Vicki Batman's Blog, page 82

Vicki Batman ~ If I can make a handbag, you can too! #MFRWorg #RLFblog

~#handbag Monday~
So you may recall on March 10, 2014, I posted how I pulled together elements to make a handbag. Here's the link: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/2014/03/vicki-batman-handbag-monday-how-i-made.html

Here's the picture of the final product:

  Just to recap, I bought the finished needlepoint on eBay. Found the wooden handles at JoAnn Fabrics, as well as the button to fashion a closure.  You know what? I wasn't that satisfied. The lining is navy and all my stuff seemed to be lost in the bag. I diagnosed: No Structure.  So I went back to my favorite online sources and found acrylic tortoiseshell handles. I'd looked at stained brown ones at Joann's, but they were heavy and went with the beaded instead.  I sewed on the acrylic ones and WOW! what a huge difference. The bag has great shape, easy to carry and the handles match perfectly. Here's the result:  

Think I made a good choice?

Vicki Batman ~ #Movie Maniac: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, cool #western flick

Western movies used to be the norm. This one, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (May, 1962) is brought to us by fab director, John Ford, features a stellar cast: highly principled lawyer, Jimmy Stewart; capable John Wayne; and the most vile bad guy Lee Marvin besides Hannibal Lecter and a few other to ever hit the screen (highly redeemed as the Oscar winning gunfighter in Cat Ballou).

The story is set in the wild west of Shinbone where the whole town is intimidated by Liberty Valance. The new guy, lawyer Ramsom Stoddard, wants that to be fixed through the justice system. But when his friend is beaten, he takes a different path. Years later, the truth is revealed. 

John Ford has marvelous film shots, greatly developed characters (see the doctor's scene) and pulled together for an unforgettable story.

Highly recommend.

Vicki Batman ~ April Fooled #Proposal

Happy April Fool's Day!! OR Happy Proposal Day!!  I had a good idea Handsome would propose; so when we had made plans and a friend attached himself to our date, all was changed. Rats. However, Handsome proposed the next day--April Fool's Day. I did say yes.  Being new to the whole proposal thingy, I wondered if proposing on April Fool's Day meant he could reconsider. I wanted it to be a real viable one. So the next day I said something along the lines of "you know what you asked yesterday?" His mouth shaped a tiny grin. "Yes." "Well, that was April Fool's Day. Did you, um, mean it?" His smile grew bigger. Sweat collected on my forehead the longer he took. Finally, he asked, "Will you marry me?" I said with great rejoicing, "Yes!"   

Vicki Batman ~ guest author Tina Donahue rocks with Betsey Johnson

 
~Handbag Monday~
I pop in at Romance Books 4 Us and there, I met incredible author Tina Donahue. She writes very sexy and with lots of emotion. I have total envy.

Let's see what Tina brought us!



I’m in LOVE with Betsey’s Handbags!!

The best way to get me to stop in a store is to put out a display of Betsey Johnson handbags. OMG, I just love them. They’re girly, flirty, fun, and so damn cute.

My current fav is one I bought last year. A leopard skin print with a huge black bow and-and-and it’s covered in sequins!!

Yowza. The bag’s nearly bigger than I am, but I lug it around cuz I just adore how it looks. So trendy and sparkly. Betsey, don’t ever stop designing your bags. I live for them.


Seven Sensuous Days blurb: At an erotic auction, she’s his to bid on…to take…to command.

Find Seven Sensuous Days at: Ellora's Cave


Tina, this bag rocks. I don't have any bags in animal prints and this one is very prettified.

What do you think? Like the fabric?

 Thanks for being with me today, Tina!

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Poinsettia Handbag: Week 7

Not very much done this week. But I did do measurements and if you look closely, you can see pins in corners. Yep, I have to extend this side to the corners in order to make it the size of a tote I have in mind. And I'll have to extend the gusset, but it will be worth it. I also bought more thread. Wow!

@VickiBatman ~ #PlottingPrincess Kathy Ivan's launch #party of Connor's Gamble and I have....

Is today and there's a huge party going on at Kathy Ivan's facebook launch page for her new book Connor's Gamble. I'll be visiting sometime today and giving away an e-copy of Man Theory...and Other Stories, a delightful romantic comedy collection...



AND...

a cool hand-knitted scarf.
  Come by: https://www.facebook.com/events/223045561229193/ Answer my tricky question: What grade was your favorite?  Leave: your email address and answer in the comment section to be eligible for the giveaway.  Happy launch day, Kathy!

Vicki Batman ~ When a friend's book is so totally awesome, you have a reveal

Cover Reveal for...        Some Other Child, available soon from the Wild Rose Press.  A stolen baby, a missing aunt, decades of secrets to unravel, and love lost and found.   BLURB from Some Other Child:  Between taking on the responsibility for the care of her critically injured mother as well as straightening out her muddled finances, public health researcher Sarah Wright hasn't a minute to herself, much less time to repair a fractured romance. After a much loved aunt goes missing, Sarah is convinced it's a kidnapping but the police refuse to investigate. Former fiance Dan flies to Sarah's side to help—and it looks like things might come back together for the two of them—until Sarah is arrested for her aunt's murder. As evidence stacks up against her, Sarah must find the real culprits as well as unravel decades old family secrets along the way.   Find Sharon Buchbinder at: www.sharonbuchbinder.com

Vicki Batman ~ #Movie Maniac: #Tim'sVermeer

Now before you get all weirdy about who is Tim and Vermeer being an old painter--hear me out.

Tim's Vermeer follows the path of Tim, a San Antonio guy, who became obsessed with how Vermeer (yes, the old Dutch master) painted. Everyone thought Vermeer's paintings were like photographs.

I'd read a bit about this film a while back and it intrigued me enough to drag Handsome and #2 with me to see it. When we were leaving, we couldn't stop talking about the movie. And it went fast because the subject was fascinating.

Here's some more info on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim's_Vermeer

So are you into old guys figuring things out? Like to watch documentaries?

Vicki Batman ~ if it's not Sunday, must be #handbag Monday & guest Sue Swift #book #sexy

  ~Handbag Monday~ Today, I have the pleasure to bring you fellow author, Sue Swift. Let's take a look at what Sue brought:
   

   Here's what Sue says: I loooove this little bag. It's so clever! As you can see it is designed like and resembles a Chinese takeout carton, and the theme is echoed in the brocade fabric. The heroine of Phoenix and Dragon carried a similar one: James grinned. “Here.” From a chest of drawers, he produced a cunning handbag made of the same silk brocade as Liza’s dress. With a heavy silver wire handle, it was designed to look like a Chinese takeout box. She snatched it from him. “This is the cutest little bag I’ve ever seen. Is it from your sister’s shop?” “Yeah, she carries some nice stuff.” “I’ll have to stop by there.” Here's the blurb from Phoenix and Dragon:Setting: contemporary San Francisco. Tough, clever and beautiful, biracial detective Liza Bowman struggles with a kidnapping case until she finds the victim's secret sex diary, which reveals that the young female vic went to a bar dressed in scanty red leather and read The Story of O. She hasn't been seen since.
Liza recklessly imitates the vic's last known location and activities, and falls into the hands of James Li, the most notorious whoremaster in the city. Wealthy and handsome, James has already crossed paths with Liza—when she dared to arrest him. In James' view, reading a famous bondage novel in public is a blatant come-on, and he's eager and ready to give his nemesis what she wants. Find Phoenix and Dragon at: http://bit.ly/PhoenixDragonBDSMstory 


Wow, Sue, that bag is just adorable. I'm going to have to find me one. And love how you incorporated a favorite accessory into your story. I do have a red brocade clutch that is gorgeous. I should be carrying it.... Thanks so much for being with me today!
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Poinsettia handbag: Week 6

I had a great deal of time to work on the Poinsettia handbag this past weekend. As you can see, the black is almost completely filled in. I'm working toward the edges. I'm pretty sure I don't want the bag to be as large as pictures. I have to measure a similar bag for size and determine what I will do.

Vicki Batman ~ Cover Reveal!!! Temporarily Employed

A long journey for my baby is paying off and I'm delighted to share with you!    Here's a little blurb to whet your appetite:  
Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy Rite insurance company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced. The last thing she wants is to clash with By-the-Book Detective Wellborn, no matter how much he makes her heart pound.Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life.  He evolved from a pocket protector-wearing geek to a handsome police detective.  When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation.  Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?  Can you tell I'm happy? and to celebrate, I'm giving away an adorable flowery tote! Leave your email address in the comments.  For more information, check my blogsite: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com 

Vicki Batman ~ Movie Maniac: The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel by Wes Anderson is a fun, quirky, and delightful film. I've seen most everything Mr. Anderson has done and this is by far my favorite. I've been telling all to go see it.

For more information on The Grand Budapest Hotel, go to: http://www.grandbudapesthotel.com

Have you seen it and what did you think? Is it your favorite Wes Anderson film? Who is your favorite character?