Posts By: Heather

Divider

Sterling Hedgehog Necklace

20 Mar, 2010 by in Uncategorized 54 comments


Todays’ Chile relief giveaway is from CraveJewelryDesign: Here is a little bit about me…

I have an obsession for making someone’s day a little brighter.
I love, love, love nature and all, well most things, natural.
I am completely captivated by little creatures and awesome vintage pieces.
Thanks for checking out my jewelry and for the opportunity to share what I crave with you!!

Let’s be friends!
http://www.myspace.com/cravejewelrydesign

Become a fan of CRAVE on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/cravejewelrydesign

Necklace Description…How cute is this guy!
This necklace is made from one sterling silver hedgehog charm, sterling silver chain & findings and is held together with a sterling lobster clasp.
The necklace measures roughly 17″ in length.
Hedgehogs are unique in that they have changed little over millions of years

To enter to win: leave your name and email address below
Additional entries
+2 go to Etsy and heart her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/cravejewelrydesign
+2 visit her Myspace or Eternal Conflict Music on Myspace and comment below
+2 choose your favorite item from her shop and post it in the comments
+3 for each dollar contributed to the Chile relief earthquake fund, click on the yellow donate button right sidebar
+1 tweet this contest @FireIcePhotos and leave the link
+5 post it on your blog or facebook- leave the link
+3 follow us on twitter @FireIcePhotos
+3 become a fan of Fire and Ice and Crave Jewelry Design on Facebook
+3 send us a picture of a hedghog (I LOVE them)
Add your entries up and leave the total in your comment

Contest ends on April 20, 2010 and is open internationally. Please email us of you cannot comment below. Thanks and Good Luck!

In My Mailbox

19 Mar, 2010 by in giveaway 3 comments

Won on Giveaways

“After” by Kristin Harmel, already reviewed
“The Eternal Ones” by Kirsten Miller- ARC to review
“This World we Live In ” by Susan Beth Pfeffer-ARC to review

Gifted
“No Apology” by Mitt Romney- autographed copy

To giveaway Today
on twitter “Diary of a Wimpy Kid #2”-follow and Rt @fireicephotos to win a one of the two Wimpy Kids hardbacks

Photography Friday- Mono Andes

19 Mar, 2010 by in Uncategorized 4 comments

Today’s Photography Friday is from Mono Andes. He is a photographer in Chile who has been capturing images form the earthquake and asking for aid for the people he meets. He also has an amazing photostream of South America and the Andes. Mono’s black and white photos remind me a lot of Ansel Adams.
He has offered to giveaway a photo of choice to one of our blog readers in return for donations to Chile earthquake relief. Here is his profile…
La realidad es mejor. Nada de potoshop y esas cosas…

Allá afuera está mejor la cosa que acá, se ve bastante más que en las fotos.

“Una de las gracias de la montaña es que no importa lo que hagas, siempre te sientes realizado”
Jorge Quinteros

Somos seres llenos de pasión.La vida es desierto y oasis.
Nos derriba, nos lastima, nos enseña,nos convierte en protagonistas de nuestra propia historia.
Aunque el viento sople en contra, la poderosa obra continúa: Tu puedes aportar una estrofa.
No dejes nunca de soñar,porque en sueños es libre el hombre.
No caigas en el peor de los errores: el silencio.
La mayoría vive en un silencio espantoso.No te resignes. Huye.
“Emito mis alaridos por los techos de este mundo”,dice el poeta.

Valora la belleza de las cosas simples. Se puede hacer bella poesía sobre pequeñas cosas, pero no podemos remar en contra de nosotros mismos.
Eso transforma la vida en un infierno.

Disfruta del pánico que te provoca tener la vida por delante. Vívela intensamente,sin mediocridad.
Piensa que en ti está el futuro
y encara la tarea con orgullo y sin miedo.
Aprende de quienes puedan enseñarte. Las experiencias de quienes nos precedieronde nuestros “poetas muertos”, te ayudan a caminar por la vida.
La sociedad de hoy somos nosotros: Los “poetas vivos”. No permitas que la vida te pase a ti sin que la vivas …

(Walt Whitman, No te detengas)


To enter to win: an 8×10 photo print of your choice:

Please leave your name and favorite photo link below
+3 for each dollar donated to the Chile relief fund via paypal heatoddgardner@yahoo.com
+3 visit his photostream on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/monolive/ and pick your favorite, post the link in comments below
+3 visit the earthquake photos http://www.flickr.com/groups/1320118@N25/ and give us your thoughts
+3 visit our our photostream on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherzahngardner/and pick your favorite
+3 tweet this contest @fireicephotos, leave the link
+5 blog this contest, leave the link
+10 send us some seeds, non-perishable food, toys or winter clothes for families in Chile
(email us for info on this entry)

Giveaway ends April 19th, 2010 and is open internationally.
Good Luck and thanks for being generous!
Divider

Contest Winners

18 Mar, 2010 by in Uncategorized 1 comment

Congratulations to our most recent contest winners!

Aubrey Mace signed books– FionaChan and uprobdontknowme
Toddy the Toadstool Handmade Stamp– LaGattaSaimese
The Iron King Bracelet-Missy_wpg
Gnome Bracelet by Flirtbuttons-MicheleNell

Email me your street address so we can mail you your prizes.

To everyone else…Enter to win our other giveaways on the right hand sidebar! And please donate to Chile relief efforts. 100% of the funds go directly to the earthquake victims. We have been able to ship out 8 small boxes of aid thus far to Concepcion, Talca, and San Antonio. They are still in need of trial sized hygiene items, small toys, winter items, blankets, spanish books, baby formula and non-perishable foods. If you are interested in donating , please email me at fireandice.heather@gmail.com A BIG THANKS to those of you who have already donated, every dollar counts!!

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

18 Mar, 2010 by in book review 7 comments


To be published April 13th 2010 by Egmont USA

details Hardcover, 320 pages

url http://www.kaycassidy.com/books/tcs/

isbn 1606840622 (isbn13: 9781606840627)

4.5 stars

When the Prom Queen becomes your fairy godmother…

Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret society of popular girls dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of.

… be careful what you wish for.

Jess’s transformation wins her the heart of her dream crush and a shot at uber-popularity. Until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers the real force behind her exclusive society. It’s a high stakes battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys in power need Jess on special assignment. When the mission threatens to destroy her dream life come true, Jess is forced to choose between living a fairy tale and honoring the Sisterhood… and herself.What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in a package from Egmont USA, and I have to admit it blew me away! Kay’s writing had me hooked from the beginning with wise and witty one liners…perfect gems of sentences that got me laughing! As I read further I saw the underlying theme of being the best you can be, lifting others up, service and seeking for excellence as a woman. The Cinderella Society is about much more than a makeover or the right clothes; it’s about the war between good and evil.
Jess, the main heroine, is in the process of discovering who she is. She has self-doubts but reaches beyond herself in the end. And her fairy tale crush…well, he is swoon worthy! The chemistry between Jess and Ryan is irresistible and by the end of the book I wanted more! The only little qualm I had with the book was the insertion of the “F’ word. It seemed so out of place to me because the rest of the book is entirely without swearing. Hopefully it gets mysteriously left out of the final copies 😉 All in all an amazing read, would recommend it! 4.5 stars!
Please comment below and email me your street address to fireandice.heather@gmail.com if you want to join the ARC tour for this book:

If the Shoe Fits Giveaway

18 Mar, 2010 by in etsy 45 comments


Today’s giveaway is from Jewelparadise, and is inspired by the book “Cinderella Society.” Here’s what this Etsy seller has to say about her shop…From a young age, I was distracted by anything that sparkled. I’m not surprised that this is where I ended up.

Welcome to jewelparadise!
This is my modest little shop where I sell my jewelry creations.
For more about me, feel free to check out my blog at http://jewelparadise.livejournal.com/ and follow my twitter at http://twitter.com/jewelparadise ! Both will keep you updated on my jewelry-related activities. I’m also available at http://flickr.com/jewelparadise, if you want to check out some of my favorite pictures, both of jewelry for sale and my personal jewelry.

About my sections:
Sweet Shop – my collection of dessert-y, almost edible jewelry
Locked Love – all things involving keys, locks, and hearts
Flora – my flowers!
Charmed – jewelry involving miscellaneous charms and dangles
Once Upon a Time – everything mystical, fantastical, plucked from a fairytale.
Precious – sterling silver pieces.

To Enter To Win a handmade Cinderella slipper necklace: leave your name and email address below
Additional entries
+2 go to Etsy and heart her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/jewelparadise
+3 for each dollar contributed to the Chile relief earthquake fund, click on the yellow donate button right sidebar
+1 tweet this contest @FireIcePhotos and leave the link
+5 post the giveaway on your blog or facebook- leave the link
+3 follow us both on twitter @FireIcePhotos @jewelparadise
+3 visit the photostreams of zahngardner and jewelparadise on Flickr
leave your favorite photo link below

Add your entries up and leave the total in your comment

Contest ends on April 18, 2010 and is open internationally. Please email us of you cannot comment below or donate via Paypal. Thanks and Good Luck!

Alice in Wonderland Pony Holders

17 Mar, 2010 by in Uncategorized 16 comments


This is a fun one from CuckooBoo.com LLC
Handmade accessories including fabric button hair accessories, pacifier clips, and badge clips. For information on wholesale please visit the web site http://www.cuckooboo.com/ or just send me an email

♥Proud Member of EtsyKids!♥

Cuckooboo has been featured in:
www.cuckooboo.com/press

Cuckooboo can be found in boutiques worldwide.
www.cuckooboo.com/locations

She is giving away an Alice and Mad Hatter ponytail set.
To Enter To Win: leave your name and email address below
Additional entries
+2 go to Etsy and heart her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/cuckooboo
+2 choose your favorite item from her shop and post it in the comments
+3 for each dollar contributed to the Chile relief earthquake fund, click on the yellow donate button right sidebar
+1 tweet this contest @FireIcePhotos and leave the link
+5 post it on your blog or facebook- leave the link
+3 follow us on twitter @CucKooBoo and @FireIcePhotos
+3 become a fan of Cuckooboo and Fire and Ice on Facebook
Add your entries up and leave the total in your comment

Contest ends on April 17, 2010 and is open internationally. Please email us of you cannot comment below. Thanks and Good Luck!

Book Review- After by Kristin Harmel

17 Mar, 2010 by in book review 2 comments


published: February 9th 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
(first published 2010)

details: Hardcover, 240 pages

isbn: 038573476X

3.5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: LACEY’S WORLD SHATTERS when her dad is killed in a car accident. And secretly? She feels like it’s her fault. If she hadn’t taken her own sweet time getting ready that morning . . . well, it never would have happened. Her mom wouldn’t be a basket case. Her brother Logan wouldn’t drink. And her little brother would still have two parents.

But life goes on even if you don’t want it to. And when Lacey gets the chance to make a difference in the lives of some people at school, she jumps at it. Making lemonade out of lemons is her specialty. Except she didn’t count on meeting a guy like Sam. Or that sometimes? Lemonade can be a pretty bitter drink to swallow

I won this author signed book as part of a facebook giveaway for moms…I love it when that happens! Thanks so much for being so generous Kristin. This was a sweet book which explores the grief of losing a parent as a teen or child. It came right on the heels of losing our little newborn puppy so I found myself in tears as I read it yesterday. Lacey, the main character (and also the point of view for the chick lit novel), tells the story of the day and year after she lost her dad to a tragic car accident. She stuffs her feeling and steps in to help everyone around her. What she didn’t expect was to swept away by Sam Stone, a new student who share some of her past. Her heart has walls and she turns a cold shoulder, questioning if there is a way to feel her father in her life anymore. As time goes on, the reader is taken step by tiny step along the slow pathway to healing. We learn what service can do to warm the heart and we fall in love with Sam.

What a sensitive and caring young man! He shows Lacey patience and compassion. This book does a good job of illustrating how family dynamics can change in the blink of an eye, and faith comes little by little. Three and half stars to “After.” Here is the author, Kristin Harmel talking about her book…

Damask Heart Bookmark

17 Mar, 2010 by in Uncategorized 16 comments


Here’s a little history of who I am and how I became Artfully Sew.

I grew up here in Wisconsin and love my farming state. My husband, Tom and our three children currently live in the country. I love the inspiration I have out here with the sand hill cranes, fields of crops, and beautiful sunsets. I have always love to create things, but it wasn’t until the last 10 years that I started quilting. Traditional quilting got old for me quite quickly. I didn’t like the utility side of constructing quilts, stitching square after square together. Then my best friend’s mom gave me a box full of hand dyed material, some Quilting Arts Magazines and taught me how to use fusible webbing – I was hooked!

Most of my designs are original; meaning I came up with the pattern on my own, but I am inspired by other artists, nature and photography (my husband, Tom is a photographer). The creation process is the fun part for me. I often don’t have a final project in mind but create as I go. Fun, fun, fun!

In September 2009 one of my quilts was featured at the Wisconsin Quilt Expo in Madison, WI. This was a juried show and I was honored to be accepted into the show. The local paper did an article about my quilt in the show. Here’s the link if you want to read even more about my stuff:

http://zoominlocal.com/fond-du-lac-reporter/2009/11/01/?%3Fdpg=1#?page=62&vw=1

I am also a musician. I love to sing and play guitar, piano and even accordion! I work part time at my church, Fond du Lac Community Church (http://www.ccfdl.org/) as the Music Ministry Assistant.

My favorite job of all has been being a wife and mother to my family. I am blessed beyond comprehension and will keep quilting, mothering and making music as long as God allows me. I am a simple girl, simply put. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I can’t keep a poker face. It’s taken me years to be okay with that – to accept myself just as I am, just as my Creator accepts me as I am. That’s why I often sign things with that phrase, “Just as I am”, because that’s who I am!

So, thank you for visiting my Artfully Sew Shop! Please stop by often and I hope that I’ve brightened your day with my little store of quilted and embroidered things.

Just as I am,

Angela Jean

This Damask Heart bookmark is an original design that is machine stitched with damask cotton fabric and a bit of soft pink fabric accented around the edges. It is hand embroidered with a blanket stitch and the back is finished with black felt.

To Enter To Win: leave your name and email address below
Additional entries
+2 go to Etsy and heart her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/artfullysew
+3 for each dollar contributed to the Chile relief earthquake fund, click on the yellow donate button right sidebar
+1 tweet this contest @FireIcePhotos and leave the link
+5 post it on your blog or facebook- leave the link
+3 follow us on twitter @FireIcePhotos
+3 become a fan of Artfully Sew and Fire and Ice on Facebook
Add your entries up and leave the total in your comment

Contest ends on April 17, 2010 and is open internationally. Please email us of you cannot comment below. Thanks and Good Luck!

Books4Bonkhe Handmade Journal

17 Mar, 2010 by in world vision 13 comments

Todays’ St. Patty’s Day Parade starts off with a handmade journal by: Books4Bonkhe which. The store was inspired by Bonkhe Magagula, the 9 year old boy in Swaziland that she sponsors through World Vision. Here’s what books4bonkhe has to say…Since I already enjoy making things, I figure I can do my part to help out by giving a little extra to people who need it.

The idea behind it is that I make journals (or other items) that I sell here, and I donate the proceeds to World Vision to help build schools, wells, or just help to improve the overall quality of countries in need.

4x6x1 inch Journal made from recycled box of Bottle Caps (the candy).
Light blue inside.
20 (40 front and back) cream card stock pages, hand-torn.
Pages attached by silver curvy ribbon, tied on the inside with a bow.

Works great as a quote book, small scrapbook, guestbook, or journal.

100% of sales price goes to Earthquake Relief through World Vision!

To Enter To Win: leave your name and email address below
Additional entries
+2 go to Etsy and heart her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/booksforbonkhe
+3 for each dollar contributed to the Chile relief earthquake fund, click on the yellow donate button right sidebar
+1 tweet this contest @FireIcePhotos and leave the link
+5 post it on your blog or facebook- leave the link
+3 follow us on twitter @FireIcePhotos
+3 become a fan of Fire and Ice on Facebook
Add your entries up and leave the total in your comment

Contest ends on April 17, 2010 and is open internationally. Please email us of you cannot comment below. Thanks and Good Luck!