Skamania Lodge event cancelled

I just wanted to let y'all know that due to extenuating circumstances, the Skamania Lodge Bed and Bookfest with me has been canceled this weekend. So if you want to learn how to make fizzy bath bombs or bind a book, you'll just have to buy Backcountry Betty: Crafting in Style or the upcoming Simple Gifts: 50 Little Luxuries to Craft, Sew, Cook & Knit.

Bed and Book-Fest Weekend

Head to the beautiful Skamania Lodge (near Portland) for a weekend of relaxation, crafting, and me! I'll be hosting the lodge's 2nd installment of its new Literary Series.

During the weekend, I'll mingle with guests during a reception on Saturday night, which will be followed by a short reading and chat. Sunday kicks off with a hands-on workshop, featuring projects from Backcountry Betty: Crafting With Style. If that's not enough, I'll sit down with guests over lunch to talk about books, crafting, and pretty much whatever they want.

(photos: mymotels.com)

When: March 13 & 14
Where: Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, WA

Bath bomb: the musical

Not really. But here is the TV spot I did on KOMO4 back in June. Learn how to create bath bombs in this televised tutorial.

Bath bomb demo was the bomb!

By the looks of the happy faces on vendors and customers, the Urban Craft Uprising was a huge success on all fronts. My friends Susan Beal and Sister Diane conducted workshops and signed books on Saturday. I had the pleasure of doing the same on Sunday.

A baker's dozen of crafters gathered in the demo area to learn how to make bath bombs (one of the many nature-based projects in Backcountry Betty: Crafting with Style). In short order, participants were sniffing essential oils and mixing up their bombs. After packing ice-cube trays with crafty goodness (as Sister Diane would say in her craftypod podcast), they gently twisted the trays to pop out their fizzy treats. There were a few casualties, I'm not gonna lie, but overall, everyone was pleased to learn how to make these easy and inexpensive bombs. Thanks to the great staff at the Uprising, my friend Jessica Campbell (who originally showed me how to make these lovelies), and everyone who stepped up to the table to get their hands dirty, at least temporarily.

Tacoma or bust

If you are in Tacoma, or know someone crafty who is, come on out tomorrow night to the Wheelock Library. I'll be talking about Backcountry Betty: Crafting with Style, describing methods for optimal beach-glass hunting, and showing you how to do an easy project or two with stuff you find on the ground. Seriously, what's not to dig?

• When: Wednesday, July 29, 7pm
• Where: The Anna Lemon Wheelock Library, 3722 N. 26th St., Tacoma

For more information, check out the library site for details. Mapquest directions here.

The Urban Craft Uprising is going down next weekend

The Urban Craft Uprising brings you the best and brightest indie crafters and, this year, the UCU is adding a summer show so you don't have to wait for the holidays to get your craft on. Next weekend, August 1 & 2, head to the Seattle Center's Exhibition Hall to shop, participate in demos, and meet your favorite authors and crafters.

Like, for instance, me.

I'll be leading a workshop on Sunday where you'll learn how to make your own fizzy bath bombs. They are suprisingly cheap and easy to whip up. That's going down at 12:30. Then from 2–3pm, you can get your very own signed copy of Backcountry Betty: Crafting with Style so you'll have the directions to make the bath bombs and 49 other projects using outdoor and found items.

Be honest, you'll only really go hiking or kayaking for one day next weekend so head to some air-conditioned shopping on the off day for some kick-ass crafts. Diane Gilleland, Susan Beal, Jenny Hart will all be in the house signing books and doing demos. What more could you ask for?

Betty hits the University Branch library on Tuesday!

I'll be hitting the University Branch (5009 Roosevelt Way NE) of the Seattle Public Library this Tuesday (7/21) for a talk and demo about Backcountry Betty: Crafting with Style.

Hear about my beach glass obsession! Learn about how to forage for craft materials in the wild! See a plain baby onesie be transformed into a work of art before your very eyes! All this magic happens at 6:30pm. Friends of SPL will be on hand selling books, in the event you want a signed copy (and I promise to write something pithy, cheesy, or heartfelt in it). Hope to see you there!

Notes from the G-Wood

I had a fun time talking Backcountry Betty: Crafting with Style tonight at the Greenwood Branch of the Seattle Public Library. Friends and strangers came out for the promise of hugs, salted caramels, and crafty tips. And I loved hearing from library patrons how to make paper and chocolate leaves out of found items. And to cap off the evening (not counting the drinks I downed later at Gainsbourg), a librarian bequeathed to me a bin of plastic register tape rolls, CD jewel cases, and library card templates to repurpose into something. We'll see what magic awaits with these goodies.

Next up: Greenwood Library

I know you must be dying to discover the world of inexpensive and ingenious craft projects in Backcountry Betty: Crafting With Style. You're in luck! Come see me tomorrow night at the Greenwood Library. I'll be there at 6:30, talking up beach glass, pine cones, and all sorts of treasures you can find on the ground. I'll discuss my current state of craft dementia and my dream for a Battle of the Beach Glass Stars someday. I'll do a demo of one of the projects in the book, and Friends of the Seattle Public Library will be on hand to sell books. What's not to like about that?

Betty Does Ballard this Thursday

I'll be talking about Backcountry Betty: Crafting With Style on Thursday at the Ballard Public Library. I'll do a little demo, wax poetic about beach glass, and talk about how to turn found items into glorious craft projects. This is a great event for kids and families, if you can pull them away from dinner and Dora.

Books will be available for sale by our friendly neighborhood bookstore, Secret Garden. For more on the event, check out the Secret Garden site. I hope to see you there.

Where: Ballard Public Library
When: Thursday, May 28, 6:30pm
Why: Uh…

Make a leaf-printed onesie for your little sprout

With a little fabric paint, a leaf, and some embroidery floss, you can wow the women at the next baby shower with this one-of-a-kind onesie.

Make a Leaf-Printed Onesie for Your Little Sprout - CraftStylish

Posted using ShareThis

Backcountry Betty podcast online!

I did a podcast with King County Library System last month and it's been uploaded to the KCLS site. Go to this page and scroll down to the "Hear the author" section. Another reason to love the library.

Beachy keen

I spent the weekend in Oregon, celebrating my friend Gina's impending nuptials with her friends and family. We drove through McMinnville, where the wedding will be next weekend, and I was completely charmed by the farmland and vineyards in the area. Then we got to Lincoln City and I was bowled over once again. I love the craggy, windswept beaches of the Oregon Coast and had a glorious time collecting driftwood and all sorts of stones that have perfectly round holes dotting them. I don't know what's up with that, but I thought it was magical. My favorite is currently serving as a paperweight on my desk.

The driftwood, however, is bound for a project for Backcountry Betty: Crafting with Style, coming in Spring 09 from Skipstone Books.

Of course, I also loved roadtripping, eating bad fast food, and looking for ridiculous bumper stickers...

Portland, here I come!

I head out tomorrow for a couple of Backcountry Betty events at REI. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions on what to do and what to eat. I'll keep you posted. I think I'm most excited to visit with a high school friend and her family over the weekend. She told me to bring hiking boots, running shoes, flip flops, and a bathing suit. This gave me pause (i.e. I flipped out as I poked my mushy quadraceps).

My response to her: "I am seriously out of shape, by the way. Went for a bike ride the other day and it about killed me. FYI."

She laughed and assured me that the hike won't be the end of me (and a waterfall may be involved), and that the bathing suit is for the hot tub afterwards.

I think I'm in heaven and I'm not in the hot tub yet. Thank goodness I just found a new suit during a recent spree at TJ Maxx and bought hiking boots at REI last week. Isn't it fortuitous that I'm on a shopping bender?

I'm still packing ibuprofin, however. My quads are going to kill.

If you are in the Portland area this weekend, drop by and say hi. I'd love to see you!

May 29 REI Clackamas, Oregon; Backcountry Betty talk and book signing, 7pm

June 2 REI, Portland, Oregon; Backcountry Betty talk and book signing, 7pm

Join me and other Betties for an evening of trips and tricks for the trail.

Wednesday events

In between hitting and sometimes missing deadlines, I'm busy preparing for my appearance on KOMO TV (channel 4) Wednesday afternoon. I'll be appearing on the 4pm show with Mary Nam, discussing Backcountry Betty and mixing up cocktails with booze and Crystal Light. Yum.

Then I'll be moving the show to the Alderwood REI, where I'll be chatting about Betty again at 7pm.

Hope to see you then! I am going to do my best to get a DVD of the TV clip so I'll post it if I'm successful.

REI love you

The event at REI tonight was fan-flipping-tastic! The room was packed (I think the count was just shy of 60) and everyone seemed to get a kick out of the Backcountry Betty talk. REI did a wonderful job of promoting the event, even placing signage in the bathroom stalls. Imagine my delight when I sat down to relieve myself, only to find myself eye-to-eye with a picture of me!

Anyway, it was a blast and I want to thank REI and everyone who attended (and Luna Bars for supplying much-needed snacklets).

Remember, if you have the time on Saturday, take a scenic drive to Leavenworth. I'll be at A Book for All Seasons from 11am to 2pm.

FYI re: REI

I'm going to be talking about all things Backcountry Betty at the REI flagship store in Seattle this Wednesday. Get ready for the wilderness with this fun and informative evening! For more on the event, click here.

When: Wednesday, April 30, 7pm
Where: REI, 222 Yale Ave. N

And if you can't make that, think about a road trip this Saturday to the quaint village of Leavenworth for another Betty event at A Book for All Seasons. FYI, the drive is just over two hours from Seattle.

When: Saturday, May 3, 11am
Where: A Book for All Seasons, 703 Highway 2, Leavenworth

I Heart Rummage was totes fun!

We had a great turnout at Chop Suey today. Doesn't my prairie-ish booth look great with the Chinese decor?

Prairie crafts at the library

My talk and pioneer craft night at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial (i.e. the St. Joe) Library last night was a big hit. I'd say about 30 gals of all ages showed up and after I chatted about my childhood growing up in Sodus, Michigan, reading and scraping up my knees chasing after my brothers, and my writing career, we got down to the crafts. Pat Peterson from the library staff did a wonderful job, preparing instructions and supplies so gals could try their hand at quilting, rug hooking, braiding rag rugs, embroidering, sewing a small purse, making rock candy, mixing up a rosewater spritzer, and playing jacks. Robin from Forever Books sold copies of The Prairie Girl's Guide to Life and Backcountry Betty and I was happy to sign copies and chat with the girls and the grownups.

It was delightful. Even more delightful were the people who showed up. I went to a Christmas dance in high school with Eric Ford (he was so smart and dreamy) and his mom Judy showed up to have me sign a copy for him, now a cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins. My dad's smooth friend Russell swung by. Mom's friend Mary came and presented me with the shirt I gave her to hem at the Christmas Eve Open House. Virginia Handy pulled out all sorts of photos and information about her family, who lived across the street from me growing up (in fact, it was her half-brother Paul who introduced my parents).

And then, toward the end of the event, something miraculous happened. I received a phone call through the library: it was my wonderful English teacher Jane Lindenmuth, calling from Holland, Michigan, where she recently retired. She only knew about the signing because her husband saw an article about the event on the Herald-Palladium website. I had tried to call her earlier in the week but without luck, since I didn't know she had moved. So it was a marvelous gift to hear from her (I immediately recognized her voice on the phone) and I can't wait to catch up with her properly.

Thanks again to the wonderful library staff and Forever Books for being so supportive and enthusiastic about The Prairie Girl's Guide to Life. It all started here in Michigan and it's nice to know it continues here as well.

The memories keep on comin'

My book signing at Forever Books was a whopping success yesterday, both personally and professionally. My mom and I spent the morning going to 10 places before hitting the signing (hairdresser, party store, Staples, Steve & Barrys, JC Penney, Gordons Food Service, Angelo's liquor store, Rite Aid, Schu's for lunch, and the dime store). I realize that I get my need to be productive and highly scheduled at all times from her. I am a novice practicing at the feet of the master!

Anyway, the signing. Mom was there, of course, but my dad (the photo is of mom and dad—see the resemblance?), stepmom, step-aunt, step-cousins, and step-grandmother all represented. Then Lake Michigan Catholic High School classmates Kelly, Jennifer, and Sheila all showed up to support me. I am truly blessed to have had such cool and caring women in my life, both then and now. Man, I used to love going to Jennifer's (then Jenny Rice's) home in junior high. Her basement was tricked out with a pool table, Intellivision, and some old version of plinko, and her house had a Betamax (we watched Zuma Beach with Suzanne Somers over and over) and a pool. It was a sweet crib.

Anyway, right after the signing, mom scooted me out of St. Joe so we could get back, prep dinner, and get to the Legion for some more socializing and storytelling. I heard a few things about my stepdad that I'm having a hard time blotting out of my mind, but overall it was a good, productive, and highly entertaining day.

Today was spent with my stepfamily, opening gifts and eating. I videotaped my stepbrother Jay talking about his love of the Cubs, and my dad and stepmom talking about their first date and wedding day. With all the activity, it's no surprise I sacked out on the magic sofa until it was time to drive to the beach to check out the wicked whitecaps (the wind has been relentless all day), as well as light displays along the St. Joe bluff and various neighborhoods (some folks can still afford to pay huge electric bills, bless their hearts). Now chilling back at home, I'm finding a moment of quiet. But in the spirit of Midwestern industriousness, I'm finishing up knitting a scarf before turning in.