Read Online Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan - Free Book Online Page A

projects than someone’s failed anatomy lesson.
    Miriam Glickstein brought a Hanukkah page she started and hoped to finish, Maggie Earhardt (her daughter Tilly attended school with Anya) carried a box of Christmas cards she was working on, Rita Romano baked a fabulous batch of cornbread with chiles to share with us, and Jennifer Moore (her daughter Nicci was Anya’s best friend) brought a small album chronicling the history of her family business. Lanetta Holloway showed up in her signature purple, including the coolest low boots I’ve ever seen. She was putting together an album of her favorite new sci-fi/fantasy books. Bonnie Gossage showed up looking the same color I did after I pulled up that severed limb. As the women settled into their spots, Rita placed the cornbread on the side table we reserved for food. (Keeping it separate from the crafts was a priority. Nothing like a spill to ruin weeks of work. Even dry items like breads and cookies can leave oil stains on paper.)
    Five other newcomers rounded out the group, including the young mother of twins I had stayed to help the night before. “My name’s Daisy Touchette,” she said shyly. “You were so nice to me that I had to come back. Told my husband that having a hobby was way cheaper than divorce court.” With that she gave a nervous giggle.
    The minute the foil wrapper came off the cornbread and its lovely aroma filled the air, Bonnie hopped up and ran to the back room. She returned with a slight sheen on her skin, and one hand pressed to her lips. It didn’t take med school to figure out she’d been sick.
    “Hope you don’t mind. My tummy’s upset so I helped myself to a Sprite from the refrigerator,” she said.
    “Of course not.” Bonnie once helped spring me from the county jail. As far as I was concerned, she could drink Lake Superior dry of colas, and I’d gladly foot the bill.
    Bama frowned at the attorney from behind our customer’s back. Boy, oh, boy. Miss Pinch-a-Penny was the life of the party. I hissed to my partner, “I’ll pay for it,” and Bama recovered enough to welcome our croppers. She passed out goody bags with a sheet detailing our holiday store hours, a cute little die cut of stacked presents, and a coupon for special discounts. I hadn’t seen the final schedule until Bonnie withdrew hers from the bag. When I did, I bit my lip to keep from moaning. I love the store, but staying open until 9 p.m. and occasionally 11 was going to make holiday shopping impossible for me. As for celebrating Hanukkah, forget-about-it. Eight days of festivities were always hard to pull off, but more so when I only had one or two waking hours at home.
    Bama ended her portion of the event by reading a note from Dodie, Time in a Bottle’s founder and majority owner. Dodie explained her chemo and radiation treatments would end soon and she missed everyone terribly. A coda from her husband thanked all of us for our support and good wishes.
    “Tonight’s project is a holiday organizer. I think you’ll find it incredibly useful for staying on top of all your activities. Jane Dean, that fabulous United Kingdom scrapbook artist, showed a similar project a few years back.” I handed out the materials kit and a color copy of the ScrapBook inspirations article with Jane’s project in it. The resulting oooohs and ahhhs went a long way toward making me feel better. But then, crafting always makes me feel better. I know I’m not alone.

    Kiki Lowenstein’s Holiday Organizer
    Inspired by a similar project by Jane Dean,
published by ScrapBook inspirations magazine.
    1. Buy a cheap 3-ring binder of light cardstock.
    2. Cover the front and back with holiday appropriate paper. If desired, cover the inside covers as well. You might wish to lightly sand the outside if it is glossy. (Tip: I like UHU Glue Stick for gluing paper to cardstock. You do need to get the glue all the way to the edges or the paper might peel up, but the glue stick won’t bubble like