2014 Harvest Fun Day!!

It still feels like summer here on the south coast, but I know everyone is thinking about fall, and pumpkins, and apple pies, and colorful leaves, and all that good stuff. Here's a fun event coming up in October to look forward to! Mark your calendars for...

Saturday, October 11, 2014

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

at the 

Fairhaven Visitors Center

141 Main Street at Route 6

(West lawn of Fairhaven High School)

I will be set up at this event with my books and stuff, and I will have some fun free crafts for the kids. Drop by, say hi, and make some fun Floyd fall crafts! I will also be revealing, for the very first time, my new almost life-sized Floyd stuffed animal: stop by and give him a hug!

There are also a whole bunch of other vendors and organizations with lots of fun activities and items for sale. This event is especially for families and kids, so be prepared for tons of activities. Also, don't forget about the annual Scarecrow Contest. Get yours ready and join in the fall fun!

Another Sparkling Craft

One week left of August, and though I'm back to school on Monday, I know some of you lucky people still have a week left before you go back. Enjoy the summer days reading Floyd and the Sparkling Seashell and making one more Sparkling Seashell craft:
Seashell Necklaces!
(Kids, you may want a grown up to help with this.)
Step 1: Get some seashells! You can collect them from a beach or buy them at a craft store. If you get them on the beach, it's a good idea to wash and dry them.
Step 2: Put holes in the shells using a diamond-tipped drill submerged in water--what???!! Yes that's how to do it. Too much trouble for me, so I used a little piece of pipe cleaner bent into a loop and attached with hot glue. Piece of cake.
Step 3: Cut a ribbon or string about 18 inches long.
Step 4: Thread the string through the shell's loop or hole.
Step 5: Add pony beads in any kind of pattern you like (You can use other kinds of beads, too, but pony beads are easiest to thread.).
Step 6: Tie string in a knot.

FYI--You can add as many shells and beads as you like. I also used some glitter glue and a paintbrush to add sparkle to some of my shells.

If you don't have real shells, you can print out my Floyd Seashell Necklace handout, color and cut, and add those on. Have fun!

Keep on Sparkling!!

Well, the Sparkling Summer is coming to a close and I had a great time at all of my summer book
events this year! If you missed them, I am planning on being at Harvest Fun Day in Fairhaven on October 11, 2014. I'll have my books and free kids' crafts. It was a great day last year so I hope to see lots of friends down there this time, too!

In the mean time, there's no reason that summer has to end when we have books to remind us of it! If you don't have a copy of Floyd and the Sparkling Seashell yet, they are available on Amazon.com, at Art on Center in Fairhaven and a few other spots as well. Check out my web page for details.

I'm also going to be sharing some of my activities that go along with Sparkling Seashell. Feel free to print out and make copies for home or classroom use.

The first activity is called "Floyd's Beach Pail": Think of the many natural things we can find on the beach every day. Collect them in your beach pail! Here are the printables-- have fun and stay tuned for more sparkling activities...