Magic and Wonder Giveaway 2 (Open Internationally)

Hey guys! I'm back today with this month's second Magic and Wonder giveaway. Today I have another Etsy guest to introduce to you. Her name is Melody and she's from the Etsy store The Craft by Melody. Melody makes adorable crochet amigurumi dolls, often inspired by literary and pop culture characters such as these adorable Hobbits from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord Of The Ring. 

Find these adorable Hobbits here.

Throughout this post you'll find pictures of her other dolls, all the which have links to where you can find them down in the captions. Below you'll find the giveaway, followed by my interview with the very talented Melody. 

The Giveaway

Today, Melody is giving away one of her dolls as part of my September's Magic and Wonder Giveaways and the one she chose for the lucky winner is this cute mermaid doll she called Betta.

Find this mermaid doll here.

This giveaway is open internationally and will end on the 30th of September. The winner will be announced in the first week of October. 

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Also, I'd like to remind you that I'm currently hosting two Magic & Wonder giveaways. If you haven't already entered the other one, you can click here to participate.

Interview with Melody

Here's an interview I had with Melody, in which she tells us more about the magic behind her beautiful crochet dolls.

How did you start? Were you taught or inspired by someone?

I learned to do the basic crochet chain for friendship bracelets by my mother. I got back into crocheting 3-4 years ago to continue the tradition from my father’s side. My paternal grandmother, aunts, and the past generations of women in my family are/were crocheters. I am completely self taught via visual aids from YouTube and books.

 

How cute is this Jane Austen doll?! Find it here.

What was the first thing you ever crafted? How was the experience like?

The first doll I ever crafted was via a free pattern I found online. The experience was overwhelming; I was hooked on amigurumi from that day on. I look back, having created my own pattern now, and I see her (mom’s kept her) – and seeing this small voodoo like doll; it’s very humbling and inspiring.

What is your next art/craft project?

My next step is creating a whole new different doll pattern; she’ll look more humanoid and will be bigger, 12”. The first doll to be made with this pattern will be a mermaid of a different look, not the beloved Hans Christian Andersen image we all know.

Enid Blyton's Noddy. Find this doll here.

Do you have other interests/passions/hobbies apart from crafting?

I love reading, from classics like Pride & Prejudice and Mysterious Island to more modern books such as Dune, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Jurassic Park.

I like history, from the dawn of time to about the 1940s. Everything else is modern.

I LOVE SPACE! Total nerd right here haha. The universe is so inspiring and awe striking to me. I also love and am SUPER geeky about sci-fi shows – off the top of my head, Doctor Who and Star Trek are my 2 biggest fandoms. Needless to say if it’s sci-fi I probably saw it and liked it haha.

I’m also a bit of an adrenaline junkie; skydiving, hang gliding, white water raft, rock climbing, scuba diving, and roller coasters are just the few feathers in the cap.

Who are your favorite artists?
A few artists I like are James R. Eads, FinFolks, Jenevieve Broomall, Ciruelo, Ruth Thompson, Tommy Eliassen, John W. Waterhouse, Rembrandt, Filippo Brunelleschi, Norman Rockwell and Edmund Blair Leighton.

Find this Egyptian Goddess doll here.

What would you say to an aspiring artist or crafter who wishes to commercialize his or her creations?

Go for it, jump right in. The best part of crocheting, knitting, or any fiber art is that it's forgiving. 

Start small with basic materials you would get from a local craft store (support small businesses). Create a small inventory, 15-25 items, and sell to friends and family. I would say go online and see what others are selling - how it is similar, how it is different. With that, you can judge pricing, materials, networking via keywords, hashtags and social media branches. 

You can find free websites to create your online space where you can display and hone in on your craft. Blogs and social media like Facebook and Instagram are great things to get into. Create an Etsy account as a cyber-shop. 

Don't lose faith in yourself and in your art. Be realistic when you need to modify and revamp. If you're happy with the way your art looks, don't compromise pricing. 

Never tell others, especially buyers, your doubts, the flaws in your work, or if you feel down and out - always be happy and pepping because people want to see a confident handworking artist - even if you don't feel like it at times. 

Discover more about Melody and her crafted dolls at on her website by clicking here.

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Cover Art by Of Stacks and Cups via Pagemodo

A Tale For The Time Being by Ruth Ozeki - Book Review

Today I have an in-depth but spoiler-free review of A Tale For The Time Being for you. If you've read this book, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments about the things I've discussed here.

The Plot

One day, as she's walking along the beach, Ruth stumbles upon a strange package that has washed ashore. Inside, she finds the diary of a 16-years old Japanese girl. And thus, as she starts to read the diary, we discover through Ruth's eyes the story of this young girl called Nao.

** Despite the author and the character of Ruth sharing the same name and profession, this is not actually an autobiography.**

Illustration of Nao's Hello Kitty lunchbox swept away by the sea by Adam Fisher and found here. 

My Review

The Story

This book is very character-driven, relying more on character development than actual plot to move the story along. But despite the sparse elements of action, the narrative thread unfolded in a really nice pacing. 

Though the book has a few dark passages, the general narrative voice is often very witty and light. While you may not laugh aloud at every page, you will find yourself chuckling every now and then. Though it has a lot of dramatic elements, it's not a depressing book at all.

The Characters

Nao, the young girl writing in the diary, is by far my favorite character in the book. She narrates her story in a straightforward voice, occasionally laced with teen sarcasm and fantasy. Her playful way of going about her otherwise rather dramatic story often makes you wonder whether or not she's being entirely honest with you. Yet, while Nao isn't the most reliable of narrators, she certainly has one of the most interesting narrative voices in the book.

While I devoured the chapters narrated by Nao, I found those from Ruth's POV a bit slow. Her chapters were interesting enough but I just couldn't really connect with her character.

I loved reading about Nao's family and while her parents were hardly a happy duo, it was very interesting to read about them. However, when it comes to Ruth's side of the story, the cast of secondary characters were just okay. I could see why their presence in Ruth's story was relevant but I just didn't find them particularly interesting. Pesto the grumpy cat was probably the most interesting side character from Ruth's storyline. 

Ruth and Nao. Original illustration found here.

Another of my favorite characters though is Nao's great-grandmother, an old Japanese nun named Jiko. She is a fascinating character and the coolest nun I've ever read about, not that I read lots of books about nuns or anything. Despite being supposedly "104 years old", she really gets Nao in a way the girl's own parents can't. The parts where she dispersed cryptic but soothing words of advice to Nao were among my favorites. 

My second favorite narrator in this book was Haruki #1, Nao's great-uncle and Jiko's son, who died during WWII. Though we don't get to read about his thoughts and confessions until later in the book, these passages were really well-written and were among my favorites.

The Prose

The book has a light but well-written prose. Ozeki's writing flows pleasantly while being to the point, sparing the reader from overly lavish descriptions and unnecessarily complex sentences. She manages to make you both gasp and chuckle without going over the top with her prose. And yet, her writing is such that after a little while, you'll find it harder and harder to put down the book.

The Ending 

While Nao's diary doesn't quite give us a definitive conclusion to her story, we do get a few hints from other sources as to what happened to her following what we've discovered in the pages she wrote. So, while the ending does retain some level of mild ambiguity, it remains overall quite satisfying. 

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

The only things I didn't quite like in the book were Ruth's weird dream sequences. They just felt too weird and out of place. It was like quietly reading about mysterious diaries and Japanese nuns and have Haruki Murakami suddenly sneak up on you with lots of weirdness. Dream sequences are actually among my reading pet peeves because often, they don't quite add to the story. Except for that though, this book was really good and I'd fully recommend it.

Giveaway reminder

I hope you guys enjoyed this review. Let me know your thoughts down in the comments! Also, I'd like to quickly remind you of the giveaway I'm currently hosting. If you haven't entered the giveaway yet, you can do so by clicking here. Good luck!

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Magic and Wonder Giveaway 1 (Open Internationally)

Hey guys! This month I'm starting a new feature and this time, I'm having some guests over! I've always been a fan of art and creative ventures and so, I decided to feature Etsy sellers on my blog each month in order to promote their work. Each month I'll also have giveaways where one of you will be able to win a free product from the store of the Etsy seller I'm working with. 

I also thought that it would be fun to assign a theme to each month and for September, the theme is Magic and Wonder. I'll be hosting two giveaways in line with this theme, so make sure you visit my blog again for the second giveaway which is coming up soon. 

Today my Etsy guest is Audra from Mrs Sprocket's Trinkets. Audra is from Florida and makes steampunk handmade jewelry and other trinkets. Her one of a kind artwork is what first caught my eye. The first time I visited her store, it reminded me a bit of the atmosphere from the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Strange and beautiful at the same time. 

Interview With Audra 

Here's an interview I had with Audra, in which she talks about her early inspirations, her creations and her passion for Anime and Cosplay! You'll find the giveaway at the end of the interview. 

1. How did you start your craft?

I have always been into arts, crafts and drawing since I was little, doing things here and there for fun. Friends have told me they liked what I did and the ideas I had and suggested I start making things to sell. So I decided to open up a store. I also take my creations to different conventions.

2. From whom did you take your inspiration? 

My mom was very artsy and crafty and my dad was very artistic. So I learned the craft aspects from her and I also love to draw which I got from my dad.

Steampunk charm bracelet

3. Did you take any special classes?

The only thing close to classes were art and sculpture classes I took throughout middle school and high school. Other than that, I’m self-taught with a hint of YouTube watching if I wasn't completely sure how to make something technically come together.

4. What was the first thing you ever crafted? 

When I was young the first thing was a clay cup that I made in pottery class and a cat picture I did in art class. They didn't look great, but it was awesome to go through the process of learning how to do both.

5. What was the experience like?

The first time I decided to try making jewelry it was an awesome feeling of “Holy cow I made that and it looks good!”

But the more I make the better they get and the more fun I have. Since I make every piece differently, I get to experiment with what I think looks good but also about what I think the person purchasing it would like and how good would it look with the costume or outfit they would wear it with.

6. What is the favorite thing you ever crafted? Can it still be found in your store?

So far the piece I've made that I liked the most was an Octopus that was made out of melted plastic. And it is still for sale in my store.

7. Are you working on anything new at the moment?

Right now I am working on a steampunk battery operated lamp that will be made from a really awesome bottle that a friend gave to me. I hope to have it ready for the next convention I'm going to in the middle of September. Depending on how much people like it I have quite a few other ideas in mind for similar lamp projects with bottles.

8. What are your other passions and hobbies?

I really love to draw Anime and animals. I enjoy reading, and writing poems. Also love to put together puzzles. I also love going to different conventions like Anime and Cosplaying.

9. Who are your favorite artists?

I love a lot of the old time artists like Monet or Picasso. Their paintings are just beautiful and weird. And I can't think of the specific artists’ names but I love Greek architecture and sculptures.

10. What would you say to an aspiring artist who wishes to commercialize his or her creations?

Do what you enjoy, and if you decide to commercialize your product and you make several different types of things, try to get an idea of what other people like and what others sell.

If you only do one type like drawing or just making jewelry etc. just do what you like and you're good at.

Most importantly make sure to get as much info out on social media as possible since that is the most popular means of communication and buying today. 

And if you're able to do so, going to conventions, like Anime, SciFi or comic book conventions, and having a booth or table is a great way to get your name/brand out. I've found from experience that even if what you do isn't directly related to the convention, it doesn’t really matter cause people love the dealer rooms and sometimes, you may sell even better since you have something that is unique to that convention.

The Giveaway 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter the giveaway to win the Into The Mine necklace, made with Bottle, Gear, Clock and Key Charms and Guitar String that was used by the Steampunk band, The Cog Is Dead, in concert!

Here are a few things to know about this giveaway:

1. It's open internationally.
2. All the Magic and Wonder giveaways end on the 30th of September.
3. The winners of all the Magic and Wonder giveaways will be announced on the 1st of October.

Good luck everyone!

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Cover Art by Of Stacks and Cups via Pagemodo