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Brazilian Oral Research
Print version ISSN 1806-8324
Braz. oral res. vol.26 no.4 São Paulo July/Aug. 2012
Effects of temporal muscle detachment and coronoidotomy on facial growth in young rats
Fernanda Engelberg Fernandes GomesI; Rogério Bonfante MoraesII; João Gualberto de Cerqueira LuzIII
ISchool of Dentistry, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
IIGraduate Program in Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
IIIDepartment of Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics and Traumatology, School of Dentistry, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
This study analyzed the effects of unilateral detachment of the temporal muscle and coronoidotomy on facial growth in young rats. Thirty one-month-old Wistar rats were distributed into three groups: detachment, coronoidotomy and sham-operated. Under general anesthesia, unilateral detachment of the temporal muscle was performed for the detachment group, unilateral coronoidotomy was performed for the coronoidotomy group, and only surgical access was performed for the sham-operated group. The animals were sacrificed at three months of age. Their soft tissues were removed, and the mandible was disarticulated. Radiographic projectionsaxial views of the skulls and lateral views of hemimandibleswere taken. Cephalometric evaluations were performed, and the values obtained were submitted to statistical analyses. There was a significant homolateral difference in the length of the premaxilla, height of the mandibular ramus and body, and the length of the mandible in all three groups. However, comparisons among the groups revealed no significant differences between the detachment and coronoidotomy groups for most measurements. It was concluded that both experimental detachment of the temporal muscle and coronoidotomy during the growth period in rats induced asymmetry of the mandible and affected the premaxilla.
Descriptors: Temporal Muscle; Mandible; Maxillofacial Development; Growth and Development.
The coronoid process of the mandible is the insertion site of the temporal muscle. Any disturbance of this site can potentially affect mandibular and facial growth. Mandibular growth has been associated with a primary growth center represented by the mandibular condyle and with a secondary growth center influenced by the action of the masticatory muscles.1 An injury to these structures may have adverse effects on mandibular growth.2,3
Experimental studies have demonstrated that temporal muscle detachment during a growth period leads to a reduction in the size of the coronoid process itself.4 The anatomy of the coronoid process reflects the relative development of the temporal muscle.5 Additionally, in growing rats, bilateral resections of the masseter muscle induced an inferior mandibular rotational pattern, while bilateral resections of the temporal muscle induced a superior rotational pattern.6 However, it is known that when the temporal muscle is removed from its cranial origin, no coronoid process changes take place. This is explained by the maintenance of an intact blood supply to this structure.7
Hypertrophy of the coronoid process is associated with limitations in mandibular movement, and coronoidectomy is considered the treatment of choice.8,9 However, coronoidotomy has been recommended because it causes less surgical trauma and less postoperative fibrosis and because the sectioned part of the coronoid heals onto the mandibular ramus in a posterior position.10 An experimental study in rats demonstrated that after coronoidotomy, the coronoid process readily reattaches to the mandibular ramus by callus formation.11 However, no studies have examined the effects of coronoidotomy on facial growth in experimental animals.
Some clinical situations involve the coronoid process or the temporal muscle insertion. Fractures of the coronoid process are relatively rare and are generally caused by an indirect mechanism.12 The possibility of reflex fractures has been reported.13 In general, conservative management allows the symptoms to resolve.12,13 Furthermore, surgical procedures in the mandibular ramus region for access to neoplasms and for reconstructions frequently require detachment of the masseter and medial pterygoid muscles and often the temporal muscle.14 However, the role of the temporal muscle in facial bone growth is not well understood.
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of unilateral detachment of the temporal muscle and coronoidotomy on facial growth in young rats.
The study animals were 30 one-month-old female Wistar rats. All the animals were fed an ordinary diet of rodent feed (Labina, Agribands Purina, Paulínia, Brazil) and water. They were distributed into three groups:
detachment (n = 10),
coronoidotomy (n = 10) and
sham-operated (n = 10).
The study was approved by the local research ethics committee.
Under general anesthesia induced by 10 mg/kg body weight of xylazine hydrochloride (Rompum, Bayer, Porto Alegre, Brazil) and 25 mg/kg body weight of ketamine hydrochloride (Dopalen, Vetbrands, Paulínia, Brazil), a single dose of 16,000 UI of benzylpenicillin (Benzetacil, Fontoura-Wieth, Itapevi, Brazil) was given, and the right side was shaved and cleansed with a povidone-iodine solution (Riodeine, Rioquímica, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil). A 1-cm preauricular incision was made and followed by blunt dissection through the masseter muscle just below the zygomatic arch, and the lateral surface of the mandibular ramus was exposed. The detachment group underwent complete detachment of the temporal muscle from the coronoid process. In the coronoidotomy group, the coronoid process was sectioned using a surgical bur. The sham-operated group was submitted to exposure of the mandibular ramus. The procedures were concluded by suturing in layers. The animals were sacrificed at three months of age, and their heads and mandibles were carefully macerated. Following formalin fixation, radiographs with axial projections of the skull and lateral projections of the hemimandibles were obtained. These were taken with a dental machine (Spectro II, Dabi-Atlante, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil) at 56 kV and 10 mA, with an exposure time of 0.4 s for the skulls and 0.3 s for the hemimandibles. Periapical films were used (Ektaspeed Plus, Eastman Kodak, Rochester, USA).
The radiographs were subjected to a computerized cephalometric evaluation and were digitized using an optical reader (Fotovix II, Tamron Co, Tokyo, Japan). Measurements were obtained with Imagelab software (Softium Informática, São Paulo, Brazil). Using skull radiographs, the following distances were measured bilaterally:
tympanic bulla to the mesial root of the first molar (TB-MR),
tympanic bulla to infraorbital foramen (TB-IF) and
infraorbital foramen to incisal point (IF-IP) (Figure 1).
On the radiographs of the hemimandibles, the following distances were measured bilaterally:
condylar process to angular process (CP-AP),
distal face of the third molar to antegonial notch (TM-AN),
lower insertion of incisor to angular process (II-AP) and
incisor apex to condylar process (IA-CP) (Figure 2).
To evaluate the differences between the mean values for the right and left sides in each group, the paired student's t-test was used, while analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's tests were used for the mean values of the three groups. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 16.0 software was used to conduct the analyses (SPSS Incorporated, Chicago, USA). The level of significance was set at 5% (p < 0.050).
Macroscopic examination of the specimens revealed facial asymmetry with deviation of the mandible to the right side in the detachment and coronoidotomy groups and discrete asymmetry in the sham-operated group. The main macroscopic findings for the macerated specimens are shown in Figure 3.
The mean values of the distances found on the axial radiographs of the skulls are presented in Table 1. There was a significant difference between sides in the following measurements:
TB-IF in the detachment and sham-operated groups and
IF-IP in the detachment and coronoidotomy groups.
Comparing the maxillary measurements among groups, the ANOVA demonstrated that there were differences in all measurements except the IF-IP on the left side (Table 2). According to Tukey's test, there were no significant differences between the detachment and coronoidotomy groups, but there were significant differences between these groups and the sham-operated group.
The mean values of the distances found on the lateral radiographs of the hemimandibles are presented in Table 3. There was a significant difference between sides for all measurements except II-AP.
Comparing the mandibular measurements among groups, the ANOVA demonstrated that there were differences in all measurements on the right side (Table 4). Tukey's test showed no significant differences between detachment and coronoidotomy groups, but there were significant differences between these groups and the sham-operated group for most measurements. Only the IA-CP measurement showed a significant difference between the detachment and coronoidotomy groups.
The effects of temporal muscle detachment or coronoidotomy on the growth of the maxilla and mandible were analyzed in young rats. Thus, when the animals reached adult age, radiographic projections were obtained and used to perform cephalometry on a computer system. Through statistical analyses, it could be seen that changes occurred in both the mandible and the maxilla. The final result was shortening of the maxilla and asymmetry of the mandible associated with either homolateral detachment of the temporal muscle or coronoidotomy.
Mandibular deformities comprising a reduction in size of the coronoid process have been related to disinsertion of the temporal muscle.4 However, the present study detected actual asymmetry of the mandible, likely because of the refined measurements taken and the statistical analyses used. Gross modifications of the mandible are reported after temporal muscle resection in young rats, supporting the functional matrix theory of mandibular growth.5,15 Another significant finding was shortening of the maxilla. The possibility of maxillary growth influencing mandibular growth and vice versa by occlusal intercuspation has been described.1,16 Occlusal disturbances have been described as the main cause of asymmetry of the maxilla after experimental fractures17 and as a complication of condylar fractures.18
Cephalometric evaluations based on radiographs of the skulls and hemimandibles of dissected specimens using a computerized system lead to reliable measurements.19 The distances in this study were similar to those in other studies.17,19,20 A new distanceincisor apex to condylar processwas used to improve the evaluation of the mandibular ramus, and this measurement demonstrated the negative influence of detachment. Mandibular distances between sides were significantly different in all the groups, but the comparison among groups demonstrated no significant differences between the detachment and coronoidotomy groups, both of which were significantly different from sham-operated group.
The effects of coronoidotomy were similar to those of temporal muscle detachment. After coronoidotomy, the sectioned part of the coronoid heals onto mandibular ramus by callus formation.10,11 The effects of muscle reattachment allow new bone formation to envelop the reorganizing tendon,21 and this may have influenced the similar results for the detachment and coronoidotomy groups. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies in the literature have evaluated this aspect.
It has been reported that the effects of masticatory muscle action on mandibular growth in the angular and condylar processes in rats is intense.22 Similar findings have been reported for pigs, with bone apposition on the posterior, inferior and lateral borders of the mandible.23 In sum, studies have demonstrated that the lateral pterygoid muscle has an effect on the growth of the condylar process,24 the masseter muscle has an effect on the angular process,16 and the temporal muscle has an effect on the growth of both the coronoid process5 and the entire mandibular ramus and body, as demonstrated.
Temporal muscle detachment and coronoidotomy in young rats had the same effects on facial growth. Asymmetry of the mandible was induced and led to shortening of the premaxilla.
1. Tsolakis AI, Spyropoulos MN, Katsavrias E, Alexandridis K. Effects of altered mandibular function on mandibular growth after condylectomy. Eur J Orthod. 1997 Feb;19(1):9-19. [ Links ]
2. Luz JGC, Araújo VC. Rotated subcondilar process facture in the growing animal: an experimental study in rats. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2001Dec;30(6):545-9. [ Links ]
3. Cruz DZ, Rodrigues L, Luz JGC. Effects of detachment and repositioning of the medial pterygoid muscle on the growth of the maxilla and mandible of young rats. Acta Cir Bras. 2009 Mar-Apr;24(2):93-7. [ Links ]
4. Rahme J, el-Danaf A, Chassagne JF, Maxant P, Stricker M, Flot F. [The influence of the masticatory muscles on craniofacial growth. A microsurgical study in the rat]. Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac. 1987;88(2):108-15. French. [ Links ]
5. Mavropoulos A, Bresin A, Kiliaridis S. Morphometric analysis of the mandible in growing rats with different masticatory functional demands; adaptation to an upper posterior bite block. Eur J Oral Sci. 2004 Jun; 112(3):259-66. [ Links ]
6. Navarro M, Delgado E, Monje F. Changes in mandibular rotation after muscular resection. Experimental study in rats. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1995 Oct;108(4):367-79. [ Links ]
7. Carter GM, Harkness EM. Alterations to mandibular form following motor denervation of the masseter muscle. An experimental study in the rat. J Anat. 1995 Jun;186(Pt 3):541-8. [ Links ]
8. Hall RE, Orbach S, Landesberg R. Bilateral hyperplasia of the mandibular coronoid processes: A report of two cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1989 Feb;67(2):141-5. [ Links ]
9. Kai S, Hijiya T, Yamane K, Higuchi Y. Open-mouth locking caused by unilateral elongated coronoid process: report of case. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1997 Nov;55(11):1305-8. [ Links ]
10. Gerbino G, Bianchi SD, Bernardi M, Berrone S. Hyperplasia of the mandibular coronoid process: long-term follow-up after coronoidotomy. J Cranio-Maxillofac Surg. 1997 Jun;25(3):169-73. [ Links ]
11. Allan PG, Reade PC, Steidler NE. Healing following coronoidotomy in rats. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1989 Apr;18(2):109-13. [ Links ]
12. Rapidis AD, Papavassiliou D, Papadimitriou J, Koundouris J, Zachariadis N. Fractures of the coronoid process of the mandible. An analysis of 52 cases. Int J Oral Surg. 1985 Apr;14(2):126-30. [ Links ]
13. Philip M, Sivarajasingam V, Shepherd J. Bilateral reflex fracture of the coronoid process of the mandible. A case report. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1999 Jun;28(3):195-6. [ Links ]
14. Obwegeser HL. Temporal approach to the TMJ, the orbit, and the retromaxillary-infracranial region. Head Neck Surg. 1985 Jan-Feb;7(3):185-99. [ Links ]
15. Farias-Neto A, Martins APVB, Rizzatti-Barbosa CM. The effect of loss of occlusal support on mandibular morphology in growing rats. Angle Orthod. 2011 Sep 8; [Epub ahead of print]. Available from: http://www.angle.org/doi/pdf/10.2319/060711-373.1. [ Links ]
16. Rodrigues L, Traina AA, Nakamai LF, Luz JGC. Effects of the unilateral removal and dissection of the masseter muscle on the facial growth of young rats. Braz Oral Res. 2009 Jan-Mar;23(1):89-95. [ Links ]
17. Rodrigues L, Corrêa L, Luz JGC. Effects of the condylar process fracture on facial symmetry in rats submitted to protein undernutrition. Acta Cir Bras. 2011 Apr;26(2):88-93. [ Links ]
18. Becking AG, Zijderveld SA, Tuinzing DB. Management of posttraumatic malocclusion caused by condylar process fractures. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1998 Dec;56(12):1370-4. [ Links ]
19. Del Campo AI, Elizondo MM, Magnelli LM, Valadez AS, Ontiveros DS. Craniofacial development in rats with early resection of the zygomatic arch. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1995 Mar;95(3):486-95. [ Links ]
20. Teixeira VCB, Teixeira ACB, Luz JGC. Skeletal changes after experimentally displaced condylar process fracture in growing rats. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2006 Jun;34(4):220-5. [ Links ]
21. Cioffi I, van Ruijven RJ, Michelotti A, Langenbach GEJ. Degree of mineralization at the attachment of lateral pterygoyd. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2010 Aug;293(8):1387-92. [ Links ]
22. Kiliaridis S. Masticatory muscle influence on craniofacial growth. Acta Odontol Scand. 1995 Jun;53(3):196-202. [ Links ]
23. Sarnat BG, Robinson IB. Experimental changes of the mandible. A serial roentgenographic study. J Craniofac Surg. 2007 Jul;18(4):917-25. [ Links ]
24. Whetten LL, Johnston LE Jr. The control of condylar growth: An experimental evaluation of the role of the lateral pterygoid muscle. Am J Orthod. 1985 Sep;88(3):181-9. [ Links ]
Corresponding Author:
João Gualberto de Cerqueira Luz
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Received for publication on Feb 06, 2012
Accepted for publication on May 08, 2012
Declaration of Interests: The authors certify that they have no commercial or associative interest that represents a conflict of interest in connection with the manuscript.


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Under Suspicion
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Being a human immune to magic helped Sophie Lawson get promoted. It's also made her a major, very reluctant player in a game that stretches beyond even the Underworld. Having handsome buttoned-down Englishman Will as her new guardian is one tempting blessing, especially since sexy fallen angel Alex is mysteriously MIA lately. But as a frightening number of demons start disappearing around the city, Sophie suspects that an Armageddon-level prophecy is about to become everyone's nightmare. And her investigation is testing her bravery--and Will's unexpected vulnerability--in ways neither could predict. Now Sophie and Will are fast running out of time as an unstoppable evil prepares to lay waste to demons and humans alike. . .
Praise for Hannah Jayne's Under Attack
"This urban fantasy tale smartly balances riveting action with wonderful light touches. . .New readers and returning fans will find it entirely accessible and enjoyable." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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UNDER SUSPICIONThe Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles
By HANNAH JAYNE
KENSINGTON BOOKSCopyright © 2012 Hannah Schwartz
All right reserved.
Chapter OneYou'd think by the time a guy had gained immortality, he'd tire of copying his butt on the office copy machine.
Not so.
I was pulling out the third paper jam of the morning—and tossing fistfuls of copies of a weird combination of butt cheek and hoof—when Nina poked her head in, scanning the room, and asked, "Is she gone?"
I flopped backward and blew a few strands of my hair (done up in Clairol's Red Hot) out of my eye. "Who?"
Nina shimmied into the copy room and straightened her vintage boat-necked Balenciaga dress. She had paired this little number with black-and-purple lace tights and those peekaboo booties that make me look like a poor lumberjack while it made supermodels (and vampires) look amazingly chic.
I guess living through two world wars and umpteen clothing revolutions would pique your fashion sense.
"What do you mean, who? Mrs. Henderson. This dress"—Nina did an elegant twirl—"is not only vintage, it's irreplaceable. I wore it when I nabbed a bite of John Lennon." Nina batted her lashes and grinned, her small fangs pressing against her red lips.
I cocked an eyebrow and Nina blew out an exasperated sigh.
"Fine. It was Ringo. So, is she gone?"
Mrs. Henderson—the Underworld Detection Agency's busybody dragon and all-around most obnoxious client—and Nina have a bit of a history together. It's one that most often leaves Nina naked and hairless, with Mrs. Henderson hiccupping smoke rings and not-so-genuine apologies.
I looked down at my watch. "Oh my gosh, I'm totally late. Thanks for reminding me."
I thrust the last of the hoof-and-butt Xeroxes into Nina's hands and headed to my desk—hopping over the burnt-hole remains of a wizard, who had blown himself up, and looking away from Lorraine, UDA's resident witch and finance whiz. She tried to stop me by waving in front of my face a folder full of invoices, but I was able to dodge her, thanks in part to the seminar that HR held on "Respecting Your Coworker's Personal Space."
I flopped into my ergonomically questionable chair and blew out a deep, comforting breath, then laced my fingers over Mrs. Henderson's files. In addition to being a fire-breathing, St. John Knit–wearing dragon, Mrs. Henderson was a divorcée hell-bent on squeezing her cheating ex-husband for every last dime. As our agency detected all supernatural movement within our region, Mrs. Henderson dropped in monthly for updates and especially liked it when we were prepared for her with Mr. H's paycheck stubs and warm, fuzzy stories about his current financial woes.
Fifteen minutes later, Mr. H's statements were still undisturbed in my file folder, and Mrs. Henderson was nowhere to be found.
I buzzed the reception desk and Kale answered—I could hear the murmur of the iBud she kept continually tucked in her left ear. "Reception," she said, "what can I do you for?"
"Hey, Kale, it's Sophie. Did Mrs. Henderson call in? She's almost twenty minutes late for her appointment."
I heard Kale muss some papers on the other end of the phone and then the snap of her gum. "No, nothing. Are you sure she was scheduled today?"
"Positive. It's the fifteenth."
"Ooh, alimony pickup day. She's usually a half hour early."
"That's what I was thinking. I'll try and ring her house."
"Okay. Oh!"
I rapped my fingers on my desk, suddenly impatient. "Yes?"
"Um," Kale started to stutter and drift off, and I could almost see her biting her lower lip, curling the telephone cord around her finger.
"What about Vlad?" I asked.
Vlad was Nina's nephew—and he was a current UDA employee, leader of the San Francisco chapter of the Vampire Empowerment and Restoration Movement (VERM for short, and for annoying Vlad incessantly), and a permanent fixture on Nina's and my couch. He had the bright eyes, video game fetish, and disdain for folding clothes that most sixteen-year-olds had.
Except that he was 112.
"Do you know if he is seeing anyone?"
Kale had been in love with Vlad since he first blew into the city—moody, restless, and dressed like Count Chocula. The Vampire Empowerment and Restoration Movement required that its adherents stick to the "classic" dress code of the fearsome vampires of yesteryear (more Bela Lugosi, less Edward Cullen) and also preached a staunch code against vampire/nonvampire mixing. That left Kale—a Gestalt witch of the green order—to pine relentlessly and call me on numerous occasions to ask about Vlad's dating status.
"No, Kale, I don't think so."
She let out a loud whoosh of relief. "That's what his Facebook status said. I just wanted to make sure. Bye, Sophie!"
The hangup sounded in my ear as I pulled up Mrs. Henderson's phone number. I was in the middle of dialing when Nina stalked in, slamming the door behind her. "So what did the big lizard have to say today? She needs more money for crickets?"
I hung up the phone and rubbed my temples. "She's a dragon, not a lizard, and she still hasn't shown up. That's not like her."
Nina whipped out a nail file and gave her perfectly manicured nails the once-over. "Maybe she lit herself on fire. One can only hope. "She snorted, her smile lingering. "I want to go shopping. What do you think? Boutique in the Haight or mainstream on Market?"
I frowned. "I'm kind of worried about Mrs. Henderson."
"So send her an edible arrangement. Don't they have one with staked mice or something? Anyway, boutique or mainstream? I need your financial prowess to point me in the right retail direction."
I pulled out my calendar and flipped back a few pages. "Last week I had two missed appointments."
Nina pouted. "Are you doubting your popularity at UDA now? You know everyone here adores you and we don't even consider your ... issue."
I felt a blush rise to my cheeks.
My "issue" was my breath. Not that it was bad (at least I don't think it is); it is that I have some. The Underworld Detection Agency not only caters to the demon community—providing transfer papers, tracking paranormal activity in the city, detecting demon activity, and protecting from demonic or human threats—it is also staffed by demons.
Except for me.
Which is why there is currently a bologna and cheese sandwich wedged between two blood bags in the office fridge and why there is a constant CAUTION: WET FLOOR sign in front of the hobgoblin receiving line (hobgoblins are constantly slobbering demons and seem to have better traction than I do).
I rolled my eyes. "I know no one cares about me being human. I've been working here forever. It's the appointments. No cancellations, no phone calls, nothing. I called the last two for follow-ups and couldn't reach anyone."
Nina shrugged. "Who cares?"
"Where do you think they're going? It's not like there is another company out there protecting demons."
"Like a demon Walmart undercutting our fees?"
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "Yes, Nina, I'm really worried that we're losing business to Walmart."
"Bring it up with Dixon."
I gnawed my bottom lip. "I guess I could. We do have an all-staff meeting at four."
Nina's coal black eyes went wide. "I had totally forgotten about that."
"Cuts into your shopping time?"
"No." She clapped a hand to her forehead and started a rigorous massage. "Do you know how awkward that's going to be? Me and him in the same room together after what happened!"
I leaned forward. "What happened?"
"Ohmigod, you and I live together, Soph! Have you not paid any attention? Me and Dixon?" she enunciated. "The whole dating thing? It totally didn't end well."
"Oh, right. That's probably because it was all in your head. Nina, he's our boss. It's expected that he'd call you. And asking you to collate his copies means just that. The man needs staples."
Nina narrowed her eyes. "Oh, and I suppose you're going to tell me that him asking me to boot up his hard drive was completely innocent, too!"
I groaned.
Nina leaned over to gather her coat and enormously gaudy Betsey Johnson bag. "So you never told me. Shopping on Market or Haight?"
"I don't know. Both. I can't make a decision."
Nina raised an eyebrow and grinned salaciously. "Ain't that the truth?"
I pursed my lips and straightened the already-straight selection of Post-it notes and general office tchotchkes on my desk. "Bite me."
Nina dumped herself into my office chair again and lolled back. She kicked her Via Spiga booties up on my desk, crossing her ankles. "Hey, I'm not judging. If I had two hot otherworldly creatures ready to duke it out to save my afterlife"—and here she splayed a single pale hand against her chest—"I'd do my damndest to keep them both around, too."
She swung out the nail file again. "So about that shopping trip ..."
I gathered a few files from my cabinet. "Give me a half hour and I promise to be your couture mule all the way through San Francisco. Deal?"
Nina cocked her head, her long, newly colored sunshine-blond hair swishing to her elbow. "Deal."
I poked my head into the outer office, where I used to sit (back in the Pete Sampson–werewolf-boss days), and mustered up my most harmless human smile for the vampire sitting at the front desk. He was heavily interested in whatever Cosmo had to say, but I saw his nostril twitch. When I sucked in a breath, he stiffened.
I am pretty well used to living a vampire-filled life, but having coworkers who could smell me at fifty paces is still a little unnerving.
"Hey, Eldridge."
Eldridge Hale raised his perfectly manicured eyebrows—mine looked like mating caterpillars most often—followed by icy silvery eyes.
"Ms. Lawson."
I waggled my files. "Dixon in? I need to talk to him."
Eldridge flicked a page of his magazine, effectively letting me know he was bored. "He's busy. You'll have plenty of time to talk to him at the staff meeting."
I straightened, clenching my jaw. "I need to talk to him now. It's official UDA business."
"Send her in, Eldridge!" Dixon Andrade's voice was spun silk even as he called from his inner office. His hearing was 100 percent killer vamp, as was his olfactory skill, which meant he got a whiff of my Lady Speed Stick as I nearly jumped out of my pants. Disembodied voices never cease to creep me out.
Though it's been over a year, I found that walking into Dixon Andrade's office still pricked a little pang of sadness in my heart and gave me a small shudder of fear. I don't think I'll ever be able to walk into this part of the UDA again and not think of Pete Sampson, not think of the day I walked in and found my desk smashed to smithereens and his office—including the steel wrist and ankle cuffs used to hold him through full-moon nights—destroyed. The worst thing about that night was that Sampson was missing, blood was spilling in the streets, and Sampson—my Sampson, who had given me my first job, took me under his wing, and brought me more morning donuts than my pants could stand—was the chief suspect.
Now Dixon was lounging behind a desk the size of a Hummer, dressed, as usual, in a top-notch Italian suit that hugged every inch of his six-foot-plus frame. He looked formidable with his dark hair slicked back, his eyebrows pinched in a cautionary scowl. And that was before he showed his fangs.
"Ms. Lawson."
"Dixon, hi. Thanks for seeing me." I flopped down in his visitor's chair and slid Mrs. Henderson's file across the desk. "Mrs. Henderson didn't show up for her appointment today, and neither did two other regulars over the last week. No answers when I call, no cancellations, nothing."
Dixon's dark brows rose, his eyes catching on something over my left shoulder. I turned and sighed.
"Hi, Vlad."
If Dixon was San Francisco chic, Vlad LaShay had all the chicness of Castle Drac, circa 1850. His black pants were a heavy wool blend, his red damask vest was resplendent, and his frilly white ascot made him look like a dork.
"Nice ascot," I said.
"Are we making the announcement first, sir?" Vlad asked, effectively ignoring me.
My ears perked. "Announcement?"
Dixon and Vlad shared a look; my head ping-ponged between them.
Finally Dixon shrugged; his broad shoulders nipped his ears. "She'll find out soon enough. Ms. Lawson, Vlad is the Underworld Detection Agency's new head of operations."
Dixon grinned and Vlad beamed.
I wasn't sure what caught me more off guard, the sight of Vlad smiling like someone who wasn't perennially sixteen and mad at the world, or the fact that Vlad, with his face full of smooth planes and soft hints of baby fat, was going to be my manager.
I scratched my head. "Come again?"
"Vlad will be replacing Mr. Turnbow. Mr. Rosenthal will be shifting from support staff to finance, and Eldridge"—Dixon gestured to the blond vamp outside–"will be the new head of internal organization."
"What happened to Mr. Turnbow? And the former head of operations?"
Dixon shrugged dismissively. "It was time for them to move on. We had a cake on Friday."
Leave it to me to miss the one day that management sprang for cake over blood bags.
"Something wrong, Ms. Lawson?"
"No," I said, swinging my head, "not at all. Congratulations, Vlad. This is a really great step for you."
"So you said something about some missed appointments?"
"You know," I answered, snatching the file from Dixon's desk, "it's really not that big a deal."
Exiting, I shut the door to Dixon's office and Eldridge looked up at me from behind his magazine, one eyebrow quirked, lip turned up and slightly parted to show off the scissor-fine edge of a fang.
"See you around, Sophie," he said.
I hopped in the elevator and mashed the UP button. My heart was thudding underneath my Nina-approved button-down blouse; pricks of sweat were breaking out all over.
"Come on, come on," I whispered to the metal box as it lurched its way up—we're thirty-six floors down—to the outer world. There was a jaunty ding and the doors split open to sunshine streaming through the front vestibule of the San Francisco Police Department. The squawk and buzz of department radios and telephones littered the air. That was when I smashed—chest to cardboard box—into Alex Grace.
"Hey, Lawson." Alex grabbed my arms to steady me and I wanted to crawl back against him—sans the box—and sink into those arms.
"Oh, hey, Alex. Sorry, I guess I'm just a little bit distracted."
I blinked, then looked up into those cobalt blue eyes of his. Oh yes, I was definitely distracted.
Alex Grace was heavenly. His milk-chocolate dark hair curled in run-your-fingers-through-it waves, which licked the tops of his completely kissable ears. Those searing eyes were framed by to-die-for lashes. His cheeks were tinged pink, and his lips were pressed into his trademark half smile, which was all at once genuine and cocky, with just a hint of sex appeal. A man like this was otherworldly.
And Alex had the two tiny scars just below his shoulder blades to prove it.
Alex was an earthbound angel. Fallen, if you want to be technical. But he lacked the certain technicality that made other fallen angels so annoying: He didn't want to kill me. Most of the time.
I tried to tear my eyes away from his beautiful, full lips—lips that I distinctly remembered kissing—and focused hard on my rogue clients; but even though we had decided to be "just friends," almost six months ago, there was still a sizzling something between me and Alex. Call it forbidden love or my addiction to Harlequin novels, but Alex Grace was not an easy man to get over.
After all, he was an angel.
"Nice box."
"Oh, this?" Alex shifted the box and I rolled up on my tiptoes and lifted the lid.
Excerpted from UNDER SUSPICION by HANNAH JAYNE Copyright © 2012 by Hannah Schwartz . Excerpted by permission of KENSINGTON BOOKS. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
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I love this urban fantasy serie for many reasons, the humor, the suspense, the romance to name a few. A lot of the mainstream zany sleuth mysteries are a little too contrived. Usually these types of books (which are about as funny as an episode of Full House) involve the requisite zany granny, an eccentric sidekick and a snarky protagonist. But in this series, the humor isn't forced. The author clearly has a silly side and it comes through in Sophie's goofy antics. Once again Hannah Jayne delivers a tightly-plotted mystery jam-packed with humor, hijinks and off-the-wall characters. She does a fine job keeping the pace and tying all the plot threads together in the final pages. Fans of Juliet Blackwell, Charlaine Harris and Victoria Laurie can't go wrong with a Hannah Jayne mystery. Can't wait to sink my teeth into Sophie's next big adventure! Go to Chick Lit Cafe for the full review!
Ok addition to the series Sophie Lawson has gotten a promotion at the Underworld Detection Agency. She's the new Head of the Fallen Angel Division. Since that job doesn't really take up a lot of her time she's also taking care of other clients. Until some of her clients start turning up dead and many of her still alive clients decide it would be wiser and safer to see someone else. Now, Sophie has even more time to investigate why demons are being attacked or outright murdered. During all of this her vampire roommate Nina has fallen in love with an author. An author who researches and writes about how vampires and other paranormal creatures aren't real. How ironic that he's dating a vampire and he's clueless. Alex Grace, the Fallen Angel and police detective, has taken off to parts unknown for some stake out and only her Guardian Will is sticking close to her while Sophie goes from one close call to another. Well-written with a bit of a faster plot than the last two books, I'm still not feeling the love of the characters that I would like this far into a series. After everything that has happened to Sophie the last two books you would think her friends and colleagues would show a little less disbelief when she insists something bad is happening to demons. Instead they pooh pooh her and tell her the incidents are just coincidence. Then there's Sophie herself. She still cries too much and now she's always talking about peeing her pants. Again, after everything that has happened to her, why hasn't she grown a set of balls or something? Still not liking Alex, so I'm very glad he's not in this book much. The one character I really like is Will. I hope we continue to see a lot of him. The ending was a bit of a shocker. I'm actually looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book. *Book source ~ Many thanks to Kensington for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
I will say it was a great plot and a great idea for a story however the character Sophie and Vlad made me want to smack not only them but my computer. Thankfully I didn't. Sophie after about the fifth repeat of what she believed was hapening in the underworld, to the same people I started seeing that Sophie was acting a little bit obssesed and crazy. I half expected her to start twitching and spasming along with drinking too much coffee. Then she has these melt downs that became all too frequent. The cover of the book poses a woman with the air of strength and danger however the girl in the book was more of a chicken than anything. She spent more time crying and feinting that I was begining to think she would become a shriveled prune with a concussion. The jokes and the rest of the characters where great and had me laughing quite a few times but I couldn't even finish the book. I dont like someone being portayed as a levelheaded person when their actions say they are overdramatic and irratic oh and she repeats herself way too much.
The book was nothing more than a stumbling, fumbling, farce from beginning to end. Nobody believes that a dragon is dead when the room is fiiled with blood, other supes are disappearing or being attacked yet the "detection" agency thinks there is no problem. Really??? It seems so contrived just so the heroine could single-handedly once again stumble her way through to be the hero. I realize this is urban fantasy but I can't make myself stupid enough to even partially get into this story line. Even the other characters seemed to have dumbed-down since the last book. And now we have a love triangle. This is no urban fantasy--it's a romantic comedy. The first book was very promising; the second not as much but still ok but now--definitely on the downhill fast train. I don't think I can force myself to buy the sequel as I could only make it through the first 50 pages if this one until I skipped ahead to the last 20 pages to get it over with. Surprisingly enough I didn't really miss anything by doing so.
I love this series! This one has a pretty good twist at the end that no one can see coming! I can not wait to read the next one!
Reviewed by Alice D. for Readers Favorite Sophie Lawson is human but she is privileged to work for the Underworld Detective Agency, administered by vampire Dixon Andrade, which solves underworld crimes. The UDA is located floors below the San Francisco Police Department and the police don't seem to mind their down below neighbors. Sophie's room mate back home is the beautiful vampire Nina and her guardian angel is handsome Will who lives across the hall from them. Sophie finds Nina's nephew Vlad and UDA receptionist Kale in a compromising position in her apartment, but that is nothing compared to what is ahead. Mrs. Henderson, the dragon, is murdered; Kale is run down by a car; banshee Bettina is brutally attacked; and someone tries to run a stake through Sophie's heart even though she is not a vampire. Will takes his job seriously and tries to keep Sophie safe as she investigates who wants underworld creatures banished. Could the culprit possibly be Nina's new lover, the human author Harley? "Under Suspicion" is a well-conceived and well-written story of vampires, vampire-friendly humans and other demons as they battle against someone who wants them all gone. The use of Harley as an author who writes a best-selling book on why underworld creatures don't exist is an excellent literary device that makes the story's plot line exciting. San Francisco is an excellent setting for this story whose characters of Sophie, Nina the vampire, her nephew Vlad, Will, Kale and so on are totally believable even to the readers who are not drawn to vampire stories. Sophie Lawson stories will appeal to many readers, vampire story fans or otherwise.
The cover I guess is supposed to be ironic. Sophie is hilarious but not a leather wearing crime fighter, well maybe in her head. This is a great series.
In this chapter of the Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles, Sophie has noticed that several of her clients have not arrived for their monthly appointments, including hot-headed dragon Mrs. Henderson. Since Mr. Dixon, new vampire head of UDA, doesn't share Sophie's concerns, she takes it upon herself to check on Mrs. Henderson only to find her home trashed and dragon's blood smeared everywhere. When even Sophie's on again/off again love, fallen angel and FBI agent, Alex Grace doesn't believe her, Sophie decides to tackle what she believes is a supernatural killer on her own. With the help of her best friend, roommate and vampire, Nina LaShay, Nina's brooding nephew Vlad and Sophie's sexy Guardian, Will Sherman, Sophie tries to locate the killer; if only she could get everyone focused on the problem at hand. Currently, Nina is falling in love with Harley Cavanaugh, author of the new book Vampires, Werewolves and Other Things that Don't Exist, and Sophie can't convince her that she can't get to happily ever after with a man who doesn't believe she even exists. Vlad is still busy fighting for the Vampire Empowerment Movement (VERM) so that all vampires are in charge and are free to dress like Count Chocula; and breaking VERM rules by dating a breather himself. And with things off again with Alex and his being on a stakeout across the country, things are starting to heat up between Guardian Will and Sophie in his absence. ("Guardian—and not in that "until your eighteen" sort of way, but in an "until the balance of power has been restored between the good and the fallen, I will protect you" kind of way). While Sophie stumbles through another investigation in her bumblign way, you will again be laughing and chuckling at the snarky comments and zippy one-liners. Once again, Hannah creates a world and characters that are so charming and delightful. This story was fun as well as entertaining and just thoroughly enjoyable. I continue to look forward to where she will take us next. I am also looking forward to seeing how this will play out with the Sophie/Will/Alex triangle. Sophie has been "ready to lay down my soul" in love with Alex from the beginning, and although he is noticeably attracted to her, he is standoffish in his "I'm trying to get back to heaven" way. Will he change his mind now that the competition for Sophie's affection has heated up? Oooo, I can't wait to see.

subset: commoncrawl


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Property Details
Capitol Hill
216 24th Ave E #B, Seattle, WA, 98112, United States
Spacious townhome in the heart of Seattle! Nestled between Capitol Hill and Madison Park, this move-in ready home has it all. Private outdoor patio/garden, views, dedicated off-street parking & no dues. Main floor living space with hardwoods and open floor plan - cozy around the fireplace with friends. New carpet and paint inside and out. Radiant heat and efficient double-paned windows. All appliances included. Near Capitol Hill light rail, Lake Washington, downtown Seattle. No HOA dues. Don't miss it!
* The home has only had one owner and has been well cared for.
* The interior woodwork and gas fireplace creates a warm, cozy Northwest lodge feel, while still providing enough space to entertain a large group.
* There are four spacious bedrooms with good privacy between the upper and lower floors.
* Views of Lake Washington and Cascade Mountains, especially November through April when there is they are dusted with snow.
* The yard is a great size and includes a patio and garden space for growing all of your seasonal vegetables, herbs and perennial flowers.
* The home has nice loft ceilings with good light.
* There are no HOA dues!
* The Arboretum is nearby and great for walks and runs through beautiful tress, plants, and forest.
* Very easy access to Capitol Hill shops, bars, venues and parks but the location of the home is nestled in a neighborhood, creating a calm sense of space.
* There is no metered parking on the street which is tough to find on Capitol Hill.
* Great bus access to Capitol Hill, downtown Seattle, University of Washington and more.
* Close to many grocery stores: Trader Joe's Madison Market Central Coop, and Safeway.
* A short distance to shops on 15th and 19th Avenue E, and Madison Park beach and shops - a great middle ground for access to both points of the city.
* Multiple parks nearby, along with a YMCA that is a great place to walk, workout, and swim in the pool.
* This is an awesome block with fantastic neighbors. There is an annual block party, people smile, wave, and connect, creating a sense of community in the big city. This has been a wonderful spot to start a family.
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Principles Pave the Way
Last Sunday's class was a long one, beginning with an in-depth discussion of some basic number systems – direct examples as well as symbolisms found today and throughout history, all over the world, in a variety of subject areas.
If you weren't there for that, sorry you'll just have to pick it up another time. However, it was just some principles. But the idea (or principle) of principles is an important one.
A growing number of teacher and student have joined the popular movement that tends to discard much; and all too often "the baby is thrown out with the bath water." And this is true of principles and theories.
For example, let's look at the number three (3). Although this topic could be talked about for hours, I'll narrow the scope a bit for brevity.
Some examples where we find it:
- Christian Holy Trinity
- Hindu Trimurti
- Hindu Trivedi
- Buddhism's Triple Jewels
- Taoism's Three Pure Ones
- 3 Abrahamic Religions
- Heaven, Earth & Man
- Color Classifications (3 primaries, etc.)
- Time (past, present & future)
- Trifunctional Hypothesis (priest, warrior & commoner)
- Triplet codon system (DNA/RNA etc.)
- Proton, Neutron & Electron
- 3 spatial dimensions
- Tripods & Triangles
- 3 main joints of each limb
- Hey – Earth is the 3rd planet from the Sun!
- And many, many more
And how does this effect martial arts? In a great many ways. However to be brief – spotting or creating triangles – in our own body, in another's body, in the combination of bodies, in the combination of bodies and space, etc. we have found to be very important.
The point here is that an understanding of this principle of 3 can be extremely helpful to your martial art training – not just mere head-games. We can find 3's in many different areas of our art.
So if we understand and train the principle, we can spot it, use it, and respond appropriately, via principle – regardless of whether it happens to be "General Lifts Urn" or "Virtue Slays Demon" movements.


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Thanks to a huge diversity of terroirs and an old heritage, French wine has always been considered an international reference.
The vineyard stretches over a large part of the French territory with very different terroirs. Climates, types of soil, used and authorized grapes, winemaking methods give this country one the biggest diversity of wines. France can be divided into 17 wine-producing regions, according to their geographic localization and terroir. Here, more than somewhere else, the notions of terroirs and heritage are essential. Wine and gastronomy take a huge part in the French culture.
France is the biggest wine consumer in the world with more than 30 million hectolitres a year (46 litres per habitant and per year).
In 2012, France was the first worldwide producer and the second biggest vineyard in the world with nearly 2,000,000 acres.
Loire Valley is the third largest French vineyard with about 160,000 acres of vines, including 125,000 acres classified in "Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée" (Protected Designation of Origin). Its main characteristic: the vineyard always follows the Loire River or one of its tributaries and many of its vines are situated along the rivers' slopes.
The main red grapes are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay and Pinot Noir.
The main white grapes are Chenin, Sauvignon Blanc and Melon de Bourgogne.
Loire Valley region is divided into 4 areas : Pays nantais, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine and Centre-Loire.
Pays nantais :
This region of 32,000 acres is very close to the Atlantic Ocean and has an oceanic, mild and wet climate. It is overwhelmingly represented by the Muscadet AOC.
Its main grape is the Melon (for Muscadet appellation) but we also find Folle Blanche (Gros Plant) and Gamay (Ancenis).
Anjou-Saumur :
This 50,000 acres vineyard has 24 AOC and an oceanic climate.
main AOC: Anjou, Saumur Champigny, Coteaux du Layon, Coteaux de l'Aubance, Savennières, Rosé d'Anjou, Cabernet d'Anjou.
main grapes:
White: Chenin, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Red: Cabernet Franc, Grolleau and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Touraine :
With its 23 AOC, this region has an oceanic climate strongly influenced by the Loire.
main AOC: Chinon, Bourgueil, St-Nicolas de Bourgueil, Montlouis, Vouvray, Touraine.
main grapes:
Red: Cabernet Franc, Grolleau, Gamay, Pineau d'Aunis, Pinot Meunier, Cabernet Sauvignon.
White: Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc.
Centre-Loire :
The climate of this 9 AOC vineyard is continental with very cold winters, warm summers and microclimates. It is also very close to the Loire River (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé).
Main AOC: Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Menetou-Salon, Quincy, Reuilly.
Main grapes:
White: Sauvignon Blanc and Chasselas.
Red: Pinot Noir and Gamay.
Endowed with an exceptional terroir and an old culture, Burgundy produces very complex wines. Its wines made with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are often considered as the best in the world.
With 72,000 acres, Burgundy vineyard is divided into a multitude of plots, which makes its understanding very hard.
There are 100 AOC graduated in four levels:
23 "Regional" AOC, 44 "Village" AOC and 33 "Grand Cru" AOC.
Within the "Village" AOC, there are the "1er Cru": almost 600 denominations according to the terroir.
The climate is continental with very cold winters and warm summers.
The soils are composed of clay and limestone.
Burgundy produces 62% of white wines, 29% of red wines and 8% of sparkling wines (Crémants).
The emblematic grapes are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Grape varieties:
White :
- Chardonnay: 48%
- Aligoté: 6%
- Pinot Noir: 34%
- Gamay: 10%
The vineyard is divided into 6 areas:
- Chablis and Yonne
- Côte de Nuits
- Côte de Beaune
- Côte Chalonnaise
- Mâconnais
- Châtillonais
Chablis et Yonne :
This 12,000 acres region stretches over about twenty villages in a very rolling landscape and produces only Chardonnay.
These AOC are divided into 4 levels according to their terroirs quality: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru and Chablis Grand Cru.
There are 10 other AOC in Yonne region, apart from Chablis.
Côte de Nuits :
This 7,800 acres vineyard stretches over a 12 miles long strip of slopes.
They mainly produce Pinot Noir but also Chardonnay.
There are 10 Village AOC (+ 1er Cru AOC) and 21 Grand Cru AOC including the most renowned Pinot Noir wines in the world, as well as very great Chardonnay.
Côte de Beaune :
This 13,000 acres vineyard, situated in the south of the Côte de Nuits, is also stretched to a 12 miles long strip of slopes.
It is composed of 20 Village AOC (+ 1er Cru AOC) and 7 Grand Cru AOC including six white wines. They produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The Côte de Beaune is a worldwide reference for its white wines.
Côte Chalonnaise :
This vineyard is situated on a 18 miles long strip, south of the Côte de Beaune.
They mainly produce Pinot Noir but also Chardonnay, and a little bit of Aligoté and Gamay.
There are 5 Village AOC and one 1er Cru.
Mâconnais :
With its 14,000 acres situated on 21 miles long, this is the most southern vineyard of Burgundy, near Beaujolais.
Chardonnay represents 80% of the production but they also produce Pinot Noir and Gamay.
There are 5 Village AOC (ex : Pouilly Fuissé), but not Regional AOC, 1er Cru and Grand Cru.
Châtillonnais :
This small 620 acres vineyard is situated in the north of Burgundy, close to Champagne.
They produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (a little Gamay and Aligoté). It is the Crémant de Bourgogne kingdom (sparkling wine).
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A parent is a child's first and most important teacher. Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a FREE program that provides parents with information to help build their children's intellectual, language, social, and physical development from birth to age three.
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The Gaeilge word for storyteller is seanchaí. The pronunciation of this word varies across the island of Ireland.* These samples are in two of the three major dialects (click on a map to listen):
The earliest stories were told by shamans, whose elocution had the power to inspire hunters to feats of bravery and skill that would enable them to explore new territory, and bring down beasts in sufficient quantity to nourish themselves and supplement the gleanings of their gatherers, back home. Later, the domestication of animals and plants de-emphasized the value of hunting grounds, and changed the significance of soil from simple occupation to legal ownership, because land now possessed the potential to produce food reasonably reliably.
That meant there were more abundant harvests for the picking, especially because fertile territory was likely to be occupied by fertile females. The opportunities for food, frolic and fecundity had increased exponentially. In other words: F³.
Thus, the slings and arrows of heroic hunters became the tools of the most enterprising gatherers, who became known as "warriors;" and in order to stay in business, the shamans had to change their résumés.
Some stayed on as oracles, explaining and encouraging the practice of faith by the community, which now had need of prayer for deliverance from the forces under arms in pursuit of F³. Many became midwives, in response to a burgeoning birthrate aided and abetted by agriculture's improved nutrition; or barber-surgeons, to cope with the demands of civilized coiffure and the violent and virulent casualties of city living. The bores among them became bean-counters, whose ability to calculate beyond the limits of the digits on hands and feet, enabled them to establish systems of inventory control that led to such civil boons as bureaucracy, law and politics. Still others became the cognitive and cultural caretakers of humanity, in the roles of historians, genealogists, educators, and storytellers.
Ancient Roman literary critics first codified literary conventions, but they had precious little to go by; indigenous Roman literature being almost nonexistent. In analyzing the oldest known books they'd borrowed (which were from the Greek oral tradition, personified by Homer), they declared that there were two kinds of stories: Epics, consisting of war stories, and Romances, consisting of love stories (usually involving the sex lives of the gods).
The enduring stories in any cultural tradition are still the ones about fighting and footsie. Even an icon as apparently innocuous as that of a "Valentine," carved into a the bark of a tree or adorning a box of chocolate truffles, tells the same tale of turf wars and their ultimate outcome: F³.
Back when the storyteller was the only passive entertainment game in town, a preliterate people's library was limited to what one human mind could imagine and remember (sometimes aided by rhyme, rhythm or music). With the advent of widespread literacy, the number of available storytellers increased, allowing for a wide variety of stories and the opportunity to specialize in their telling, mainly through the medium of print.
But although the stories have multiplied, they vary only superficially: Whether it's a Star Wars screenplay, The Lord of the Rings trilogy of tomes, or Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the real tale is still that of territorial – hence genetic – dominance. The survival of the fictional fittest still determines who gets to stock and fish from a story's gene pool. F³ still rules.
The evolutionary offspring of Roman literary critics include today's professional reviewers, agents, editors and publishers, who now promulgate literary conventions to suit their agenda (see prior posts about BISAC codes here and here). This agenda involves an attempt to control the marketplace: what kind and quantity of literary Art is sold, for what price, to whom, and where. (This is only human nature, as the literary gurus and gatekeepers fight for their own pieces of the F³ pie.)
Literary conventions do tell potential readers what may be expected, in general, of the different versions (known as "genres") of the F³ story that are available in the marketplace of Written Art; nevertheless, the boundaries of such expectations must, of necessity, be permeable. For example, the defining outcome of a love story that's in the "romance" genre of the English literary tradition, eventually evolved from the exclusive and stringently imposed "Happily Ever After," to include the equivocal but more realistic "Happy For Now."
But to insist that authors adhere strictly to the conventions of a particular genre (or to suggest that they should limit their production of stories to only one genre), is to inappropriately apply the rules of a Craft to an Art. The genre of a craft depends on the function that a crafted object is intended to serve. The conventions of basketry (coiled, split, wicker, and plaited) are weaving techniques adapted to the material used to make a basket, and their employment is affected by the precise use to which the basket will be put. But a basket is meant to be a porous container: it won't hold water, unless an impermeable liner is added to it (such as a layer of clay, or a plastic bag), and even then, it will still be a basket; it can never be a bucket.
In contrast, the purpose of Art is to communicate, and the boundaries between Art forms frequently blur. A painting may consist of so many layers of pigment that it assumes the form of a sculpture in low relief. The words of concrete poetry also evoke a visual image. There can be many layers of significance to a story, and like Irish Firebrands, such a work may cross several genre lines. Writing, as a work of Art, will communicate anything its author wants to communicate, in whatever form or appearance its author chooses to give it.
A proper understanding of literary conventions (Rule #5 of The 7 Reasonable Rules of Writing), is that they can serve as storytelling prompts for writers, and as signposts for readers in search of directions to explore for intellectual and/or emotional reading experiences. But at no time should conventions constrain Artistic creativity. Authors are Artists, free to create what they will, and to cross genre lines at whatever point they choose, whether within the body of a particular work, or across the corpora of their creations.
* This could make seanchaí the origin of the names Chauncey and O'Shaunessey.


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Born in Los Angeles, Crouch became active in the civil-rights movement while still in junior high school. After graduating from high school, he attended two junior colleges in the Los Angeles area but has no degrees – a fact that marks his life's work as even more extraordinary. While pursuing his studies, Crouch worked for a poverty program in East Los Angeles, teaching literacy. In August 1965, Crouch witnessed the Watts Riot firsthand while working as a playwright in both Studio Watts and the Watts Repertory Theatre Company. He taught at the Claremont Colleges in California from 1968 to 1975. Moving to New York in 1975, Crouch worked as a staff writer for the Village Voice until 1988.
Of central significance to Crouch as a writer was his apprenticeship and close friendship with two extraordinary figures, Ralph Ellison and Albert Murray. In Crouch's words, these two writers "brought it all back home. They pulled in all of the highest intellectual aspirations and achievements from the world over then combined them with the democratic complexities so inherent to our nation."
Crouch is the author of four collections of essays, the first two of which were nominated for National Book Critics Circle awards: Notes of a Hanging Judge (1990); The All-American Skin Game, or Decoy of Race (1995); Always in Pursuit (1998); and a book of essays on identity, The Artificial White Man (2004). He also authored the novel Don't the Moon Look Lonesome (2000); the book One Shot Harris (2002), introducing a collection of photographs by Charles "Teenie" Harris, the legendary news photographer for the Pittsburgh Courier; and with Playthell Benjamin, he co-wrote Reconsidering the Souls of Black Folk (2003).
His writing has appeared in Harper's, The New Yorker, Vogue, Downbeat, Partisan Review, The New Republic, The New York Times and elsewhere. He has been a commentator for "60 Minutes,"has guest-hosted The Charlie Rose Show and has appeared as a guest on a number of talk shows, including "Nightline," "The Tony Brown Show," "Oprah Winfrey" and "Charlie Rose."
He has served since 1987 as artistic consultant for jazz programming at Lincoln Center and is a founder of the jazz department known as Jazz at Lincoln Center. He is also executive vice president of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation.
In addition to writing his syndicated editorial column, Crouch authored Kansas City Lightning, a biography of Charlie Parker.
Crouch lives in New York City.


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Sonya Bekkerman
Co-Founder & CEO
Sonya has over 15 years experience in the art world from Sotheby's auction house. She joined the firm in 2000 after receiving her MA in Art History from Williams College. After becoming Vice President of the 19th Century European paintings department in 2004, Sonya created and established the Russian art market in the U.S. Sonya is a delegate for the Wexner Foundation and Vice President of Divine Love World Charity, which supports humanitarian giving in Southern India.
Saul Ingram
Co-Founder & CEO
Saul has been in the art world for almost twenty years and has a deep knowledge of art and the global art market with a particular emphasis on contemporary art. Saul joined Sotheby's in 1997, remaining there for 16 years. He was Managing Director of Contemporary Art and a part of Sotheby's European management team. Saul spearheaded some of the most amazing, landmark auctions in art history, including both Damien Hirst auctions and the (RED) sale.
Ayelet Elstein
Chief Revenue Officer
Ayelet ran the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel (BFAMI), a non-profit supporting educational programs and acquisitions for museums in Israel. Prior to that, she spent 15 years in the Enterprise Software business where she drove growth with large multinational corporations. She is a board member at Artangel and chairs their Development Committee and is an avid supporter of emerging art and contemporary and dance.
Emily Kodama
Director of Client Relations
Emily worked in the Russian Department at Sotheby's New York from 2005 to 2014, and her career there developed through a variety of different roles, from administrative tasks to research to specialist and head of the North American operations in the department. She's personally managed relationships with top collectors, art institutions and foundations. Her background is also in music, which lends an added dimension to perspectives on visual art.
Rachel Bekkerman
Marketing & Content Manager
Prior to joining TondoArt, Rachel worked as an Account Executive at one of New York's leading PR firms. There she provided strategic communications support to clients across consumer technology, retail, healthcare and public affairs sectors. Rachel has also held positions at top luxury goods brands and participated in Sotheby's Floater Program. She graduated from New York University in 2013 with a degree in Art History and a minor in Communications.


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I wasn't planning on spending a day and a half turning around an op-ed. But when editors from certain venues call, I jump. Some opportunities are just too good to turn down.
Colleagues—especially, often, academics—sometimes ask me how it's possible to turn something around with the speed that today's media requires. So I thought I'd break it down, blow by blow, in an effort to demystify the process and show how it is possible to hop on the news when you're ready with expertise—even on a day when you have other things planned. I hope this helps!
(A note of gratitude: I could not have made this happen had my babysitter not been flexible and able to stay that extra hour. Thank you, Erica. This one's for you.)
Day 1
1:01pm – I check my email before walking into a restaurant where I'm slated to meet a colleague for lunch. There's an email from an editor from national news outlet, inviting me to write—quickly!—an opinion piece of 500-700 words on a general topic she suggests. I haven't written for this outlet before. I know what this opportunity means. I get fired up, order a Caesar salad with egg, then email the editor to say that I could file a draft by end of day tomorrow and ask whether that would work. That time frame feels realistic, given what else I have slated for that day (specifically, this lunch, a short meeting, a hospital visit, and a babysitter to relieve at 6pm).
1:40pm – I receive a second email from the editor. It's a hot topic and they'd really like to run it tomorrow morning. Could I file it today? I tell her I can get it to her later tonight. The editor asks for my approach, my thesis. I tell her I'll get back to her with it soon.
2:15pm – I walk my colleague back to her office, have a brief meeting while there concerning other topics, then read a number of online articles related to the op-ed topic from my colleague's office. I formulate my angle. It's a topic I've thought a lot about before receiving this particular invitation today, and it doesn't take me long to know where I stand.
4:10pm – I email the editor a paragraph and some bullet points.
4:12pm – The editor emails back to say "great."
4:30pm – I call the babysitter, realizing that I'm not going to make it to the hospital to visit my friend and make it home at 6pm. She says she can stay a little late. I race to the subway and go visit the friend, 30 weeks pregnant and on bedrest, picking up Haagen Dags and chocolate bars on my way.
4:50pm – One block from the hospital, I email a savvy colleague my angle to ask if she's seen any other articles on the overall topic I should read. She sends me a helpful link.
4:55pm – I visit with my friend. We commiserate about bedrest (I was on bedrest when pregnant too).
5:45pm – I outline the piece on the subway home.
7:00pm – I arrive home, late for the babysitter, and apologize profusely. I read Goodnight Moon to my toddler twins and begin easing them into sleep.
7:30pm – Toddlers are out. I get to work fleshing out a full draft, consuming half a bag of Oreos to stay awake (all the while reminding myself: I really must learn to like coffee one day).
10:30pm – I send the completed draft to a trusted reader, whose opinion I deeply respect. While awaiting her feedback, I insert links. She sends her feedback, with tweaks, swiftly. She likes it. I breathe a sigh of relief.
10:45pm – I incorporate my reader's feedback and send the draft to two more readers who I know are still awake, then incorporate their feedback as well.
11:00pm – I send the draft to editor, thank her for this opportunity, and tell her how energizing it was to write.
Day 2
9:05am – I email to confirm that the editor has received draft. The editor thanks me for the quick turnaround. She's just sitting down to her desk and will have edits for me soon. She asks about my availability this morning to make changes. I tell her I'm available!
9:30am – I reluctantly cancel plans to meet an old friend in the city for a writing date long-scheduled for today. I don't want to be on the subway when editor responds, in case there are questions we need to resolve by phone. I wipe my slate clean for as much as the day as I can.
9:45am – The editor and I chat via phone about the need to flesh out some details here and there. She braces me for heaps of edits, reassuring me that they are "garden variety". I tell the editor I love to be edited (because honestly, I do) and I promise not to panic when I see her revision.
10:00am – I leave the toddlers with my husband, who happens to off for the day (holiday weekend) and therefore available for the handoff to the babysitter in an hour. I'm ready to go.
10:30am – Astonishing breaking news has hit. I email the editor to check in. She explains that she's been diverted by the breaking news but is now returning to my piece.
11:27am – The first round of edits come in, with a gracious note to please tweak and adjust or push back as necessary.
11:33am – I email the editor that the edits all make sense (which they do), thank her for her thoughtfulness, and set about filling in the gaps.
12:42pm – I send the editor the revised draft, with all holes filled but one. I call her to make sure the revise works. She asks that I address the remaining hole.
1:35pm – After a second search, I email the editor that there is very little out there I can access today that would help fill said hole. She emails back ok. I make sure she has my bio. I tell her I'm going to be away from my computer, in a meeting, until 4:15pm but reachable via cell and email anytime.
2:00pm – I enter the meeting, checking email every 10 minutes or so (oh, the obsession!)
2:24pm – I start getting antsy, as I haven't heard from the editor and know that she wanted the piece to go live as early as possible.
2:50pm – She emails back that she's been diverted again due to the breaking news story from the morning and will let me know where we stand when she can.
2:51pm – I start wondering whether the piece will indeed go up today, or whether it might be killed, and start brainstorming alternate outlets. I'm invested.
3:19 – Editor kindly reassures me it will go up today; it's just a normal upended day, due to the breaking news. The piece now goes to the Standards and Practices desk, and she may have more questions after that.
5:10pm – The editor emails that the piece has cleared the Standards and Practices reviewer. She asks me to eyeball the final changes that she made, based on the S&P review.
5:23pm – I make the case for the reinsertion of some links that were taken out during the last edit but approve all else. The links go back in.
5:59pm – The op-ed goes live. I send the url to my network, tweet, and race home to the babysitter.
7:00pm – Once the twins are down, I network the piece around a bit more. The negative comments start pouring in, as do the Facebook "recommends." It's Shabbat, and my husband and I try hard not to check the site every five minutes…but it's hard. My op-ed is the lead opinion piece and makes it to the homepage.
And so it goes – a day and a half in the life of an op-ed.


text:
Gratitude Practice for Creativity & Vitality
1. What specifically is working right now that is supporting you?
2. What intrinsic value does that have in your life?
3. Right now, how do you feel about that?
4. Take time to savor this experience.
This can extend to a practice that will develop habitual resourcefulness: designate a time each day to ask yourself the following questions, following each with steps #2-4 above:
A. What did someone do today to make my life more wonderful?
B. What did I do today to make my life more wonderful?
C. What did I do today to make someone's life more wonderful?
D. What did someone do in the past that continues to contribute to me?
E. What is something someone did for someone else that touches you deeply?


text:
Enough for Kindergarten
I'm a mess.
So this week, huge milestones were reached in my house.
Noah started kindergarten and Aidan turned 4.
And then I died.
Not really. But almost.
It's silly, really. I know that these things in and of themselves don't mean much in the grand scheme of things. Noah's only going one more morning a week than he was last year at preschool, and Aidan's not off to college yet. But the weight of emotion generated by both of these events is really just dragging me down!
Kindergarten really is a big deal.
He's got a desk, guys. It's for real.
He's so ready for kindergarten, and he's so nervous.
I think we're both feeling the tension that goes with him growing. He's a little bit anxious and wound up lately. He's more emotional, more skittish. He's processing things differently.
It's such a hard transition for me, too. To know that we're in school until he leaves me chokes me up every time I think about it.
We've been talking about what kindergarten and school in general will be like. We've discussed that the most important thing that we as parents care about, and that is that he is kind.
Not the best, not the strongest, fastest, or most intelligent.
Always kind.
We started talking about that last year in this post, but this year, it's becoming much more important.
Jesus asks us to first and foremost love.
Love people who don't love you back.
Love people who are different than you.
Love people who are hard to love.
Love people just because they are people.
Love is kind.
Kindergarten isn't so daunting to me because it means that Noah's growing up. I mean, that's part of it. But the most scary part of starting school is the idea that he's going out into the world without me there to protect him and guide him. Without me to pick him up after he falls, or, God help me, someone knocks him down.
I won't be there to remind him to love, and to make sure he feels loved if someone else isn't.
It's trusting that I've done a good job so far teaching him to be kind and compassionate.
Sending him to kindergarten is the first real test of my parenting, and I'm plagued with questions. All the words and lessons, reminders and teaching moments – did they take? Were they right enough? Strong enough?
All of his skills…did I teach him enough? Is he prepared enough?
Were the last five years productive enough to give him a good enough start?
Noah started school two days ago.
He didn't cry, and he sat down at his desk with a mix of trepidation and anticipation.
This morning was the third morning of dropping him off to start a brand new chapter in his life – somewhat alone.
As I watched him hop out of the car, grab his backpack, and run to line up with his new classmates, I was struck by how confident he had become. In three days, he'd figured out how to muster courage.
He'd become brave.
On his first day, my mom gave him a card that had a little blue stone in it to keep in his pocket every day to remind him that he is brave.
This morning I had to remind him to grab his stone. Pretty soon it will probably be lost, the lesson having been learned, rendering it unnecessary.
I'm starting to think that it just doesn't matter if I've done enough.
We're in it anyway.
And the truth is that I probably need that brave stone when he's done with it.
I need to learn to be brave and trust that Jesus is enough for Noah, and that it's never really been me in the first place.
Jesus will be more than enough for kindergarten and beyond.
Noah's absolutely perfect for kindergarten.
He's already kind and generous. He's a smart and curious kid that loves to learn. He loves with his whole heart. He's social and enjoys chatting with new people and being a part of a group.
He's ready, so I guess I'd better be, too.
Anyone have a brave stone I could borrow?
Please tell me that first days make you cry, too.
12 Comments
Mary Jeanabout 5 years ago
Hayley- I remember the day I sent Ty to kindergarten as if it was this morning. Seriously a bigger deal for us than them because of all the big picture stuff. But when I was worried that he's in school until he leaves me, I wish I'd known that he'd leave me and find you...because that would have put a lot of worrying to the side. Noah is more than prepared, from his parents and mostly from who he is. Waiting to see how you handle Aidan going next! xxxoooReply
Julieabout 5 years ago
I remember taking Sky to preschool and how after a few days he knew where his shoes went and where his cubby was and where he should go. It hit me that behind those doors was a life that was separate from me, that I didn't know where things went. He was growing away for me, and it pained me. But I am proud of the husband, father and man he has become. I like to think I had a small part in that.Reply
Jody Jacksonabout 5 years ago
Beautiful post.......he will do wonderfully! Proud mama moment with so many emotions mixed in.Reply


text:
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text: Michelle's permission granted, Reagan makes his way over to stand with her and Makenzie. "Ladies. Lovely though you both are, i was wondering if you might find my humble presence inoffensive, and if so, whether I might join you?" he flourishes a WAY over-the-top bow to punctuate his greeting, and a flirty smile is made harmless by just as over-done waggling eyebrows.


text:
Hop on over to Lisa's blog and follow the link to help her win the ConsumerCrafts.com Back-to-School Crafter's Challenge! All you have do is visit her blog and follow the link to Pinterest then Repin her beautiful project!!
A Mermaids Crafts: Halloween Mini Pages, Blog Hop Winner and a Requst...: Happy Friday!! I hope you have fun plans for the long weekend!! We are supposed to get anywhere from 5-7 inches of rain so that will put a ...
Friday, August 31, 2012
Feature Friday at The Aviary!
Happy Friday everyone!! I've got a quick post for you today because we're heading out for the Labor Day weekend but I wanted to let you know that I'm the guest artist over at The Aviary today. Here's a peak at my project:
Head on over to the Paper Wings Productions Blog to see the tutorial on this Day of the Dead tag. Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend! I'll be back on Tuesday :D
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Day of the Dead Mask
Hey friends! We've almost made it to the weekend and the end of the first week back to school. So far so good but I have to admit, yesterday was a rough day for me. I had three run ins with some bad juju but God got me through :D
Okay so when I was on vacation I picked up this paper mache mask. I started working on it on Monday night and finished it up on Tuesday. Here is what I came up with:
I really wasn't sure how this was gonna turn out because I've never done anything like this before. I stuck to my favorite colors and just went for it :D I'm still gonna work on incorporating this into something, just not sure what yet. I'm thing maybe on a canvas, we'll see......
I started by painting the base layer with gesso and then painted in the eyes with some Liquitex blue soft body acrylic.
Everything was done freehand with India Ink except for the little flowers. I used a stamp for those then just colored them in with the soft body acrylic.
You know I had to add a little book text ;D
Well I hope you like my Dia De Los Muertos mask. This is really different for me so I'd love to hear what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcomed, it helps me grow as an artist so don't be shy I have thick skin ;D
Have a Wonderful Day!!!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Homestead Handcrafts Update
Yesterday I had a chance to go by my little shop at Homestead and move things around a bit. I also took in my last canvas Little Bird, the fall pumpkins and the floral arrangement I made.
It's finally starting to look better. I was really needing to add more than just my painting to my display.
This is the top shelf, I think it still need some tweaking.
I have some painting on the side walls and below the table. Hopefully I'll figure out how to display the lower painting soon.
I've got some more Fall/Halloween projects in the works so hopefully I'll get them finished up soon so I can share them with you. Thanks so much for all your sweet comments on yesterday's post. They really made my day :D I'd also like to WELCOME Shivani to the blog. I'm so happy to have you following along!!
Have a Beautiful Day!!!
Posted by Norma Gomez at 12:00 AM 6 comments: Links to this post
Labels: fall, Homestead Handcrafts, Mixed Media
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Fall Pumpkins
I just love all the warm rich colors of fall and I'm itching to start decorating my house. So I'm gearing up by starting on some projects for my shop.
I applied strips of book text to the taller pumpkin and then some gesso to both to prep them for painting.
I used various shades of yellow, orange, copper and brown in fluid and soft body acrylics. I drew in the scrolls freehand with black 3-D Gloss Enamels (love that stuff).
I thought they'd look good with "Little Bird" so I created a little vignette. After I took this photo, I ended up making a fall floral arrangement to go with them but it was too dark to get a good pic. I'm taking all of these projects down to Homestead this week.
Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Mark Your Calenders!
Hey there friends! I hope you all had a wonderful day and fabulous weekend. I'm a bit off schedule because today was my son's first day of school. My DH took the day off so we could both take him to school this morning and after that it was off to the dealership to get my brakes fixed. Luckily it didn't take all day so we had a little to browse HomeGoods, Kirklands and a local Antique Mall. It's been a while since my DH and I had a day all to ourselves so it was really nice. I found some awesome vintage suitcases to use in my booth over at Homestead. One was even in my favorite shade of blue.
Okay so I don't know if you heard already but the fabulous and super talented Heather Lynn is having another Owl themed Blog Hop in September!
I'm so honored to be participating in this hop with so many talented people.
Be sure to save the date and join us!!
Have a wonderful day friends!! I'll be back tomorrow with some fall projects I just completed, take care!!
Posted by Norma Gomez at 5:47 PM 3 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Blog hop
Friday, August 24, 2012
Little Bird - Mixed Media Canvas
I finally finished the 9x12 canvas that I showed you last week. This one had me stumped for a minute but I love the way it turned out. I have to warn you, this is a photo heavy post. There are just so many layers to this canvas and I wanted to show you all the little details:
Let's get started on this canvas, shall we!
I started by mixing up blue, yellow and white acrylic paints and applying layers of color until I had a shade I liked. I used Martha Stewart stencils for the dotted circles and Moroccan designs. I adhered the clouds I had on my workspace from my last project (trying to use up my scraps).
Next I applied a lilac wash over the entire canvas and added the bird stencil.
I added some scraps of patterned paper on the left and went over the Moroccan design to bring it back out and create a border.
This is where I left off on Sunday. I hand cut the flowers from a book and randomly stamped some PWP script. I also added a flower diecut that I colored with my oil pastels.
This is how I finished it out last night. I really wanted to enter this into Frilly and Funkie's challenge: Get Crafty With Canvas so I used a lot of canvas on this one but I ended up missing the deadline.
I used Spellbinders to cut my circles, embossed them with script and distressed them with TH inks. I also sprayed the smaller ones with Dylusions Ink. The sentiment and bird I used are from PWP Bird Melange stamp set. I used Stazon and stamped them on canvas.
The beautiful orange flowers are from Paper Studio and my stash.
This is a new kind of element for me that I'm really excited about. I was really inspired by the Industrial Chic mixed media jewelry elements I saw at Micheals so I've been buying all kinds of beads and charms to make my own. This is the first tassel I've made and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out :D
I tucked in some cardboard and canvas.
More canvas tucked in on top and a little washi tape too
I really love the way all these elements work together. I hope I've inspired you to mixed your media on your next creation. Well I've gotta take my youngest to get some new glasses today so I'm off to get than done. Thanks so much for stopping by today and be sure to let me know what you think :D
Have a wonderful, beautiful and creative day!!!
I entered this project in the following challenges:
DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Use a Flower.
DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Use a Flower.
Belli Challenge #150 - Winged Things
The Poodles Parlour - Winged Things
Berry71bleu's August Challenge - Wings
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Home Sweet Home
We made it back in town just in time for Meet the Teacher. My son didn't want to miss it so we headed back early this morning. We had a wonderful time at the beach and fishing. My DH even took me to all the local craft stores :D and I scored a ton of great clearance deals:
I picked up lots of canvas for 50% off at Joanne's and a some other K&Company goodies. Michaels had a ton of stamp sets on clearance for $2.99 so I picked those up. The paper mache items are from there too. I wanna get started on those fall and Halloween projects. Last stop was Hobby Lobby, they had a bunch of Spellbinders on clearance so I picked another one of those up along with a Crafters Workshop stencil, some twine, beads and a Cuttlebug embossing folder. Well, I'm gonna try and finish that canvas I started last week...Ciao!!!
Posted by Norma Gomez at 7:32 PM 4 comments: Links to this post
Labels: hobby lobby, joann fabrics, Michaels
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
PWP Altered Journal Guest Post
Hey friends, I hope you're having a wonderful day. I'm out on vacation with my family this week for one last bit of summer fun before school kicks off next week. We just got back in from doing a little fishing and I checked in for my guest spot over at PWP and low and behold there it was, lol. I've been dying to share the projects I made for Paper Wings Productions with you and today I get to show you one! Here's a little peek but you'll have to hop on over to PWP to see the whole post!
One more thing before I go:
WELCOME TERESA JAYE!!! Thank you so much for joining us, I'm so happy to have you :D
One more thing before I go:
WELCOME TERESA JAYE!!! Thank you so much for joining us, I'm so happy to have you :D
Monday, August 20, 2012
Happy Monday!
Hey there, hope you had a wonderful weekend. We went bowling, played laser tag and finished up our back to school shopping. Then we decided it would be fun to head out to the beach one last time before summer ends. So we left late last night and got here around midnight.
Yesterday was also vendor night at Homestead. That's when they stay open after closing time so you so you can change things up without being in the customer's way. My DH helped me switch out my table top and add a new hutch. I took some pics to share but I think I left my camera back home cuz I can't find it anywhere.
Well, since I forgot my camera I won't be posting much this week. For some reason when I upload pics from my phone, they don't come out good. Here is a pic of a beautiful bridge we crossed last night coming out here (see how its real blurry)
Welcome Tricia Too!! I'm so glad you stopped by and decided to follow along :D
Well I'm off to start my day, have a great one!!
Posted by Norma Gomez at 9:41 AM 4 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Homestead Handcrafts, vacation
Friday, August 17, 2012
Sneak Peek Friday!
Hey Friends! I'm so glad it's Friday :D Today I have a few things to show you. I haven't completed the last canvas I started but I'd thought I share a peek of what I'm doing:
This is what I have so far, hopefully I'll get a chance to finish it up over the weekend. I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this one but I'm sure it'll come to me once I start working on it again.
Next up is my haul from yesterday!
Next up is my haul from yesterday!
I took my youngest shoe shopping yesterday. We didn't find any but I did namage to find some supplies, lol. Seriously though, we went into the shoe store and I had my 20 mth old grandson with us and no stroller so that didn't go well. I decided we're just gonna have go shoe shopping when I'm not babysitting. So we'll have to get it done sometime next week, this weekend is tax free shopping and I hate going out is those big crowds. Anyway the area I was in has the best grouping of stores. They have Target, Toys R Us, World Market, TJ Maxx, Pier 1, Kirklands, Michaels, Hobby Lobby and tons more but those are my favorites. So after the shoe debacle we went to TJ Maxx and I scored those awesome Martha Stewart and EK punches for $3.99. Next up was Hobby Lobby and they had a bunch of Spellbinders on clearance for $14.99 so I picked up the scalloped circles. I wanted all of them but I was a good girl and only got one (your welcome honey).
Well folks, have a fabulous weekend!! Hope you get a little creative fun time in because it's good for the soul ;D Thanks for stopping by!
Posted by Norma Gomez at 10:02 AM 12 comments: Links to this post
Labels: martha stewart crafts, Mixed Media, shopping, spellbinders
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Hi there, I hope you're having a great week! I've got a real quick post for you today because I have a lot of paperwork to get done. So lets get to it shall we:
I've started working on my Halloween "BOOs", I just love leaving little treats for my friends :D This year I'm trying to get a head start because I wanna take some down to Homestead. I'm hoping they'll be hot sellers ;D
Here's a closer look at that cute little owl:
Well, I better get to work now. Have wonderful day and thank you so much for stopping by!!
I entered this project in Make it Monday Challenge #105
Posted by Norma Gomez at 12:29 AM 14 comments: Links to this post
Labels: halloween
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Organizing Part II
Happy Hump Day!
Okay so today I'm sharing what I put into the new Alex drawer set on the right. This side is not nearly as organized.
Okay so today I'm sharing what I put into the new Alex drawer set on the right. This side is not nearly as organized.
The top drawer still holds all of my Dylusions, TH Distress Inks and now I have room for my embossing powders too.
The second drawer has my alphabet stamps, clear stamp blocks and other stamping supplies.
This drawer has paints, stencils and other items that I use to create texture on my projects.
This one is my craft junk drawer. It has all kinds of embellishments that I don't know where else to put.
The bottom drawer has some ribbons but I think this might change because I don't really use ribbons to often. I'd really like to have my stamps in these drawers so I'm sure I'll be doing more rearranging over the next few days. Its so hard to get things just right, lol.
Well, thanks so much for coming by today :D I'd love to hear how you store your stamps or any other suggestions you might have.
Have a beautiful day :D
Well, thanks so much for coming by today :D I'd love to hear how you store your stamps or any other suggestions you might have.
Have a beautiful day :D
Posted by Norma Gomez at 12:35 AM 4 comments: Links to this post
Labels: art studio, ikea, organization
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Over the last couple of weeks I've been trying to reorganize my studio to come up with a layout that works best for me. So today I thought I'd share a little bit of what I've done so far.
We moved into this home over 2.5 years ago and it took me almost 2 years to really start using my new studio. I really loved my last studio an this one just didn't feel inspiring to me. I think its because it has carpet and I was so afraid of staining it with paint. I eventually got over it and yes I did stain the carpet, lol. The other problem was the lighting so my DH installed track lights for me. It still has lighting issues but it's much better. I like to work sitting down so I'm trying to bring my supplies in closer to me. So yesterday I rearranged and added another ALEX drawer set to my workstation.
Excuse the mess on my desk :D I haven't cleaned up after my last project. See the red box in back of my ottoman, it holds fabric and has my old sewing machine on top.
Okay....so, you wanna see inside my drawers?!!
These are the drawers on my left:
This is where I keep all my pens, markers, Exacto knifes and adhesive.
I just set this drawer up yesterday, it has all of the new jewelry things I've been buying lately.
These are little odds and ends. It also has a sliding organizer on top.
I found this organizer at my local grocery store. It slides back and forth nice and easy :D
These are all my brads and buttons.
The last drawer holds all my rubons.
I don't wanna bombard you with too many pics so that's it for today. I'll be back tomorrow to show you what I put in the new Alex draw set on the right. If you have any organizing tips or suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!!!
Posted by Norma Gomez at 9:30 AM 11 comments: Links to this post
Labels: art studio, ikea, organization
Monday, August 13, 2012
Heather Lynn's Big 250 Follower Giveaway!
Check out Heather Lynn's 250 follower giveaway:
Isn't that awesome?! I don't know bout you but I'd love to win this blog candy :D All you have to do is visit her blog, become a follower (if your not already), leave a comment and for more chances to win share on your blog and on FB, easy peasy!!!
Happy Monday
Thank you all for helping me pick out a new banner yesterday! I really appreciate your input :D
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We did some back to school shopping and watched the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie. My son loves those books so it was a real treat for him. Today I'm heading out to IKEA. I've been doing a lot of organizing in my studio lately and want to replace the legs on my workspace with am Alex drawer set. Maybe I'll post some updated pics of my studio soon.
Later friends, have a wonder day!!
Posted by Norma Gomez at 12:00 AM 8 comments: Links to this post
Labels: ikea
Sunday, August 12, 2012
New Banner ?
Hey Bloggie Friends! Hope you're having a great weekend :D
I need your help! I changed up the banner and need your opinion and be honest please. What do you think, Yay or Nay?
Is it too busy, maybe tone it down a bit or just leave it the way it was?
Please let me know what you think!
A big warm WELCOME to Stacey & Miriam!!!
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and joining in on the fun!!
I really appreciate all of you :D
UPDATE: 3rd Option
A big warm WELCOME to Stacey & Miriam!!!
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and joining in on the fun!!
I really appreciate all of you :D
UPDATE: 3rd Option
I think I like this one the best. What do you think?
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text:
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Worried about the future
5 comments:
- Tina said...
Oh Lisa I wish I had some advice for you. Wow.Would moving to Florida involve selling your house etc? All of it just seems so scary and a little closer to reality than i like to be. I'm keeping you both in my prayers and sending you peaceful vibes.
- November 11, 2009 at 5:53 AM
- Shannon said...
man, Lisa. Such hard decisions. I am sorry you guys have to go through this.
- November 11, 2009 at 6:12 AM
- Piper said...
Lisa, I'm sorry you have to go through all of this. You and Gess have dealt with so much lately.
My advice, FWIW, is to make sure that you seek out something for YOU in whatever decision you make. If you stay in WA, maybe that means working out some sort of system where you have guaranteed help a couple of days a week with managing the house and/or Gess' health. I don't know if you guys could afford to hire someone or if you could just set up a rotating schedule of friends who come by one day a week ready to help with whatever needs to be done, but it sounds as if you could use a half day off a week for some serious me time!
If you DO end up considering moving, I would say that before you go make sure there's one thing you're excited about just for you. Again, it doesn't matter whether this is a job, a vow to take up a new hobby or sport in your new surroundings, a house or apt that you fell in love with, or just the thought of being able to go to the beach without getting rained out. I guess my point here is that regardless of whether you stay or go, I think maybe even a small step to stand up and say "hey, CF, this is still MY life and I'm still going to do something I love" could make all the difference.
Sorry that was so long and might have made zero sense. I hope you find peace with whatever decision you make!
- November 11, 2009 at 7:03 AM
- NoExcuses said...
Oh tough decision.
Take care lisa!
- November 11, 2009 at 7:21 AM
- CowTown said...
Ugh, I'm sooo sorry Lisa you guys are going through all this. I wish there was an easy answer I could just blurt out here, but this is a tough one for sure.
Thinking of you!
- November 13, 2009 at 7:21 AM