Tina/parltradet is featured in an Etsy treasury by Knme

This purple bracelet is included in Knme's treasury:





And here is a sample of a scarf from Knme' own shop:



Best wishes,
Anna

Tina/parltradet has curated a new Etsy treasury: Gold and Silver

Best wishes,
Anna



First Commenter:
xxx

Tina/parltradet has curated a new Etsy treasury: Blush, Pink and Peach

Best wishes,
Anna



First Commenter:



Rose Clearfield



of

The Beads and Buttons of Random Creative'

Check out Rose Clearfield's treasury-round-up, here. It's a beautiful post! She has a very nice way of saying thanks!

Here are a couple of typical items from Rose's shop, randomcreative, a lovely leaf-beaded bracelet draped over sheet music and pink mother-of-pearl ring-earrings to match the bracelet that I have featured in this treasury:

Click on each photo to learm more about them:

A Study in Black - Lovisa's New Clothes -Mrs. Jenny Matlock's - Saturday Centus - Week 78

Welcome to Saturday Centus, Mrs. Jenny Matlock's writing challenge where participants write a PG-rated text with a given prompt using not more than 25 words this week. The prompt is the above picture that Mrs. Jenny calls 'A Study in Black'.



This is week 78 and here are Mrs. Matlock's instructions:

THE PROMPT THIS WEEK IS THE ABOVE PICTURE. I LIKE TO CALL IT 'STUDY IN BLACK'
WORD COUNT - Not to exceed 25 words. Yes, that is correct. 2. 5. Twenty-five. XXV.
STYLE OF WRITING - Any
NO ADDITIONAL PICTURES - Sorry Mrs. Matlock, but I can't do it this way!

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Here is my text:

Louisa wanted a witch-costume. A black hat, wig and dress were purchased and donned. This surprised the cats greatly, who were themselves dressed in black.


Text & Photo Copyright 2011 Christina Wigren


Text & Photo Copyright 2011 Christina Wigren


Text & Photo Copyright 2011 Christina Wigren
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Wordcount according to WordCalc: 25

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Best wishes,
Anna

P.S.
There are pictures to this story. (And now I've added them!) If you would like to see some of them, I will go against Mrs. Jenny's orders and publish them. Just say the word in a comment. Lovisa's real name is Elisabet, my daughter.

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First Commenter:
Sue
of
Sue's News, Views 'n Muse



To read other SC-posts for Week 77 please go to this site or click on the image below:

Tina/parltradet has curated a new Etsy treasury: Pale and Quiet

Best wishes,
Anna



First Commenter:

Rose Clearfield



of



The Beadings and Buttons of Random Creative

Tina/parltradet has curated a new Etsy treasury: White for an important date

Best wishes,
Anna



First Commenter:
XXX

Tina/parltradet has curated a new Etsy treasury: Autumn yellows and blacks

Best wishes,
Anna



First Commenter:
XXX

Haunting - Romantic Friday Writers Challenge No. 25 - 28th of October 2011

Welcome to the Romantic Friday Writing Challenge, started and hosted by L'Aussie Denise and Francine Howarth, where participants share their own 300-400-word text on a given theme. This week's theme for Friday, 21st October, Challenge No. 25, is 'Haunting'. My text is written directly for this REW-challenge.

Here is my text :
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Haunting

It was a dark and stormy night and Drucilla thought she was alone in the farm-kitchen. Thunder and lightning made Drucilla nervous. With ears geared to hearing the soft heartbeat of tiny rodents, Drucilla didn't like loud noises. The two-leggeds had taken off for some unknown destination, to which Drucilla was not invited.

It started to rain heavily, as Drucilla was having her evening meal in the in a corner of the kitchen. It was dark, but she had good night vision. As she looked across the kitchen floor, she thought she spied a pair of eyes; shining, glowing cat's eyes suspended in the air. She looked away and slowly closed her eyes. If I ignore it, it might go away, she thought as she went to sit in her basket. She curled her tail around her body and only opened one eye, ever so slightly, as to not reveal her interest in the vapourous cat-eyes. In minutes the vision of the eyes had grown into a whole cat-face hovering some inches above the floor. It was a kind face; a happy face; it was the face of a cat who used to live there.

'Meow!' said the face, meaning: 'Hello my pretty! Who are you? Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Che-'

'"Cheshire"', Drucilla broke in knowingly. 'Am I right? I recognise you from when I was a kitten.'

Now the strange cat's entire figure came to light. A magnificent tom, she thought, whatever his name is.

'No, Chester, actually. My name is Chester, and yes, I used to live here.'

'I'm Drucilla,' said Drucilla washing a front paw and nervously wiping her face. The visiting cat's bodily form had now materialised completely and Chester was or had been a beautiful red tabby tom, with soft yellow eyes, the same colour as his coat. He smiled a sweet cat-smile.

'Chester', Drucilla inquired hestitantly' Are you normal?'

'Oh my dear Drucilla, no. Alas, not anymore. I've changed form.'

'Oh', said Drucilla puzzled and embarrassed. She liked him, but his entrance was odd. Most cats go through the cat-door or are let in by two-leggeds.

'Must we speak of it, my darling?'mewed Chester softly.

'No, my sweet, come sit with me instead.'

Chester and Drucilla curled up in each other's furry embrace, purring as they fell asleep.

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[Text copyright 2011 Christina Wigren]

Word count according to WordCalc: 399; FCA; Full Critique Acceptable. Write whatever you like. Constructive criticism is always welcome! Don't be shy. Say what's on your mind!

------
Best wishes,
Anna

P.S.
Epilogue:
Later when the family came home and found Drucilla, the cat, alone and asleep with her paws up in the air in her basket, Lucinda, asked her older sister, 'Have you ever seen a ghost?'
'No, replied Jane, but I think Drucilla has.'

P.P.S.
This story is purely fictional. There are nods to Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass as well as to Beatrix Potter's A Tale of Two Bad Mice. And here is where you can read about the opening phrase 'It was a dark and stormy night'.

First Commenter:
Denise
of
L'Aussie's Writing Blog

To read other texts for Romantic Friday Writers Challenge No. 25, with the theme 'Haunting', please visit this site or click on the image below:

Haunting - your invitation to write a 400-word story or poem this Friday 28.

Romantic Friday Writers, a weekly on-going blogfest run by L'Aussie and Francine Howarth, has an open challenge to everyone to write a 400-word story or poem on the theme Haunting for Friday 28 October. Well, er, that might just have something to do with Halloween?

What haunts you? Do you have a story or poem in the paranormal genre you could share, do ghosts or zombies inhabit your universe? Or do you have a character who is just plain haunted by what has happened in the past? Release your creative juices and pen a tasty banquet for the feast on Friday. Just remember to have an element of romance present in some form... How do you enter your story?

• Click here to go to the Romantic Friday Writers' website
• Submit your direct story link to the linky (linky will go up Wednesday 26 this week)
• Tweet using #RFWer to tell the twitterverse you've posted (optional) or post on facebook etc...
• Find some time over the Halloween weekend to read other stories. What better way to spend the weekend while you suck on trick or treat candies?
• If you're a member, your story is automatically up for Featured Writer, Runner Up or an Encouragement Award. If you're not a member, you're welcome to join - it's free! Remember, you don't have to be a member to post this week or any week!

Happy Writing!

Spread the word! You're welcome to copy/paste this post to your blog! Tweet, facebook it too!

I planted a little story seed - Mrs. Jenny Matlock's - Saturday Centus - Week 77

Welcome to Saturday Centus, Mrs. Jenny Matlock's writing challenge where participants write a PG-rated text with a given prompt using not more than 100 words plus the six words of the prompt.



This is week 77 and the prompt is 'I planted a little story seed...'. Here are Mrs. Matlock's instructions: WORD COUNT - 100 WORDS PLUS THE SIX WORDS OF THE PROMPT. Total word count not to exceed 106 words.
STYLE OF WRITING - ANY
DON'T USE ANY OTHER PICTURES THIS WEEK.
THE PROMPT FOR THIS WEEK IS: 'I planted a little story seed...'

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Here is my text:

'Maybe it's not good enough, but I have it with me', said Martin Bucher to his editor, Wolfgang Dinkelspiel, at a luncheon-meeting.

'Did you write a collection of stories on the same theme?'

'Almost. I've written three and I have ideas for seven.

'Wonderful! What's your theme?'

'Must I tell you now?'

'No. You don't. But it might help you make a commitment and get it done. What is it?'

'It's "Whispers*"', said Bucher, giving Dinkelspiel his list of story-ideas.

'Now, that wasn't so hard, was it? I planted a little story seed, and look what I get, ten stories!'


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Wordcount according to WordCalc: 100

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Best wishes,
Anna



*P.S.

'Whispers' is the most recent theme for Romantic Friday Writers Challenge No. 24. Take a look at what some really fine, professional (and many published), writers have done with this versatile theme. I really like it, and just as Martin Bucher tried to do, I could have written ten stories connected to this theme! My two stories can be found here.

Thank you Denise Convey (L'Aussie) and Francine Howarth for this gem of an idea! Denise and Francine (who did not write a text of her own for this challenge, but who usually writes each week) are the founders and co-hosts for this lovely weekly blog-fest for romantic writing.

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First Commenter:

Judie



of

Rogue Artists



To read other SC-posts for Week 77 please go to this site or click on the image below:

Whispers - Two Stories! - Romantic Friday Writing Challenge No. 24 - 21st October 2011

Welcome to the Romantic Friday Writing Challenge, started and hosted by L'Aussie Denise and Francine Howarth, where participants share their own 300-400-word text on a given theme. This week's theme for Friday, 21st October, Challenge No. 24, is 'Whispers'. I have written two texts for this challenge. These are two separate stories with separate characters. They are complete in themselves, but could be part of longer works if I chose to keep writing. These are new texts, written directly for this REW-challenge.

1
Here is text # 1:
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Source Wikipedia. This is the Public Library in Stockholm, where I think my story should take place.

Whispers

'How was it?' Charlotte asked Sara as the two young women walked up a long staircase and passed a desk where a middle-aged woman sat looking at papers.

'How was what? Oh, you mean last night? Simply divine,'murmured Sara and smiled.

'Shhh!' said the woman behind the desk quietly and held her index finger to her lips.

'Oh, we're sorry', Charlotte whispered, 'Sara, why are we here?'

'We are looking for a book about...'

'Shhh!' said the librarian and pointed to a sign that said: 'No talking in the Reading Room.'

'...a book about unusual sightings in the deep forests.' whispered Sara.

'UFOs?' asked Charlotte, 'Why would you want to read a book like that?'

'Not UFOs, the little people with wings, pixies, faeries.'

'Shhh!' said the grey-haired woman.



'Oh dear. Isn't there someplace we could talk?' whispered Sara as she pointed toward one of several smaller rooms along one side of the great reading-hall. 'Could we use one of those rooms to talk?' she asked the woman seated behind the desk.

The librarian made a sign for her to come closer, 'No, those study-cells must be booked in advanced.'

'Could we book one now?' asked Sara.

'No, I'm sorry but there are none available, right now.'

'But they're all empty.' protested Sara, raising her voice slightly.

'Shhh!' whispered the librarian zipping her lips with her thumb and index finger.

'Let's just go.' said Charlotte.

'Yes, but I really need to find that book.'

'Then we can't talk.

'Shhh!' said the librarian and continued to stare at them. They walked away from her desk toward the exit.



'So you had a good time last night; where did you go; what did you do?' whispered Charlotte.

'We went out to eat at a restaurant,' whispered Sara and in an even smaller voice, 'He proposed'.

'What did you say?' asked Charlotte in an almost normal voice.

'I said, HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM' said Sara in a strong voice, just before they reached the exit doors.

'SHHHH!' shouted the librarian.

'What was your answer?' inquired Charlotte in a loud voice.



'Yes!' bellowed Sara as they ran out the doors and down the long stairway toward the street entrance, 'I SAID YES!'

[Text copyright 2011 Christina Wigren]

Word count according to WordCalc: 400; FCA; Full Critique Acceptable. Write whatever you like. Constructive criticism is always welcome! Don't be shy. Say what's on your mind!

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This is an illustration by the Swedish artist-writer, Elsa Beskow (1874-1953) whose work I have admired since childhood. Take a look at more of her picture-books (in Swedish) here. Wikipedia has a page on Elsa Beskow in English here.

2

Here is text # 2:

Whispers

Esmarelda, Aurora and Rosanna flew with their berry-baskets over the meadow and landed at the edge of the forest.

'Remember to be quick and quiet about picking the bilberries' instructed Esmarelda, 'I'll take first watch here at the large basket. You two fly around and gather as many baskets of berries as you can.' Aurora and Rosanna took each a smaller basket and sailed off in different directions.

Aurora, with her flamming red hair and moss-green eyes, landed by a plant that in proportion to her size, looked like a small tree with blue-violet, apple-sized fruits growing on it. She began to pick the blue fruits when she heard a soft whisper:

'Aurora!'

'Who's there?' she asked, somewhat frightened. Do I know the speaker?

'Aurora!' whispered the voice again when her basket was two-thirds full.

'Do I know you?' she murmured softly as she filled the basket to the brim and was ready to fly away.

'Please don't go. It's me, Petrus', whispered the voice that Aurora now recognised.

'What are you doing out here in the forest? I must return. Esmarelda will think I am taking too long to get back to the basket.'

'Please, Aurora, come closer', murmured Petrus as he hovered over the bilberry plants.

'Well, alright. Let me just put down my basket', said Aurora softly, putting her basket on the ground and flying up to Petrus. 'What do you want?'

'A kiss. Just a kiss,' whispered Petrus as he held Aurora's face in his hands and slowly pressed his lips against hers.

'Oh, Petrus!' said Aurora between kisses.

'Aurora, Aurora! I love you so much! Please say yes!'



'Say yes to what?'

'Marry me!'

'Petrus! What will father say?'

'I hope he will give us his blessings!'

'You must go now. Esmarelda and Rosanna mustn't know yet. Meet me at my father's house tonight.

'I'll be there, Aurora! I love you!' whispered Petrus as he fluttered away into the woods. Auroras's heart beat faster. She picked up the basket of bllberries and returned to Esmarelda.

Sometime earlier, while Aurora was talking with Petrus, Rosanna was filling her basket when she heard whispers. She saw Petrus kissing Aurora. Tears filled Rosanna's eyes. She loved Petrus. Now she hated Aurora. What should she do?

[Text copyright 2011 Christina Wigren]

Word count according to WordCalc: 392; FCA; Full Critique Acceptable. Write whatever you like. Constructive criticism is always welcome! Don't be shy. Say what's on your mind!

------
Best wishes,
Anna

P.S. These two stories are fictional.

First Commenter:

Ann Thompson



of

Ann's Snap, Edit & Scrap

To read other texts for Romantic Friday Writers Challenge No. 24, with the theme 'Whispers', please visit this site or click on the image below: