GIVEAWAY: BraveMouse Books

BraveMouse Books is a small book publisher that creates magical books that children AND adults will love! These terrific readers are all available in English, with some available in Spanish, French, Arabic, German, Hindi, Italian, Mandarin, and Portugese. It is fascinating to see how the lovable creatures featured in the books are created by hand. The video below shows how children's book author & illustrator Molly Coxe creates a character & then shoots photos of miniature sets as she works on Wet Hen: A Short Vowel Adventure.

I am in awe of Molly's talent in creating these stories & characters, including Benjamin Middlemouse, Sir Pouncealot, and Posie Pantrymouse. These fun adventures are sure to hold the attention of the little ones while entertaining the ones reading the stories to them. Another great thing about these early readers is that the phonics focus is designed to help beginning readers build skills & confidence. Rat Attack highlights the “short a” sound and Princess Pig is filled with “short i’s”.

One of the missions of BraveMouse Books is to encourage children to see themselves as creators, and to help them share that creativity with others. This is so perfectly in line with what we at Funky Finds believe that it's as if a partnership between us was inevitable! The BraveMouse Books website includes a blog full of great information, as well as a great project showing how to make your own mouse. This page features a printable and video instructions for creating mouse heroes (or villains) using simple household items.

*** GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Judy Hunting! ***

PRIZE: One lucky winner will receive copies of the two new Short Vowel Adventures, Rat Attack and Princess Pig, as well as Benjamin and Bumper to the Rescue, a hardcover picture book that won the Nautilus Award and is full of handmade mice & one handmade cat.

TO ENTER: Like BraveMouse Books on Facebook and leave a comment noting you have done so.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY: Share this giveaway on Facebook or another social media site, then leave a comment noting that you shared.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY: Leave a comment noting why you would love to win these fabulous books!

Giveaway ends at 6pm CST, Wednesday, November 19th, 2014.

The Funky Finds Experience - Vendor Preview 4

Today we continue previewing a handful of the 130+ artists, crafters & designers that will be participating in The Funky Finds Experience in November! If you missed previous previews, be sure to view 1, 2, and 3. All participating vendors listed here.

1. Poetry Bag by ezduzit by elliott

2. Gold Twig Bib Necklace by f. is for frank

3. Tequila Sunrise bracelet by Fitzy Sparrow

4. Talavera Tile Butterfly Mosaic by For The Birds Mosaics

5. Fused Glass Hoop Earrings by FOXY Fusions

6. Sakura Ring by Freeforged Jewelry

7. Purse Hanger by Glass Works

8. Needle Felted Pumpkins by Gypsyharte Arts

Feisty Elle

Leslie Yang is a graphic designer, as well as the owner of Feisty Elle, a handmade women's accessories business in San Francisco. This talented fiber artist's business was born out of her love of crafting, especially needle felting. Her latest work includes some lovely laser-cut dahlia felt earrings and brooches. The felt is 100% merino wool & the earrings are feather-weight and hung on 14k gold fill hoops. This is her first jewelry design & Leslie is very excited about how great they look and feel. She also creates a variety of beautiful hair accessories, such as the pinwheel hair clips. Perhaps my favorite hairclip that doubles as a brooch is the black & red pinwheel design that immediately makes me think of origami. And you don't want to miss the gorgeous needle felted Cherry Blossom brooch. These lovely flowers are also available in the form of bobby pins.