Paper Back Swap--Free Books!

Have you heard of Paper Back Swap yet? It's been around awhile, but it's new to me and a really cool way to get books--free! Hey you can't beat free now can you.

Basically how it works is you sign up and then post your books---hardcover or paperback--and then for every book that someone requests of yours you get 1 credit to spend. Each book costs 1 credit. When someone requests a book from you, you pay the shipping. When you request a book from someone then they pay the shipping, so they figure it all works out in the wash eventually. A good deal I think!

When you join if you post 10 books then you get 2 credits to get started. I posted 10 books, got my 2 credits and then within 24 hours I had my first book request, so when that reader receives her book from me I get another credit to spend. Woohooo! I've been wanting the Elm Creek quilt novel series by Jennifer Chiaverini, so that's what I'm using my credits on and I already have my first 2 books ordered. I tell ya this is really fun! I think I'll go through the Misters books and see how many I can "trade". LOL!

Oh and if you decide to sign up if you'll click on the picture above or on the icon in my right sidebar and use "hazelruthe" as the referrer then I earn a credit for that and you can do the same thing after you join.

It's just one big happy circle of reading!

It's Here!

It's here! It's here! My favorite magazine, Where Women Create! And it's fabulous as always! Filled to the brim with lots of eye candy and inspiration! This magazine never disappoints.

As always there are fabulous artists in it like Mary Engelbreit and oh so many others!

Nicol Sayre (one of my absolute faves!) is in there and what a beautiful studio she has! Such treasures and inspiraton!

Ruth Rae an absolutely fabulous artist and another fave is also in this issue and Ruth has a super cool studio filled with sooo many fun things to create and play with!

Joanna Figueroa another great artist is also in this issue. Joanna is actually fairly new to me and that's another thing I love about Where Women Create is that I can meet artists that I'm not familiar with or don't know much about and learn about them and their works.

When I first picked it up I went immediately to Nicol and Ruth's pages and drooled over them and then quickly flipped through oohing and ahhing the others, not knowing where to start! I'm now waiting for the drool to dry, so I can read the rest of the magazine!

I'm Back to Blogging & A Magazine Review

I’m finally back and feeling much better. Not quite 100%, but getting there. The surgery was a bit extensive, but everything turned out benign, so needless to say I’m very happy about that! So it’s back to blogging! I feel like I’ve missed so much as I read everyone’s blogs out there and boy have you all been busy!

In the meantime I’ve been sitting, sitting, sitting, watching movies, working on some crafty projects and reading lots of magazines, so I thought I’d start with a magazine review today and share just a few of my favorites. I’m a real magazine junkie (always have been) and I can easily spend $50 on magazines a month--although I don’t always--only sometimes. Shhh…that’s our little secret now.

First up is Romantic Homes. What a gorgeous cover! Pure sugar fairytale land! I truly enjoyed this issue, but then again Romantic Homes always puts out a great magazine. Lots of holiday decorating ideas!

(Make sure to click on the photos to make them bigger)

Here’s a peek at the home of Cathy Scalise. I want a room like this! She’s the one that created the gorgeous sugar fairytale land. Be sure to check out her gorgeous blog!

Next up is Mary Jane’s Farm magazine. I’ve only recently re-discovered Mary Jane’s magazine. Years ago it more like a catalog of her product, but now it’s full fledged magazine and packed full of ideas, tips, articles, projects and sprinkled with wonderful vintage images and other fun stuff.

Here’s a look at one of the many projects in the Dec/Jan issue and there are plenty more, but you’ll have to buy the magazine to find out!

Now for my absolute very favorite magazine…..Where Women Create. Absolutely fabulous, fantastic, inspiring and chock full of eye candy! It’s a bit spendy at 14.99, but it is well worth the price!

This is it’s Premier issue and is the creation of Jo Packham. It’s all about the spaces and places where women create and is a quarterly magazine--next one is due out Feb 1. I can’t wait!

Here’s a peek at a few of my favorites (every page was my favorite!)…

Sally Jean Alexander's room is what I would like m y sewing room to look like when it grows up. I love the soft colors and all of the little spots and cubbies for organizing. Not to mention all the pretties. Visit Sally Jean's Blog.

Mary Jane Butters (of Mary Jane’s Farm magazine)--very vintage and everything is being reused and repurposed. That’s a common theme through most of these rooms. Using what you have and making it work. I love that!

And Shelli Gardner’s stamping studio--oh my! What a dream place to work in and all of the wonderful work stations. Just look at this room!

You really must treat yourself to Where Women Create. It’s guaranteed to make you drool and to motivate you to want to either create your own space or to implement new ideas to your already existing space and isn’t that what we truly want from the magazines we read. A good magazine is a true joy!

Artful Blogging, Inspirations & Sew Somerset

Artful Blogging, Inspirations and Sew Somerset are 3 of the most gorgeous magazines filled with the most wonderous things! You will need a drool rag and a pen to add to your wants list. I have always been a magazine nut and this week I'm in hogs heaven over these 3 magazines--and it's an expensive heaven at nearly $15 a pop! But hey we're worth it right!


If you haven't found the Artful Blogging magazine you're really missing a treat. I missed the first one and need to back track and get myself one. This is the 2nd issue of Artful Blogging and it's choc full of wonderful blogs to visit and gorgeous photos.

Here are just 2 new blogs that I've found through it--and I haven't even scratched the surface!

Rebecca Sower Rebecca's blog is filled with gorgeous photos of her creative mixed media altered art style pieces. Definitely a site to get some inspiration going.

Marilyn Healey More inspiration and gorgeous photos galore of her wonderful talent. Don't forget the drool rag!



As I was standing at the magazine counter in Barnes & Noble drooling over the Artful Blogging magazine I just happened to find this magazine Inspriations tucked up beneath the shelf and it all but jumped into my hands! It is filled with the most absolute gorgeous embroidery and needlework projects.


See what I mean! Just look at this gorgeous pincushion. It is designed by Kris Richards of Australia. I couldn't find any internet info on Kris, but she did seem to have projects in several other issues of Inspirations Guess I'll just have to buy the rest of them! I don't know about you, but the Australians have some of the most beautiful sewing and crafting magazines filled with such a unique and beautiful style that is vintage and feminine and whimsical even.



And finally I got a hold of Sew Somerset! I had wanted this magazine and could not find it anywhere--locally that is. I finally found this one on ebay and snagged it! It too is filled with gorgeous projects and tons of inspiration. There's another issue coming out in June and I'll be camping out at Barnes & Noble til I get my copy!

Just 2 of the many, many awesome blogs I found in this magazine are.....

Sue Bleiweiss who has the neated project for a button box and sewer's padfolio.

My Artistic Side she has a project for a photo hanger using a vintage image and fun trims.

All of these magazines are absolutely filled to the brim with projects and inspiration and even if a few aren't your particular style of choice of medium to work in they certainly inspire new ideas and get the creative juices flowing and after all isn't that what it's all about. I need some Advil now--they've had my mind in such a whirl that I have a headache!

I would like to add that I am in no way responsible for any new addictions or the amount of money that you will spend caused by reading this post--just don't say I didn't warn you. That Stampington site is highly addictive. My next issue to hunt down it the Altered Couture or maybe it should be the Belle Armoire or maybe.............

Crowns & Tiaras

It's finally here! I finally got a copy of Crowns & Tiaras by Kerri Judd and Danyel Montecinos and I love, love, love it! You must get a copy, you really, really must! There are 34 fabulous crowns & tiaras with beautiful color photos and instructions with supply lists!

Now whod'a thunk you could make a crown as elegant as this out of chicken wire and....well you'll have to buy the book to find out the rest. Pam Garrison is of course the queen on the front cover and there are 9 awesome contributing artists! Buy the book. You won't be dissapointed!

This is one of my favorites by Anna Corba Very whimsical and elegant..........

..and then this one by my all time favorite Nicol Sayre Absolutely gorgeous and so creative!

Wouldn't these be wonderful gifts for friends, sisters & mothers for birthdays, mother's day or just because or even for a collection of our own! We are all queens and princesses, so wear your crowns proudly!