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As someone who has just had to move twice in as many months, I can tell you right now that I'm intimately acquainted with the struggle of moving books. Nothing is worse than having to reconfigure your book collection to a new layout or a place that can't accomodate as many bookshelves (quel horreur!). I used to be the kind of person who thought there was no such a thing as too many books, but my back and sanity disagree. Next time you want to move your massive book collection to a new place, here are some tips to keep you sane.

The truth is, we never really grow out of our childhood love affair with dinosaurs. Make these terrible lizards part of your home or office with these easy to DIY dinosaur magnets. No need for the lysine contingency here – these dinos definitely won’t reproduce in the wild. And by using sturdy magnets, there’s no risk of escape! No risk at all…

(Image taken by Axel Taferner)

We are changing things up a little this week for our NYC event roundup. Along with some highlighted events, we’ve added our suggestions for places to go before and after to round out a totally bookish and artsy day. Tweet at @QuirkBooks to let us know where you went!

Writing is hard. If you don’t think so, you’re not doing it right. You can love it, enjoy it, and have a great time writing but it’s still hard work. It’s easy to get discouraged, to have no idea where to start, to think you can’t do it, and to want to quit before you even sit down. That’s why I like to follow authors: they motivate me, inspire me, remind me everyone struggles, no one is a success over night. While no one can actually make you sit down and do the work, here’s a little help in the inspiration, motivation, and learning department.

It’s a universally agreed upon fact: you never grow out of loving dinosaurs. Using plastic dinosaur toys from the dollar or party store to add a little pre-history chic in the home or office. Grab a few tools, some glue, and a sense of awestruck wonder at the majesty of Jurassic beasts, and you’ll be ready to get crafty!

Wildflowers, a favorite of Marianne Dashwood, and tentacles, both feature elegantly in Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Tentacles curled around wildflowers make delightful hair fascinators and are perfect for pleasant afternoons spent picnicking and/or battling monsters of the deep. These flowery accessories are easy to whip up with just a few supplies!

Gather your materials:

1. Barrette bases – Almost every kind of craft barrette works well for this project; but avoid the kind that have to bend back and forth to close. This can cause the decorations to snap off.
2. Fake flowers – Small silk or fabric flowers from your local craft store work perfectly.
3. Lightweight clay – I used Model Magic for this project, but you could also use a polymer clay like Sculpey.
4. Assorted paints – Any acrylic craft paint and small brushes will work.
5. Hot glue gun – Hot glue is perfect for this project; it sets quickly and provides a sturdy base for the decorations.

Directions

Step 1: Mold your tentacles. Roll a small amount of clay between your palms to form a long strip that narrows at the end. Curl and pose your tentacles into shapes that will wrap around your flowers. Fit each tentacle to the shape of your barrette base, molding them to meet the base. 

Step 2: Let your tentacles set. If you are using an air-drying clay, allow your tiny sculptures to dry undisturbed. If using a polymer clay, bake them according to instructions on the packaging. 
Pro-tip: curl your tentacles around small objects to hold their position as they dry. If you are concerned about stability, roll a wire in the center of your clay before you begin sculpting.

Step 3: Paint the tentacles.  Creatures with tentacles can often change colors, so choose any colors you like! You can even add glitter paint or nail polish for an aquatic glimmer. Try painting small circular suction cups to the underside of a tentacle for added depth and texture. 

Step 4: Secure your tentacles. Once the tentacles have dried, use your hot glue gun to glue them to the barrettes. Don’t worry about any wispy strands of hot glue you might see, it’s easy to clean those up after your project is finished.

Step 5: Add your flowers. Arrange flowers one at a time, placing them in the grasp of your tentacle and using your hot glue gun to secure. Trim any lengthy stems before gluing the flowers in place. 
Pro tip: use leafy greenery or extra blossoms to cover any visible portions of the barrette.

Step 6: Finish and wear! Let the fascinator cool and dry, reinforce any weak spots with glue, and gently remove any remaining threads of hot glue.

Wear a subtle sea monster barrette to the office, or celebrate cephalopods with a big, bold fascinator out for an afternoon in the sun! Snap a picture of your projects and tweet them to us at @QuirkBooks.