Vicki Batman's Blog, page 54

A Treasured gift from a friend by Beverley Oakley & Dangerous Gentlemen #MFRWorg #RssosSisters #Mondayblog #accessories

Handbag Monday welcomesBeverley OakleyMy favorite handbag was given to me by a family friend called Pat who'd been my mother's best friend when we lived in Lesotho, an African mountain kingdom landlocked by South Africa where dad spent most of his career.  It's a beautiful bag in reds, golds and browns, with a lustrous sheen, made from treated leather and it cost much more than I'd have been able to pay for it. I never expected to receive it as a gift. However last year, when Pat and her husband visited us from England, she must have seen me admiring it in a shop after we'd had lunch at a pretty tourist town near us. Imagine my surprise - and delight! - when she presented this gorgeous handbag to me, beautifully wrapped, after we'd got home. She told me that I - and my two sisters - were the daughters she'd never had. Pat has four sons; really lovely boys, one of whom I played with as a child and another who was my sister's age, and I keep in touch with both of them through intermittent emails from England to Australia. So my enjoyment of this handbag is primarily due to the fact that even though I am fifty, and my mother died twenty years ago, the bonds of friendship between our families have remained so strong through decades and generations living on opposite sides of the globe. Oh, Beverley! What a wonderful gift from a friend. Treasure it always. Shy, plain Hetty was the wallflower beneath his notice…until a terrible mistake has one dangerous, delicious rake believing she's the prostitute he ordered.         Heart hammering, Hetty closed the door behind her and went to pick up the cane.         How fortunate to have stumbled into Sir Aubrey’s room, she thought when she observed the fine coat lying upon the bed, apparently discarded in favor of what he was wearing tonight.         He really was a nonpareil, wearing his clothes as if they were an extension of his athletic physique.         Yet he was dangerous, she had to remind herself. Meaning she should not be here, which of course she shouldn’t, regardless of whether he was dangerous or not.         But how such a scion of good breeding and genteel society could be guilty of such a heinous crime as treason, Hetty could not imagine. And surely the story of the runaway wife was a gilded one. It was all the stuff of make-believe and Cousin Stephen was only telling Hetty he was dangerous to curb her schoolroom daydreams.         Turning, she saw half protruding from beneath the suit of clothes what appeared to be the edge of a silver, filigreed box. It was partly obscured by the overhang of the counterpane, as if it hadn’t properly been returned to its hiding place.         A moment’s indecision made her pause but soon Hetty was crouching on the floor, closing clammy fingers around the box. Might it contain secrets? Ones that would reveal, conclusively, what Cousin Stephen claimed was true?         Alternatively, proof that would exonerate Sir Aubrey?         Hetty fumbled for the catch. Dear Lord, this was too exciting for words. Perhaps Sir Aubrey was a secret agent working for the English, and Stephen had no idea.         Perhaps he was—         Protesting door hinges made her squeal as the door was flung wide.
Find Dangerous Gentlemen link at: Amazon Find Beverley Oakley at: Website

 

Wrapped in love #MFRWauthor #RssosSister #embroidery #agiftfromMom

Crafty gal...remembering my mom


2015 was an unusual year for me. It started in the usual, basic way. In July, Handsome and I traveled with our kiddoes to Europe. We had a blast. But upon returning, my dad passed; my nephew passed; we put our 22 year-old kitty to sleep; traveled more; and finally in November, my mom passed.

Several months after Dad's passing, Mom had moved to assisted living and took with her a lap blanket I'd embroidered.



This beauty was NOT FUN at all to do. I bought it as a kit which meant the floss and a needle were included. The blanket was already quilted and stamped. Embroider--easy, right?

I'll admit, sometimes the difficult projects drive me crazy. I can only work so long then have to stop. And by stopping, I could be off the project for a while. This one was slotted to the back burner.

Every now and again, I reorganize my craft projects and decided it was time to finish the lap blanket. And I worked and worked, sewed on the red rickrack, and voila! Done in time for Christmas. Mom was pleased.

My sissies and I have been going through her belongings. One day, the notion dawned that I should ask for the blanket. One sister said, "Of course. You made it." I unpacked a bag and there it was.

It's never easy letting go of our loved ones. Yet, when I look the blanket over, I see something my mom loved as much as I loved making for her. And that is good.




Need something to cuddle with? My romantic comedy story, "Holiday Handbag Extravaganza," is a part of the Season of Surprises, Amazon best-selling anthology. Find it at:
Amazon     Amazon UK    B&N     Kobo     iBooks

And now to crochet something entirely different - a #handbag w author Patricia Kiyono #MFRWauthor #RsosSister #crochet #crafting

Handbag Monday welcomes author & crafter...

Patricia Kiyono writes sweet historical and contemporary romance. In a former life, she taught elementary school music and junior high history. Now, she teaches part-time at the college level, giving her more time for writing and doing crafts!
When I was young my grandmother taught me to knit and crochet. I’ve made lots of afghans, dishcloths, and other items as gifts. But in the last few months I’ve been busy making tote bags for my family and friends – and in the process I’m using up my stash of plastic bags!

I belong to a couple of different sewing groups and several of the women are what we refer to as Snow Birds – people who spend the winter in the south, thus avoiding our frigid Michigan winters. Most of these ladies participate in sewing groups in their winter communities. One spring after the Snow Birds had returned, the lady next to me chatted about all the new and interesting projects she’d worked on down south, including crocheting with plastic bags instead of yarn. Crocheting with plastic bags? I had a lot of them at home.


I went home and googled “plastic bag crochet” and got an endless assortment of instructions and patterns. I found one that looked easy and got to work. I made a small bag, which I use to carry my supplies when I go to my friend’s card-making workshop. I intended to make another, but ran out of bags – I was surprised to discover how many bags you need! So I saved them for a year or so. The grocery store where we do most of our shopping uses only white bags, so I got my mom and sister-in-law to save them too. And I saved some of the gray ones from a department store nearby.
By last Thanksgiving, I was ready to start again. I couldn’t find the pattern I’d used the first time, but I found another one I liked even better. I made three of them with various colored stripes. And then my mom told me she wanted one with a longer handle, so I made one for her.

If you like to crochet, this is a great way to keep busy without spending money – and you have the added benefit of clearing out some space in the closet, or wherever you keep your empty bags.
 Making the plastic yarn (some websites call it plarn):1.      Lay out your bags so they’re nice and flat. I’ve been going through a lot of them, so I pile them up five or six high. 2.      Cut across the bags, starting at the bottom. Then continue to cut across the bags, making two-inch wide loops. It’s not necessary to use a cutting mat and rotary cutter. It’s not really crucial that your strips are exactly two inches wide or even a uniform width – but I’m fussy. 3.      Chain the loops together. Here’s a picture that MIGHT show you what I mean, but if it’s not clear enough for you, try this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/gQwTcizA7Oo  Some instructions will tell you to make really long chains and then roll them into balls, but I tend to just string them as I need them. The video also says to cut into one-inch strips, but that seems 4.      Crochet as you normally would with yarn! You’ll need some large hooks (the ones in my pictures were done with a size M hook. Because of copyright issues I can’t share the instructions here, but you can find them at http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2007/07/03/crocheted-plarn-tote-bag/
I think I could have used a bag like this during my 2008 vacation to Greece. My daughter spent a semester there and I talked a friend into going with me to make sure she was eating right (we moms do what we have to, right?). Her school was located on Paros, a beautiful island in the Aegean Sea. After I got home I wrote my novella Aegean Intrigue while the details were still fresh.

Someone has been stealing priceless Greek artifacts and it's Alex Leonidis' job to uncover the thief. His prime suspect is beautiful archaeological graduate student, Francie Vasileiou. His plan is to join in an archaeological dig and catch her in the act. All he has to do is keep his mind on his job, and not on the way his lovely suspect warms his heart. He's learned the hard way not to trust fragile-looking women who seem to need his help. 
Francie wants to get her PhD and become an archaeologist, like her famous father. The sudden invitation to participate in a dig on the beautiful Greek island of Paros is a wonderful opportunity. She has no time for distractions like Alex, the handsome Project Director. Experience has taught her to stay clear of handsome, charismatic Greek men. 
On the shores of the Aegean Sea, Alex and Francie work together, searching for treasures from Greece's past. While pursuing their goals, they discover some of the truths they had believed to be carved in stone may have been flawed.            He was staring at her again.            She knew it, despite his outward lack of interest. His long, lean frame was draped casually on the wooden chair in the outdoor section of the Appolon Grill. Dark shades covered his eyes, but the jet-black eyebrows above them rose and tilted her way every timeshe moved. Unlike locals, who occasionally threw friendly greetings her way, this man stayed in his seat and silently watched her.            Francie Vasileiou bent her head and focused her attention on the textbook in front of her. Inwardly, she was flattered by his interest. But she reminded herself she was here in Athens to further her education, not to find a man. She sipped her water and struggled to ignore him and concentrate on the words on the page.            The warm breeze calmed her nerves as she sat at her usual table in the back corner of the restaurant. Most tourists preferred to sit at the outer edges of the seating area with a view of Mount Olympus and the spectacular sunset. But here, next to the kitchen, she wasn’t distracted by the conversation and the view. The light from the kitchen allowed her to continue reading until Kostos closed down for the night.            Her job here at the restaurant was perfect. She worked enough hours so she could pay her living expenses, and when she wasn’t cooking or waitressing, Kostos allowed her to use one of his tables for studying. Even with the commotion from the kitchen and the restaurant patrons’ conversations, this setting was much better for concentrating than the noisy apartment building where she lived.            It took some effort, but finally the words on the page became concrete ideas, and she was transporte
Would you like to have one of these bags? I made a special one for Vicki’s readers today! This one measures 16” wide and 12.5” high (from the bottom to the underside of the handle). Should be big enough for carrying a towel and beach supplies!
To win, leave a comment describing 
what you would use this bag for. 
Find Patricia Kiyono at:  website, blog, Facebook page, Twitter, and on Goodreads.

#Movie Mom on Joy. #MFRWauthor #RssosSister #RB4U

Movie Mom watched...

Blurb: A divorced mother became an overnight success when her invention appeared on QVC.

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramirez, Diane Ladd, Virginia Madsen, Isabella Rosellini. With guest appearances that might leave you with a chuckle.

My thoughts: I thought the idea of the story was great. Jennifer Lawrence was super as were all the other actors. However, because of Joy's weird family issues, I didn't have a great feeling. Perhaps, she was a little too kind. Maybe I expected something more fantabulous.

FMI: Wikipedia


The real thought here is there are people with ideas who believe in them and bring them to fruition. Do you have amazing people like this in your life? Have you created something outstanding?

Old School crafting #MFRWauthor #embroidery #RssosSister #needlework

I guess I'm old school as I like to make some Christmas presents for family and friends. This year, I picked up a project I had started and was not thrilled about.

After my dad had passed and Mom moved to assisted living, I would go visit her and took a project. She liked to see what I was working on. After all, my grandmother, aunts, and Mom taught me a lot about embroidery. When we visited with the ladies of the family on every Monday, they would be cutting, sewing, measuring, knitting, tatting, crocheting, etc. Seemed plausible their talents would be passed on to their granddaughters.

Back to the project...

It was full of tiny stitches and French knots, all of which drove me crazy, but mostly because the needle I was using wasn't working for me. I consulted with Needlepoint Nation and got great advice on a particular brand. Voila, my problem was solved and the project proceeded.

I embroidered a lovely tea towel intended for my daughter-in-law:
Here's some progress:
I used a stencil from a book on Embroidering letters and added a B. Finally, the finale!
So what's next? I finished a set of pillow cases which I'll show off another time. Started a needlepoint eyeglass/makeup case, and have a Christmas pillow top I'm not thrilled with, but as it matches two others, shall embrace finishing it.

How did I do? My DIL loves it.


In Holiday Handbag Extravaganza, my heroine loves vintage hand-crafted items. Check it out at: Amazon  Amazon UK

#Handbag Monday's guest - Cori Arnold What's a Queen Bee? #Mondayblog #RssosSisters #MFRWorg #mysteries

 Handbag Monday's guest is author Cori Lynn Arnold who grew up in the town of North Pole, Alaska. She has worked as a hotel housekeeper, handy woman, laundry attendant, radio disc jockey, library clerk, historical photographic archivist, mathematics tutor, teaching assistant, art work framer, photo lab junky, portrait and wedding photographer, high school algebra teacher, internet security researcher, security analyst, computer programmer and ethical hacker. She currently knits, quilts, and writes novels in her attic in Connecticut. I'm a no-nonsense kind of handbag girl, but I still like it to be pretty. I found this bag while on a trip to Portland, Oregon for the Left Coast Crime conference last year. It fits my iPad, but isn't too bulky and has a long strap to wrap around my shoulders like a messenger bag. I travel quite a bit, and I've found that the handbag gets noticed too! "Isn't that a Queen Bee?" a woman asked me in the Dulles Airport a few months ago. That doesn't happen for my no-nonsense purses too often.Cori - is Queen Been a specific brand of handbag? Do tell! Angry over being kicked off a case in Rochester, New York, Detective Louis Baker makes a rash decision to fly to Alaska when her partner, Detective Bert Hicks, calls from North Pole, Alaska to bail him out of jail.  Louis stepped off the plane into a tiny “International” airport. She felt like a walking zombie as she rode the escalator down to the main level. The hallways were playing an instrumental version of “Santa Baby.” For a moment she thought she was hallucinating a giant polar bear standing in front of her, but as she approached she realized it was stuffed. She’d never seen a polar bear before, stuffed or otherwise, and didn’t imagine they were so immense. The fact that it was not pure white, but yellowed like a shirt that has been washed in hard water a few times too many, was also surprising.Ed walked up to her at the luggage carrousel, “Nice one isn’t it?”“Are there polar bears here?” Louis asked.“Nah, you have to go a few hundred miles north to run into a polar bear. They used to have one in Anchorage at the zoo, ‘Binky.’ He was famous in the nineties for biting a woman and stealing her shoe. He kept that shoe for three days.”Louis was confused. “How was a bear at the zoo able to bite a woman?”“She wanted a good picture, so she climbed over three fences to get to him,” he said. “She was Australian. You’d think they’d know about dangerous animals.”Louis laughed. “There’s nothing in Rochester so dangerous, except people.”“Yeah, people can be pretty bad around here, too,” he said with a sigh. “Cabin fever, you know?”Find Northern Deceit at:  Amazon
Find Cori Arnold at:  Facebook
Thank you, Cori, for being with me today. I love the cover of your book! North Pole, Alaska sounds incredibly cold.







 

Merry Christmas! #RssosSisters #MFRWauthors #travelingforholidays

I'm wishing each of you a very special

many hugs, Vicki


There's Never Enough #HolidayMovies #RssosSisters #MFRWauthor #classicchristmasmovies

Have you been inundated with holiday movies? Me--not so much. This year seems rather odd.

Many years ago, my sister discovered a gem of a movie. It tells a version of the nativity story set in late 40s in the West of the US. It's not very long, but very important. So I'm sharing with you

Star in the Night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JGszZ7AakEAnd from me to you...



From Trash to Treasure - Is that handbag an album cover??? #MFRWauthor #RssosSisters #Christmasaccessories #fashion

It’s an album cover—no! it’s a handbag!!*Handbag Monday*
One of my favorite things to do is to go to craft fairs where small business thrives. One year, I happened upon a woman selling handbags crafted from album covers. I was awestruck. And instantly purchased one featuring Doris Day. We chatted and she told me about all the different ones she'd made. She even crafted one with a Christmas cover.
I went home totally happy. And then began to think—I wanted a Christmas bag, too.
When the same fair rolled around, I couldn’t wait to go so I could see what she'd brought. I nearly raced through the school hallways where the event was held to get to her, almost leaving behind my friends who were with me. When I found her booth, I saw lots of bags and especially Christmas ones. I clapped with joy!
The one which really spoke to me is this Frosty the Snowman. The graphic is priceless and it is beautifully colored. The flip side features Bing Crosby. The sides are fabric, the album has grommets for the ball chain handle. It's pretty roomy and I tend to "lose" things in it. LOL
I took my treasure home. And I swear, every single year when I carry this bag, almost everyone comments on it.


Intrigued? Want to know more about handbags and books? Her romantic comedy short story, “Holiday Handbag Extravaganza,” is featured in the Season of Surprises anthology. Find it at: Amazon

Best of the Best #MFRWauthor #RssosSisters #amreading #christmasbooks

I am often asked what is the best book/romance book you have ever read? I have to giggle--"Besides my own??"

I like to read mysteries, thrillers, cozies, romantic suspense, contemporary and historical romance. Naturally, I have read books that have stayed with me forever. Was it because of an aahh Calgon take me away instance? Or did I finish the book and instantly, reread it?

Only two books had me instantly rereading:

A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux
Come to Grief by Dick Francis

Something about them had me wanting to experience the contents again. And to this day, I still consider them to be very special.

And then there are books that I periodically revisit, such as:

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.   

I first read Rebecca at age thirteen. For me, the book isn't a romance, but a thriller. Yes, there's a nice meet between the hero and heroine, but more importantly, the death of Rebecca. And that Mrs. Danvers??? She played with the heroine's and our minds.

Then there are authors whose works I really like and will consume everything they write:

A, B, C and on mysteries by Sue Grafton
Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella
Thomas Lynley mysteries by Elizabeth George
Mysteries by Dick Francis
Romance by Emilie Loring
Crazy mysteries by Carl Hiassen
Mystery series by Julia Spencer Fleming
Romantic suspense by Mary Stewart
English romps by Georgette Heyer

and on. You avid readers know what I mean. One book by an author and you will probably read everything they've written.

Oddly enough, I don't have any books on my Christmas list this year which is okay because my six foot tall bookcase is loaded with TBR. I can't wait to discover a new author for my must read.


Do you have a book you read and instantly reread? What is your all-time favorite book?



Perhaps you are in the mood for holiday stories? These Amazon best-sellers, which includes my romantic comedy short story, "Holiday Handbag Extravaganza," is available at e-retailers and: Amazon