Oh hi again, it's been a while ... You might have wondered where I've been over these past months.. Or not... Either way I thought I would let you know I'm still rockin' steady, and moreover I have been working on writing a book! Actually 2 books! (Coming soon)
If you know me, you probably don't believe any of this tale. I don't blame you, I hardly do either. Is this real life?? Haha If you had of told me a year ago I would be an artist/author of a "Paint Your Own Mandala Stones" book, that is included as part of a box "kit" with stones, brushes, and paints, that is sold half way across the world.. I would have laughed and likely questioned your sanity.
But as unlikely as it may have been, I am now happy to say it's true and wow, how cool is that?!
Now I certainly didn't come up with this all my own. I have many, many thanks for Hinkler Books, an international publisher based in Australia.
They contacted me way back in the fall asking if I was interested in collaborating on this project to write a step-by-step instruction and take photos along the process of creating painted stones. And they would publish it and it would be a fantastic do-it-yourself kit. It really sounded "too good to be true" (my father's words). But now, 24 pages, 8 stones, and many photos later I have received the final product. It is in my hands. This is real life :)
So I guess this is one of those things, where I can honestly say that if you do what you love good things will happen. Whatever it is. And even if it sounds too good to be true, believe it and believe in yourself anyways. Because if something like this can happen to me, I guarantee it can happen to you too. :)

If you're wondering how you can have one of your very own, I currently do not have any of the kits in stock but they can be found online and through www.hinkler.com.

Thank you again to Hinkler Books for the opportunity. And thank you to all of my friends and family for encouraging me along the way. YOUrock!

Until next time ...Don't forget to think happy dots !

❤️ Katie @HFXrocks

Captains Blog: Day 143

Well now I've gone and done it all, an HFXrocks blog post ...imagine that :)
Just wanted to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who has encouraged, helped, and appreciated my little rock life.
I never, in my wildest dreams would have thought, when I started out collecting rocks and minerals that my hobby could have ever evolved to creating "art" dotting stones.
For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with rocks and minerals and have a small but growing collection at home. Looking back and "connecting the dots" to where I began this artistic endeavor, it was during online research on rock-hounding and local geology that I stumbled across the precious gems that are "mandala stones."
They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery and I hope this is so because of it weren't for the art of Elspeth McLean I surely would never have started painting rocks, dots and mandalas. In all honesty I didn't even know what a "mandala" was prior to this. What an inspiration her original art has been to me and I'm sure I can speak for many others who dot along in her footsteps.
"I can do better." I said to my (very patient and supportive) bf after my first attempts at dotting rocks. And I set out to do just that--do better. When I say dot addiction is a real thing, I am not joking! I have spent countless hours practicing and creating; I've literally lost sleep, and lost interest in other pastimes, because now that I have started I just don't want to stop!
It's been about 5 months since I bought that first little paint set. Now I've got a drawer full of paints, an apartment lined in beach stones, a Name, social media pages, an online shop, a website, even a BLOG!
I've had unbeleivable international support and recognition from the other side of the globe to top it all.
I look forward to the coming months and all the happy dots that I hope share with you.

So once again, Thank You! YOUrock
❤️
Katie Cam,

Blogging off. ;)