Formerly an aquatic toxicologist contracted to the
U.S. Army and currently a freelance reporter, Southern author Maggie Toussaint
loves writing mysteries. She’s published ten novels which blend mystery and
romantic suspense. Dime If I Know is
her latest mystery release. Her new paranormal mystery series kicks off in May
with Gone and Done It. However,
today Maggie joins us to discuss her love of arts and crafts and offers
directions for Cinnamon Stick Ornaments. Learn more about Maggie and her books
at her website and blog.
Cinnamon Stick Ornaments
I love arts and crafts
almost as much as I love writing mysteries. When my kids were little, I’d be
doing the craft project long after they left the table. Dog years ago, a fellow
crafter showed me how to make these cinnamon stick ornaments, and they have
become a tradition at our house. Every few years, I dust this idea off and create
a new batch for family and friends. Instead of the pricey cinnamon sticks in
jars at the grocery store, you can buy them in bulk at craft stores. Even the
bulk-packaged sticks smell heavenly.
Materials:
Cinnamon Sticks (I use 4 to an
ornament)
String, yarn, ribbon, lace, mini-garland,
and/or wire
Embellishments (small
decorative items)
Hot glue gun
Begin by heating up your
glue gun. Glue two cinnamon sticks together, then add two more (forming a
bundle,) one at a time so that you have a stack of cinnamon sticks.
Glue a piece of
string/yarn/ribbon/lace/mini-garland around the sticks.
Add whatever embellishments
you desire. Ideas can be as diverse as your creativity. You might select mini
pine cones and a spring of evergreen. You might go for bells or old earrings or
glittered sprigs of plastic plants.
Anything goes, but secure it with glue.
Your ornament only needs a
hanger now. You can use a traditional ornament hook, or make a loop with a
length of anything.
TIP: After Christmas, seal
the cinnamon stick ornaments in a plastic bag or container so they’ll still be
fragrant next year.
Dime if I Know
Family traditions are often
the glue that holds a family together. In Dime
if I Know amateur sleuth, Cleopatra Jones is feeling somewhat adrift. She’s
got Mama and her girls, and a St. Bernard with puppies, but she wants to be
married again.
The thing is, her love
interest, sexy golf pro Rafe Golden, is happy with the status quo of dating.
While Cleo wrestles with her traditional sensibilities, Rafe is accused of
murdering a former girlfriend. Cleo’s as loyal as they come, and she rises to
the challenge of proving his innocence, only the deeper she digs, the more
dirty laundry gets aired.
She’s left to wonder if we
ever truly know the people we meet.
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