Jennifer Carson's Blog, page 14
February 16, 2014
Awesome Creature Maker Monday
I’ve been wanting to find a cool way to show off all the great pictures people have sent me of their creations using my patterns, so I’m creating Awesome Creature Maker Monday!
Meet Cindy. She took my troll tot pattern and made a heavy metal troll. Here’s the message she sent me:
I just thought you would like to see the finished product- he ended up being a cute heavy metal baby troll! he’s modeled after the bass player of my favorite band, Finntroll. I met them in December, and they were quite impressed with him! so, thanks for the fun pattern and rock star moment!
No, Cindy-Thank you for sharing your awesome story and photos! I love it when people integrate their own ideas with my patterns.
You can visit Finntroll’s Facebook page to learn more about them here. You can learn more about Cindy on her blog.
If you have a great story and cool photos of a creature you’ve made based on a Dragon Charmer pattern you can contact me here or send me a message through Etsy!
February 14, 2014
It’s official! Hapenny Magick is going to be a game!
Last Spring I was approached by a gaming company in Indiana about using the premise of Hapenny Magick to make a game about building community. Now, it’s official! Coming this spring to a store near you is Hapenny Magick: A Troll’s Afoot! from Prospero’s Pen Games.
In the game players have to work together to rid the Wedge of Trolls, just like Maewyn, Callum, Alleta, Leif and the community of happenies in Hapenny Magick had to do. The game is full of magick and fun, and my family can NOT wait to play it!
Recently I discovered that Steve Jackson’s team (creator of such fabulous games as the Munchkin series and zombie dice–both family favorites at our house) has been mentoring the Prospero team. I hope this means really great things for all involved in the coming months.
Don’t forget that the new, award winning, edition for Hapenny Magick is now up for presale. The official publication date is April 15th and it includes two new illustrations from Pat Ann Lewis, the short story that inspired the novel and four new illustrations from faerie artist Linda Ravenscroft. Treat yourself to a fun read after dealing with all those tax trolls! Please ask your local book store and library to bring in some copies of Hapenny Magick and to keep an eye out for the game.
You can pre-order online at Amazon, B&N, BAM! and don’t forget our local independents! There is also an educator’s newsletter e-mail list for Spencer Hill Press. Drop me a line if you’d like to be added on to it. It comes out quarterly, has educational articles and book discussion questions included and every quarter you are instantly entered to win four titles from the publisher. This quarter’s newsletter has a sample chapter from Hapenny Magick as well!
And keep an eye on my blog for the official release of the cover for the sequel, Tangled Magick! It’s finished, it’s beautiful, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
January 23, 2014
New adventures coming soon. Fox Hollow Tales will announce a new partnership soon!
Exciting news from Fox Hollow will be announced soon!
Fox Hollow Tales is very excited to announce a new partnership. Keep an eye out for the announcement in the late spring! In the meantime, you can meet some of the characters who live in Fox Hollow by clicking on this link. Follow our adventure by becoming a friend of Fox Hollow on Facebook.
January 21, 2014
Sully Sloth, New sewing pattern for February 2014
Sully Sloth
Sully is 16″ from head to “tail”, but his legs lay out longer. He is made from soft faux fur and is fully jointed. Eyes are needle felted and nose is embroidered. His eyes are shaded with an artist’s marker.
Detailed, written instructions with illustrations for clarity. Instructions also include a list of suppliers.
All Dragon Charmer designs made be made for sale. Please read copyright information at the end of the pattern instructions for details.
Sully Sloth, PMRT
Sully is 16″ from head to “tail”, but his legs lay out longer. He is made from soft faux fur and is …
Price: US$10.00
January 3, 2014
Grizzle the Faun, new sewing pattern for January 2014
Grizzle the Faun, new sewing pattern
Grizzle the Faun began his life as a custom order for a little boy who needed a sidekick to fight the monsters that live under his bed. He is fully jointed and made from faux fur and hand-dyed wool with ultra suede antlers. Of course, you can use other doll making fabrics too. Grizzle is approximately 18″ tall. His eyes are needle felted and he is child safe.
Before you ask, February’s pattern WILL BE the Sloth! I promise! =0) Download the pattern for Grizzle instantly from Etsy, Patternmart or Craftsy.
January’s new sewing pattern
Grizzle the Faun began his life as a custom order for a little boy who needed a sidekick to fight …
Price: US$12.00
January 1, 2014
Phil Robertson, traditional female roles and decisions for the new year
Phil Roberston
Phil Robertson, patriarch of the Robertson clan made famous by the A&E show, Duck Dynasty, has gotten himself into a bit of boiling water recently over a comment he made about marrying a girl when she was 15 or 16 because she would be more “moldable”. Those weren’t his exact words, but that was his meaning. I feel like I might be jumping into the pot with him, but I’ve been thinking a lot lately about traditional female roles and the girl power craze of the last few decades, of which I feel has swung to the opposite extreme recently. More about that in a minute.
I don’t mean to condone or support what Mr.Robertson has said, but I feel as if he is speaking from his own experience, as he married Ms.Kay when she was about that age, and when you are young, you tend to grow together in a marriage instead of trying to blend two people set in their own ways into one path. I know this isn’t a social norm that is practiced much today, but Mr.Robertson’s belief isn’t too many generations off from the norm. My own grandmother, born and raised in Missouri during the Depression Era, was married to my grandfather at the age of 13 (my grandfather was 23) and my first aunt was born a year later. They were married until my grandfather’s death in September of 1994.
For countless generations it has been the traditional role of the male to go out into the world and become accomplished before marriage was even thought of, and then it was marriage to a young bride—one that was taught from a young age that her family was her world and her husband the center of it.
Women were the caretakers of the children, not because men couldn’t nurture them, but because we were naturally equipped for the job. We had the womb, the birthing canal, the mammary glands.
Then a social shift began. The role of women began to change and expand and the role of men was expected to change with it. Men could feed our infants with manufactured breasts and manufactured food, limiting the need for mom. And mom’s told their daughters that they could be anything, do anything they wanted to do. That our “fair” gender wasn’t enough to hold us back anymore. I totally agree with this statement. If a woman can do the job as well as a man, there is no reason that they shouldn’t be able to. Likewise for a man. But what happens when mom or dad is no longer the primary care giver for a child? We no longer live in extended families where grandma and grandpa or aunts and uncles help raise the children of the family either. Where does that leave the child? But that’s a conversation for another time.
Somehow through all my musing on this subject, I’ve come to the conclusion that girl power has grown into a monster. You can hardly find a contemporary book where the main female character works within a traditional female role—they are always fighting against the societal norms, stretching for that almost unattainable, and certainly hard to hold on to, status in life—and their lover admires them for it. I have nothing against strong female characters—but I feel there is also power in the traditional female role that is often ignored.
“Girl Power” is now so strongly inbred in our society that most young women today feel that it isn’t enough to take care of a husband, children and home, but that they must also be something else. But what about those young girls who yearn for nothing more than this traditional role? Where are their role models?
It has been said that raising our children is the most important job we do, and yet, it is no longer (dare I say it?) socially acceptable to just be a mom and wife. There is always that question on people’s tongues—what else do you do?
I’m the perfect example of this. I was married young(19) and had four children by the time I was 26. For the first 10 years of my married life I raised my boys and took care of my husband and home. Art and writing were hobbies I enjoyed, and dreamed that one day, perhaps I could help financially support my family with the skills I’d honed during precious nap times or while the kids played without need of me or that rare two nights a month I escaped to meet with other writers with the same dream. Now my oldest is 19 and my youngest almost 12, and I have six jobs: My family/home, my sewing pattern business, my library job, my own writing, editing for Spencer Hill Press and helping people publish themselves through Prince and Pauper. I often feel overwhlemed, stressed out for time and depressed that my home does not feel the way I want it to, and much of the time I feel as if I would give a lot to be just a mom and homemaker again. The little monetary gain rarely makes all the stress worthwhile. And so I guess I am quickly coming to the point of another life changing decision—what do I give up to make room for just being wife and mom again?
November 25, 2013
Holiday Shows and Events, plus a special thank you to my customers
Turn the free pattern for this little badger into a Christmas ornament!
The holidays are fast approaching. Thanksgiving is this week, and Christmas will be upon us before we know it! This is the weekend where instead of shopping in all the mobs, I like to begin, or finish, as the case may be, all those handmade gifts I’ve been working on for my friends and family.
If you want to skip the madness and make someone something a truly special, hand made gift I’ve got a present for you–coupons for my Etsy shop! Purchase 4 patterns (with a minimum purchase of $25.00) and receive a 15% discount, plus a thank you coupon good on your next purchase. Enter the code:PURCHASE4 Purchase 3 patterns ( with a minimum purchase of $15.00) and receive a 10% discount by entering the code: PICK3.
Don’t sew? There are plenty of finished items in my store– use the coupon WINTER15 and save $5.00 on your purchase (minimum $25.00 order).
Of course, you can also check out my free softie sewing patterns. Many of those could make cute ornaments if you adjusted the size and dressed them up for the holidays. (See the badger above! You can find this free pattern here) I also have great Pinterest boards for gift making ideas and free patterns.
A Waldorf inspired Snowbunny, for sale at the NLOC Christmas Fair December 7th
For those of you who live in New Hampshire, I have lots of finished goodies that I will be selling at the Outing Club Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday December 7th from 9 to 3 pm in New London, NH. I also have other hand made goodies at the Christmas fair in Andover, NH on Flaghole road, Thanksgiving weekend and December 7th and 8th. Marsha turns her 1700′s farm house into a holiday wonderland. If you’ve never been out there, it is worth the drive! Visit her website for more information and directions!
Everyone have a great Thanksgiving!
November 7, 2013
Fabulous author blog hop!
Troll Travel— a sketch I did while I was thinking of writing Hapenny Magick.
I was invited to participate in the blog hop by Fabulous Author Roxanne Werner. I had the privilege of working with Roxanne as an author when I edited Real Girls Don’t Rust for Spencer Hill Press. It’s a fabulous collection of steampunk short stories. check it out, here! Roxanne is an imaginative author with an entertaining blog of her own. Please hop back and visit her blog, Words from Werner’s Wood, after you sit a spell with me. Now to answer those author questions:
1. What are you working on right now?
Right now (and if you follow me on Facebook you’ll already know this!) I am working on finishing up the sequel to Hapenny Magick titled, Tangled Magick. It has a fabulous Pinterest inspiration board too, if you’re interested! As soon as I finish and hand it in to my editor, I’ll be working on a young adult novel that’s been siren-singing to me for the last 10 years. I’ve written it once already, but, I’m making some major changes.
2. How does it differ from other works in the genre?Tanlged Magick, and it’s predecessor, Hapenny Magick, are different because the main character, Maewyn Bridgepost, is not human –she is fey. And she isn’t a tiny “Tinkerbell” type of faerie either, but more of an “Earth” dweller, similar to a Hobbit. One of my goals with this book was to introduce a different kind of faerie to young girls, besides the shapely, flying Tinkerbell type fairy they see from Disney and the like. Also, and don’t get me wrong– I love girl power– but I wanted to show that “girl power” could be found in the home and in traditional roles as well as roles that were traditionally thought of as men’s roles. Which is partly why Callum is a “kitchen-witch”…also, I just thought it would add to the humor of the book.
3. Why do you write what you do?
I love fantasy and I’ve always been a creator of worlds and of creatures. For as long as I can remember, I would make up worlds and wish they were real. I would replay things that would happen to me in my head and make them go differently. Now I can do it to my characters. My writing partners always teased me about how much I rewrite– but it’s part of my writing process– part of getting to know my characters and finding the right storyline for that particular character.
4. What is the hardest part about writing?
Time. With four children, three dogs, a business and a part time job, it’s sometimes hard to find the time. Almost any day that I don’t have to get up to be somewhere else you’ll find me in bed writing–after I get everyone else out the door. =0)
My two Blog Hop invitations:
So now let me introduce you to two wonderful ladies and talented writers that I have the privilege of working with at Spencer Hill Press…
Jennifer Allis Provost is an author of fantasy and horror, and a publicist for Spencer Hill Press. Her most recent release, the urban fantasy
Copper Girl
, was released in June 2013, and her epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Parthalan, is due to re-release in June 2014. She is currently researching Scottish myths and legends for her newest project, Gallowglass.You can check her out at http://jenniferallisprovost.com/ or at http://jenniferallisprovost.blogspot.com/
Trisha Woolridge is an author and fellow editor for Spencer Hill Press. Her most recent release, a dark fantasy for middle graders, The Kelpie, will be released this December!T. J. Wooldridge is a professional writing geek who adores research into myth, folklore, legend, and the English language. She also enjoys dressing up as fey creatures, zombies, or other such nonsense at science fiction, fantasy, and horror conventions. You can find her at:
October 27, 2013
New Pattern alert and a free Snowman Ornament pattern!
Tidbit Hapennies and Trolls are here! I’m so excited about the re-release of Hapenny Magick from Spencer Hill Press, that I decided to create another Hapenny sewing pattern. These Hapennies and Trolls are for you creators who love to hand stitch! They are only 3″ tall and can make wonderful pins, ornaments or fun dolls to play with! If you already have the Hapenny Magick, Toadstool pattern, you can make toadstool people in conjunction with this pattern!
Download instantly from my Etsy shop or Patternmart!
Tidbit Faeries, Hapennies and Trolls, PMRT
Tidbit Faeries are only 3″ tall, the perfect size for a pin, ornament or tiny doll. The basic doll …
Price: US$5.00
The second new pattern today is Tibbles the Elephant! Tibbles is made from wool felt and hand sewn using a blanket stitch.
Think of all the fun you could have dressing this elephant up! Tibbles is about 4 1/2″ tall with thread jointed arms and legs. Head is stationary and the eyes can be embroidered if you are making this elephant for a small child.
Directions are detailed and include illustrations. This is a quick 2 hour project, less if you are an experienced hand sewer!
Download from my Etsy shop or Patternmart!
Tibbles is made from wool felt and hand sewn using a blanket stitch. This is the listing for the …
Price: US$4.00
And now for the free pattern you’ve been waiting for! This cute little snowman ornament has been a blast to make for upcoming craft fairs. I’ve added hats, rusty stars, buttons– all kinds of embellishments. I made him from quilted muslin.
Brief directions:
1. Print out pattern :snowguy085
2. Trace pattern onto doubled muslin with a pencil.
3. Stitch on the line, leaving the tab open for turning.
4. Turn and stuff snowman.
5. Close openings with a ladder stitch and embroider eyes and crosses down body. Embroider arm and hand.
6. Add embellishments and a hanging loop!
7. Paint the end of a toothpick orange. When dry, insert it in between stitches. Push it through head and clip excess off with a pair of wire snippers.
8.Use a little blusher on his cheeks.
September 29, 2013
Adult make-a-gift Night!
Many of my friends in my hometown have participated in the annual make-a-gift fair that the elementary PTO sponsors for the Sutton kids every year. For a low price the kids come in and make gifts to give to family and friends for the holidays. There is also a cake walk, where my kids have won (and eaten), way too many cakes over the years. Anyway, a lot of thought it would be fun to put together a make-a-gift fair for adults! And who better than me and Karin H. to put it together.
SO…..
You asked for it, and here it is!
Make-a-gift Fair for Adults. Would you like to make homemade gifts for friends and family? Join us in November for three wonderful crafting days! We will be meeting at the Sutton Free Library community room.
Saturday, November 2nd 9am-12pm
Glass etched jars, Peppermint gift boxes and canning lid ornaments
Glass Etched Jar projec
Peppermint Gift Box
Canning lid ornament
Wednesday, November 6th, 6-8 pm
Country Snowmen and Snowman Jack-in-the-box
Melt your heart, soft snowmen
Full of surprises, Jack-in-the-box snowmen
Wednesday, November 13th, 6-8pm
Leather and lace bracelets and wool photo wallets
Leather and lace bracelets
Wool photo wallets
Each session is $30.00 per person. You will receive all the materials and instruction necessary to complete the projects shown above. Additional kits will be available if you’d like to make additional gifts at home. Each session is limited to 15 people. A discount is available if you sign up for two sessions (total $50.00 versus $60.00) and an even bigger discount if you sign up for all three sessions! ($75.00 versus $90.00!)
Payment is required at time of registration through paypal, money order or personal check. You will be contacted by email to finalize registration. Please fill out the form below to register.
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