Nostalgic Friday: The Body of Christopher Creed

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

This week's selection is one of my favorites. I almost always recommend it to middle grade kids who like intrigue, mystery, and realistic fiction. The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci was released in 2000.

The often-tortured class weirdo has disappeared, leaving an enigmatic note on the school library computer. Is he a runaway, a suicide, a murder victim?

Sixteen-year-old Torey Adams and his friends remember beating up Chris Creed when his gentle but obnoxious ways exasperated them. Now that he is gone, they joke uneasily about him to ease their guilt. The town is full of ugly rumors, as Torey's lawyer mother tells them "See, guys, this is what happens when a kid suffers a personal tragedy. Nobody wants to take responsibility. Nobody wants to admit they had a part in it. So, they spend a lot of time pointing the finger, and things just get worse and worse." Suspicion of murder conveniently falls on big, tough Bo Richardson, an outcast "boon" from the boondocks edge of town. Torey's smug assumptions about people are rattled when he discovers that his childhood friend Ali is secretly romantically involved with Bo, who displays surprising tenderness and maturity in caring for her.

The three try to solve the mystery of Chris's disappearance by attempting to steal his diary, but only succeed in implicating themselves, as the town is consumed with rumors and the revelation of adult secrets. Torey begins to find himself distanced from his other friends by his growing understanding of the importance of compassion toward those who are different.
-From Goodreads

Can I just tell you how much this book influenced me? Of all the books I read as an adolescent and teen, this is in the Top 5. The characters were so memorable and it kind of reminded me of another favorite, To Kill a Mockingbird. The "bad guy" from the wrong side of the tracks and the mystery surrounding the truth. I found myself identifying with many of the characters, not just one. We all know what it's like to be bullied and picked on and we all can imagine what it's like to be madly in love with someone and not be able to tell anyone.

This book seems especially relevant in light of recent headlines (examples here and here). I'm not one to usually drag the news into my blog, but this book really strikes home the effect that bullying can have on an individual. Kids can be very cruel and I found that The Body of Christopher Creed really focused on lessons that can be learned from such tragedies. The writing was also spot on and I really felt like the author understood the plight of teens. This is one of a few good novels from this time period when YA was still an up-and-coming genre. This is a great thriller/mystery that I think fans of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher will appreciate.

Nostalgic Friday: The Body of Christopher Creed

BITS OF COINCIDENCE: Part Two

Time for more random encounters! Hope you find these entertaining ;)

When Louise Brooks and her new husband, director Eddie Sutherland (above), finally made the move from New York to Los Angeles, they were looking for a bungalow to call their own. While out house-hunting, they found an apartment that seemed to be a good fit. However, they got a shock when they knocked on the landlady's door: it was Mary Miles Minter (below), the reclusive actress who had gone into hiding, and slightly mad, after the scandalous death of William Desmond Taylor! How the mighty had fallen... Though Mary seemed harmless, albeit a bit loopy, Louise and Eddie decided to look elsewhere, settling down in the luxurious Laurel Canyon near soon-to-be pals John Gilbert and King Vidor.

~   ~   ~

Clara Bow was a huge success when she began filming on The Plastic Age. The entire American population seemed to have fallen in love with her, as well as her co-star, Gilbert Roland, with whom she would have an on-again-off-again affair for years to come. Though Clara was the current talk of the town, there was a man destined to be an equally huge star lingering in the crowd of extras. Knowing Clara's eye for attractive men, it is quite possible she noticed the young and handsome Clark Gable, but the two never had any kind of relationship. The same could not be said of Gary Cooper, who later had a bit part as a reporter in It and the male lead opposite her in Children of Divorce. These two became lovers, and Clara didn't mince words when describing just how "huge" a  star Coop really was!

 

~   ~   ~

 

Wallace Reid (above with pal Adela Rogers St. Johns) was slowly making his name in the business when he made the film The Ways of Fate in 1913. People had begun to take notice of the handsome leading man, but it would be another two years-- after he took his shirt off in Birth of a Nation-- that his star really began to rise! However, with his good looks and charm, he seemed to be a shoe-in for success, unlike the quiet, character actor who was milling about the Fate set as an extra. It would take another six years before Lon Chaney (below) crawled to fame as the contorting, "crippled" con-man, Frog, in The Miracle Man. After this show of gut-wrenching acrobatics, the entire world would know his face, or rather faces. All 1000 of them!

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When Vivien Leigh (right) was attending the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton, England, she was already certain of her future. She knew that she wanted to be an actress, and she had no qualms about telling pretty much every one within ear shot that she was going to be a star! Imagine her surprise when, as a struggling actress, it was one of her old classmates who made it to the big screen first: Maureen O'Sullivan (below with Johnny Weissmuller)! After seeing Maureen in Tarzan the Ape Man of 1932, Vivien was more determined than ever to make it! She used her friend's success to re-light the fire in her own belly. She worked hard and tread the boards of the stage before making an on-screen debut in 1935's Look Up and Laugh. She would have to wait another 4 years for the role of a lifetime in Gone with the Wind.

~     ~     ~

The Baby: Jean Harlow

Most stage mothers push their children into the business to fulfill their own desires to be famous. Such was the case with Jean Harlow's mother: Jean Harlow! The younger Jean's given name was actually Harlean. She took her mother's name as her stage name when she began acting. (I wonder whose idea that was)? In 1923, Mama Jean and Baby Jean would move from Kansas City to Hollywood so that the senior lady could pursue a career on the silver screen. However, because Mama lacked the charisma later found in her daughter, they only remained for two years before packing it in and returning to Missouri. During her first brief stint in H-town, Baby Jean would attend The Hollywood School for Girls where she would befriend its only two male students: Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Joel McCrea (below, respectively). In a few years time, these three tykes would be reunited, but this time as major Hollywood superstars!!!

Who will be star-crossed next? Stay tuned. Happy weekend!!!

BITS OF COINCIDENCE: Part Two

The Mark by Jen Nadol

If you have the ability to know someone is going to die within 24 hours, do you have to help? When sixteen-year-old Cassie finally pieces together that the fuzzy, light glow around people is the mark of death, she doesn't really know what to do about it. She lives in fear of it because she feels powerless to stop it. Orphaned as a toddler, she has lived in rural Pennsylvania her whole life with Nan, her maternal grandmother. While Cassie's had a fairly normal childhood, her easy going time is cut short when one day she sees the mark on Nan. Nan has always believed Cassie about the mark and decides to accept her fate.

After Nan's death, Cassie learns that in order to obtain the large sum that Nan has stored for her, she must go back to Bering, Kansas (where she was born and her parents died) and live with her estranged aunt for 90 days. This is obviously a total shock to Cassie. She's got her friend Tasha and the ever-present and gorgeous Jack to keep her company, why should she go somewhere she's never been, to live with a woman she's never met, just to satisfy some legal mumbo-jumbo? Either way, Cassie decides to look at it as an opportunity and goes ahead.

Bering, Kansas is a college town and Cassie quickly finds things to occupy her time. She obtains a job at the local coffee nook Cuppa, takes a Philosophy 101 class as an audit student, and fills her extra hours with Lucas, the TA from her class. As the summer continues on, Cassie starts to see more and more marks. At Lucas's prodding she tries to warm some of them, with varying results. Confused, hurt, and very lost, Cassie stumbles upon a bit of truth that changes her whole outlook and her future.

This was an interesting book. It reminded me of Numbers by Rachel Ward, only Cassie didn't have to see everyone's death date. Cassie just had to know that there was only one chance to let them know that they wouldn't survive the day. It posed an fascinating dilemma that I found myself debating, about the responsibility of this power. In general I found Cassie to be a mostly likable character, although she seemed a bit childish at times. I really found that she grew on me as her character developed and she stood on her own in Kansas.

The guys in the novel were a little too pushy for my tastes and very obviously macho, but you never really get to know them. I kind of would have liked to see more of the personal side of Lucas and Cassie's relationship. We kind of just got to know them as almost anyone who ever saw them would have. It would have been preferable to see them in a more intimate manner (growing up stories, family stories, really describing a daily scene, etc).

The story really didn't seem to be going much of anywhere, at least no where visible, until Cassie went to Kansas. I really think her time spent there was what made up my mind to like the book as a whole. She was so out of her element and on her own that it really made me appreciate what was going on more. It's not too fast and not too slow, really a short read. Take a chance on it!

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Waiting on Wednesday: After the Kiss

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

After the Kiss is set to be released May 4, 2010 by Simon Pulse.

It's a different kind of book from her last one, Pure. This time it is a love story, with a twist. It's a novel in poems and it is about two different girls who are connected by the fact that one is the girl with whom the other's boyfriend hooks up! Drama!

This moment changes everything.

Becca has been head-over-heels for Alec from the instant they met. He's a brainy jock with a poet's heart—in other words, perfect for her.

Camille is careful with her words and protective of her heart, especially since Chicago. Then a new boy in her new town catches her off guard with a surprise kiss.

Too bad that new boy is Becca's boyfriend, Alec.

Camille and Becca have never met, but their lives will unravel and intertwine in surprising ways as they deal with what happens after the kiss.

From Goodreads

Very interesting. I'm looking forward to the poetry of this book. What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday: After the Kiss

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey is set to be released May 3rd by Harcourt Children's Books and the ARC was provided to me by Around the World Tours.

Destiny is a right pain in the tuckus. Jill Jekel and Tristen Hyde are living proof of that fact. When her father is murdered, the mysterious and elusive Tristen shows up at his funeral to offer comfort and tell her that everything will be alright one day.

That was at the beginning of spring semester. Now that it is fall of her senior year, Jill has focused her eyes on the prize of college. She's been handling the finances at home since her mother started slowly falling to pieces, but soon the truth emerges; Jill's father spent all her college savings and now she's on her own for tuition money. Fortunately there is a great opportunity awaiting her in chemistry class. There is a science contest with a huge grand prize that would allow her to go to college with very little worries. Now to come up with a project.

Re-enter Tristen Hyde. The London-transplanted bad boy really does operate on his own schedule and within his own terms. Son of a brilliant psychiatrist, he's a little high strung, but reasonable enough; at least from the outside. Inside he is keeping the beast caged and at bay so that it doesn't fulfill it's wish to spill an innocent girl's blood. The blackouts when the beast takes control are less frequent, but the damage caused during that time is no less severe. The science contest provides a perfect cover for him to approach the late Dr. Jekel's daughter Jill to see if she can help him contain the beast.

Jill and Tristen begin to work in secret, late at night at the school. They use the secret formula papers that her father kept locked away. It turns out that they really are the notes of the infamous Dr. Jekyll. As the ill-fated pair work together, things begin to change: between them, between their classmates, and especially between their parents. These teens are cooking up more than just a suppressive antidote to the beast, they're messing with nature. And on that last fateful night, nature fights back.

This wild ride was so much fun!! I really loved the Jekyll/Jekel and Hyde play in this novel. It was so much easier to understand that dynamic since the story was told in the alternating voice of Jill and Tristen. They were both very entertaining and engaging. I found myself really drawn to Tristen and his pain, while still holding on to the thought that his pain and suffering were, in a way, self-inflicted. His torment really showed through in Fantaskey's writing. I think she really captured his essence.

And Jill was phenomenal as well. While I don't usually like the uptight, good girls in books (especially if it's the good girl goes bad scenario) this was different. It really was like she was a child transforming as she had to mature. Sometimes that happens later in the teen years, especially when there's never been too much to overcome, and I found this to be the case with Jill. She was honest and fair, while trying to remain accessible to others. The characters' interactions, between themselves and others, allowed their personalities to really manifest and blossom. This was especially noticeable between Jill or Tristen and their parents.

A fun and rather quick read, Jekel Loves Hyde is a nature next step for anyone who likes a little science and a little magic mixed in with their fiction. Enjoy!

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

Interview with Beth Fantaskey, author of Jekel Love Hyde

I am so pleased to welcome the awesome and amazing Beth Fantaskey to Tattooed Books! Beth is the mastermind behind the terrific Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (my review) and the soon to be released Jekel Loves Hyde (May 3rd, Harcourt Children's Books). She's worked all kinds of jobs, but her favorite by far is being a Young Adult author. A part-time professor at Susquehanna University, you can hopefully catch her on tour this spring! Without further adieu I give you, her interview.

1. What do you consider your main genre? Urban fantasy, paranormal teen,etc.?

Although I didn’t know much about genres – aside from the two broad categories of “mystery” and “romance” – when I wrote Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, I would say I’m now a paranormal, young adult, romance author. I don’t know if that will always be my genre, but I’m happy there now!

2. What do you think about these new classics with a twist (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Jane Slayre, etc)? Do you think your novels, while not as direct a replication as these, are considered under this umbrella?

I am honestly not sure... I haven’t read either of those yet. In fact, I hadn’t heard of Jane Slayre – although the title definitely made me laugh out loud when I just read it. I love it!

If I had to take a guess, though, based on what I do know about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I would say Jekel Loves Hyde is different in that it’s not so much a retelling or parody of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as it is a novel about two young people whose families were influenced by the original work. It’s a modern day interpretation, and there is the element of a personality changing formula in there, but aside from that the plots are very different.

3. What made you choose the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for your novel?

One day this phrase – Jekel Loves Hyde – sort of flashed through my brain, and I liked it so much that I hurried to see if anyone had ever used it as a title. When I realized there had never really been any kind of young adult adaption of the story, I started thinking that it would be interesting to show how a shy, young girl’s life might be changed by exposure to a dangerous, personality-altering formula. I especially loved the idea of setting the story in a high school because your teen years are all about discovering who you are. Given a choice, would a very introverted, moral girl choose to stay good – or succumb to the temptation to be wild and bad?

4. What was your favorite part about writing Jekel Loves Hyde?

I liked writing the parts in which quiet Jill Jekel unleashes her aggressive, vengeful alter ego. I’m a very shy, rule-following person, myself, and it was fun to imagine what it would be like to shed every inhibition and break every rule, just for the heck of it, without any regret or fear of repercussions.

5. After Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side you took their story to the online world. Are you planning to do something similar with Jill and Tristen?

No, I don’t think so... I think Jill and Tristen’s future will remain in the imaginations of readers. It’s definitely more of a “stand alone” book than Jessica’s Guide.

6. You love to travel the world, any plan to go on tour with your books (both locally or internationally)?

I am starting to get a pretty full travel schedule this spring. Over the course of May and June, I’ll be signing books in San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, New York, New Jersey, and Miami – not to mention closer to my home in Pennsylvania. I’ll start posting my schedule on my website, bethfantaskey.com, as well as on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace in the next week or so.

I would love to go abroad, too, if I ever had the opportunity. Jessica’s Guide is available now in several different countries, so we’ll see!

7. Anything else you’d like to tell your readers? (Words of advice, hints about new projects, random facts)

I just want to say thanks to everybody who e-mails and checks in with me on Facebook, etc. So far, the best part of writing novels has been interacting with all of the amazing readers. I never expected to make friends around the world just because I wrote a few books, but that’s definitely the case. To everybody who’s taken the time to contact me – THANK YOU so much!! And keep in touch! And to all of you who’ve asked about a full sequel to Jessica’s Guide – I promise, I’m still working on it!

Thank you Beth! Be sure to check back tomorrow for my review of Jekel Loves Hyde!

Interview with Beth Fantaskey, author of Jekel Love Hyde

Bringing in the Loot

This is part of the In My Mailbox series hosted by The Story Siren. This meme allows book bloggers around the web to showcase what awesomeness we bought, swapped, borrowed, or got this week. Check out my loot below!

Not too terribly much, but some fun stuff this week.

For Review:
The Mark by Jen Nadol
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
Lifted by Wendy Toliver
A big thanks to Around the World Tours for all these!

Won:
Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas (Thanks to Princess Bookie's Contest Craze and the donor)


Things are going to be a bit slow around here for the next few weeks as my husband and I are packing up our apartment and moving. I'll still post, but it may not be as frequent. I promise I'll be back asap after the move. Til then, what loot did you score?

Bringing in the Loot

Tattoo Designs - Chinese, Celtic etc

A "Tattoo" is a permanent or non permanent design which can be done on any part of the body. While non permanent tattoos are the simplest way to get a design on your skin, permanent tattoos are a painful experience with needles puncturing the design on your skin.

Non-permanent tattoos are designs that come on flimsy sheets of paper and the designs can be easily transferred on to the skin by applying water on the backside of the surface with design. This can also be washed off according to the convenience of the user. Other ways of acquiring a non permanent tattoo are henna designs or designs made with silver nitrate. Both these type of tattoos fade only after 10-15 days.

Permanent tattoos are of artistic nature and acquiring a permanent tattoo requires, patience, ability to with stand pain, choosing a good tattoo artist and ensuring hygienic practice of this art form. One can choose from a wide variety of tattoo designs that are categorized as: angel tattoos, Chinese tattoos, Celtic tattoos, Aztec tattoos, astrology tattoos, evil tattoos, fantasy tattoos the range is ever widening. The choice of your design reflects the style statement you wish to make with the design now being a permanent feature of your body.

Tattoo designs can be ornamental in nature as reflected by modern youth to indicate interest in body art while tattoo designs can also be indicative of religious or community symbols. Excessive tattoo and body art designs were initially used by criminals to indicate their psyche and criminal behavior. Therefore, employment in various fields may not take too kindly to visible tattoos and body art on account of such notions.

Permanent tattoos also run the risk of infections and allergies that rise from the kind of needles used by tattoo artists. Modern methods in tattoo design have done away with such fears. The electric tattoo machine now commonly used by tattoo artists insert the ink into the skin with the help of a group of needles that are held together by a bar which is attached to an oscillating unit. The needles used are single use needles which ensure safe and sanitary practices. One should also ensure that the tattoo artist wears gloves and uses disposable wet towels as and when required.

Tattoo Designs - Chinese, Celtic etc

Complex Rose Tattoo Design Ideas

A very popular tattoo image is a rose tattoo design. This can appear in many different styles and designs with some images looking like single roses and others looking like bunches of flowers. Sometimes the rose tattoo design appears as a border around other tattoo designs as ornamentation. Almost every tattoo shop in the world has this sort of flower design within their tattoo image catalog. Because of its popularity the rose tattoo design is very familiar to these tattoo shop artists. For many years the rose tattoo was one of the most popular designs for men and women tattoo shop customers alike.

Some tattoo artists become specialists at this sort of tattoo deign and have many customers that return for additional flower tattoos over the years. The flowers may all be the same type of flower or some people even get tattoos of various types of flowers on their bodies. As the vibrant colors start to fade over time as all tattoo images do, the customers will go back to the tattoo shop artists and have the tattoo image re-inked to bring back that vibrancy and sharpness of color to the images. This is becoming a very common thing for many people to have done to keep the vibrant colors in their tattoo images. It doesn't take nearly as long to recolor a tattoo as it does to have one done initially. Sometimes the whole process takes only an hour or so to accomplish.

If you want to have a rose tattoo design on your body you can search online for any web site that has these sorts of images, whether the images are drawings or photographs. Any photos can be brought to the tattoo shop and the artists can create a tattoo image from the photo and add any elements the customer wants to add in. The artists can also remove any elements that don't fit in the design or to make it a better tattoo image for the customer. The customer may also want to have the rose tattoo design as a border for another tattoo image which is always popular with customers.

It's no longer only women who have flower tattoos on their bodies. Many men have started having flower tattoos inked onto their bodies though the design may be part of a larger design which doesn't necessarily have anything to do with flowers. Maybe it's a tattoo image of a dragon with roses in its teeth or a scene of a castle with roses flowing down over the sides. The main thing to remember is that the rose tattoo need not be just for women or just for men either. There's no reason that both sexes can't have a rose tattoo design on their bodies.

Complex Rose Tattoo Design Ideas

The Bright Art of Sun Tattoo Design

A very popular design for many customers coming into a tattoo shop is a sun tattoo design. The design may be part of a much larger image that can also feature moon designs and star motifs along a celestial theme of images. Many people choose the sun tattoo design because the sun signifies life and power and that's what many people want their tattoo choices to convey to others. The design can be a small or large version of a sun image and the tattoo can be a symbolic and traditional image of the sun or it can be a more relaxed and artistic view of the sun with perhaps a smiley face across the design.

Almost every tattoo shop in the world has images of sun, stars and moon as offerings for their customers. These designs come in a wide range of styles, designs and sizes as well as colors. Some customers prefer the traditional sun tattoo design while others are quick to choose anything but the traditional sun design jut to be more unique. This is why many tattoo shop artists have a lot of choices for their customers in the tattoo shop catalog. When a customer comes in and wants a tattoo design like this, the tattoo shop artist can simply take out the catalog and show off the many designs already drawn up. If the customer wants a more unique design the tattoo shop artist can modify the design for the client very easily in many cases.

The customer can find an image of the sun design either in a magazine or online by using one of many search engines. The images the customer finds can then be taken to a tattoo shop artist and he can create a tattoo design from these images. The created design will be much more unique than if the design was simply chosen from a tattoo design catalog. This ability to have a unique design created is what keeps many tattoo shops in business as many people are looking to have more personal and unique designs created for their tattoo images.

For many people getting a tattoo for the first time, the sun tattoo design may be one of the first choices they make for a personal tattoo. It is simple and easy to have tattooed onto your body and there's generally only one color to the design which means that the tattooing will be over and done with fairly quickly. For the first tattoo design, this may mean a great deal especially if the person isn't very good at tolerating any amount of pain. Most people do very well their first time getting a tattoo because they're more aware of the fact that there will be some degree of pain involved.

The Bright Art of Sun Tattoo Design

Top Female Sleeve Tattoo Designs - For Something Feminine and Sexy in Tattoos

Sleeve tattoos have been very popular recently. Many men have gotten full, half and even quarter sleeve tattoo featuring flames, Japanese designs and other such designs. However, women are now also starting to get full sleeve tattoo designs. However, they are not getting the same types of designs as men. For the most part women want a more female tattoo design or their sleeve. However, since this is kind of a new area many women are not sure what to get for their design. This article will help identify some ideas that might help in formulating your own thoughts and coming up with your own design. These of course are just some suggestions from experience.

Koi Fish Sleeve Tattoos

Koi fish of course are a very popular design theme in Japan. Many of the most traditional forms of tattooing in Japan frequently use koi fish. In Japan and in China the Koi fish is thought of as a symbol for power, freedom and independence. These are symbols that can speak to many women either being something they desire or something they already have. Thus koi tattoo designs can make a great option for sleeve tattoo designs.

Lotus Flower Sleeve Tattoos

Lotus flower tattoos are also another great option. Again these are more popular in Asian countries. However, lotus flower tattoo designs are also now becoming very popular in United States. They are deeply symbolic and can stand for striving, spirituality, or even just womanhood. Their shape and design can easily be made into a very beautiful sleeve tattoo design. The way the lotus flower rises up from the mud to the surface of the water can also be use in designs a lotus flower sleeve tattoo design.

Angel Tattoo Sleeve Designs

Angels are of course a very popular design for women and can go just about anywhere on the body. However, they can also make a beautiful sleeve tattoo design hat is still feminine and cute while looking large and covering the full sleeve easily. The wings can spread out around the arm and make a beautiful tattoo design.

Flower Sleeve Tattoos

Flowers always work well for any feminine tattoo design and there are many different flowers out there. Each flower of course has a different set of symbolism and meaning behind it so it would be smart to check out any symbolism or meaning before getting such a tattoo. However, there are tons of really beautiful and symbolic flowers. The Hibiscus and plumeria flower can work well for a full sleeve tattoo design as well as the Cherry Blossom can work.

Star and Nautical Star Sleeve Tattoo Designs

Stars of course are always a favorite choice by many women for tattoos. They can work well just about anywhere including the upper back, ankle and even the foot. The beauty and symbolism of star tattoo can easily be adapted into a beautiful full sleeve tattoo design. A cluster of smaller stars, a nautical star or even a really large shooting star can all be incorporated into a sleeve tattoo design beautifully.

Top Female Sleeve Tattoo Designs - For Something Feminine and Sexy in Tattoos

Tattoos For Women - Top Foot Tattoo Designs

Foot tattoo designs are a great option for someone looking to get a tattoo or add to their tattoo collection. They are often small, less expensive and they are very easy to cover up. So they make a great tattoo. However, deciding what to get for your foot tattoo design can be difficult. This article will help you identify some ways to locate wonderful foot tattoo designs and also potential areas to watch out for if you are considering getting a foot tattoo.

Locating Designs
Locating the right design for you tattoo can often led people to a lot of frustration. It is common to hear people sigh with exasperation and throw their arms up in the air (well can't "hear" that one but you get the picture) and state they are giving up. They have the ideal tattoo design in their mind and they are looking everywhere for the last six months to try and find the design and they just don't see it anywhere. This is so common and I see people asking for help online out of pure frustration. So in order to put this type of pain and suffering or frustration to an end here is some advice. First of all don't look for the exact tattoo you have in your mind. You probably will never find it. It is not out there and that is a good thing. It means you have thought of something original and unique which will make your tattoo that much better. So instead use the following resources to help you locate research materials to aide the tattoo artist. Then express what you are looking for and turn over your samples to the tattoo artist and let them do their job!

Internet
The internet has both paid for sites that have high quality designs then then free photo galleries of tattoos people have already gotten. These both work very well to find sources and ideas for your design. Do not search for free tattoo designs as you will only get back a lot of junk. Instead either pay for a membership site or look at the free gallery sites where people post their own pictures of tattoos they have.

Tattoo Shop
This is the best place to go and a huge help. Make sure you find a shop where you can talk easily with the artists and find people that will listen to your ideas. If the artists in the shop are snotty or rude in anyway just thank them for their time and walk out.

Bookstore
Another location to find tattoo designs that people don't often think about is the local bookstore. You can look through tattoo design books, art books in general, tattoo magazines or even general books that fit in with the theme you are wanting to get. For example if you want a Lord Of The Rings tattoo then you can look for art from that movie in a book and it doesn't necessarily have to be a tattoo oriented book. Just find photographs, artwork and pictures of things you like that are close to what you want.

Potential Downsides
There are some potential downsides to getting a foot tattoo. First of all the foot can be a pretty painful area to get tattoos done. They foot is always moving and often under a sock and shoe and there is a lot of friction and rubbing in the area. Thus the actual time spent getting the tattooing and the healing process can be more painful then with some other tattoo designs. This should not stop you from getting a foot tattoo but if it is your first tattoo you might want to get a small tattoo done somewhere else that is less painful to test our the experience first.

Finding great looking tattoos for women is easy. It helps to follow the above sources and ideas to make your search for foot tattoo designs easier but in the end just relax and enjoy the process. Tattoos should not be something that you rush just to have one or get it done. Instead enjoy the process and spend your time carefully planning and researching the foot tattoo design.

Tattoos For Women - Top Foot Tattoo Designs

Nostalgic Friday: Your Thoughts

I've been doing Nostalgic Fridays for a little while now and I am just trying to get some quick feedback on what y'all think of it. The survey might take 3 or 4 minutes. There are only 3 questions and only 1 of them is mandatory. Your answers will help me shape what I do for Nostalgic Fridays. Thanks again!

Nostalgic Friday: Your Thoughts

The Colors of San Jose del Cabo

The Colors of San Jose del Cabo 

   
   
    
 

 
   
 
     
  
 

Patricia Gray Inc is an award winning Interior Design firm  in Vancouver, Canada who blogs about WHAT'S HOT  in the world of Interior Design.
2010 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

The Colors of San Jose del Cabo

My Trip Back to Middle School (or my 7th grade book talks)

Last week, in celebration of National Library Week, the public library I work at was invited into a local middle school to talk. We presented information about general library policies, events and opportunities for teens, and of course BOOKS to over 300 7th graders!

Pictured above are the 19 books I took with me. While this was a few too many, let me just tell you that there were some quite popular titles above that I think some of you may not be familiar with.

Why I Fight by J. Adams Oaks is a very unique book. It follows 6 years in the life of prize bare-knuckle fighter Wyatt Reaves. Starting from the tender age of 12, after his Uncle Spade "rescues" him from living in a homeless shelter with his mother, the story tracks Wyatt's place in society. His uncle sees the potential to makes lots of money off Wyatt's natural talents and chooses to chase that track. After years of fighting though, Wyatt starts think that maybe he wants more from his life. Does he just deserve the seedy hand he's been dealt or does he deserve something more form life? It's a great book for reluctant readers and young guys. It's written like one would expect a teen to speak, so it makes the story very accessible to readers.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson is perfect for those who love historical fiction. I find this storyline fascinating and a definite twist on the traditional characters. The year is 1776 and the story is about 13 year-old Isabel, a slave. She has watched as her entire life has been decided for her. Who owns her, where she sleeps, when she works, and so much more. Isabel has no real control or rights in her own life or that of her sister. So when they are sold to Loyalists, instead of being set free as they were promised, Isabel must make a very tough decision. She can spy on her owners for the American revolutionaries or she can keep quiet and live her life, as miserable as it may be. This book is a great retelling of what might have actually happened during the American Revolution. Isabel is just a servant girl, but she had the right to freedom just the same as everyone else.

30 Days Has September by Chris Stevens is the best book in the world for students of any age and any subject. It has all sorts of nifty tricks and tips from how to remember the order of the great philosophers (go think of the SPA: Socrates, Plato, then Aristotle) to the rhyming song about the 6 wives of Henry the VIII (Kate, Anne, Jane, Anne, Cate, Kate who were divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, and survived). It also have math, grammar, commonly mispelled words, chemistry, and nifty factoids. It's a cute little book full of trivia facts and easy ways to help you keep on top of all the information there is to know.

Many of the others are ones that I have reviewed already (Candor, The Hunger Games, The Sky is Everywhere) and some are of little interest to me, but were appropriate for the audience. I had a blast talking with these kids and it was really easy to engage them. I loved asking "So, which do you want to hear about giant cockroaches or zombies?" (Gregor the Overlander and The Forest of Hands and Teeth) and hearing some kids squeal and others yell their answer. They were quite amused and many of them asked questions and wanted to know more about some books that I didn't speak about in their session. I'm very excited to get to go to another 7th grade session at another middle school in late May.

What other books do you think would be great recommendations? They can be anything from realistic to historical fiction, fantasy or sci-fi, and even non-fiction. Let me know your suggestions in the comments!

My Trip Back to Middle School (or my 7th grade book talks)

HOT SPOTS... On the Internet!!!

As any movie lover knows, in this modern age of consumerism it is never enough to see a movie just once. When you fall in love with a film, just like any other romance, you are filled with an unquenchable need to possess the object of your desire. Unfortunately, we true movie-buffs find this difficult, because sometimes the most sought-after and adored films of all time are unavailable to the general public. Sure, there's the occasional re-release of a beloved classic and great venues like The Egyptian or The Silent Movie Theater that will unlock the vault of cinematic past for our present pleasure, and there is nothing like seeing a feature on the big screen. However, if you are as compulsive as I am, when you see something you like, you want it! Even though you know your bank account is low; even though you know buying new shoes would be a wiser choice of expenditure.

I have sought in vain for many a film, particularly when I am deep in researching a certain individual. The number of titles that are either completely lost or being held hostage astound and frustrate me every time. So many great storylines and brilliant performances have either deteriorated, been burned for silver, or are sitting in a lonely vault somewhere. But, through my diligence i.e. obsession, I have been able to find quite a few sites that can offer the needle-in-a-haystack pieces that even the almighty Amazon.com cannot provide, (though praise be to Allah that such a site exists too)! Since I consider us comrades in arms, I want to aid you in your common quest. Here is a list of sites for the most loyal of you movie-hunting lovelies. I would say don't spend your money all in one place, but if you live in a glass house, you shouldn't throw stones! Haha ;)

See it through the Grapevine:

When I randomly stumbled onto Grapevine Video's website, I thought I had died and gone to heaven! So many films from the silent era, starring its biggest as well as its lesser remembered stars, are here for the plucking! Salivating at the mouth, I managed to put 4 movies in my cart before I remembered that I had rent to pay and should probably restrain myself. The great thing about this site, aside from the number of titles and the great quality of the films, is that the majority of the discs are double-features or include some sort of short film or comedy, so it's more bang for your buck. The site is also easy to navigate, because it allows you to search by title, director, genre, or performer, so if you have a favorite actor, he and his work will be easy to find. If Rudy's your man, look no further. If you're partial to Blanche Sweet (above, left), it doesn't get any sweeter! They accept credit or Paypal, so the money exchange is a cinch. 

Vintage is always in fashion:

Vintage Film Buff has quite the plethora of forgotten 1930s and 1940s productions. If you like B-movies, horror films, westerns, or noirs, you will find great flicks and hidden jewels at this website. Overlooked stars like George Raft, Miriam Hopkins and Anna May Wong (right) are finally given a chance to shine here, and there are fabulous and scandalous pre-code films sure to aid you in indulging your naughty side. Many of these films are boundary pushing oddities, which makes them interesting to watch and easy to enjoy.

Unknown, But Not Forgotten:

I was able to find this company after buying a couple of their dvds through Amazon. Unknown Video houses a great deal of silent classics, particularly comedies and westerns. Mabel Normand and William S. Hart (left) are highly favored here, as well as racing gent, Wally Reid. The website doesn't seem to list all of their available movies, but each time I order from them, a small catalog is provided, which includes more of their releases. A cute bonus about these films is that they each come with a collectible magnet. I now have Fatty Arbuckle and Mabel hanging on my fridge.

Clara Bow Bound:

If you love Clara-- and let's face it, who doesn't-- this website is fantastic for finding nearly all of her films!!! Yeah, I know; I too found it almost too good to be true. Yet, there it is. The Clara Bow Page contains Bow's greatest silent and talkie films, so you can sink your teeth into Mantrap and Hoopla with no trouble at all! (Who needs the Library of Congress)?! These films are burned onto a dvd at your specification, and you get two for the price of one! The quality is great and the transaction is easy, with the option of checks, money order, or Paypal. There are also several other titles available with various stars, such as Ann Harding and Pola Negri. Definitely worth the gander.

Lon Ain't Gone!

Since Chaney remains my favorite actor, and it seems that his throne is secure from future usurpation, I was more than miffed when in the beginning of my adolescent studies, I was unable to find the majority of his titles on video (this was back in the age of VHS). Still, with the coming of Digital Video Discs, he was nowhere to be found. I sadly cherished my copy of The Phantom of the Opera and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and considered all other films exiled into oblivion. Not so! Unique Dvd has an ENTIRE collection of Chaney's greatest films in one fantastic pack! The downer is that you can't purchase one film alone, and you have to get the whole shebang; but for $50 you get 20 films, plus a copy of a Lon Chaney documentary. Where East Is East, Tell It To the Marines, and While the City Sleeps... They're all there! Chaney's diverse film work is available at long last, and the "Man of a Thousand Faces" can finally be appreciated for some of his less monstrous ones! Each film is the best known surviving copy of its kind, and a few incomplete films are included and edited together for the best possible version. For a true fan, it's like a dream come true. (Also available at the site are a collection of fascinating, banned cartoons and other various series). (Unfortunately, it looks like this site has been shut down. I hope it is only temporary, as avid Lon fans need access to his work. Stop holdin' it hostage, people!).

I hope that this information helps you all in your quest for the preservation of our cinema's history. If you purchase from these sites, be sure to thank them for the great contribution and honor they are doing for our artistic heritage. It is a truly noble effort, too little recognized. So, spoil yourself, get a little movie treat, and enjoy!

HOT SPOTS... On the Internet!!!