Caution: Long blog post coming up. Image-heavy too. And I apologize in advance for my camera’s totally inaccurate time stamps.
1. Pre-Departure
Everywhere I look, I see authors with other artistic talents. They can paint, draw, sew, knit, quilt, garden, graphic design, compose, play instruments, and whatnot. I play casual games and have nothing to show for it. (Well, lots of good memories with the kidlets but His Hawtness and I debate on whether that constitute as quality time. I say yes. *g*)
But ever since the shea butter episode, I’ve developed an obsession with hand-making beauty products. Not for myself, but as promo items. For RWA Orlando I did bath bombs. Facial scrubs for New Jersey RWA’s conference and RT Los Angeles. In between I also made solid lotion bars as belated Christmas presents.
By the beginning of the year I’d already decided to make lip butters for RWA. I’d really, really hoped that by June I’d have a cover for the first book in my 2012 trilogy, but since the release is still 11 months out, no. All the same, my enthusiasm remained undimmed. I love giving away good swag. I love doing repetitive chores, especially fresh from deadlines.
Here’s the lip butter chronicle, for Janine especially, starting with empty jars.
And now they are being filled.