Roald Dahl Day

Roald Dahl Day - Image by Quentin Blake

Happy Roald Dahl Day!

And happy Friday 13th. It seems rather fitting that Roald Dahl day has fallen on this mischievous date.

I love Roald Dahl, I remember desperately trying to move a spoon using only my mind when I was a child. I was very annoyed when it wouldn't budge and blamed my parents for being too nice, unlike Matilda's parents, whose ill treatment lead to her amazing power.

Matilda by Roald Dahl - Image by Quentin Blake

I also loved Matilda because she read books all the time, like myself.


However, my favourite Roald Dahl book has to be The Twits.

Roald Dahl's descriptions of the vindictive couple and their practical jokes are wonderfully horrible. I also particularly loved the poor monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps.

But my main reason for liking The Twits is that it taught me two very important life lessons. One is that, "If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams, and you will always look lovely." The other is told by the Roly-Poly Bird to the Muggle-Wumps; "It's no good going to a country and not knowing the language." I'm not fluent in any other languages, so can't follow this 100%, but if I am going abroad I always make sure I know the basics. It's much better than doing the typical British thing of thinking that if you speak very loudly and slowly in English then people will eventually understand.

Thanks Roly-Poly Bird.

I hope you have a lovely Roald Dahl Day.

Adrian Mole

I've been rereading the Adrian Mole books recently.

Check out the post on my other blog for more details: The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole.

Yes I have another blog and a secret identity, www.ageoldyoung.blogspot.co.uk.

Penguin Books Nail Art

Penguin Books Nail Art - One Nail To Rule Them All

I just had to post about this amazing nail art from One Nail To Rule Them All (good name).

She's recreated the classic and instantly recognisable Penguin Books covers on her nails.

I'd never have the patience or talent to paint these myself. Plus my nails are a chewed mess.

Penguin Books Nail Art - One Nail To Rule Them All

Check out the One Nail To Rule Them All blog for details of how to paint these yourself.

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Last Day

I have now officially left Aceville Publications and have started on my exciting/terrifying new career as a freelance writer.

It was a bit of a strange last week; we were on press with the October issue of Sew magazine so I barely had time to think about the fact that I would be leaving on Friday. I still don't think the realisation has sunk in.

I got a good send off and some lovely presents, including Rob Ryan goodies and my very own Sew magazine cover.

I managed not to cry but I was very touched. I will miss everyone on Sew and Make & Sell Jewellery magazines and all of Aceville.

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Going Freelance

That's right, I'm leaving full time employment and becoming a freelance writer

As of 5pm this Friday, I will no longer work for Aceville Publications.
It was a very tough decision to leave as I have loved working on Sew and Make & Sell Jewellery magazines, plus I have learnt so much during my employment on the publications. However, I feel now is the time to take the risk and become self employed.

I will be working as a freelance journalist, writer and proofreader.

May the fates shine upon me.

By the way, if you would like anything written, proofread or gone through with a red pen, then contact me here.

A Mug's Guide to Grammar

I need these Grammar Grumble Mugs from The Literary Gift Company so badly. This is mainly so I can clonk people over the head or scald them with boiling liquid when they get their grammar wrong.

I think this one is my favourite.

I'm surprised there isn't a your/you're one, it drives me nutty when people get that wrong!

Am I petty? I don't care.

I am now going to check this post very carefully for grammatical errors.

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Alyssa Smith Jewellery

Gingerbread men jewellery - Alyssa Smith

We've recently launched a new feature in Make & Sell Jewellery magazine called How I Started. It's a feature on an individual from the jewellery world about, you guessed it, how they started.

I've been lucky in managing to get some big names, including Alyssa Smith. She's got a strong celebrity following (Sheridan Smith and Dawn Porter to name a few). I thought because of this she would be too big to talk to me, but oh no, she was actually one of the nicest and funniest people I've ever featured.

Alyssa Smith

Happy Ever After Necklace - Alyssa Smith

She started her company straight out of university, even though she "didn't know how to fill in a tax form." Now she's a successful business woman. Her Tweetie necklaces in particular are popular.

Tweetie Necklace - Alyssa Smith

I think I like her best because when the magazine came out she posted this on Twitter:

'I put the magazines on the main stand and left all the pages open at my interview. Had to be done! :-D xxx'

Legend!

The magazine is out now so take a look.