Jennifer Carson's Blog, page 5

A Sweet Treat that won’t give you a sugar high..the first chapter of the audio book of Tangled Magick

Expertly read by friend and amazing storyteller, Simon Brooks. He has brought the characters of Tangled Magick to thrilling reality. It’s always such a rush to hear the story you’ve written read aloud! Simon recorded Hapenny Magick too! You can listen to Hapenny Magick through Audible, and Tangled will be available soon! Listen to the first chapter below!

https://www.thedragoncharmer.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/01-Chapter-01.mp3

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Carol, the caroling raccoon is a cover star

This past spring I was asked to create a project for the holiday issue of the Embroiders Guild (based in the UK) magazine, Stitch. Today I was surprised with the news that Carol, the caroling raccoon is the cover star! Interested in finding out more about this wonderful magazine? Here’s the link.

Dragon Song book Trailer

Purchase a signed copy direct from me.

Please sign book to:

Snoozy Little Squirrel, pincushion sewing pattern now available

Little squirrel has had a busy summer gathering food and storing it for winter. It’s no wonder he needs a bit of a snooze!

This cute little pincushion is made from easy to find materials. Squirrel’s body is made from furry felt and you can make the pincushion from a variety of materials. Using simple hand sewing stitches you can create this cute little guy for yourself or a friend with an autumn birthday, or just your neighborhood squirrel lover!

Directions are illustrated for ease in understanding. Pattern pieces are full size. The pattern will be directly downloaded from your Etsy account.

The little squirrel is 3-1/2″ long an his snoozing spot is 2-1/2″ high and 9″ in circumference.

You can make a limited number of finished projects for resale. Also available on Etsy.

$7.00 – Purchase downloadable PDF of Snoozy Checkout





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Cover Reveal, Dragon Song

I never imagined one little secret would change the course of my life. No one believed  me about what happened to my mom. The officers in charge of the investigation thought I was confused. The psychiatrist convinced everyone I was delusional.

I never should’ve mentioned Bailean—my best friend. And a dragon. 

Over the years I’ve tried to tell myself he wasn’t real. I told myself the stories mom told me about Brindle, a hidden land, were only fairy tales. I almost had myself convinced. Then I inherited my grandmother’s house in Vermont.

Now more and more memories are rising to the surface: the gleam of a king’s golden belt buckle, iridescent scales, a haunting song. It’s all connected to my mom and the events of that afternoon in our New York apartment. It terrifies me. 

I want the truth about my mom. About everything. Is the truth different for me than it is for other people, or is the truth the same for everyone? Is the truth what my dad or doctors insist, or found in the fairy tales Mom used to tell me? 

Or is the truth a whispered voice from deep inside that no one else can hear?

Book Title: Dragon Song

Author: Jennifer Carson

Release Date: August 7, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-62251-039-9

Price: $13.99

302 pages

Pre-Purchase on Amazon or ask your local book retailer/library to order it for you!

Dragon Song, new book coming August 7, 2018!

My new story, Dragon Song, has been fifteen years in the making. At it’s heart it is a story about an anxious young woman trying to find her place in a world where she doesn’t quite seem to fit in.  On the surface, it’s a book about finding your own truth, and what that looks like.

This story has gone through so many changes in the last fifteen years it’s almost unrecognizable from the first version which was written in a more historical fiction type setting. Now Sophie’s fantastical journey takes place in the rural landscape of Vermont in small town named Castleton. You can get a peek at some of the inspiring visuals on my Pinterest board. Here is the back cover blurb:

I never imagined one little secret would change the course of my life. No one believed  me about what happened to my mom. The officers in charge of the investigation thought I was confused. The psychiatrist convinced everyone I was delusional.

I never should’ve mentioned Bailean—my best friend. And a dragon. 

Over the years I’ve tried to tell myself he wasn’t real. I told myself the stories mom told me about Brindle, a hidden land, were only fairy tales. I almost had myself convinced. Then I inherited my grandmother’s house in Vermont.

Now more and more memories are rising to the surface: the gleam of a king’s golden belt buckle, iridescent scales, a haunting song. It’s all connected to my mom and the events of that afternoon in our New York apartment. It terrifies me. 

I want the truth about my mom. About everything. Is the truth different for me than it is for other people, or is the truth the same for everyone? Is the truth what my dad or doctors insist, or found in the fairy tales Mom used to tell me? 

Or is the truth a whispered voice from deep inside that no one else can hear?

Keep your eyes open for the reveal of the beautiful cover, painted by my friend and fellow fairie artist, Jane StarrWeils,  next Thursday!

Dragon Song

Author: Jennifer Carson

Author website: www.thedragoncharmer.com

Release Date: August 7, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-62251-039-9

Price: $13.99

302 pages

New works in progress! Enchanted Forest Friends #Showyourwork

I’ve been a little quiet lately because I’ve been working on new patterns for a new project book called Enchanted Forest Friends!  Here are two preview pics of the Dragon and the Dryads!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve also listed some new one of a kind dolls in my Etsy shop! Pop on over and read about Martin, A fair Villager and conductor faerie.

VISIT the SHOP

Safety First For Young Creatives

Many people ask if my sewing patterns are good for kids. The answer is a resounding YES! But when sewing with kids we must also take safety into consideration. Cassandra Pollock, enthusiastic freelance writer, mom, and sewing aficianado, was invited to do a guest post on just this subject.

 

Safety First For Young Creatives

Creative skills are something that all parents should teach their kids. They impart the wisdom of patience, a steady hand, using your imagination and more with every day. Even as we live in the midst of the information age, technology and creative crafting skills are combining to make sure that kids can pair their wonderful digital tech with time-honored hobbies and skills.

Sewing, of course, makes up one of those creative skills. Whether through embroidery or new creations, machine work or hand made manual sewing skills, kids can make wondrous creations and induce themselves into the fantasy world. Key to making the whole experience fun, though, is safety.

Your Tools of the Trade

Key to any good sewing operation is a good set of tools of the trade. Make sure you buy quality – this includes making sure your equipment is made from good, solid metal, as some products use unsuitable soft metals from overseas that are liable to breakage and snapping, which can be dangerous. There’s also the question of manual versus automated. If the child wants to embroider with a machine, for example,opt for a good-quality embroidery machine with the correct safeguards.

Bear in mind the right type of scissors, too. Children of a certain age should use safety scissors and only ‘graduate’ to adult types when the time is right!

Teach Best Practice

Much sewing and embroidery safety comes from the techniques used. When you’re teaching or supervising, always make sure a thimble is in use when required. Ensure that use of the seam cutter is away and up from the hand and body, to prevent any slips and cuts. Rotary cutters are a common source of injury, so ensure they are locked and away when not in use, to make everyone aware of exactly where they can find them and so they don’t have a nasty accident. When it comes to ironing fabric, make sure the right type of iron is in use and on the correct setting to prevent accidents and damage.

Slow Down and Enjoy it

Of course, the best tools and best practice become secondary when you don’t concentrate. And who doesn’t want to concentrate? By really paying attention and enjoying the process of sewing and embroidering, you and the kids you’re sewing with can get involved with the project and really instill some love into it. This will really help to develop the world and stories you’re creating with your fabric creations.

Sewing is about love, imagination, and manual skills. All of which are great elements for any kid to benefit from in their life. However, it can be tricky and dangerous, with lots of sharp and hot objects creating risk. Slow down, heed these guidelines, and love your sewing experience.

Here are a couple of patterns you might want to try with your favorite little sewer! (click on the photo to learn more!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New sewing patterns available, dogs and hedgehogs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finnian and O’Malley are two posable pups just waiting for someone to play with. They stand at 4-1/4″ high and are 5″ long (excluding their tail). They are made from wool felt with a figurecord skeleton which gives them so many posing possibilities!

$8.00 – Buy the pattern for Finnian & O'Malley Checkout


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My patterns are written clearly in English and illustrated with photographs or drawings to help you along your creative process. You can see page examples above. This pattern comes with directions and pattern pieces for: dog, dog coat, dog bed, bow tie collar, regular collar. This pattern works best for intermediate sewers and sewing by hand.

Pattern pieces are exact size–no need to enlarge. Pattern is delivered as a PDF file, directly from me. I give you a comprehensive list of suppliers, however, I also sell kits in four colorways: Poodle white, Hound brown, Irish Setter Red, and Wolfhound gray. Want a kit? See the listing here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/571999580/hand-sewing-kits-for-finnian-and-omalley?ref=shop_home_active_1

Have wool felt and just need the figure cord and linen binding? Find that here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/585897443/5mm-figure-cord-for-making-posable-dolls?ref=shop_home_active_1

Spike is one of the main character’s in my new picture book, Ducky’s New Ball. This is a PDF sewing pattern to make your own character!

Spike is made from a bendy doll base, wool felt, cotton knit, and mohair. I have given you a list of my favorite suppliers, but most of these items can be bought from any Waldorf doll supplier.

Spikes stands at 4-1/2″ tall and is bendy and moveable. My patterns are written clearly in English and illustrated with photographs or drawings to help you along your creative process. You can see page examples above.

Pattern pieces are exact size–no need to enlarge. Pattern is delivered as a PDF file, directly from me.

Don’t miss the pattern for Ducky! She can be found on the pattern page here. And why not grab an autographed copy of the book to share with your favorite little ones? You can order the book on this page or on Amazon or ask your favorite local bookstore to order it!