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OldRomanceNovelsGotoEtsy

by SB Sarah Thursday, June 05, 2008 at 11:24 AM

I frequently troll eBay for romance novel covers, cover art, and original paintings used for romances, though I haven’t bought a painting that I liked. Then I had another thought: what about Etsy? Oh, ho! Etsy, a treasure trove of badass shit, is flush with old romance novels remade into curiousities and functional items.

Old Harlequin romances remade into plastic business card holders are a hot item, at least, they are in my purse. I have one, a gift from a clever personwho bought herself a similar item made from the cover of “The Pink Phaeton.” How can you not love a pink Phaeton? Those pink phaetons, they are irresistible.

There are pages crafted into naughty pendant jewelry, the more salacious the better. “His tongue probed?” You bet it did. What better sentiment to imprison under glass?

Like pop art? There’s some of that, too.

Romance novels are also harvested for notebooks. Instead of being bashful about carrying your favorite trashy book, flaunt your diva-licious ironic use of sultry embraces and mantitty with a handmade notebook.

My favorite? “maked” has a few made of more recent Harlequins, including this rather steamy cover from Jill Shalvis’ Shadow Hawk

TwilightbyStephenieMeyer

by SB Sarah Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 05:24 AM
Our Grade:
D+
Title: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publication Info: Little, Brown Young Readers 2006, ISBN: 0316015849
Genre: Young Adult

Book CoverTo say I was angsty as a teenager is something of a majestic understatement. I was miserable, for a host of reasons. And I had suitably angsty intense relationships with really awful, unsuitable, self absorbed guys who were interested more in screwing with my already ruffled emotions than they were any genuine efforts at being a couple. One particular guy was an absolute waste, and I am horrified that I spent so much time trying to make this fool happy.

Reading Twilight reminds me heavily of my angsty teen self, and how ridiculous it was that I expected rainbows and happiness when, let’s be honest, teenagerdom is pretty fucking miserable all around. It makes me think of a really old, navel gazing Alanis Morissette song wherein she says, “You were plenty self-destructive for my tastes at the time/ I used to say, the more tragic the better.” Yeah. That about sums up my teen years, and this book.

I’m still reading this thing, persevering to the end, trying to figure out what all the fuss is about, why so many people absolutely adore this book to the point that they set up bulletin boards and fan sites and, for God’s sake, whatever you do, don’t search “Bella” or “Twilight” on Etsy or you’ll get so much jewelry with swans and crap you’ll want to set your eyeballs on fire. The Twilight fandom is a serious fandom.

More,more,more!>

SmartBitchesLoveCake,andOurReaders

by SB Sarah Monday, September 29, 2008 at 01:44 AM

Once upon a time, Candy wrote a review for Shayla Black’s Decadent which has since become one of the most linked-to portions of the site, and was the nadir of a little-known gem of internet delight known as “LOLPorn.” Seriously, people link to that entry with astonishing regularity.

I don’t know if we’ve ever really expounded on our deep love for the folks who read this site, but damn hell and howdy do we love y’all. When we hold contests with other folks, invariably they’ll write, “You have the best readers, OMG.” It’s true. You guys are freaking awesome. Why? Because of shit like this that is so funny I wheezed and Hubby came running to make sure I wasn’t going into anaphylaxis.

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LinksandAssortedPleasures

by SB Sarah Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 01:44 AM

Five words that might save your life: Beware the Chocolate Willy Spread. Anyone else see an erotic suspense novel in the making? She’s trying to hunt down the criminal who poisoned her best friend; he’s the cop who has seen it all… until chocolate-dipped bananas were introduced to the menu.

[Thanks to Becky for the link.]

The BBC hosts a review of The Jewel of Medina by blogger Shelina Zahra Janmohamed, and it tests me sorely to move past her first sentence without putting my fist through the monitor:

The Jewel of Medina is a chest-heaving, brassiere-busting book of outrageously tacky historical romantic fiction.

On one hand, the author makes some valid points. On the other hand, clearly she hasn’t read a lot of romance but relies on those limp standard stereotypes, which makes the rest of her critique tiresome and annoying. Personal Foul: 10 yard penalty to Ms. Janmohamed for use of “bodice ripper.”

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FunGiftIdeas

by SB Sarah Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 08:47 AM

I ordered a pair of mitten/gloves - the kind where there’s fingerless gloves inside mitten tops which flip over the gloves. But what makes these mittens so funky that I’m telling you about them is: Retractable Thumbs!

From DebzCreations at Etsy:

The idea for thumb flaps was given to me by a customer after trying to use a pen while wearing her new convertible gloves.

With a flick of your finger you can open the thumb flap and use a pen without removing your gloves. Or pop both thumb flaps and you can text away on your cell!!

As someone who spends a good amount of time typing with her thumbs, I’m so excited about these gloves, it’s ridiculous. And since I know so many of you are thumb typers, too, I figured warm thumb typing would be a gift that keeps on giving. Or, gvng.

I’m savoring a lot of time on Etsy lately shopping for gifts, and it’s dangerous fun. Fun because, well, crap, there’s Snarky Cards and Snarky Cross Stitch (I’m a big fan of “Fuck Cancer.") and dangerous because, crap, now I’m not going to get anything done today. 

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