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I get on average two or three calls a week from people interested in becoming a private investigator.
When I get these calls, I have fixed feelings.
I certainly don't want to discourage someone who has done a little homework about the profession and genuinely feels they might have the capabilities of becoming a good investigator. When I get a call from someone like this, I'm quite happy to chat to them about investigation work and give them some insights.
On the other hand, I also wonder whether the caller has just watched a Magnum PI re-run on TV or read a spy thriller. Then, on impulse they decide to call a PI to find out more because it all looks and sounds really exciting. Usually, for this type of caller, it's turns out to be just a waste of my time.
The excitement factor
Is PI work exciting? My usual answer is, no.
There can be occasions when you will get a rush of adrenaline, such as when conducting a surveillance assignment, or get a great deal of satisfaction in finally being able to uncover some critical evidence in a very complex matter, but generally investigation work is tedious and boring.
Surely following someone around on surveillance isn't boring? Okay, following someone around isn't boring, in fact, it can be quite exciting. But, surveillance work is not all about the surveillance subject being active.
Surveillance work is generally 90% inactivity and 10% activity. So, for every ten hours of surveillance, you will spend 9 hours doing nothing but watching and waiting for some sort of activity.
Are you really ready for that kind of boredom?
Only one person in 10 will make it past the first 12 months as a surveillance investigator
Video #1 - Anyone looking at getting into the investigation industry should definitely watch the following video. Whilst it is from an American source, it does provide some extremely valuable insights. Length - 10 minutes.
Over the past 23 years, I've lectured on surveillance techniques to a lot of aspiring investigators. Based on that experience, I've found that, of ten people who have gone to the trouble and expense of taking a course on surveillance, only one person will still be working as a surveillance investigator after 12 months.
Why is that? For one thing, surveillance work can be extremely demanding physically. For example, spending 10 hours in a car in one spot in the middle of summer isn't the average person's idea of fun.
Then there is a very large skill-set that needs to be leaned and perfected. Despite only one in ten people actually staying in this industry, there seems to be no shortage of people who still want to become surveillance investigators and the competition is usually fierce.
Most surveillance investigators work on a sub-contract basis, which usually means the better you are, the more work you will get and the more money you earn.
The skills required to become a good surveillance investigator
Driving skills
Your driving skills need to be top notch. This doesn't just mean being prepared to drive fast, far from it. You need to be able to "read" the traffic around you and the surveillance subject, ideally place at least one vehicle between you and the subject whenever possible, yet still be able to stay with the subject if he decides to go through a yellow traffic light and the driver between you and the subject wants to stop.
There is a real art in being able to follow someone undetected, particularly over long distances. Training and practice will go a long way to getting there, but I believe there is also some innate skill involved and some people just never acquire that skill. Losing a surveillance subject will cost you money and work. Lose then too often and you will need to look for another line of work.
Being able to take good, clear and steady video that targets the subject matter appropriately is another critical skill. Again, it can be learned but the really good investigators I've seen seem to have a knack for getting good video.
Video isn't just taken from behind tinted windows whilst sitting in a car. If your surveillance subject is out and about say, attending a shopping centre, you also need to be able to take good covert video and remain totally undetected.
You will be rated on the amount of video you are able to take.
PC and writing skills
Every investigator I know hates paperwork. But, it is an essential part of this profession.
If you don't know how to use MS Word and Excel, you will need to learn first. Being able to receive instructions and send your reports via email is also essential.
If you can't string a grammatically correct sentence together (with correct spelling), you will also need to learn this skill. Many investigation agencies include the surveillance operative's field notes with their covering reports when they report to their client.
You will be judged on the quality of your surveillance notes.
Droughts and floods
Working as a sub-contractor usually means there will be times when you just can't handle all the work you are offered. There will also be times when you simply aren't getting all the work you would like. This does tend to be a cyclic industry and you will need to be able to cope with that, both emotionally and financially.
The more available you make yourself, the more work you will get. This means sometime starting very early and finishing very late. Being prepared to work nights, weekends and public holidays is essential.
Your domestic life will definitely suffer.
Operating a business
As a sub-contractor, you will also need to learn how to run a small business. This means making sure all your licensing and insurance cover is up to date, you are fully tax compliant, have an ABN (registering the GST is up to you) and have at least some basic bookkeeping skills – unless you want to pay a professional to do that for you.
Background and training
A lot of private investigators come from a police background, but this is by no means a requirement. Yes, it is an advantage to some degree, but a lot of the methods and practices used by police will need to be re-learned to accommodate a commercial environment. Government services are run very differently to private enterprise.
A lot of investigation work is done on behalf of the legal profession and the insurance industry, so a background in law or insurance would also be an advantage. But, again, it isn't a requirement. Some of the best surveillance investigators I know don't have a police, legal or insurance background.
Undertaking an approved training course is now a prerequisite to becoming licensed as a private investigator in Australia. However, whilst many training organisation do a fair job of teaching skills associated with doing certain tasks within this industry, they usually don't teach the skills associated with being successful in this industry.
There is a vast array of information you will need to learn to be successful in this profession and it is the sum of this information that will define your level of professionalism. No training organisation will teach you this. You must learn it through experience, experimentation and self-study.
Specialising in one field
Whilst surveillance work is usually part and parcel of most investigation agency workloads, there are numerous other areas of specialisation an investigator might branch out into.
Insurance related work can encompass a myriad of different areas and specialities. Some investigators specialise exclusively on conducting only accident investigations. This might involve attending the location of an accident (usually well after it has happened) taking photographs, measurements (and later preparing a scale plan of the area), as well as interviewing witnesses, taking formal statements, obtaining relevant documentation and preparing a final report.
Other investigators take on a more general role as a "Factual Investigator". This might mean they don't limit themselves to just one type of insurance matter, but take on a number of different types of claim types, such as liability claims, workplace accident investigations, general insurance claims (burglaries, stolen motor vehicles, etc.) or income protection claims. Then there are fire claims, marine accidents, product liabilities matters... the list goes on and on.
Good analytical, interviewing and report writing skills are all critical. This is definitely an area of work where a legal or police background will be of great assistance.
Factual investigators might also take on criminal defence work – again a legal or police background is almost essential.
Starting your own agency
My advice is, if you don't already have a minimum of three years of investigation experience in at least one particular field, do not put yourself out there and market that service/s to the public. Personally, I believe this should be a legislated requirement. But, in Queensland at least, it isn't.
Starting your own private investigation agency sounds great doesn't it? Do a few courses, get licensed, set up a web site, get some business cards printed and go make some money. Great in theory, but I have a huge problem with inexperienced people doing that. You are not only doing yourself a huge personal disservice, but you are also inflicting your inexperience onto the general public. It certainly won't enhance the public's perception of this industry.
Unless you've worked very closely with an experienced agency owner during those initial three years (and also learned all you can about the various facets of running an agency), you will definitely flounder. You might not fail in the long run, but you will hit a lot of hurdles. I did, but things were a lot different 23 years ago. It's even harder these days.
At the very least, you will need a mentor prepared to be on call and provide advice on an as needed basis.
Being a good investigator doesn't mean you can run a successful investigation agency. Running a successful business requires a completely different skill-set..
More information on obtaining a Private Investigator licence in Qld is available from the following website
Still with me at this point? I'd be very happy to answer any questions you might have.
Send me an email
23/1/2011 12:48:52 pm
Nice article. Great post! Thank you for sharing. I learned many things. Keep it up!
19/2/2012 02:07:18 pm
Thank you for this article, very informative
30/5/2012 06:40:58 pm
First video I've watched on private investigating, very informative and a great push in the right direction. Thank you
I have read a few articles today on the subject.... yours is by far the worst, you make a couple of good points but i can help but feel patronised after reading your supposed info doc on being a PI.
25/10/2012 02:17:51 pm
B, thank you for your feedback. Good or bad, it's appreciated. You have my apologies if it came across as patronising - that was certainly not my intention. I was just trying to cover the questions I get on a regular basis over the (now) 25 years I have been in this profession - I do get the same questions time and time again.
4/9/2013 01:30:11 pm
It's quite funny to see how people react when they get an answer they did not want to hear. love the reply Jarris :)
I had been thinking for a good while as to whether I should enter into this industry and decided to go ahead with it. I enrolled myself and attended the course and I have only one assignment left to obtain my Certificate III and hoping to get it soon. It took me over six months and whilst working on my current job as I am trying to gather as much information as I can by surfing the internet. In fact, I had found your article very informative and with some significant degree of realities exposed therein. You have by no means discouraged at all but have shown the other side of the story per se! Let me confirm that I have read your article at least five (5) times thus far and will keep on reading in the foreseeable future! However, I would like to make one point here: The School I attended to has a Forum where the PIs, potential PIs and the students can participate, telling their experiences and job opportunities, equipment, some information and so on. Not long ago, I raised a topic which correlated to your article. My question was simple: "What was the success ratio in this particular industry"? Without quoting your article at all, I mentioned and surmised the success ratio could be 10% not only based on your article and the industry but also in any 'Hi-Tech' profession. The reactions? I was badly castigated by some retired PIs and the Principle (They also participate in the Forum!) accusing me for being negative and luckily my questions and comments had been obliterated quickly! But the comments aimed at me were in the most preposterous fashion and manner and (Their) are still there! I then received an email from the Principal and reprimanded me personally. However, this didn't deter me from continuing with the course and I am certainly much more aware today with the pros & cons and shall go ahead to give it a serious try. It is good to know how rewarding this industry can be but it is also important to be aware of the downsides which you clearly explicated. Any reader who contemplates in entering the industry should be grateful for your article. In my view, anyone who is prepared to work hard and ready for the challenges should be given a chance. In my case, as soon as I receive my licence, I will contact as many agencies as possible and ask them to enable me some 'Unpaid' field training. Then is the time when the real challenge will start, NOT at this point in time, in my case that is!!
24/10/2014 03:58:22 am
Thanks for the comments RobK.
27/6/2016 10:05:14 pm
An excellent and very tactful reply. But how about, for completion, we finish the job as it really does say something about the level of B's comprehension.
Julie J
31/10/2016 10:28:03 am
D, oh my lord!! I thought I was a bit of a "grammar/spelling Nazi", I have absolutely nothing on you!!! You make me afraid to type anything, in case you whip out the red pen and correct my sloppy English! Lmao. However, B kind of deserved the arse whooping and my compulsion to tell you that overrode my fear of the red pen! lol. J
Julie J
31/10/2016 10:17:05 am
Very succinct answer! I must admit I'm a bit of a spelling and grammar Nazi, I'm very glad you went there, so I didn't feel compelled to! Thank you Jarris, as someone who has been interested in the field for a very long time, I found your article, video and website in general, to be a valuable asset and not at all condescending or patronising. It caused me to do more research before calling any professionals, as I don't want to be one of "those" people. You definitely made your point. So thank you again.
11/11/2012 07:36:53 pm
Hi Sean. Glad to hear you fall in the "love it" category. Yes, it certainly can be both very challenging and also very personally satisfying.
19/1/2013 10:07:44 am
12/12/2012 12:58:08 am
Hi Jarris,
Roger Davies
21/12/2012 02:48:40 am
Thank you for your insight into the PI business. Can you recommend any online courses that I could do to become a PI.
Hi Roger. This will, no doubt, upset a few course providers, but my general answer to this question is to find yourself the cheapest (Office of Fair Trading approved) course possible.
29/1/2013 01:37:56 pm
hi there great information i am thinking about doing a executive diploma on private investigation only i am worried on how much job prospect there is in australia, this course is online self paced what is your opinion on this, also what other avenues can this kind of course provide your advice is appreciated
29/1/2013 04:54:24 pm
Hi Andrea. Thanks for the positive comment. I'm not familiar with an "executive diploma on private investigation" qualification, but you might like to see my comment (directly above yours) to Roger.
15/2/2013 02:18:51 pm
I have been working in the industry for about 6 months now doing factual investigations and you need to be to a good typist, patient, inquisitive, friendly, and be prepared for 6 hours of questions and typing.
25/2/2013 04:14:03 pm
Hey! I enjoyed your report very much and am seriously considering starting a career in PI. May sound a little lame but I'd like to get into the area of infidelity and perhaps have my own small business which I have experience with. What are your views in this sub category.
Hi Emma
21/3/2013 03:28:56 pm
Your information was a good read. I have been interested in PI & security work for many years ( over 15 years to be exact ) but never been able to fulfill my dream.I have taken some time off work to do the fulltime course at TAFE. I recently finished my cert in security operations ( as i have also been highly interested in covert and customs) so im just trying to gain my certs before diving in. I come from a retail, DoCs and Education background. Once i finish my course can you suggest where i should go from there to get me started - Yes i realise a hands on approach is more valuable but i believe it is ANY job - but you now have to have completed the course before getting a look in so TAFE it is! Im in NSW...Please point me in the right direction.
Jarris Fuller
22/3/2013 04:21:44 am
Hi Kat
10/4/2013 04:37:28 am
Licensed sometime in 1994-95, I taught the Investigative Services course for a few years in the early 2000s and have owned a PI business since and I view the posts of Mr. Fuller as accurately represented. (No I don't know him at all). During this career, I pursued continuous professional development via studies and just finished another Diploma at the age of 47! I did have a previous Law Enforcement background for 9 years but as Jarris says "It doesn't apply as much in a commercial environment" and we need to keep evolving or fade away. Surveillance work is 9 hours of inactivity and 1 hour (if one is fortunate) of activity. Dealing with emotionally charged domestic clients can be a Pis worst nightmare if they are disgruntled. Stick to commercial jobs.
10/4/2013 06:22:19 am
Thanks Chas. You are right: "Dealing with emotionally charged domestic clients can be a Pis worst nightmare". A lot of PIs feel that way and don't take on any domestic matters at all. But, a lot of the potential difficulties can be almost totally overcome by setting very strict guidelines for the clients to begin with.
8/5/2013 04:59:11 am
We estimate (Disclaimer: purely by speaking with peers) that even the "best" Private Investigators will experience the occasional "complaint" to a regulating body once or twice every couple of years. In the main, the complaint will be "I paid money and they lost him/was not there when he left/did not catch him cheating (like they do do in "Cheaters or on other TV shows within the two hours). Responding to these complains in an official capacity takes much time and preparation and even with contracts and disclaimers, end up being time consuming and stressful. This is something all new private investigators need to be wary of. In our business we account for such clients (which may only crop up every two years) and just give them their money back. Newer people may not be able to do this especially if you have invested time and effort into the case. We actually screen our domestic clients and may only take 20% of inquiries (referring the rest to others who do not mind the risks). It a stressful business to be in if you are nor cut out for it. I have been in it since 1994-95 but would not recommend my kids to be in it (not as a full time business anyway). The benefits of it can be travel, not tied to a desk and having no boss (apart from the regulating bodies and the occasional nasty competitor). I have seen a lot of Australia (and overseas) and met with a variety of people that I would not have otherwise experienced as a result of this career.
Thanks Chas. That's good advice. Yes, you do get your unhappy clients from time to time and screening your domestic clients carefully does definitely have its advantages. Lots of PIs don't even take them on because of all the potential pitfalls, but setting very clear and defined "rules" and being totally open and honest as to what they can and cannot expect does make it easier to deal with the ones you do chose to work with.
23/6/2013 07:23:43 pm
Thanks for your great article. With all the PI movies and books out there, those considering this field need to face the reality of what it really means to be a private investigator. Many days or nights there are a lot of boring hours of doing nothing but sitting and waiting! Better to realize that now than after a person becomes one.
26/6/2013 02:14:24 pm
Thankyou for taking the time to write this post Jarris, the insights and reality checks you shared based on so very many years of experience were invaluable to me.
15/9/2013 11:55:40 am
What are some approved training courses? and where can the be found?
Hi Sam. If you scroll back up to the very end of the blog entry, you will see the lines:
20/10/2013 05:46:38 pm
I would just like to study the course. Is that possible?
21/10/2013 01:08:14 am
Casey, we don't have bounty hunters here in Australia.
I particularly like the stress not he sometimes tedious nature of surveillance and just how tough it can be to wait long periods. Most people think it is exciting and to some degree there is a great rush, but it is very tough sometimes. It also is not just the staying still for such a long period but even if there is no obvious activity a certain level of alertness is needed, otherwise you can end up waiting for six hours and missing the five minutes that can make a case. I have worked on over 400 surveillance cases (www.indonesiadetective.com).
6/12/2013 04:48:02 pm
Hi Jarris,
Hi Rhiannon. Forensic accounting services are, of course, a very specialised field and can sometimes play a large part in some corporate or domestic/private investigations. The forensic accounting component of such a matter is almost always passed on to an expert - not many investigation agencies would have such a person on staff.
interesting article. For me, become a PI is very interesting and exciting job. you are not just sitting behind the desk. being a PI need special skill (adrenalin, emotional control) and perfect analysis. Please take a look our website http://balidetective.com/ we are from Bali
4/1/2014 06:07:29 am
Hi Jarris,
4/1/2014 08:19:22 am
Hi Jess. Thanks for commenting.
18/1/2014 05:43:58 pm
Awesome post mate! This hasn't deterred me from pursuing this career, I've spent 2 years in the security business working at various government facility's but Private investigating is what I really want to do! I live near brisbane and am wanting to do a course if possible or have a chat with a PI in the area about some things.
25/1/2014 11:19:35 pm
im not interested in the surveiilance side of it so much as the researching side. is there a role for people to do this and is there a job title for that?
26/1/2014 01:33:33 am
Hi Caz. To answer your first question (is there a role for research), definitely. There aren't too many aspects of PI work that don't require at least some form of research. Even on surveillance matters that plays a big part before you even go out to conduct the surveillance. Not only would you fully check out the surveillance subject, but also where they live - Google Streetview to get a preliminary idea of the area, exit routes, local parks, shopping centres, etc, etc.
22/2/2014 02:57:03 am
Great article.
22/2/2014 04:29:27 am
Thanks for the quick reply.
22/2/2014 07:07:25 am
How about in terms of quality and the views of a potential employer?
Jason, as I've already mentioned in the previous post I've referred you to, I can't speak for the quality of any courses and my personal views of courses in general have already been covered.
22/2/2014 09:18:35 am
I was aware of the previous statements, just thought you might have had extra opinions or thoughts that you hadn't already mentioned.
25/2/2014 04:32:10 am
How would you regard a mature aged female considering a career as a PI.? Would age and gender be of any advantage or more disadvantage?
Thanks for the question Dianne. For surveillance work females have a distinct advantage (except for perhaps the bathroom break situation) and if you couple that with a mature age, it's actually a huge advantage. If you look at it from the perspective of a surveillance subject, would you even look twice at say a female in her 50s or suspect they are following you? They would be almost invisible to someone 40 years or younger.
25/2/2014 10:49:39 pm
Yes, we are known as invisible to the greater population, I had forgotten that fact. A distinct advantage.....and thank you for explaining real life as a PI, its important to be accurately informed before taking a leap.
30/3/2014 01:29:20 pm
Good, honest and down to earth article.
Jarris Fuller
31/3/2014 01:47:31 am
The general techniques and practices of investigations work would be similar going from state to state, or even country to county. What needs to always be taken into account, however, are any relevant local factors, but that can also apply even within the same state. For example, surveillance work in a small rural town is usually approached differently to a matter in a large urban city. Even general driving styles differ somewhat between say, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne so that can have a bearing, but the basic surveillance techniques would be the same.
19/5/2014 04:12:02 am
Hi Jarris, Do you have any advice on how to approach private investigating firms in regards to taking somebody on with a probationary license. I live in NSW & I am trying to gather as much information as possible prior to signing up for the course. Thanks in advance. Lisa
20/5/2014 04:37:11 am
Hi Lisa. You might find that a little difficult. Most agencies would get a lot of those types of requests and it's near impossible to help everyone. You might be better off trying to find an investigator that does work for other agencies and go out with him/her to get some experience. You might also like to join an Australian group or discussion forum for PIs. There's a few on Facebook for example. It's a good way to get information and also network with others in your area.
Mark D
29/5/2014 09:39:49 pm
Hi Jarris, I am just wondering how to get a head start within the pi industry, i have studied justice admin and also done almost one year of law until a vehicle accident, which put me off studies. I have been in the security industry for 4.3 years and i am just curious to know where to look for support in gaining contracts, i have done some form of investigative work in the past working for large companies that didn't require much and all duties performed on site only. But I am eager to actually perform the full duties of a pi in Qld outside of what i did a year ago. I also read that fair trading states you cannot perform pi duties for law firms, insurance businesses and more but was told a year ago that the only thing stopping pi's was the government and police side of investigations what is the go with that? So yeah i have been studying this industry for a year now and i feel that i could use my observant skills to an advantage and gain a form of employment in this industry.
Jarris Fuller
30/5/2014 06:43:03 am
Hi Mark. Most of your questions have already been asked and answered in the comments above.
5/6/2014 11:48:27 am
Hi Jarris, I greatly appreciate the information that you have provided here. I have considered the PI business for some time now and held no allusions about it. I have a friend who has had a working PI business for a number of years that may mentor. With a family the inconsistency of work has always been an issue or I would have started already.
5/6/2014 01:19:35 pm
Mike, that's a great question. I know exactly what my personal response would be, but that would just be one opinion. I'm actually going to put this question out there to other investigators on a PI forum of which I'm a member to try and see what the general consensus might be. Stay tuned.
Jarris Fuller
6/6/2014 05:34:38 am
My post drew quite a few comments and the general consensus is that you need to have an unbiased, analytic and non-emotional approach to the investigation itself and its results, which is primarily reflected in how it's reported.
7/6/2014 06:08:43 pm
Thanks for the response. Luckily I am excellent at building rapport with clients and only clinical in my report writing. I will take the advice on board though. I don't really get the emotional high from surveillance work that you suggest so I may have to rethink PI work and stick to Psych. Thanks again.
21/8/2014 01:06:24 pm
The great post.About this video private investigator like a good job.The client report is make advice and really great.Thanks.
30/8/2014 12:14:02 pm
Hi Jessica. Having "security monitoring experience" certainly won't be a hindrance. Literally any kind of experience can potentially be of benefit as you will never know what situation you could find yourself in or persons you might have to deal with. For example, if an investigation subject did the same kind of work, you would definitely have an advantage.
27/9/2014 05:26:16 pm
Hi, if you were to start your own business from scratch do you think it would be possible, in any of the specific fields, to purely work from home? Maybe background checks for instance?
28/9/2014 11:44:48 am
Thanks for the fast reply Jarris. If I were to complete the course and, with no experience, start from home straight away, is there any field that you would recommend would be easiest to do this with? I'm thinking of continuing with my current work and trying this on the side for a while so if I fail or decide it's not for me I'm not too out of pocket. I'm self employed already so I have all the flexibility I need.
28/9/2014 12:42:10 pm
Dave, operating a business from home is one thing, but operating a business (from anywhere) without suitable knowledge and experience is a huge potential mistake. Conducting background checks, as an example, requires a vast in-depth knowledge of what information can be accessed, how best to access it, from where it can be accessed and also what that information can/could mean to a client and their end objective. Also, access to certain databases isn't cheap, so there will be quite an initial outlay. Then, to justify that expense, you will need to get in a certain volume of work to just break even, let alone make a worthwhile income. On top of that, if you get it wrong and a client takes a certain course of action based on incorrect/misleading information, well... you better make sure you also have good professional indemnity cover.
28/9/2014 12:54:36 pm
Thanks Jarris, I understand and I will take that on board. I just can't stand being employed, I work for myself currently and don't ever plan on working for someone else ever again :)
Julie J
31/10/2016 11:45:13 am
Dave, I'm not a licensed investigator, yet. However I think Ive done enough research so far to be able to comment. I believe you would be doin yourself and your clients a disservice if you started work for yourself based solely on a cert 3 in investigative services. There's no way you could possibly have the experience needed to give your clients the best most honest service available. Added to that, I'd imagine you'd find it very difficult to find clients. Most clients, especially those potentially spending a bucket of cash are highly unlikely to hire you. Most would do some sort of research into the investigator they hire and would Find out quickly how inexperienced you truly are. I don't mean to sound harsh, but how could you even Consider starting a business in a field with a scope as large as those one, based solely on a course that takes a couple of months? If there's a 10 litre bucket full of things to know about this industry, the knowledge we gain during that cert 3 course would equate to about a centimetre of water in that bucket. You're truly setting yourself up for failure and many potential law suits.
Julie J
31/10/2016 01:18:56 pm
Jarris.... Yes, yes and YES! I will happily be your Guinea pig too, if you need more. I'm in North Brisbane, so feel free to pick me lol. Julie
6/10/2014 08:02:26 am
Hello, Due to previous work experience in law I am entitled to a certificate in investigations (recognition of prior learning). I don't know whether to do the course or just pay for the certificate and start applying for jobs that do on the job training?? Any advice? Cheers
6/10/2014 10:56:04 am
Hi Mel. On the job experience would be my recommendation, but finding an agency that will do that for you will be your biggest hurdle - depending on what your particular area/s of interest might be.
24/10/2014 04:03:42 am
I can't change the title-name of you comment, Rob. But, I have referred to you as RobK in my response, which should separate you from the other Rob.
Hi Jarris, you highly stress on the point of "Experience" which is totally an advantage, of course.
24/10/2014 07:03:27 am
Yes RobK, everyone has to start somewhere. One solution is to (using a surveillance example) find yourself an experienced surveillance operative in your area and try and get him/her to take you out on surveillance as often as possible. Don't even think about charging him for the time you put in. Look, listen and learn. There are a few advantages for him/her doing that. It could be a really difficult location and both of you in separate cars covering two possible exits will be a great help. Also, having a second person in a car can be a real help after following someone to a shopping centre. One person can follow on foot whilst the second finds a parking spot. There are a lot of benefits, so it should be an easy "sell".
Hi again Jarris.
25/10/2014 06:32:20 am
Rob, I've re-posted (and answered) your question on a new blog post called Surveillance Techniques.
18/11/2014 09:23:01 am
Hi Jarris
I don't think there is a "Plan 2" for your situation as it seems you are at the mercy of the course provider. But, hopefully, the assessor will respond to your inquiries regarding the next course and you can go from there. If it takes longer than you would have liked, then you will just have to accept that.
1/12/2014 06:30:49 am
1/12/2014 07:18:19 am
Hi Jamie
1/12/2014 08:26:50 am
Hi Jamie
Hi Jarris
17/1/2015 12:33:45 am
I can't see that being a problem at all, Rob K.
10/4/2015 07:12:12 pm
Hi Jarris, my apologies if this has already been discussed. I'm looking for some guidance with PL & PI insurance. Do you have any recommendations for the best value for money (company)? Love your website. Great honest info.
11/4/2015 04:50:40 am
Hello Damian. PL (Public Liability) insurance is only relevant if you have clients attending your office. If you work from home, there already will be a PL component of the general home insurance on the property.
Hi Damien
13/4/2015 10:28:25 am
Wonderful and thank you Jarris & Rob. I appreciate the time you have both taken to assist! The information will be very helpful.
Matt P
28/4/2015 09:21:51 am
Great article and informative comments. Many of my questions have already been answered.
Thanks for the kind words Matt P.
Hi Matt P
1/5/2015 12:45:50 am
Hi Jarris
1/5/2015 01:28:59 am
Hi RobK. There are many legitimate and legally acceptable uses for GPS tracking devices. E.g. they are used in buses, taxis, vehicle fleets and by individuals on their own cars for various reasons, theft prevention being one.
1/5/2015 10:23:19 am
Thanks for the information Jarris.
Matt P
1/5/2015 02:40:10 pm
Jarris, may I publish my email to request that Rob K contact me? I'd like to talk to him about the cert 3.
1/5/2015 02:56:48 pm
No problem Matt P. But, can I suggest you set up a new temporary Gmail address just for this purpose. You can then pass on your usual email address and delete the Gmail account if necessary.
Matt P
1/5/2015 03:11:44 pm
Thanks Jarris, I'll take a look at that link and I took you're advice.
2/5/2015 09:10:21 am
Hi Matt P
2/5/2015 09:25:06 am
Hi Matt P
Matt P
2/5/2015 11:01:33 am
Sorry Rob K.. It's firstname.lastname@example.com
3/5/2015 08:58:59 pm
Hi Matt P
3/5/2015 09:40:47 am
Hello Jarris, thank you for a very informative blog, lots of very relevant and very useful information.
3/5/2015 10:30:04 am
Hi David. First off, you have to check to see whether you will need to be specifically licensed to sub-contract work to others, which is the case in Qld and NSW. In Qld you need a PI licence to do PI work and a Security Firm licence to be able to sub-contract work to other licensed people.
4/5/2015 01:14:36 am
Thank you Jarris, great advice and its much appreciated. The laws here in WA require me to have an agents licence before I can sub contract any work to a PI.
11/6/2015 07:53:40 pm
Very nice information shared by the author
12/6/2015 10:23:25 am
Hi Jarris
12/6/2015 11:06:56 am
Well RobK, after having a bit of a chuckle (about the fees), no, it is not the "usual criteria" in the industry. I'd also be interested in who this person is out of curiosity - email me if you like.
12/6/2015 11:48:39 am
Thank you Jarris.
12/6/2015 12:28:06 pm
Well, at $2,100 extra for a week of tuition (along with doing his own paid work at the same time), it's not a shabby financial proposition on his part. But, that said, it's not something I'd do. There might be "real" value in it (paying that much), but with the 9-out-of-ten strike-out rate as previously mentioned, it doesn't seem quite right to me - the term "taking advantage" springs to mind.
Hi. Thank you for your informative article and responses to readers comments. I am hoping to start my private investigation company in Canberra and I was hoping for some advice. I understand that one of the important steps needed in starting a business is to do a market analysis to see whether there is enough demand for your services to justify starting it. I have decided to do a web based poll as one way (which you can see on my website) to gauge interest but I was wondering what other market analysis approach you would recommend I undertake?
20/6/2015 03:14:44 am
Hi Mike.
Hi Jarris. Thank you for your quick response.
20/6/2015 04:14:22 am
Thanks Mike. You will likely find the transition to the corporate/private sector very different to what you are used to. If you haven't already taken on some surveillance work, I'd strongly recommend going out with an experienced person for at least several days to get a really good idea of what's involved/required.
Thank you for your reply and the extra advice. In regards to your comment about transition to the corporate/private sector, is that in regards to specifically transitioning from law enforcement surveillance to non-law enforcement surveillance or just a general comment about transitioning between law enforcement and corporate/private work?
20/6/2015 11:04:13 am
My "transition" comment applies across-the-board, but even more so when it comes to conducting surveillance. For almost all surveillance matters you will be on your own, literally doing everything and with almost none of the same resources you are used to having. My guess is there would be less than one in ten people doing surveillance work that have successfully transitioned from a government position to the private sector.
Thank you for the clarification. It does sounds like some of the assumptions you have made about my experiences inside or outside of law enforcement are not as relevant to my situation as you might think, however I still appreciate the sentiment in which you provided the advice. If you think of any further advice about market analysis for the private investigation sector please get in touch. Thanks.
21/6/2015 05:14:09 pm
Hi Jarris
22/6/2015 05:18:17 pm
Hi Jarris
23/6/2015 02:11:31 am
It's highly illegal in Australia. Financial, medical and Police Criminal info and strict no-go areas. You were probably looking at a US based agency OR they can get the info for an up front fee, but what they don't tell you until after you have paid is they also require a signed authority from the person involved.
Lauren L
6/7/2015 12:45:45 pm
Hi Jarris,
6/7/2015 01:19:07 pm
Hi Lauren. A lot of skip trace work (including missing persons for both commercial and personal reasons) is outsourced these days to people who do just the actual "desktop" location work. So, in summary, it's certainly a very viable pursuit.
Hi Jarris
Hi Rob. I can't really comment with any authority on Victorian PI licensing legislation (you will have to check with the relevant authority), but I can say that in Qld a Security Firm's licence is required (on top of an individual PI licence) if you are going to provide / sub-contract work to other licensed PIs.
Hi Jarris
1/11/2015 12:11:58 pm
It's certainly possible "to have an 'UNPAID' field training for a few days or so in the industry to gain some practical experience?" In fact, it's of potential benefit to the person you go out with - as mentioned in previous posts.
Hi Jarris
10/12/2015 03:05:34 pm
I think it would be fairly obvious, Rob K as to why you were banned from the site. My thoughts on some training institutions and their forums isn't that hight to begin with and your example only supports this.
The Sardar, if you peruse Jarris's Blog, you will find out that being a Private Investigator is not something most of us would have liked to suppose. A PI need not carry a Colt .45 even during his/her long career. So, I would never worry about the cost of it however cheap it might even be!Furthermore, this is a rapidly changing industry and like everything, 'Knowledge Is Power'. I shouldn't jump the gun unless you came to the saturation point in your quest. Are the readers in this forum to infer that the industry is useless and has no future based on what you wrote?
31/12/2015 08:13:11 pm
This is an issue that is unfortunately becoming more and more prevalent - the issue being (as RobK states) an "over-supply" of investigators coming from various training organisations with there being no positions (or very few) to fill them.
10/1/2016 04:00:56 pm
Hi Jarris. I've just read all the posts and replies and want to thank you. If I had done a course I would jump at the chance to be a guinea pig for your proposal. I think it's a great idea. I am a mature lady with varied background recently moved to Qld and have been exploring various criminology courses to follow up on lifelong interest, and was trying to find some form of reality- check for potential employment etc. As an aside, I recently read (in a mag in a dr surgery !! ) about a man who acquired a certificate or diploma in criminology and discovered that it gave him license to be a PI ...(?) He was subsequently offered a job by police ...the job involved going to local massage parlours, allowing himself to be solicited for paid sex, engaging in the sexual activity, paying, then reporting the massage parlour. Lol.
11/1/2016 08:58:32 am
Hi Sherry
27/6/2016 10:08:39 pm
28/6/2016 11:24:59 am
Hi Jarris
9/7/2016 09:58:59 am
When you are first starting out, a reasonably low-cost camcorder by Sony or Panasonic are your best bet. Something around the $300-400 mark will cover most of your requirements. For example, Panasonic's NC-V270 would be fine. If you have a little more to spend, then the HC-W570M or the 770M are both great cameras.
16/7/2016 08:15:52 pm
Thanks for all ur advice Jarris. I just noticed an insurance company advertising for investigators with cert 3. You mentioned earlier that most of these companies use agencies. Just wondering how common is it for various firms, insurance and otherwise, to employee in-house investigators? What other types of businesses would be likely to do this? Also, in the real world of PI, do you ever find yourself thwarted by time constraints imposed by your client? I mean you can't just sit around waiting forever but then you can't force the issue either. I would suppose that this is an important consideration especially when quoting. I would be most grateful for your comments on the subject of time frames, limitations and expedient results. Cheers
17/7/2016 11:26:36 am
Hi James
I would make sure that I wouldn't commit myself to an absolute successfull outcome. I make sure that I ask them for
Hi Jarris
1/8/2016 08:01:54 am
Hi RobK
Hi Jarris
6/8/2016 07:05:27 pm
Okay, you've got your in-car camcorder sorted, so that basically leaves two additional areas to cover. I'll start with (potentially) the least important and that is a car-cam setup.
6/8/2016 07:12:02 pm
I almost forgot: whoever you end up working for will most likely need to get your surveillance video with a date/time stamp on the video.
Hi again Jarris
7/8/2016 03:03:49 pm
Rob, you need to go to the www.svdtpro.com site and read what's there. The SVDT program isn't installed into a camcorder. It's a PC program that takes your video files and uses the metadata within the video files to add date/time to the video.
7/8/2016 11:30:16 pm
Hi Jarris
8/8/2016 10:56:33 am
Add-on zoom lenses will only work if your camcorder has a thread on the camera lens to take them - a lot don't. But, that said, you will likely find you will seldom use them.
8/8/2016 07:45:27 pm
Thanks a lot Jarris.
8/8/2016 08:16:24 pm
8/8/2016 08:30:49 pm
To add, just in case it is still unclear; a camera with 20 x optical zoom is on the very low side of what you will need. A camera with 30 or 40 x zoom would have been far better, plus it would have been less expensive.
8/8/2016 09:25:32 pm
Hi Jarris
Julie Jenkins
31/10/2016 01:52:41 pm
Hi Jarris. I just sat here and read through everything and now I'm about to go through some of your blog posts. You're a very patient man, i must say. This has all been extremely informative and I wanted to let you know that it's much appreciated. For years I wanted to be a police officer, but life got I the way. I've decided I'm too old (45) and round (lol) to join the police force now, but based on a lot of research, private investigations is right up my alley. Unfortunately, I've been caring for my sick husband for the last few years, so finances are very, very tight. I know I'm going to struggle enough to get the funds together for the Cert 3 in investigative services, but I'm extremely determined and excited, because hubby can mostly care for himself and the kids are all grown, so now is MY TIME! I know as much as one can who is not currently I the field, what I am in for. I know it will be a tonne of leg work to get my foot in someone's door and another tonne of unpaid work gaining the experience I need, so that I can get paid work. I also know I will spending long hours away from home, likely sitting in a car, waiting for someone to do something or sitting at a computer researching or typing reports etc.. I think I know most of the bad Points and you know what? I can't wait. I'm compassionate, empathetic, and very tough, I've worked In retail, hospitality, insurance sales, and even sang in pubs, clubs and at parties. I've worked, day shift, night shift and split shifts... There's nothing much I can't or won't do and very few people I can't get along a build a rapport with. Hell, I even trimmed horses hooves for a living, it doesn't get much harder than that! My point to all of this is, it's now time to do exactly what I want... And this, my friends, is it! Thanks again for your extremely informative website.
Julie Jenkins
31/10/2016 08:07:24 pm
Jarris, I have one more question. You said in a couple of posts above that there are various discussion forums for investigator's and those in training on FB and on different websites around the internet. Do you (or anyone else) happen to know the names of any of these groups? I would really appreciate it, as I'd love to chat to like minded people. Thanks in advance. Julie
31/10/2016 10:33:31 pm
Hi Julie
As far as I know, this website should be "The Best" Platform for the Private Investigators in Australia. I think, Jarris did an excellent job by creating this website which only needs more members from the Industry, exchanging ideas, coupled with Jarris's invaluable inputs. I happened to be a member to one of those Forums which is heavily censored in terms of expressing 'different' views, questioning certain facts in good faith as a result of which my membership was set not to expire!I found this platform extremely educating and informative. We merely need more Professionals to join in!
Julie Jenkins
11/11/2016 09:16:40 am
Hi Jarris,
11/11/2016 09:32:59 am
Hi Julie
11/11/2016 10:04:38 am
Here is the link to my Facebook group for those in Australia who are interested in becoming a private investigator or those who are in training to become an investigator! Cheers, Julie. Brisbane. https://www.facebook.com/groups/198085267309285/
25/1/2017 09:23:42 am
Thank you for this article. It's given me a lot of food for thought.
30/4/2017 07:39:40 pm
Nice article.
A very private eye
14/6/2017 01:21:28 am
Thanks for this blog post. Have been trying to find decent info and feedback for a while and this is one of the most informative sites around.
14/6/2017 10:30:31 am
It's theoretically possible to just do in-office investigations (e.g. missing persons, database searches, etc.) but the reality is your capacity to get work will be very restricted.
A very private eye
16/6/2017 04:22:33 pm
Thanks so much for the reply. I had no idea there had been a reduction in work, I knew there was a limited amount of it but everything I'd read do far said jobs were expanding not shrinking.
16/6/2017 05:01:49 pm
@A very private eye
A very private eye
17/6/2017 11:41:19 am
Thanks Jarris. That's what I thought (about the ride along). And I guess I'll hunt down those US forums if I have more questions. Thanks for the prompt replies, much appreciated.
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Listen to some jazz whilst reading
September 2017


text:
When you become a step-parent, it's normal to wonder whether you should act like a parent from the start, or take a wait-and-see approach. There's no one right way to be a step-parent. Over time you'll find a way of step-parenting that suits you and your family.
The rewards of being a step-parent can include the:
The challenges of being a step-parent can include coming into a new family where everybody else already knows each other. To start with, you might feel a bit left out.
Your stepchild might reject you, ignore you or just feel uncomfortable or shy around you. It can be hard to cope with this and find a way to relate to your stepchild that works for her and for you.
You might have to deal with negative reactions or criticism from your stepchild's other parent. And if your stepchild's other parent isn't keen for you to be in your stepchild's life, this could affect how your stepchild behaves towards you.
If you have a child or children of your own, you might feel biased towards your own child, or upset if you think your partner isn't being fair to your child.
You and your partner might have different approaches to and expectations about parenting. You'll need to work with your partner on any problems that come up because of these differences.
And there might be pressure to take on a particular role – for example, stepmothers might feel they're expected to take on the main caring role, or stepfathers might feel they should take charge of rules and boundaries.
Here are some tips to help you ease into your relationship with your stepchild and your role as a step-parent.
Talk with your partner
Ask your partner questions like:
You can also think about what level of involvement you want and what feels comfortable to you.
Get to know your stepchild
Get to know your stepchild before you live together if you can. You could go on outings or do activities together like walking the dog, reading a book or watching a movie. Or you could do practical things like helping your stepchild with homework, or driving him to meet friends. You could also ask your partner about your stepchild's particular needs, likes and dislikes.
Focus on positives
Try to be accepting and positive towards your stepchild. For example, you could point out when she does the right thing, or you could celebrate with a surprise cake when your stepchild does well at something.
Take things slowly
Take things at a pace that suits your stepchild. Don't expect to instantly love or even like your stepchild, and don't expect him to love or like you. In the early days settle for respect.
It usually works best in the first year or two if you spend time being supportive of your stepchild, but not taking on an active parenting role. For example, it's enough to be someone your stepchild can depend on to do the same things each week, like always taking her to sport on Saturdays. This will give your stepchild the chance to get to know and trust you.
Once you and your stepchild are comfortable with each other, you can take on more of a parenting role if that's what you, your partner and your stepchild want.
Think about former partners
Your partner's former partner might need time to adjust to you as a step-parent. It can be easier if you don't have much involvement with your partner's ex, at least at first.
It usually works best if the two parents talk about child care and other issues with each other, especially in the early years. But if your partner's ex is happy to discuss arrangements with you, it's fine if you and your partner also feel OK with that.
Over time you might get to know and like your partner's ex and feel comfortable enough to share events like children's birthdays or graduation celebrations.
Look after yourself
It's also important to look after yourself. Spend time doing things that make you feel good and are good for you – for example, exercising, eating well, seeing friends and keeping up with interests and hobbies.
In this video, step-parents share their experiences. They say building a relationship with your partner's children takes time. You can build trust by listening, being sensitive and showing them you care. One mum says having a stepmother when she was a child was like having an extra resource. Now she enjoys getting to know her stepchildren and finding ways she can play a special part in their lives.
If you haven't been a parent before, it can help to:
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Cartwright, C. (2010). Preparing to repartner and live in a stepfamily: An exploratory investigation. Journal of Family Studies, 16(3), 237-250.
Cartwright, C., & Gibson, K. (2013). The effects of co-parenting relationships with ex-spouses on couples in step-families. Family Matters, 92, 18-28.
Ganong, L.H., & Coleman, M. (2004). Stepfamily relationships: Development, dynamics, and interventions. New York: Springer Science and Business Media.
Hetherington, E., & Kelly, J. (2002). For better or for worse: Divorce reconsidered. New York: Norton.
Howden, M. (2007). Stepfamilies: Understanding and responding effectively [AFRC Briefing 6]. Melbourne: Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse, Australian Institute of Family Studies. Retrieved 26 November 2015 from https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/stepfamilies-understanding-and-responding-effectively.
Kinniburgh-White, R., Cartwright, C., & Seymour, F. (2010). Young adults' narratives of relational development with stepfathers. Journal of Social and Personal Relations, 27(7), 890-907.
Papernow, P.L. (2013). Surviving and thriving in stepfamily relationships: What works and what doesn't. New York: Routledge.
Pryor, J. (2014). Stepfamilies: A global perspective on research, policy and practice. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Pryor, J., & Rodgers, B. (2001). Children in changing families: Life after parental separation. Oxford: Blackwell.
Zeleznikow, L., & Zeleznikow, J. (2015). Supporting blended families to remain intact: A case study. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 56(4), 317-335.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Were the tails of dromaeosaur dinosaurs (raptors) completely stiff or did they exhibit some amount of an S-curve? This is the question posed in a post last week on the blog Tetrapod Zoology (see sidebar), "What the hell is going on with dromaeosaur tails?" This new evidence has major implications for paleoartists!
It looks strange to me, but just because you're used to seeing something one way doesn't mean it's correct!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Dromaeosaur tails...
Posted by Heidi Richter at 2:06 PM
Labels: Paleoart
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Trolley Bay Checkout | Customer Guard Rail | Shopping Trolley Bay
Introducing our simple Shopping Trolley Bay, Customer Guard Rail, or Security Control Barrier System
If you are looking for a proven system to safely accomplish one or more of these tasks in your store, then your search is over. This modular guidance and traffic flow control system is already a success in many locations Australia-wide.
You might be looking to provide a specific area for the storage of shopping trolleys, one that is also easy and convenient for your customers to use. You might wish to provide simple security barriers around your cash register or checkout areas. Or you might be looking for a system that allows you to lock key areas off from public access.
For each of these tasks, our classic modular system delivers exactly the results you require. It is truly flexible, meaning it can quickly be set up in the exact configuration you require. Its lightweight, easy-clean, chrome-plated touch and look masks the real inner steel strength of these posts and rails. The steel baseplate, which is secured to the floor, is well covered in durable and bash resistant plastic. The connector cups are also plastic and feature a simple locking spring mechanism to securely hold them in place. We offer a variety of post heights and rail lengths to best suit your requirements.
Whether for store security, shopping trolley storage, or simple crowd control purposes, our lightweight yet strong modular systems are proven to deliver exactly what you need.
In Store installation only.
Features and Benefits of the Shopping Trolley Bay system
- Allows secure storage of Shopping Trolleys.
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- Guide customers where required
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- Lightweight but strong steel rails, chrome plated for presentation and ease of cleaning
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Service & Installation | Available Australia Wide
Most clients ask our experienced and expert team of fitters to set up the installation they require, and we are happy to install it for you. We have done so in many locations and at times most convenient for those businesses, and this no-hassle service is available Australia-wide. However, if you prefer to undertake the task yourself, then we are happy to supply parts and full instructions.
The starting point is an obligation-free discussion of your specific store requirements. Contact us now by completing the details on this page and we will quickly be in touch. If you prefer, simply pick up the phone and call (07) 3490 9600.


text:
Netflix Competitive Analysis
Blockbuster Inc. and Movie Gallery are currently the two strongest competitors in the market, and therefore pose the biggest threats to Netflix. Amazon, Intelliflicks, and Cleanfilms are all present in the market, but don't possess enough force at this time to be considered a threat to Netflix. Blockbuster
As of right now, Blockbuster is the biggest competitive threat to Netflix. Blockbuster was incorporated in 1989 in Delaware and is a major renter of home videocassettes, DVDs and video games throughout the Americas, as well as Europe, Asia and Australia. Blockbuster operated about 9,100 stores in the U.S. and 24 other countries, as of Dec. 2004. In the summer of 2004, Blockbuster launched an online rental program that provides a challenging competitive match for Netflix. Blockbuster's online debut was in development for years. In 2002 Blockbuster purchased FilmCaddy, an online movie rental company that became Blockbusters internet channel. Blockbuster completed consumer research, both qualitative and quantitative, and found that online customers preferred a program that would give them both Internet convenience and in-store benefits. Blockbuster decided to incorporate its extensive network of stores to provide a powerful competitive edge. In addition, the chain has said it will invest $170 million this year alone in its online-rental operation. Financially, Blockbuster has revenues of 6.10 billion, with a gross profit of 3.61 billion, and a negative net income of 1.42 billion. Blockbuster currently offers a lower price of $14.99 a month for a comparable unlimited package, allowing three movies out at a time, and also includes two free in-store movie rentals a month. It also offers free shipping and postage, no return dates, and no extended viewing or late fees. Where Blockbuster falls short however, is in their movie selection, offering only 30,000 titles compared to Netflix 45,000.
Movie Gallery
Movie Gallery, Inc. is the...
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Protecting Their Mate (Part One)
Blake is on a mission from his alpha–to track down a werewolf whose parents dragged her into the human world years ago, one who may be in danger. He expects the lead to go nowhere, given how few wolves live among humans, but he discovers something rare indeed, caged in a basement: a beautiful, curvy woman gripped by the fever, ready to mate.
Ashley Todd has never fit in. She's always been too much–too big, too demanding, too aware of the wolf hiding beneath her skin. She's been locked away for months—been alone for a lifetime—and in walks Blake to save her from her prison. Her rescuer is hard, intense—a dominant wolf whose bossy attitude makes her growl…and yearn to submit.
Soothing Ashley's mating fever is Blake's responsibility–and his pleasure. Their passion is explosive, undeniable. But what started out as a job for Blake quickly becomes something more, and the toughest part of his mission looms: taking Ashley back to his pack so she can choose her permanent mate from amongst his brethren.
Ashley is drawn to dominant Blake, but meeting the rest of the pack reignites her desire. She is overwhelmed by her new life and all it entails, but embracing her inner wolf means embracing the truth: if she doesn't explore her attraction to the other members of the pack, she'll never find her forever mate.
Protecting Their Mate was originally published as an eight part serial under the penname Mia Thorne. It has been repackaged, but the story remains the same.
Heat Level
Read an Excerpt
Chapter One
Her hunger was a living thing.
Ashley knelt on the basement floor, the rough concrete digging into her flesh. That pain was better, kinder, than the agony clawing at her core, so she welcomed it. Anything to distract herself from counting the days.
She'd almost lost track, but the moon had swelled inside the barred window set high in the wall. The last time her father had unlocked the basement door to deliver food, that moon had just been peeking in at the edge of the window. Now, it was nearly full, casting its vibrant glow in tiger stripes over the dark room.
Three days.
"No, four," she corrected herself, then jumped at the rusty sound of the words. She'd read about people spending so much time in silent isolation that their voices had gone hoarse from disuse, but she'd always figured it would take weeks, if not months.
Oh God, maybe it had been months. Maybe she'd gone moon-mad, like her mother had always said, and she was only imagining the soothing light washing over her skin. But she couldn't be—the heavy moon brought a different sort of hunger, the undeniable kind her mother and father had been so afraid of.
It pulsed within her now, clenching low, lower than the rumbling in her belly. She wanted to run under that moon, her skin bare to it until it coaxed forth the animal inside her. She wanted to call out, find others. Fight. Fuck. Be one of them.
Be her.
A wolf trapped in a human body was bad enough, but for that human body to be trapped, as well? She'd been abandoned, locked in her parents' basement for days. And, for once, both halves of her were in perfect agreement. They wanted out.
When the silence beyond her locked door had become too ominous to ignore, Ashley had spent the better part of a night pounding her fists against the steel. That earned her nothing but bloody, swollen hands. She had sat in the growing light of dawn, numb and helpless, watching her flesh heal bit by bit.
No one came. Not once did her father even yell from the other side for her to keep it down. To control herself.
Control. Ashley shuddered. For the past six years, her parents had preached little else. Ever since the first hint of hunger had begun to stir in her, and they could no longer pretend she was the perfect human daughter they'd hoped for.
She was a monster. A ravenous, defiant creature who wanted all the wrong things—the sun on her face, the night air caressing her skin and ruffling her fur. More food than most humans ate, enough to elicit shocked stares from other diners in public places. People would watch her and shake their heads sometimes, and she knew what they were thinking, the bastards, because her mother—her own mother—had said it more than once.
You wouldn't be so fat if you stopped eating so much.
For years, Ashley believed them. Shame was her constant companion, her only one. She'd starved herself in an attempt to fit into that little box of theirs, the one labeled acceptable woman: maximum size eight. But the truth was that she wasn't a size eight, or ten, or even twelve.
And then she'd committed the worst sin of all—she'd stopped starving herself and learned to love her body. From her breasts to her ass, arms to thighs, everything about her was soft, welcoming. A shape older than fashion magazines and runways, as old as time itself, curves that would present an unmistakable cue to her potential mate.
Mate. That word had scared them more than anything, and the day she first uttered it was the day her parents locked her up. Just until the hunger passed, they said, but she'd seen the truth in their eyes.
It would never go away. Never, because it was part of her.
And oh, how it called to her. It always swelled with the moon, but never this strong. She hadn't eaten in three days—no, four, she reminded herself—but still the rumbling in her belly paled in comparison to this hunger.
Before her mother had died, before her father had locked her up for good, she'd spent her days surrounded by people. By men, some of whom would look at her with interest. They wanted to touch her, so they'd smile and flirt, and their attention had sometimes piqued an answering attraction in her. But it had never been something she couldn't walk away from, forget when she left the office at the end of the day. It had never left her restless, sleepless. Desperate.
Maybe the solitude was too much, and being cut off from all contact had left her aching even more than usual.
Ashley rose and swayed a little as the room tilted. Weak, so weak, but she couldn't sit here anymore. She reached for the iron bar she'd already pried from the bedstead and leaned on it for several dizzy moments. She had to do something, or she'd—
The door loomed at the top of the stairs, secure and damning. Worse, the last time she'd approached it to examine the solid steel for weaknesses, she'd caught the unmistakable scent of death and decay beyond it.
A sob caught in her throat. Her father was a hard man, but there was only one reason he would leave her to starve in the basement.
Steeling herself, she trudged up the wooden stairs. She held her breath as she braced one hip against the railing, lifted the iron bar, and brought it swinging down toward the door hinges as hard as she could. Sparks flew as metal slammed against metal with a deafening clang that vibrated up her arms and through her bones, rattling her teeth.
She had to do something. She didn't want to die.
Before she could swing the bar again, something thumped outside the room. Chains rattled, clattering against themselves and the steel door, picking up speed. An unfamiliar voice followed, low and masculine. "Just hang on."
Ashley froze, her fingers tightening around the pitted iron until it bit into her flesh. "Who are you?"
"A friend of a friend." The door creaked, the tiniest crack appearing between it and the wall. "Stand back."
"I don't have any friends." The moment the words left her lips, she wanted to snatch them back.
"Your mother did. One of them got worried." The crack of light grew, wide enough for her to catch teasing glimpses of leather and denim. But it was the scent of him that crashed into her, something deep and dark. Wild. He smelled like the moon and the forest, smoke and pine and fur.
He smelled like heaven.
"Stand back," he said again, a hint of a growl in his voice this time. "I have to snap the last chain."
Ashley dropped the iron bar, and it fell to the floor with a clatter. It would be no use as a weapon anyway, not in her hands. Not against the man on the other side of the door.
Besides, if he was lying, if he wanted to kill her, it would be a mercy compared to the fate that awaited her in the basement. So she backed down the stairs, retreating behind the tall case that held her beloved books.
Something slammed against the door, and the chains gave way with a painful screech. The door swung wide, leaving the man framed in the entrance, his face in shadow. He was huge, his shoulders spanning the doorway. If the closely cropped hair on his head had been any longer, it might have brushed the top of the jamb.
He ducked anyway, like he was used to having to do it, and one heavy boot thumped on the steps. That was as far as he got before he stiffened and inhaled sharply. His head tilted. Turned. His gaze swept the room, taking in everything, the furrow between his eyes deepening when he saw the broken bed.
Ashley scrounged up her courage and stepped out into the moonlight. "Where's my father?"
His gaze swung to her, and she saw the truth in his dark eyes, even before he spoke. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."
It hurt so much more than she expected it to. Not only had both of her parents been lost to her in all the ways that mattered for a while now, but she'd already confronted the possibility that her father was dead, even accepted it as likely fact. And no doubt this man would think her insane for mourning her jailer.
She wrapped her arms around her middle, folding in on herself, because what she really wanted to do was throw herself in his arms. Out of pure instinct, she took a step forward to do just that—and stopped short when his scent filled her lungs again.
Her body's reaction was immediate, visceral. The gentle ache that had been tugging at her sharpened and then snapped, sending a wave of sheer need cascading through her. It washed through her veins like a fever, heating her skin and making her tremble.
Could he tell? The thought vanished as soon as it formed, because she didn't really care if he knew. No, that wasn't quite right. She wanted him to know, because then he might do something about it. Something carnal, obscene—and so, so satisfying.
His nostrils flared. His big hands clenched into fists, and he erased any question of how much he knew with two tense words. "How long?"
So many ways to interpret this strange wolf's concern. How long had she been a prisoner in her own home? How long had she been locked away, alone and starving? Or how long had this instinctive hunger been twisting her into knots?
She opened her mouth to ask which he meant, but all that escaped was a strangled moan as she swayed toward him.
He swore and descended the stairs, jumping the last three to land lightly on his feet. He crowded the basement with his presence, with his scent, even before he crossed the remaining space between them.
His hands framed her face, his thumbs resting on her cheeks and his fingertips brushing her hairline. He was so big up close, even bigger than he'd looked in the doorway, towering over her as he gently tilted her face up. "Do you know what you are?"
This close to him, she didn't know her own damn name. He was a beautiful man underneath the hard lines and scars, and the rough growth of stubble over his jaw made her itch to touch it. His expression was so severe, but his eyes were the brightest she'd ever seen—clear blue tinged with gray, like the midsummer sky after a light rain. And he gave off heat in waves that wrapped around her, warming her from the inside out, just like his scent. Strong. Male. Yes.
"Ashley." He growled her name, and that only deepened the throbbing need inside her. He cursed again and tangled one hand in her hair. "Fucking hell, girl. Focus. Do you understand what's happening to you?"
Her hands had found his chest somehow, and her fingers were moving, clenching in the thin, tight fabric of his T-shirt. She wanted to tug it aside, rip it. Anything to reach the searing skin beneath.
The thought brought her back to reality—barely. "No." The answer left her on a whimper. "It's never been this bad before."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty." His pulse was beating in the hollow of his throat. She stared at it, mesmerized, her mouth watering.
He tugged gently on her hair, forcing her eyes back to his. "This isn't the same as what happens to you once a month when you're fertile. You're in heat, sweetheart. It isn't going to go away in a day or two. That's why I need to get you out of here."
Her brain ground to a halt even as her breasts swelled against the restrictive lace of her bra. "What?"
He released her abruptly and pivoted, stalking toward the closet. "I won't let anything happen to you. But we've got to get out of here before humans show up."
Without the solid strength of his body close to hers, she almost stumbled. "I need to see my dad."
"No, you don't." His short words left no room for argument. He hauled open her closet and pulled out a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. "Trust me, Ashley. That's not a sight to have in your head. Even if—" He bit off the words and returned with her clothes. "Put this on."
She bristled at his commanding tone. Here was her savior—one more person who wanted to boss her around without listening. "I don't even know your name."
"Blake." He held out the sweatshirt. "Humans won't understand what's happening to you. Do you want to end up locked up again?"
That hadn't occurred to her, and sudden fear wrapped a cold hand around her heart. Though they turned their backs on their origins to live in the human world, her parents had both been wolves themselves. They understood her nature, even if they disapproved of it.
She couldn't say the same for the rest of the world.
Ashley reached past the sweatshirt—her favorite, worn soft by repeated washings—and grasped his wrist. The contact exploded through her like a shock, one she saw reflected in his eyes for one mad, glorious heartbeat.
This time, she pushed down the inconvenient arousal that heated her body. She had to, before reason abandoned her altogether. "Where are you taking me? And why?"
"To my pack," he replied gruffly. "The last pack left in this area."
But why? The question died on her tongue. Did it matter? He was here, he was like her…and she'd been alone for so very long.
She left the sweatshirt in his hand and grabbed her jeans instead. They were too tight to fit over her pajama shorts, so she turned her back and kicked the shorts to the floor.
Behind her, his breathing roughened. "We can't take much with us. If you need anything special, make a list. Once you're safe, the alpha will send someone back here."
Ashley dragged the denim up her legs. "The alpha?"
"Our leader." His words were rough, too. Rough and edged with a rasping darkness that tingled through her.
She could feel his gaze on her, and she forced herself to breathe normally. "I meant his name."
"Lucas." Blake went on, in that gruff, wicked voice of his. "When the other packs broke apart to live among humans, he refused. We have a safe place in the woods, a compound. But there aren't many of us left with strong magic."
Every syllable tightened the knot in her belly, and she couldn't tell anymore if it was nervousness or desire. She crossed the room to search for her shoes, grasping at any excuse to put a little distance between them. It helped, and her head was a little clearer by the time she slid her feet into her sandals and gathered her hair into a high ponytail.
With a bit of her self-control back in place, Ashley turned to respond, but her stomach interrupted her by rumbling loudly.
His frown returned. "How long have you been down here?"
An entirely different kind of heat suffused her cheeks—mortification. "Four days. I think."
Rage flashed across his features, though he quickly suppressed it, and a shiver of warning slithered up her spine as something massive and dangerous pressed in around her.
He caught her arm, his fingers careful but firm around her elbow. "As soon as we've made it far enough, we'll get some food in you. Can you make it up the stairs?"
Just like that, the gnawing arousal was back, hotter and harsher than ever. She snatched her arm away. "I'm not helpless." To prove it, she charged up the stairs and through the busted door.
The rancid odor of death hit her full in the face, and she covered her mouth and nose. She'd almost forgotten about her father. For a moment, she stood there, torn between finding him and getting the hell out, into the fresh air.
Distressed, she turned blindly toward the front door, but Blake caught her arm again. "Out the back," he said firmly.
Ashley squeezed her eyes shut and nodded quickly before heading through the kitchen.


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Fuji FP-1 Fotorama
My feeling
I love this camera, it works like a charm, easy to manipulate, plastic construction make it light. I will not spend more time for the moment with technical stuff, you can really find a lot of interesting information on the others blogs below. I used it only since 3 weeks, but it's the one I will travel with in the future.
Some sources of information for this wonderful camera
Some pictures done with FP-1
Welcome to my new fresh blog ! Well, many people will think ... "One more blog in the millions of existing" :-)
Your are right, one more ;-)
Also open to speak about travel we do, we plan to do.
Thanks for taking the time to read me, and fell free to request information, ask something.
Take care
Life is unique
Recent PostsFuji FP-1 Fotorama Welcome
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Dragon offering c. Judy Hall I laid a cuckoo egg in the desert Half buried it in scorching sand A metaphor I didn't understand. Sunbaked by day it incubated At night I dreamtimed warmth Protected it until it hatched A small dragon born of possibility Djinn fed with myth and sacred words I...
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Design Your Own Flex-Tec Handguards
$ 160.00
- Made in the USA
These handguards are each custom made to order 1 set at a time, so there is a 3-4 week production time
- FOR SLEDS: Our Standard Mounts will work on all sleds except Arctic Cat ProCross/ProClimb models, Yamaha SRViper, and Polaris Snowmobiles that come with factory Pro Taper HI, MED, or LO Bend handlebars. 2012-Newer Arctic Cat sleds and Polaris sleds with a CROSSBAR in the center of the handlebar should use our Hayes Mounts.
- FOR BIKES/ATVS: Our ATV/BIKE Mounts will work on all brands/models with at least 1/2" of open bar area to mount them.
- With over 2,100 different possible combinations your options are nearly endless. Start choosing your colors to create your own killer guards
- Note #1: The thread color for the stitching on the handguards will vary and will be determined by our sewing team. We make every effort to use a thread color that is the least noticeable, but depending on the colors chosen some thread may stand out more than others.
- Note #2: Every computer/phone/tablet displays colors differently, so we can't guarantee colors will match exactly what is displayed on your specific screen. Each set of these handguards is made to order, so we can't accept returns based upon the difference between the colors on your screen and the actual handguards. That being said, our handguards are still covered by our extensive warranty. If you manage to break them, lose the hardware, etc just reach out. Our USA tech support will do everything they can to take care of you.
- More questions? Just give us a call at 218-326-1794 or shoot us an email.


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Item details
Love to knit but hate to be weighed down by your stitch markers? These ball chain stitch markers are light as a feather and will make the perfect addition to your knitting notions arsenal.
This listing is for 6 large red ball chain stitch markers. The 2nd photo shows the colors available in my other listings so you can find a color that is just right for you.
Free First Class Shipping in the US (without tracking).
If you would like to upgrade to First Class Shipping in the US with tracking for an additional $2.27 per order, please use the following link:
https://www.etsystudio.com/listing/213649008/First Class-us-shipping-for-stitch-markers?
But if you purchase 4 or more sets of stitch markers in the same order and I will upgrade your US shipping for free, and who doesn't like the word free?
Your stitch markers will be shipped in a hand stamped craft paper envelope making it perfect for gift giving.
The first and second photos show the markers on a 10.5 (13mm) needle.
My stitch markers are available in a range of colors as well as a slight smaller size perfect for socks and lace knitting. The last photo shows a comparison between the small and larger size on a 10.5 (13mm) needle.
View all my stitch markers:
Small Red Markers:
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Shipping & policies
Estimated Shipping
I ship using either USPS First Class Mail or Priority Mail, depending on the item/ items purchased. Delivery confirmation is included for all shipments within the United States, with the exception of my stitch markers- unless you select the upgraded shipment option.
If you required any additional services such as insurance please include a "note to seller" with your request and I will make every effort to accommodate your request.
I am more than happy to ship internationally. If you are interested in multiple items (and I hope you are!) please message me and I can work on your total shipping costs. If you are outside Canada or the EU, please contact me as well for a shipping quote prior to your purchase. The buyer is responsible for any additional duty required by Customs.
I accept payments via PayPal and direct payment via Etsy.
Payment is required within 48 hours of making your purchase.
Customers in Iowa will be charged an additional 6% for sales tax.
International buyers will be responsible for any additional customs fees.
Returns & exchanges
I want you to be happy with your purchase. I will gladly accept returns for a full refund of the merchandise price within 14 days of your purchase, however you are responsible for the shipping costs to return the item.


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Everton will discover today the extent of the injury that ruined Dominic Calvert-Lewin's Premier League debut.
The 19-year-old striker was handed his first ever start for the Blues in Monday's visit of Southampton.
However, it was cut short after only 12 minutes when he forced off after damaging his ankle.
And the player is undergoing scans today that will determine the length of the teenager's anticipated time on the sidelines.
"I don't know exactly what happened," said Blues boss Ronald Koeman. "We're disappointed but he's young and he will come back."
Calvert-Lewin, signed from Sheffield United in August in a deal that could eventually be worth £1.5million, has forced his way into Koeman's first-team plans in recent weeks.
He made his debut from the bench in the win against Arsenal last month and also made substitute appearances against Liverpool and Hull City.
The forward was in line to have featured against Leicester City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, but is now unlikely to be available.


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I am a writer, editor and researcher. I have over ten years professional experience in the arts and resource development and I have worked on projects in Thailand, Singapore, Spain and Australia. I am passionate about the capacity of the arts to create deeper understanding between people across cultures, and this is an on-going theme that drives my professional and creative work.
I am a regular writer for Art Radar and Culture360 my work has appeared in publications including Coolabah, Writers Bloc, Tongues Multilingual Magazine and The Flying Inkpot Reviews. I am a creative writing editor at Right Now and a poetry reader for Overland. I have also co-written Freelancing in the Creative Industries (Oxford University Press, 2015), a resource that guides emerging creative freelancers through the practical and creative aspects of starting out in the ever-changing arts sector.
I have worked with organisations on their publications at various stages of the development; from concept development to commissioning and editing the content, as well as coordinating the design process. I have worked on a number of projects with organisations such as the Asia-Europe Foundation, International Organisation for Migration, Diaspora Action Australia, Experimenta, Multicultural Arts Victoria, RMIT Design Archives and Deakin University. I am available to work on projects ranging from managing and editing annual reports to working with organisations on research publications.
I am currently a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Arts and Design at the University of Canberra, Australia. My thesis examines creative writing as a tool for understanding the process of settling in to a new country. In 2014 I undertook a creative writing fellowship at the Wheeler Centre Melbourne and I have participated in the Emerging Writers Festival (2016, 2017), the Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival (2016) and Noted Writers Festival (2017). I have had my poetry published in Australian journals including Australian Poetry Journal, Westerly, Axon, Coolabah, Transnational Literature, Right Now, Voiceworks, fourW, Visible Ink, Verge and Offset.


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My friend Emily gave me the wonderful idea of keeping a vacation journal. I wish I had thought of that sooner as so many of our vacations now run together. I found a cute Willow Tree journal on my bookshelf that my sister had given me a few years ago, and it was just what I was looking for. I started it the evening we left, and each day I would update the journal on what we had done the previous day. It's nice to have that to refer back to now.
On Monday, we traveled into Ft. Worth where Brad's mom works and met some of her co-workers at J.P. Morgan. We then went and ate at our most favorite Mexican restaurant ever - El Rancho Grande! It is out of this world. That evening, we had an enjoyable time playing in the leaves in the backyard and taking the above photos. (Cari and Brad were busy elsewhere and didn't make it into these shots.)
The first few days, Brad had three different friends stop by at different times that he had not seen in around 20 years. We were able to have supper with one of them and his family on Monday night. The power of Facebook!


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Prime Minister of the U.K. David Cameron has called on defense officials to invest in special forces and other measures that would facilitate growth of counter-terror capacity, the British government reported Monday.
This statement follows Cameron's budget release, which commits two percent of GDP toward the Ministry of Defense. He also stated that, with the conclusion of the Strategic Defense and Security Review, officials will prioritize measures that protect the U.K. from threats of terror and extremism.
"As prime minister, I will always put the national security of our country first," Cameron said. "That's why it is right that we spend two percent of our GDP on defense because this investment helps to keep us safe. It has only been possible because of the difficult decisions we have made to ensure a strong and secure economy."
According to the report, the U.K. plays a significant role in the counter-measures against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), with over 1,000 missions having been carried out by Reaper drones and Tornado aircraft of the Royal Air Force. They also provide support for other members of the counter-ISIL coalition that consists of approximately 60 countries.
"Now we know how much we will spend, what matters next is how we spend it," Cameron said. "I have tasked the Defense and Security Chiefs to look specifically at how we do more to counter the threat posed by ISIL and Islamist extremism."


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I unfortunately missed out on the success that was Cohorted's first beauty box last month, so I was super excited to see what was to be included in this months! I had super high expectations for Cohorted's beauty boxes. They are an online retailer which feature discounts on big brand makeup, such as: MAC, Chanel, Urban Decay etc. From the beginning, I knew that they had the potential to have amazing boxes, but my question was; would they live up to my expectations?
This months box blew me out of the woods, as it featured Bareminerals, Too Faced, Urban Decay and Sleek. I was running around and squealing when I first unboxed it. Prior to committing to the Cohorted beauty boxes, I had a little sneak around to research what a typical box was like. In none of my research did I ever see such well branded makeup in a single box. I felt like I had hit the jackpot!
BareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment RRP £45.00
I find this a very...strange product. When I opened it I was fully expecting a cream, I mean it looks like it would hold a cream. As it's retail price is £45, on it's own it is worth twice the price of the box. The treatment is supposed to 'reduce the appearance of pores, increase luminosity and deliver faster cell turnover'. Your supposed to buff it into your skin after moisturising and such. The part I don't really understand is why there is different shades of it - it almost makes it seem like a powder foundation then?
Sleek Highlighting Palette in Precious Metals RRP £9,99
The packing for this was so unexpected, I thought that it would be in the regular matte, black Sleek packaging. This dark metallic case makes it look far more high end that the rest of the Sleek brand. There are four different highlight shades which is perfect for complimenting all skin tones. Three of them are very smooth, creamy formulas while the other is a powder. I am looking forward to doing a more in depth review in the future.
Too Faced Exotic Colour Intense Eye Shadow RRP £15.00
As bad as it sounds, I had no idea that Too Faced even had single eye-shadows - I only ever see their palettes, such as the coveted Chocolate Bar Palette. The packaging is so cute, with a small window so that you can quickly identify the shade. The colour Copper Peony has such pigmentation that the colour just pops! I could definitely see myself buying more of these.
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara RRP £8.00
This is a product that I have heard a lot of but never picked up for myself. I am quite glad that this is the sample product in the box as I'm a big fan of mini mascaras; they so quick and easy for travling. I was worried that this would have a thin comb, instead of a really thick spool. Thankfully the spool is really-thick and full, which I think are the best type of mascara wands.
I missed preordering the April box, but I will be ordering the May beauty box! Did everyone else find that it has, so far, lived up to the hype?
Louise x x


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The definition of shabby chic, according to Wikipedia, is as follows:
Shabby chic is a form of interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their appearance of age and signs of wear and tear or where new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique. At the same time, a soft, opulent, yet cottage-style decor, often with an affected feel is emphasised to differentiate it from genuine period decor.
I am going to show you how to create this emphasis with some great examples of diy shabby chic projects that either add distressing or piece together different elements to bring about a cottage style decor.
This first example is something that I did real quick and easy. I had an old industrial parts washer basket that was a silver metal that was partially rusted. I have had other baskets that were fully rusted with a great looking patina where all I needed to do was put a lacquer coating on them and call it good. However this one did not look good on it's own. So, I sprayed a light coat of white spray paint on it, letting some of the rusted spots show through. I then filled it with pip berries to add a little cottage chic and had some instant shabby chic!
A little bird set in front of a basket is always a nice touch! Here are some more examples. Click on the photos for the detailed tutorials.
I am in love with the idea of fishing creels and flowers! The bummer is that I sold a creel a while back that was about a hundred years old and super cool looking. Oh well, at least with an outdoorsman for a husband, we have others around!
Do you like the look of old shutters for shabby chic decor but can't find your own or have found some but they are too expensive or not the right size? Well now you can make your own with this easy to follow tutorial by Twelve O Eight. They are made to look just like vintage shutters and you can customize them just how you want.
Here is a wonderful diy project for turning a shabby vintage door into a chic shelf unit with a light.
Milk glass vases are a popular vintage item to use in shabby chic decor. You can create your own look a like using the tutorial provided by Beach House In The City. Click on the photo to see the details. I actually just purchases several vintage milk glass vases for my daughter's wedding. I'm thinking that if I want to add to the centerpiece arrangements, I can always try this!
These canisters were given an amazing shabby chic look. You have to see the before picture on these! Although they were old, they didn't have that awesome cottage decor look until after the transformation.
Happy Crafting!