BookCon 2014 Flashback

tbt! I am traveling to NYC today from New Hampshire for BookCon15. I'll take a 1-hour bus ride and a 4-hour train ride and love every minute of the quiet! Here are my pics from BookCon 2014. Enjoy!

This was my book skirt. The books are like a kid's soft book with velcro keeping them closed. Inside I had my favorite quotes from each.

I like keeping my schedule and map accessible so I bought a customizable travel mug.

Cassie actually signed this book during her book tour a few days before BookCon 2014.

 Meeting Cary Elwes was a serious fangirl moment! 

Love Cassandra Clare and Holly Black! They co-wrote The Iron Trial and it was the first ARC I've ever received.

I met Bad Kitty!

It was busy on the showfloor.

This is Deborah Harkness. I met her at the Penguin Book Truck and she signed my copy of A Discovery of Witches. Again, I don't know how my fangirl heart didn't explode!

This gorgeous wall captured the Shadowhunter world! Can't wait for the show to start!

My very first panel was with Jason Segel. He read from his novel Nightmares! and the panel was awesome! Since they don't clear the regular panel rooms, I stayed for the next panel.

Veronica Roth moderated a panel on Dystopian novels.

My second, and last, panel was about Dystopian worlds created by: Veronica  Roth, Danielle Paige, Marie Lu and Alaya Dawn Johnson.

 I am VERY excited to attend BEA tomorrow! Thanks for visiting!

Packing for BEA and BookCon 2015

I leave tomorrow morning for my next grand book adventure: BEA and BookCon! I am very excited to experience BEA for the first time and share BookCon with new friends (and my mom!). So today I finished packing and thought I'd share...

my gorgeous business cards

BookCon App Meet Up badges

Maps, schedules and lanyard

This is a customizable travel mug

You can insert your schedule and it's always available

Essential Backpack stuffs

Clothes in the duffle, duffle in the luggage = efficient empty luggage for my BEA and BookCon haul!

Ready to go!

 Tomorrow I'll post a tbt of BookCon 2014. Thanks for reading!

Shrinky Dink Jewelry Tutorial

I love to craft! One of my favorite mediums has returned from childhood and is even better as an adult! When I was a kid of the 80s, we would get Shrinky Dink kits. They came pre-printed with coloring book-like pages. We would color them in with colored pencils, cut them out and watch the magic in the oven! As an adult I have discovered a new product that uses a computer and printer. This is amazing because now I'm not limited to pre-printed images and can create any image using my computer! I buy mine from my local Michael's Craft Store but you can order them online at Amazon.
Since many people ask if I have an Etsy page to sell them, I thought I'd blog a tutorial. Then you all can craft until your heart's content!

Materials needed:

• Printable Shrinky Dink paper 
• computer (to gather, modify and prepare the images)
• ink jet printer
• scissors
• corner punch (optional)
• standard hole punch
• oven 
• parchment paper
• clear spray paint
• bead smith pliers
• 5mm split jump rings
• charm bracelet

Directions:  

1. Prepare your document.

• save the images that you want to print onto your computer
• insert them into a blank Word document with 1/2" margins

• resize the images to 1.5" in height
• increase the brightness to 50% (sometimes this washes out too much of the image, try sharpening it or lowering the brightness to get the details back)

• fill the entire page! waste not ~ want not ;)
• I use 2 spaces between each image and 1/2" between rows.
• print a test page on paper just to be sure everything looks okay
• print the document (use best color printing settings with plain paper)

2. Prepare your charms

• cut along the bottom of each row (this leaves 1/2" above each image to punch the jump ring hole)
•  punch a hole near the top of each image
  

  

  before and after

• optional: use the corner punch to round the top edges of your charm
• optional: don't punch a hole and make a magnet!

3. Bake your charms

• preheat the oven to 300 degrees
• line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
• place your charms on the parchment with space between (I like to do 8 at a time to leave room for rolling. If they touch, they may bond together permanently.)
• WATCH the magic happen (about 3 minutes)
• after they return to a flat state for 30 seconds, remove from oven
• if they are curved, skewed, or stuck together - you can attempt to straighten them with a metal utensil (they will be VERY hot and will only be flexible while very hot) and bake them more
• allow to cool 

4. Seal your charms

• place your charms in a parchment lined box (so they won't bond with the box)
• spray the charms with clear spray paint (even swipes 12" from the charms ~ careful, they are light and may flip over)
• allow to dry completely
  

  5. Assemble your bracelet

• using the pliers, open the jump rings

 

• feed the ring through the hole and the link of the charm bracelet

• close the jump ring with the pliers

• Continue until all charms are attached 

Alternative pieces
I've also made Christmas ornaments, zipper pulls, earrings, a bangle bracelet and stretch bracelet using Shrinky Dinks. I like to mix covers and symbols for a different look. Your imagination is the only limit! If you are looking for a challenge, the Shrinky Dink printable paper is printable on BOTH sides. I'm currently fighting to line up both sides for my earrings!

2.3mm small cable chain and fishhook earrings

spacers, elastic cord and seed beads

Bangle bracelet from BookCon 2014

Earrings for BEA and BookCon 2015

Sarah J Maas book earring

Rainbow Rowell book earring

The Divergent movie poster and Twilight Saga are magnets

 This magnet was made with Matte Shrink Film and colored with extra fine Sharpies. Notice the zigzag edges, you can cut with fun scissors!

If you have any questions, please ask! Happy crafting!

BookCon Tips and Tricks Part 2

Welcome back! In my first BookCon post, I went over Planning, Wearing Comfy Shoes and Arriving Early. Today I'll tackle Backpack Essentials, The Buddy System and The BookCon App.

1. Backpack Essentials I notoriously overpack so BookCon is a challenge for me. I like to be prepared for anything. Here are items that I found very useful last year: snacks & lunch (since the line at Javits is crazy long and the food expensive), a few books to be signed, sharpie, water bottle, mints (wouldn't want to scare off your favorite authors with bad breath!), camera, portable charger for your cell (if you are lucky enough to find an outlet at Javits, huzzah for you!), business cards (some raffles require them and it's fun to share your social media accounts with new friends), and your schedule (I put mine in a "customizable photo" travel mug so it's always in my hand). Optional back pack items: pen and notebook (I like to take notes during panels), deoderant, light sweater (I took one last year, but never used it), MeetUp badge (so the other App users can find you), Book plates (to have the author sign if you don't take their book with you), and a back up battery for your camera.
2. Buddy System Last year I went to NYC alone. I was lucky enough to make a meet up plan with a couple friends for BookCon. The buddy system is wonderful! They can hold your spot in line when you are desperate for a potty break or need to unload your haul to the luggage you left at the coat check (nothing with wheels is allowed on the showfloor, but for $3 you can check a piece of luggage to comfortably bring back all your books and swag). Please remember to be polite and tell those who line up after you that you are holding a spot for someone.
3. The BookCon App This app is active all year round! We chat about what we are reading and the book events that we are attending. It is a great community full of fabulous bookworms! The App also has the Exhibitor list, Panel schedule, Guest list, Autographing schedule, important links and Show Specials. While looking at the details of each event or person, you have the option to "Add to My Agenda" and they will be bookmarked for you. If you use the App on your cell, you have the option to "sync" with your cell calendar and it will fill in all the panels and autographing that you bookmarked (very handy for setting reminders so you get to your events on time!).

I hope that everyone has an awesome experience and keeps an open mind. Some times you have to go with the flow and move from your first priority to the second (or third). Next time I'll post all my pictures from BookCon 2014. Thanks for visiting!

BookCon Tips and Tricks Part 1

BookCon 2015 is only one week away! My body has been acting like a 5 year old anticipating Christmas! Lots of early wake ups and visions of pretty things (BOOKS). So since I can't sleep, I thought I'd share some of my experiences from BookCon last year, its first year in existence, and create a tip list.

1. Plan, plan, plan! I found out about BookCon 2014 two months in advance. One of my favorite authors had tweeted about her appearance at BEA and BookCon and NYC is only a 1-hour bus, 4-hour train ride away. I was so very excited to attend a convention surrounded by people who love books. I'm even more excited for this year! So getting back to the tip... As soon as BookCon releases any information, make note of it. Some time in February they slowly started sharing which GUESTS and EXHIBITORS will attend.  Then in April they posted the PANEL schedule, quickly followed by the AUTOGRAPHING schedule. I may have also studied the floor plan of Javits like a playbook. Since I love to plan, I read anything by each guest as they were released to get a feel for who I want to see at BookCon. This also kept me busy while I anxiously waited for the schedule to be released. After that joyous moment (scheduling day), I used the My Show Planner application within the BookCon site to ⭐️ everything I was interested in. Of course it was four deep in every hour but there is so. much. to. see. and. do. I also like to write things down and highlight priorities and make lists until my little over-planner heart is content. Last year I had at least two events every hour and a couple times three. I knew that there were 3 authors I desperately wanted to be face-to-face with and I met them all! Maybe I was lucky, but I like to think all the planning made it happen.
2. Wear comfortable shoes Last year I was at Javits for 10 hours (7-5). I chose to wear sneakers and though I was physically wrung out from all the excitement, my feet did not hate me. I saw 2 panels so the remaining 8 hours were spent on my feet waiting in line or walking the showfloor.
3. Arrive early to everything. I missed Cary Elwes' panel for his book As You Wish by about 20 people. I lined up a half hour before the panel and the line was snaked all around. BookCon staff informed me that all panel lines would start no more than one hour prior. This year they have implemented wristbands for all events in the Special Events Hall. John Green's The Fault in Our Stars panel last year was a mob scene. So to avoid all that and keep us organized, they have a very specific procedure in place. Queue Hall (1C) will open at 8am this year to begin the lines for each SEH panel and one for the showfloor. Also good to know is that all panel rooms (except the SEH) will NOT be cleared. So if you would like to sit in a panel room for more than one event, go for it! You won't have to line up again and I may have used that to guarantee my seat in a VERY popular panel last year *cough*Dystopian*cough* The autographing events also seemed to line up an hour in advance. Sometimes the in-booth signing line will not start at the booth so make sure to check in with the booth attendants for the time and place that the autographing begins. Also, some in-booth events require tickets or book purchases. So while you're asking about the line, might as well get those details too. Some of the exhibitors have put information in the description of the autographing. The authors who are signing at tables will do so in Queue Hall. A LOT of these events require that you purchase a book on site at the Word Bookstore. It is located in Queue Hall near the autographing tables. So you'll need to buy a book but the purchase does NOT guarantee that you will get it signed. Line up early (I'm attempting one hour prior)!

That's it for Part 1! Please check by for my next installment of tips and tricks coming soon! 

It all started with a book

My inaugural post! I'm so excited to start sharing all my book related adventures with the world! My name is Angela and I LOVE to read! Mostly YA but there is always room for all types of stories.

Last night I started The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson. It is the final book in a trilogy by an author who is attending BookCon this year. I leave for NYC in one week! I am very excited to attend the last day of BEA and both days of BookCon!

In my next post, I'll share some of my tips/tricks that I learned from last year's BookCon.