Merry Christmas

This is my next "just for fun" project.

I am planning on finishing this up in all green water colors. 

I will post a picture of it when I am finished! I am thinking this might be next years Christmas card cover, we will have to see once it is finished!

As promised

In my previous post I promised to share what cookies I ended up making and what I did for packaging.

 

 

 I ended up making Thumbprint cookies with Lemon Curd, Raspberry and Plum centers.

 

I also made Honey cookies just for fun. : )  Which are so super yummy!

For my packaging I decided to go with a winter snow theme. 

 

I was able to pick up some jumbo muffin liners from JoAnn's to put the cookies in. I used a clear bag and fake snow for the bottom.

I than tided a snowflake ribbon around the ties and added a snowflake ornament. I also printed all the recipes for the Thumbprint cookies on the back of snowflake paper for a cookie exchange.

I hope this gave you some fun creative ideas for normal items for your next cookie giving adventure!

Cookies and gifts

Today is cookie day... I just have a few dozen batches to make... no biggie right! lol

Do you make cookies to share with your friends, family and neighbors... if so what kind?

Today I will be making Thumbprint and Honey Spiced cookies. I just got done make Spice Pecans and Cinnamon Honey butter... another couple of my gifts. Then of course they have to look cute to hand out... watch for my next post on the recipes, pictures and cute goodies bags!

What are you favorite holiday traditions?

New piece

I don't know how many of you are in love with Pinterest as I am... but I love Pinterest! The other day I saw a picture very similar to the one below and I just fell in love with the style and bold colors and I thought it would be prefect for a new reading area in my bedroom. I made some changes and of course made it my own style. Now I am just waiting for the antique chair from my moms house. ; )

This a peacock in pencil and watercolor on watercolor paper. I love to use water color paints but I don't use a lot of water with them I prefer the paint very concentrated so that I can use it more vibrantly and with more detail. It is not 100% finished but close I just need to add some gold and silver for the finishing touches, but I thought I would share it with you now!

First house project ... Peeling wall paper!

So I am not a fan of wall paper... and when we moved in our new house had this wall paper that just reminded me of the game Space Invaders... needless to say it had to come down ASAP! 

As most of my readers know I am a "green" person, I try to be "green" I know that I am not prefect at it, but I still try. : ) With this project I stayed "green".

Tools needed...

Lavender Oil

Warm Water

Water bottle

multi purpose scraper

and a lot (and I mean a lot) of patients

You add about a tablespoon of the Lavender Oil to the spray bottle and fill with warm water. Shake well and spray.

Step One

Find a seem to the wall paper and start to peel it off, it will rip and leave a white paper and glue layer under neither.

Step Two

Spray and wipe it down with your hand so it doesn't soak into the flooring under neither you. You want it to stay on the wall paper.

Step Three

Wait 15 minutes to start peeling the wet wall paper off. During that time you need to make sure the wall paper stays wet. YES, you really need to wait the 15 minutes!

Step Four 

Peel and repeat the process until you are wall paper free!

This is a easy project just time consuming a messy! Once all the wall paper is gone from your walls... wash them and prep them for paint. 

Before

The Last Section to be removed

After

My next project is to paint this room, update switches, plugs and lighting (thank you to my husband)
Watch for my next DIY project post with paint!

Book Signing for a great cause

I will be signing books and selling hair bows with Shanda next Saturday the 20th, come and see Shanda and I and support a great cause.
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e3yhqnwu78eb112c&llr=ge6up9dab

Little Miracles 5K, Silent Auction, Boutique & Celebration
Saturday August 20, 2011

.........Help build a miracle……for a miraculous little girl!

  2 1/2 year old Emylie was born with Spina Bifida and Arnold Chiari II Malformation. When Emylie was four weeks old her parents found out that she had pressure on her cranial nerves, a very rare symptom of the arnold Chiari II Malformation. She had lost her cough, gag and swallow reflexes and had central apnea. Because of this, they were told Emylie would need a trachestomy, ventilator and feeding tube to live.   
Emylie is a little miracle.  She has had numerous surgeries, experienced some setbacks and some major steps forward. Through it all Emylie has fought back and has proven some of her doctors wrong. And shown others there is always hope for a Miracle. She is an example of great courage, faith and determination to her family and so many around her. "She helps us see the little miracles in everything."

We are raising funds to build a home for Emylie and her family. A home that allows Emylie to be as mobile and comfortable as possible and is functional for Emylie's 24/7 care by her family and nurses. The funds will also help with medical equipment and tools for Emylie’s physical and educational needs to help her achieve her goals and her highest potential.

 You can help raise funds to build a home for Emylie by joining us at the Little Miracles 5K Run/Walk, Silent Auction, Boutique and Celebration August 20, 2011.

 Grab your family, your friends, your neighbors, and co-workers; please come join us and help us build a miracle for Emylie.

The events will be held at the corner of Skyline Drive and Ryan Circle, South Ogden beginning with registration at 8:00am and the 5K Fun Run/Walk, Silent Auction, Boutique and Celebration with games and food to start at 9:00am.  There will be prizes and refreshments for race participants.

Donations may be brought to the Fun Run/Walk or click on the link at theselittlemiracles.blogspot.com

All proceeds from this event will go directly to Emylie’s lifetime needs.

Bottle Topper display

This is my new bottle topper display at Green the World located on Historic 25th Street in Ogden.

Book Signing

    

I will be signing Troy Truck Explores Maui by Julyn Watkins illustrated by Mandy Hedrick (ME) and Tilly's Tale and Dylan's Tale by Harry Porter illustrated by Mandy Hedrick (yup me again) this Saturday from 2 to 4pm at Green the World in downtown Ogden on Historic 25th Street. Stop in to see me and enter to win a free gift!

 Green the World

         

Dylans Tale

 

This is one of many illustrations from my latest illustrated book Dylan's Tale, have you picked up your copy?

Available through 

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

4RV Publishing

and any local book retailer.

Dylan's Tale is the second in the series Harry Porter's Dog Tales, which tell the stories of six dogs rescued from lives of abuse or neglect. The series began with Tilly's Tale, and the beautiful Bedlington Terrier, Dylan, soon joined Tilly. Dylan is a "posh" dog, meaning a pure breed with pedigree and proud heritage. He is the "aristocrat" of Porter's pack of rescue dogs.

St. Patricks day!

WOW where has the time went... it is mid March already and I am slacking yet again on posting. :  ( Well HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY, may the luck of the Irish be with you today!

drum roll please...

And February's winner is......

Shanda Gainey.... Shanda won a www.mandyhedrick.com fairy note book!

Enjoy!

Wonder who will win March's prize! 

Make sure to share my blog, website and Facebook page with your friends!

Dylan's Tale

Dylan's Tale is now available to order from Amazon and the publishing 4RV Publishing llc.

Dylan's Tale

Illustration from Dylan's Tale, by Harry Porter, 

illustrated by ©Mandy Hedrick and 4RV Publishing LLC

Mandy Hedrick website ... blog

Posting and sharing

Have you been posting a comment on my Facebook page or commenting on my blog to be entered into this months drawing?!? While you on my Facebook page be sure to become a fan. Please spread the word and share my contest with your friends!

Dylan's Tale

The much anticipated... Dylan's Tale is the second in the series of books from Harry Porter's Dog Tales'. The first book in the series Tilly's Tale has won Preditor and Editor Readers Poll 2009 and has received many great reviews. Please watch for Dylan's Tale to be available soon on the publishers website 4RV Publishing LLC, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Books

I have been busy illustrating and designing books. My next illustrated book should be out within the next few weeks, but for the time being I wanted to share with you the latest books I have designed. All of them have been for 4RV Publishing LLC.  I hope you will take the time to look at each one of them and add them to your book shelf. The books can be purchased my clicking the publishers link below each book cover, through Amazon on the links at the bottom of the page, or through www.BarnesandNoble.com or can be ordered though any local book store! There is also merchandise available for most 4RV books through Zazzle.

Available from the publisher, 4RV PUBLISHING, LLC is Stork Musters and Critter Clusters, by Rena Jones, illustrated by Nikki Boeyger.










Available from the publisher, 4RV PUBLISHING, LLC is Glastonbury, by Brain L. Porter.

Available from the publisher, 4RV PUBLISHING, LLC is Libby the Odd Squirrel, by Lea Schizas, illustrated by Stephen Macquignon.

Available from the publisher, 4RV PUBLISHING, LLC is Little Charley Thornpaws by Caelaach McKinna, illustrated by Ginger Nielson.

Available soon from the publisher, 4RV PUBLISHING, LLC is Conscience Breaching Amnesia by Vehoae.

Contest

Okay I have decided to start a new contest, not only to get me blogging/Facebook again but to also get people more involve in what I have going on in my art world. Starting tomorrow February 1st I will be holding a drawing for items I will be picking off my Zazzle store. Each month I will randomly pick one item and one person that has posted off one of my blog post or Facebook post will win that item! Make sure to become fans of my Facebook page. To be entered into the drawing you must post on my Facebook fan page or on my blog! So... on you mark... get set... start posting!