CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA -- IS IT ART OR VANDALISM?

One of the latest craft crazes to sweep the world is Yarn Bombing, also known as Yarn Storming, Guerilla Knitting, and Urban Knitting. Although technically illegal, whatever you call it, Yarn Bombing is non-permanent street art installations created by groups of knitting or crochet enthusiasts. Their goal is to personalize sterile public venues. 

Some believe the movement began in 2005 when Magda Sayeg, a Houston boutique owner, decided to craft a custom made cozy for her shop’s door handle. Others believe the movement began in the Netherlands in 2004. Either way, it’s swept around the world since, with the installations becoming more and more sophisticated.

Readers, have any of you come across Yarn Bombing? Or better yet, have any of you participated in a Yarn Bombing? Let's hear from you. -- AP

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY -- GUEST AUTHOR LINDA O. JOHNSTON

Today we welcome author Linda O. Johnston to Book Club Friday. Linda writes across several genres, but the one constant in her writing is that all her books somehow involve animals. Learn more about Linda at her website and the Killer Hobbies blog. -- AP 

When To Seek a Crafty Killer

What do you do when someone you like, and whose work you particularly admire, is accused of murder?

Well, in my new Pet Rescue Mystery Hounds Abound, the third in the series, my protagonist Lauren Vancouver jumps in to try to solve the crime and find out whodunit.

Hounds Abound revolves around Save Them All, a very special pet sanctuary, one where hard-to-adopt pets go to seek wonderful forever homes, but if none is forthcoming those senior or disabled animals can live out their natural lives in wonderful and loving surroundings.  Its founder, Bella Frankovick, is accused of murdering her ex-husband, and Lauren is sure she didn’t do it.   Lauren likes Bella and loves what she is doing to save needy animals, so of course she has to help.

Do places like Save Them All exist?  Yes!  I first heard of a local one near Los Angeles when I was in a local boutique grocery store and one of the people handing out food samples happened to mention it.  Of course my Pet Rescue Mystery mind started focusing on it, I did some research, and the result was Hounds Abound.

Since then, I’ve heard of other wonderful sanctuaries like that.  I volunteer as a dog adoption counselor at a caring, real shelter called Pet Orphans of Southern California.  Occasionally, a pet there has behavior or other issues that make it so difficult to adopt that it is taken lovingly to a new home--a sanctuary where it can live out its days with lots of wonderful care. 

One thing I’m particularly exited about at the moment is that I’m participating in a very real program: Read Humane™.   Berkley Prime Crime is an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.  Penguin has made a substantial donation to the Humane Society of The United States® in support of its Animal Rescue Team, and is also shipping 50,000 books starring furry friends, both dogs and cats, which encourage readers to learn more and donate to the Humane Society and its Animal Rescue Team.  Besides me, participating authors include Rebecca M. Hale, Alison Pace, Miranda James and Sofie Kelly--and I’m especially excited to report that the Read Humane spokesperson is Nora Roberts.  A new version of my first Pet Rescue Mystery Beaglemania has been printed with the special Read Humane seal on the front and information inside.

How about you--would you ever jump in to try to solve a mystery--or would you rather just read about them?

Thanks for joining us today, Linda! -- AP           

FASHION WITH TESSA -- COLOR BLOCKING

One of the hot fashion trends this year is Color Blocking. Color Blocking is the marriage of various bold, solid colors to coordinate an outfit. So how do you pull together a color blocked outfit? 

The easiest way is to find clothing and accessories that have already done the work for you by combining colors. However, if you think about a color wheel, it’s easy enough to pull together a great look on your own with separates you already own.

Think about the colors of the rainbow. Remember ROY G. BIV? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Find pieces in your wardrobe and from your accessories in these colors, then assemble them in a circle. Add any pinks between the violets and reds.

Now pair two bold neighboring colors from the color wheel together, like orange and yellow or red and violet. Or you can match complimentary colors together. Complimentary colors are those that are opposite each other on the color wheel, like orange and navy or yellow and violet.

If you’ve gone with neighboring colors for your first two colors, you can now accessorize with a third color. Choose a color from the opposite side of the color wheel from the colors already chosen. For instance, if you’ve chosen yellow and green as your first two colors, add pink as your third.

Don’t be afraid to go bold with color this year! Be daring! These are just suggestions. Experiment with your own variations, and consider adding a print scarf to the mix to pump the look up even more.

Thanks, Tessa. This is a great way to use what you already own but create an entirely new look. -- AP

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE - SIZE MATTER, AND SO DOES COLOR

Are you trying to lose weight and having trouble doing so? Here are two tricks you should try when it comes to eating less:

First, use a smaller plate. Have you noticed that over the years, not only have we super-sized our food choices, we’ve also super-sized our dinnerware. If you’ve bought new dishes over the last few years, you know what I mean. The cereal bowls, dinner plates, and dessert plates are all much larger than they used to be.

We tend to fill our plates when we serve ourselves. Use a smaller dinner plate or bowl, and you’ll fill it with less food, thereby eating less. And don’t worry about leaving the table hungry. You won’t miss that extra food. It’s a psychological thing going on. You’ve cleaned your plate; you’ve eaten enough.

According to the Small Plate Movement, you can drop 18 pounds over the course of a year just by reducing the size of your plate.

Another tip that works is to change the color of your dishes. A study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that people ate more when eating food served on a plate of the same color. So if you’re eating vanilla ice cream, don’t put it in a white bowl, and keep that chocolate cake off dark brown or black plates.

Great tips, Janice! Readers, what are some of your dieting tips? Let's hear from you. -- AP

COOKING WITH CLORIS -- GRILLED GUACAMOLE, PEAR AND CHEESE SANDWICH

Cloris loves to create unexpected combinations in recipes. Today she’s come up with a very unique grilled sandwich, but I can vouch for how delicious it is. -- AP

GRILLED GUACAMOLE, PEAR AND CHEESE SANDWICH

Ingredients:
sliced sourdough bread

guacamole

thinly sliced pear

part-skim sliced mozzarella cheese

Spread the guacamole on the bread. Layer the pears on the guacamole. Cover with slices of the cheese. Broil until cheese is brown and bubbly.

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--DRAWING ON GLASS

Here’s a craft that can be anything from super sophisticated to playfully whimsical, depending on your taste. And it’s easy enough for children to do with a bit of supervision.

When choosing an image, look for prints that will lend themselves to line art. You can download and print various images from your computer, or use a picture your child has drawn. Botanicals or Victorian etchings work well and look spectacular framed in a grouping in a dining room, bedroom, or bathroom. Fruits and vegetable prints ook good in a kitchen or dining room. For a baby’s room, download turn-of-the-century nursery rhyme art. For a child’s room, download and print coloring pages of their favorite cartoon characters.

When choosing colors for more sophisticated looks, go with white or silver markers and black or rich, dark colors for the paper. For more whimsical looks, choose a white marker with bright primary or deep pastel papers.

Materials: picture frame with glass, alcohol, desired image to fit within glass, DecoArt Glass Paint Marker in desired color, colored paper to fit within frame

NOTE: if working with a child, first tape the edges of the glass to prevent accidental cuts. Remove the tape after the paint is dry and before framing.

1. Clean the picture frame glass with alcohol.

2. Working on a hard, flat surface, place the glass over the image you’ve chosen. Keep in mind the final artwork will be in reverse, so if you want the piece to look like the picture you’ve chosen, print it in reverse.

3. Using the glass paint marker, outline the picture, being sure not to smear the paint as you work.

4. Allow the paint to dry at least four hours. Place glass into the frame with paint side facing in. Place the colored paper into the frame on top of the painted glass. Secure the frame backing in place.

THIS WEEK'S BOOK WINNER

Thanks to everyone who stopped by Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers this week and special thanks to our Book Club Friday guest, author Lillian Melendez. Lillian offered a copy of Dismantling Vindictiveness to one lucky reader who posted a comment this week. The winner is Liz. Please email your mailing address to anastasiapollack@gmail.com. I'll forward it to Lillian, and she'll send you your book.