Every creative entrepreneur has to start somewhere, and successful jewelry designers and authors Nancy Alden, Stephanie Wells, and Scott David Plumlee are no exception. Before they became known for founding multi-million-dollar jewelry businesses, adorning celebrities, and teaching sold-out workshops, how did some of our favorite jewelry experts learn their skills and start designing? Their answers might surprise you as these experts take us around the world, from Egypt to the Caribbean, and look back on the beginnings of their jewelry-making journeys.
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Ask the Jewelry Experts: What inspired you to begin designing jewelry?
February 2nd, 2012Afterwards, the New Psychological Thriller by Rosamund Lupton
February 2nd, 2012
We’re giving away copies of Rosamund Lupton’s thriller Afterwards well in advance of its April 24, 2012 release, which means you could be among the very first readers in the U.S. to enjoy this the highly anticipated follow-up to Lupton’s bestselling debut Sister. As always, fill out the form to enter for your chance to win a copy. But wait, there’s more! If you’ve ever received a book from Read It Forward, we want to hear from you! We’re gathering SuperRIFers – Read It Forward “superfans” who Read It First and Pass It On. SuperRIFers love to read and share what they read online. To thank you lovely big-mouthed members of our community, we’re giving SuperRIFers advance access to some of our most popular books.
RIFer Reader Reviews: Sister by Rosamund Lupton
February 1st, 2012
Sister was an instant bestseller in the U.K. and quickly climbed the bestseller lists in the U.S. as well. The New York Times compared Rosamund Lupton to Kate Atkinson, Patricia Highsmith, and Ruth Rendell, and called Sister “both tear-jerking and spine-tingling.” But don’t just take the New York Times’ word for it! We all know that a recommendation from a friend is the best way to find a great new read. Your fellow RIFers are smart, voracious readers like you, and they have great things to say about Sister. Enjoy excerpts of just a few of the amazing reviews RIFers shared with us. Read It First and Pass It On!
Ask the Experts: Advice for Aspiring Knitwear Designers
January 31st, 2012Are you thinking about taking the leap from following patterns to designing your own? Some of the best-known knitting and crochet insiders share their thoughts and best tips for young designers on breaking into the business, improving your skills, and finding inspiration.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
January 26th, 2012
Fans of The Art of Racing in the Rain, get ready for a memoir that Garth Stein calls “stunning . . . an incredible journey, both inward and outward.” Read It Forward favorite Pam Houston, author of Contents May Have Shifted and Cowboys Are My Weakness, says Cheryl Strayed’s memoir Wild “is a big, brave, break-your-heart-and-put-it-back-together-again kind of book. Cheryl Strayed is a courageous, gritty, and deceptively elegant writer. She walked the Pacific Crest Trail to find forgiveness, came back with generosity – and now she shares her reward with us. I snorted with laughter, I wept uncontrollably; I don’t even want to know the person who isn’t going to love Wild. This is a beautifully made, utterly realized book.”
Runes Foretell the Future by Margaret Shepherd, Author of Learn World Calligraphy
January 26th, 2012
Used by everyone from the Druids of early England to the Dwarves of Middle Earth, runes breathe magic that you can enjoy. Consulting the rune stones is like reading tarot cards. Several traditional systems advise you how to reach in, how to cast the stone or stones, and how to interpret them. To inspire letter artists, Margaret Shepherd created the set of rune stones shown in Learn World Calligraphy. The steps given here show how to make your own stones.
Press Release: One Girl Cookies by Dawn Casale & David Crofton
January 25th, 2012
Tucked away on a quiet, tree-lined street in Brooklyn, New York, is One Girl Cookies: a charming bakery and café whose owners have created what they call an Urban Mayberry. Little do most people know that this dessert destination—famous for its gorgeous bite-sized cookies, amazingly moist cakes, seasonal pies and tarts, and dangerously addictive whoopie pies—started simply, with one girl baking cookies out of a tiny apartment.
Press Release: The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman
January 25th, 2012
Style is a luxury, and luxury is simply what makes you happy. Over the years, founding editor in chief of domino magazine Deborah Needleman has seen all kinds of rooms, with all kinds of furnishings. Her conclusion: It’s not hard to create a relaxed, stylish, and comfortable home. Just a few well-considered items can completely change the feel of your space.
Press Release: Mexican Made Easy by Marcela Valladolid
January 25th, 2012
On her Food Network show, Mexican Made Easy, Marcela Valladolid shows how simple it is to create beautiful dishes bursting with bright Mexican flavors. Now, Marcela shares the fantastic recipes her fans have been clamoring for in a cookbook that ties into her popular show.
Press Release: Easy Growing by Gayla Trail
January 25th, 2012
Growing a handful of herbs and edible flowers adds sparkle to dozens of meals year-round. Fortunately for us, these plants are not fussy. They’re simple to grow and will fit into any space you can provide, including a crack in a broken patio stone, the step next to your front door, or a windowsill.
