commitment that this will be. She helps you figure out what breed matches your lifestyle and expectations as well as your home life. She teaches you about what to watch out for in breeds and where the best places to purchase a puppy is from.

How To Find Your Dream Dog should be a must read book for all individuals and families who are looking to expand their family with a dog. This should never be an impulsive decision, instead a lot of research, thought and meeting the animal should go into place. She takes all the guess work out of this for you – and you can tell she knows what she is talking about!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Dixie Tenny has been helping people and their dogs find each other and form successful partnerships since the early 1980s. She founded two rescue organizations: Purebred Dog Rescue of Saint Louis in 1984, and Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue, Inc. in 1987. Dixie was the Director of Training for the Greater St. Louis Training Club, Inc., for five years, creating classes and overseeing the work of 40 head and assistant trainers. In 2003 she and another experienced trainer created Dogs Unleashed, LLC. They traveled to clients’ homes and worked with behavior and training issues.

Dixie’s professional credentials include trainer certifications from the prestigious Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior, and the Association for Pet Dog Trainers. Dixie formed her own business, Human-Animal Learning Opportunities, LLC (HALO) in 2013. HALO hosts continuing education seminars for dog trainers.

Dixie has lived with a wide range of dogs over the years including mixed breeds, Australian Shepherds, Welsh and Cairn terriers, and more. While in Seattle, Dixie raised a labrador puppy for Canine Companions for Independence, Inc. (CCI). Currently Dixie lives with a Beauceron and an elderly Papillon, as well as four cats. When not doing things related to animals, she reads widely, enjoys the company of her three grown children, follows baseball and English Premier League football, and travels the world.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.