Beer and Mayonnaise For Your HAIR Care

With the amount of money people spend on salon hair care products, it almost feels too good to be true to think that beer and mayonnaise – items you likely have in your refrigerator right now – can make a difference in the quality of your tresses. Both of these items have long been touted as not-so-secret beauty godsends, but many people refrain from actually trying out the approaches. The question remains: do beer or mayonnaise actually do any good when it comes to your hair?

Beer Rinses: Liquid Diet for Your Hair?
While the hair products you know and love give your hair the shine and manageability you need, but daily use adds layers of residue to your hair. In order to strip away the bad product and leave the good, healthy hair follicles, an acidic rinse is necessary at least once every other week – and your favorite beer could be just the acidic rinse you need to smooth out your hair cuticles and increase shine.

Don’t crack open a cold one and pour directly onto your head, though – be sure that the beer is flat. Open a beer, let it settle and then pour it onto your hair. Massage the beer into the hair and then rinse with cold water. Keep in mind that you are working with a very pungent liquid and factor the beer smell into your plans. This is not something you want to do immediately before an important meeting or event.

Mayonnaise: Not Just Your Favorite Sandwich Spread
The thick creaminess of mayonnaise serves as the crowning touch to many a perfect sandwich, but it can also serve quench the thirst of dry and brittle hair.

Mayonnaise is, however, a very tricky condiment with which to condition, which is why many people report horror stories after they attempt a mayonnaise deep condition. The trick to working with mayonnaise is to completely rinse out the product after you have used it – this is where those failed attempts go wrong. If you do rinse it all out, you will be left with silky hair; if you do not, your hair will look greasy and limp.

Apply a thin coat of mayonnaise to dry hair, being sure to work the condiment into your scalp. Leave the mayonnaise on your head for 20 minutes and then rinse with cold water. Shampoo your hair after you rinse – this will further help wash that product out of your hair and down the drain.

Know The Pros and Cons of Lace Front Wigs

Ladies as you all know lace front wigs are so popular nowadays due to its natural look.
Lace front wigs are one of the most versatile and natural looking wig styles available, making them popular with movie and rock stars worldwide. However, lace front wigs have both big benefits and big disadvantages, depending on your specific needs.

A lace front wig is exactly like it sounds. It is a wig with a delicate lace scalp at the front. The lace is threaded with real or synthetic strands of hair in a completely natural manner. Just like real hair, the wig starts with a thin layer or short, thin hairs at the front. The hair grows thicker in size and volume, as well as longer, the farther back it is placed on the scalp.

Pros
This gradual transition from sparsely spread thin hair to densely spread thick hair creates the most realistic looking wig as far as the front appearance goes. It mimics how hair grows naturally, making it almost undetectable and thus fantastic for movies, theatre, photography, concerts or any other up-close visual work.

The realistic lace front also allows the hair part on the wig to occur anywhere. The wigs can then be curled, braided or twisted into any hair style desired. This fantastic versatility allows a single wig to be used in a wide assortment of looks, making it somewhat budget friendly.

Cons
The delicate work on lace front wigs is their single, biggest disadvantage. Because the lace scalp is so very delicate, and the strands of hair so very delicate, it makes the wig extremely easy to damage. The average lifespan of a lace front wig is very short compared to its sturdier counterparts.

The fragile lace front wig will also need repair work if worn regularly. The constant styling and wear will cause the front sections to fray and break. Both the scalp section and the silky strands will need to be regularly maintained for the life of the lace front wig. Without regular maintenance, the wig will quickly become a rag.

Tool Time Tuesday...and Tears of Joy

Last Tuesday my sister called me at work to tell me about the flood in my sewing room. I can't believe it's been a week already. You all know I could have cried...well, I did and they were tears of JOY!!!
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I am overwhelmed by all the emails I received after I posted about it. The blogging world amazes me each and every day. Your words of encouragement, your sympathy and all the stories of your own floods really meant the world to me. I can't thank you enough. We have dried out and are waiting to move things some where upstairs...definitely not staying down there again. Setting up a whole new sewing room could be a lot of blog posts in my future. Our insurance will cover the 2 sewing machines, the computer and the rug (I am hoping at full replacement cost), I'll know more this week. I think everything else dried out pretty well. I lost some things, but am grateful...it could have been a lot worse. I'll keep you posted!
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Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
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Now onto Tool Time Tuesday...
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I have been using this idea for years and years. However, it deals with electricity, so I'll put a disclaimer in here...please be careful, check labels, use grounded extension cords (three prong) and when in doubt of your electrical system in your own home, ask an electrician. I know what you're thinking...what the heck is she doing on this TTT.
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Well, it's for your iron...whether you are quilting or doing your home ironing. I have had several irons over the years and the dial to switch it on and off usually is a pain to turn, especially if it's under the handle. I started using a power strip to simply flip a switch on and off. This makes it very easy and safe because most power strips have a red light on it to let you know when the iron is on. I use the power strip when I'm putting a quilt together so I don't waste energy leaving the iron on in between sewing blocks or rows. I just flip the switch when I need it and off it goes when I don't. I have my ironing board with a power strip set up all the time in my sewing room and one in my closet for ironing our clothing and I've never had a problem with it. Just follow this tips.
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A power strip is a bar that just gives you extra outlets. A surge bar is something that you use to protect a computer or tv. You can use your iron on both, but just make sure you check the label.

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See that tiny little line on the back of this label where it says electrical ratings...make sure your iron is ok to use on the power strip. This strip will hold 125 V and 1875 watts.
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Here's the iron in my closet. I didn't even think to check the iron in my sewing room...oh well I think it's soaked.
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This is the label on the back of my iron...120 V and 1200 watts, so that power strip is good.

Here is the power strip. It usually has a short cord and a three pronged plug.

If you need an extension cord to get to your outlet, make sure it is a heavy duty one with three prongs.

Here is a close up.

Plug the power strip into the extension cord and then the extension cord plug into the wall.

Now your iron can be plugged into the power strip.

and you are ready to go. It may seem silly and not everyone will use this idea, but if you're ironing board is always set up, give it a try and see how easy it is just to flip a little switch instead of those crazy little dials that don't turn very well. Maybe it's just me, but I hope I helped one person out there!! This picture is the iron in my closet. Thought I would take some more pictures to share a couple of closet ideas.

This picture is of one of the short walls in the closet. It has a stackable wire rack system that I use to sort our laundry. The long shoe bags are for just the shoes I wear often. The plastic boxes on top are all of my other shoes in categories.

Here is the wire laundry system. I tied on the name badge holders that I use for everything to divide whites, lights, darks and towels.

Here is a close up of the shoe boxes...high heels, black heels, summer flats, flip flops, brown casuals and black casuals. I printed those on big labels and they just stick to the box. Don't think I'm shoe rich or anything...a lot come from Payless, Target or from my sister...all cheap cheap, but cute, cute.

Another wall has a Closet Maid system. I bought the different parts at either Home Depot, Walmart or Job Lot. I asked for gift certificates for Christmas and my birthday to get that and soooo worth it. Although the rest of the Closet Maid sysytem isn't too bad in price, I did buy the 2 -eight cubby systems for $25.00 each at Job Lot!!

Here's my husband's shoe cubby system. He's a size 13 so only one shoe per box. I long time ago, I had this system in my sewing room and used these cubbies for fabric and fat quarters.

This last picture is of the other wall. We are blessed with a great closet and we don't have to change things out seasonally. We don't spend a lot of money on clothes... Lots of hand me downs from my sister, always sale item for me and my husband and gifts for birthdays or Christmas. One tip for a organized closet (or a crazy person like me) is matching coat hangers. Hubby and I have all black, Kelsie has white and Courtney has pink...ok I am nuts.

One more tip...when you clean your closet out, place the coat hangers in backwards at first. Over the course of the year, you will take out the coat hanger of the items that you use all the time, putting it back in the correct way. At the end of the year or longer, the items on the coat hangers that are still hanging backwards are things that you don't wear or haven't worn. Now they can easily be picked out to give to charity. I think the rule is, if you haven't worn it in over a year or more, it should be given away.
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Hope these were all helpful tips for your ironing and your closet organization.

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Have a great Tuesday,

~Karen~

Makeup Advice for Black African Ladies

If you want your makeup to look the most flattering, you should choose colors based on your skin tone. From lipstick to eye shadow, here are the best makeup shades for Black African ladies.

First you’ll need a foundation to match your skin. This will be different for every woman and you may need to experiment. In general, women with dark skin should look for a foundation with a blue undertone, those with medium-toned skin should go for a red-yellow hue and those with light-toned skin should pick a golden shade. If you feel you have uneven skin tone, you may want to have a few different shades on hand to create the most flawless finish.

For blush, avoid colors that look ashy or pale on your complexion. If your skin tone is medium to dark, look for a deep hue, like currant or plum, but, if your skin has lighter tones, try a pale color like apricot or rose.

Eye shadows are an easy place to experiment with color. Many hues will look pretty on African American skin of all tones, so you can select shadows and liners based on preference or trends if you like. Natural earth tones like browns, cinnamons and shimmering gold can be subtly pleasing. If you want to make brown eyes pop, go for blue eyeliner.

The lipstick makeup advice is that those with darker skin tones can pull off darker lip colors. Rich blackberry works for the darkest skin, currant or red matches medium tones and neutrals and glosses will look pretty on lighter skin. If you don’t want to draw attention to or have your lips be the focal point of your face, you can stick to subtle and universally flattering shades like caramel and soft brown.

Ladies Do NOT Leave Home without These Makeup Bag

There is nothing wrong to woman having lots of makeup products in every conceivable shade at home in your cosmetics drawer, but, when it comes to portability, it’s just not practical. So, just some makeup basics that you need in your purse or makeup bag?

Things You Must Have

A good sunscreen should be in your purse. No amount of cosmetics can take the place of protecting your skin from harmful UV rays from the sun. Buy a good moisturizer or foundation that has a sunscreen in it, and you have a double-duty product that will keep your skin soft, smooth and better protected from sun damage. Purchase a travel-sized product to save space.

You need a good foundation makeup. Whether it’s for touch-ups at the office or a fresh face for an evening out, a good foundation will even out your skin tone and minimize the appearance of any visible pores. Foundation really is indispensible for a polished look and works wonders to hide any flaws or imperfections that are no one’s business but your own.

If you have trouble spots like dark circles under your eyes or blotchy patches of skin, you will also want to have a concealer with you. Nothing makes you look more tired or ages you faster than those dark circles, so cover them up for the best effect.

A pressed powder compact is great for quick touch-ups when you don’t have time to repair your foundation. The compacts usually have a mirror, which comes in handy. To save space, try a liquid-to-powder foundation. It goes on as a liquid, and then it dries to a perfect matte finish.

Mascara is an essential in your makeup bag. Your eyes are a focal point, and you want them as bright and beautiful as possible. Choose a waterproof mascara, and you will be ready for anything.

Speaking of beautiful eyes, an eyebrow pencil that does double duty as eyeliner is another space-saving trick. A brown pencil works great for blondes and lighter brunettes, but true brunettes and dark brunettes may prefer basic black. Complete your eye makeup with a trio compact of eye shadows that has three shades of intensity for base color, highlights and impact color.

As for the lips, you should have a moisturizing lip balm. Your lipstick and lip liner will not adhere well to a rough, dry surface, so always start with a good moisturizing lip balm to keep your lips soft and smooth. When it comes to color for your lips, many women opt for just a lipstick. If you want to be prepared for an evening out, however, slip in a lip liner pencil that is just one shade darker than your lipstick and a clear gloss for added shine. For daytime looks, just the gloss may be all you need.

If you use makeup brushes for applying any of your cosmetics, make sure you have travel brushes for your purse. You can buy makeup brushes that retract into their handle and have a snap-on lid that keeps your brush and your bag free from powders and creams.

Now for Special Situations
It is always best to travel light, but you may want to take a look at the following items in case you need them. Tweezers are a good idea. Nothing can send your perfect makeup out the proverbial window faster than a stray eyebrow hair facing straight out. You can buy tweezers in a case to prevent the edges from snagging or poking anything else in your bag. Another little lifesaver is an emery board. If you’ve ever broken off a nail, you know that those jagged edges look terrible and catch on everything.

Don’t forget a hard plastic container of breath mints. You can look stunning, but it won’t matter a bit if that garlic and onion bagel you had for lunch hangs around. Don’t bother with a paper roll of mints. They aren’t likely to be useful for long.

Now you know stay enjoying your days or evenings

I Just Want To Cry...

but I won't, because my story is insignificant compared to what other people are dealing with in their lives right now. People are dealing with sickness, grief, loss of a loved one, worrying about money and their jobs. I know that my story pales in comparison, but I still want to share with you my life these last 2 days...I know all the bloggers out there who sew or quilt will understand.
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My sewing room is in our basement. I just recently re organized ALL of my things and I mean ALL of my things. Sewing, crafting, gift wrapping, books, magazines, everything. I even took a few pictures for a blog post. Above that section of our basement, on the first floor of our home is where my 85 year old father lives. He and my mom moved in with us 5 years ago, so I could take care of my mom who was at the end stage of Parkinson's disease. My dad has been by himself now for the past 2 years.
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One of the rooms in my dad's apartment that is over my sewing room is his laundry room (do you see where I'm heading with this story?) Yes, some of you may have guessed it. His washing machine mal-functioned...didn't click over to the next cycle and kept on filling up and up and up and up and over and out of the drum of the washing machine and onto the floor. Just visualize this for a moment...it was RAINING in my sewing room...all over my Bernina, my serger, my laptop, my 8 foot long shelf of hundreds and hundreds of quilt books and magazines. My husband had to cut the carpet into sections and carry it out in a wheel barrow, because it was so saturated with water. Remember my large wall with the peg board system...well each little cup with pins in it or baggie with patterns in it was filled with water. Thankfully all of my fabric was on the other side of the room and not caught in the "storm". Woo Hoo!!
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I am so thankful for my sister who just happened to stop by for a visit around 11:00 am. My husband and I don't get home from work until 5:30. If she didn't stop by that morning, I think you might have seen my Bernina floating down the street!! My sister, my brother-in-law and my husband (who came home from work for a little bit) worked so hard the whole day to get it all cleaned up before I came home from work, because they knew if I saw it the way they did, I would have cried.
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Like I said in the beginning...this story is a minor one in comparison to other things that we have dealt with in our lives over the years. It's something that happened to the "things" that we have. "Things", and they are just that. We hung all my magazines and books on ropes to dry out with the wood stove that has been burning down there. The floor is dry, the furniture is back in place...it's still a big mess, but we just take it one pile of stuff at a time.
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Remember, I am the one who always sees the glass as half "full" and there is always a silver lining. Well guess what? I had just taken Kelsie's Halloween costume upstairs the night before. Yahoooo!! I think if I had to make that dress over again, I would have to be severely medicated or just fly down to Disney World and buy her a real Belle dress. Another saving grace...all of the I Spy swap fabric is upstairs in our office, safe and sound. Thank God.
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I have pictures to share at some point, but they are still too disturbing for my to even look at...oh my gosh, the disorganization is killing me.
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Sorry, I haven't replied to any comments these past 2 days, but I know you understand. I'll be back soon and ready to blog again in no time.

Take care,
~Karen~

Hairspray – magician for great hairstyles

We all know that the best hairstyle is the one that holds on for hours and hours…So, this is why we wrote a little about hairspray, our biggest help.

Before making any choice it is essential to understand every type of hairspray, how it works, and pick up the one that fits you best, in strong connection to your desired hairstyle. The ideal product that fits every type of hair or hairstyle…well…it doesn’t exist!



Basic characteristics:
The most important thing you have to know about hairspray is its fixation power:

Flexible: it is a product that offers hair a gentle fixation, and offers it the possibility to move without ruining the hair do.

Strong: these are the products you need to use if you want a good hair discipline J. And the best part is that most of them don’t offer that “dirty hair” look.

Extra-strong: this kind of hairspray is recommended in tough weather conditions, and offers your hairstyle…the same look all day long.

Tips for your desired hairdo:

Strong fixation: do that desired hairstyle and then pulverize hairspray all over, but start from small hair sections, so you can cover up your whole hairstyle. Give it some time to rest and dry before trying to do any changes.

Casual Styling: you can apply normal hairspray even on wet hair, brush it and arrange it anyway you want, so, when your hair will dry, will have the exact shape you wanted!

Volume hairdo: Leave your head down and apply hairspray all over your hair, but mostly on the roots. Stay like that for couple of seconds so you won’t get the sticky hair look!

Who Wore It Best? - Paris or Rihanna

They both look nice but who wore it best.......... Your comment please

Tool Time Tuesday...Zipper Bow

How many of you have a box or a bag of zippers some where in your sewing/craft room? You know those zippers from your mom, grandma or Great Aunt Mable ( I can say that, because I did have a Great Aunt Mable). Well, I have that box too. Don't get me wrong...I love zippers, but you can't sew a zipper in a quilt, so I won't be using a zipper any time soon. Plus, after this weekend's fiasco of sewing Kelsie's Halloween costume...I'm officially DONE with zippers...except for the way I used the zipper below. Now I love zippers again.
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I think I mentioned before that Kelsie is going as Belle from Beauty and The Beast to her Senior Halloween party. She wants a short party dress rather than the full length ball gown. For some reason making this dress was like a Halloween nightmare in itself. It's not like I haven't sewn clothes before. I did it all the time...just not lately. It's like riding a bike right? WRONG!
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Here's a list:

• yellow satin frays like there is no tomorrow (right through a stitched seam) It disappeared right before my eyes into a pile of threads
• try not to sew the front skirt into the zipper in the back it will leave a mark!
• careful when you are snipping threads...try not to snip a triangular hole in the front of the skirt.
• trying to hem a satin skirt that is fraying is like trying to hem the hair on your head
• and sewing over a metal zipper will break your needle

Thankfully, I have Kelsie's comforting words of wisdom..."Mom, it's only a costume it doesn't have to be perfect". I love her!!

If I'm brave enough next week, I'll take a picture of her in full costume...maybe.

Now onto a very fast Tool Time Tuesday:

Take a zipper...

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open it...
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and make a bow for that special someone who likes to sew.
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This was a little fat quarter gifty. I didn't have a ribbon to match the fabric, so this zipper was just perfect.

It's like a 2 for 1. It's a bow and then she can use the zipper after. Plus you're going green, so that's a 3 for 1.

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Hope you like this one...I'm going to "zip" off to bed now.

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Have a great Tuesday,

~Karen~

I Have a Few Questions For Ya...

Hi Everyone,
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This is Hallie, our tortoiseshell cat. These pictures of her have no purpose in this post, just wanted to show you what we have to deal with. This is how she sleeps in our bedroom or how she hangs out on the back of our office chair. She is like no other cat we've had before. She. Is. Nuts...I won't even get into the stories with you, just thought I would share the pictures.
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Now onto a few blogging questions that I have.
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• What is the "Friends" button under the "Followers" icon. I thought I was friends with all of you? Should I be doing something with that button every time I become a follower on some one's blog? I have 7 "Friends" right now...Hi girls!! Thanks for being my friend!

• Next, where do you store all you blog photos, once you download them off your camera? I store them on my computer in the "My Pictures" section. It is ridiculously full right now. Which leads me into my next question...

• Do you delete a picture from where ever you store it, once you have put it on your blog or do you keep it..."just in case". You know those "just in case" things, like that tiny scrap of Moda fabric that you're saving "just in case" you get inspired to do applique some day and need that little piece of red fabric for a berry on a Christmas wreath or that empty hot chocolate container that you saved "just in case" you feel the need to peel off the label, soak it in hot water for hours and have a cute stainless steel container to store more junk in. Ok, I got way off base from the question. Go back and read it again.

• Why can't I "copy and paste" something from some where else. For example, I had permission from some one's blog (that I was sharing with all of you), to use her description of her blog. I went to her blog, high lighted the long description, right clicked on it and clicked "copy". Now, when I go back to my blog post and right click where I want to "paste" it, it won't let me. Why? Is it a copy right issue...because I had permission from her, not that the computer knows that or anything.

• and my last one for now, because I know there will be more at some point...Has anyone used the "monetize" button on your blog? It's up there on the top of your dashboard. If you click on it, it will explain Adsense. It's a way for advertisers to post on your blog and you get money from them. My questions are...how much money do you really get? do other bloggers really click on those advertisements? Do you like just a simple, personal blog with no advertising at all? I've had a few different companies email me about advertising on my blog, because of the number of followers...I'm not so sure. What do you think? I think it's one more thing for me to think about and that I don't need!!

Ok, that it's for now. If I get any comments from this post, I can't guarantee I can get back to you soon. Monday is my late night to work and then I work early Tuesday morning. Don't think I am ignoring you, but it might not be until Wednesday when I can get back to you.

Thanks in advance for all your help,

~Karen~

Two Yummy Recipes...Apple Pie and Potato Bake

The first recipe is my family's absolute favorite. They would eat homemade apple pie everyday if they could. During this season, I do make it a lot, that's why I use the boxed crust. Don't boo me for this...I've tried homemade. The box is just so much quicker.
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Here's my apple pie recipe for you to try...
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APPLE PIE

• 3 pounds apples (I love Macoun, Gala or Braeburn) peeled and sliced
• 1 cup white, granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 teaspoon water
• 2 pie crusts (try the box!!)
• a little extra white sugar to sprinkle on top crust

Bake at 425 for the first 15 minutes, then drop the temperature down to 350 for 35-45 minutes (maybe longer). I always go by the texture of the apples inside, not the color of the crust. My family like the apples really cooked. I usually stick a knife into the vent hole on the top crust. If the apple doesn't feel tender, I cook it longer. If the crust is browning too much, I cover it with foil until the apples are done.

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In a small bowl, mix the 1 cup sugar with the 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 2 tablespoons flour.
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Layer the sugar mixture with the sliced apples.
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Stir to coat all apples.

Place bottom crust in pie plate and fill with sugared apples. Dot with the teaspoon of butter. Why the butter...I don't know. My mom always did, it's butter so you can't go wrong and she is looking down on us from above, so you'd better just do it!!
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Cover apples with top crust and seal the 2 crust together by pinching the edges. In a small bowl, mix egg yolk with 2 teaspoons of water.
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Whisk egg mixture to make an egg wash for the top crust.
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Use a pastry brush or just use your fingers to coat the entire top crust with the wash. Just a light coat...sprinkle with white sugar all over the top. This gives you a golden, sweet, crunchy top.
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Don't forget to use a knife to cut vent holes to let out the steam. I've always used the letter "H" for every pie I've ever made. It's my husband nickname.
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and here you have it...a delicious apple pie just waiting for a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

spacespaceThe next recipe is called Potato Bake and is another family favorite. I do make it for our regular dinners, but when we have my side and my husband's side of the family over, I double this recipe...and every bit of it goes.
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Potato Bake

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• One 2 lb. bag frozen Ore-Ida hash browns (the cubed kind) thawed
• 12 oz sour cream (about 3/4 of a 16 oz. container)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese ( 8 oz bag is 2 cups)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup (DO NOT DILUTE)
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1/2 cup chopped onion, optional (great with or without)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• dash of black pepper

Topping mixture:

• Plain corn flakes, crushed (sprinkle as much as you'd like to cover the top)
• 1/2 stick melted butter

Directions:

Mix all of the ingredients except the topping mixture. Spoon into greased casserole dish. Top with crushed corn flakes and drizzle with the 1/2 stick melted butter. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until golden in color and bubbly.

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one whole stick of melted butter in the main mixture and 1/2 stick is melted and drizzled on top.

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This is just the melted butter...took the picture, not sure why?!?

Mix all of the main ingredients in a large bowl to incorporate it well.

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Spoon into greased casserole.

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Top with the crushed corn flakes and melted butter. Bake and enjoy.

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I am so mad I didn't get a picture of it when it came out of the oven and before it went to the table. You really wouldn't want to see it when it came back from the table...it was an empty mess. Proof positive it was delicious!!
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Hope you can try these 2 family favorites if not now, maybe over the upcoming holidays.

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Happy cooking,

~Karen~

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ps...I did very well on my "To Do" list today...you would be very proud of me.

Oops...Forgot One

Sorry, I didn't download this picture from my camera. I think I'll blame it on the scanner/camera wizard from the last post.
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This great set of I spy fabric is from Di from NY...thanks Di...too cute


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Stay tuned for 2 great recipes...
~Karen~

I Spy Fabric and Great Blogs to Share...

Hi everyone...it's Sunday morning here in the northeast. It's cold, raining cats and dogs and the wind is whipping. We went to church last night, so we are in for the day...woo hoo! I am determined to catch up, catch up, catch up. I know you all know that feeling, but I am going to do it today. I'll do a post tonight to let you know how far I've gotten...just putting pressure on myself from the whole world...that ought to get things done.
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Here's the first thing on my list, sharing the 3 packages of fabric I received this week from our I spy swappers. For some reason on Saturday when I put the memory card in the scanner of the computer, the picture/scanner wizard thingy didn't pop up and let me down load the pictures. It did it earlier this week, not sure why it didn't do it Saturday and it gave me a little trouble this morning. Must not be much of a wizard then!
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Well, here are the cutest fabrics...I say it every time, but they get better and better, with no duplicates. Don't forget to check below these pictures for links to 2 wonderful blogs I have to share.
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This set is all the way from Holland from Kim
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These are from Elizabeth in Mississippi.
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and these are from Pokey in California.
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Thanks ladies for another unbelievable batch of fabrics.
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Remember the post I did that linked all the swapper's blogs. Well, Lynda from Maine just started one right after that list, so I wanted to share her blog with all of you.

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The name of Lynda's blog is From My Farmhouse Window. You must go see her beautiful pictures of the fall foliage and of course her beautiful quilts! Go take a peek.

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Another swapper Lexi from Tea and Crumpets wanted me to share a blog called Craft Hope.

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From the about page of Craft Hope it explains "Craft Hope is a faith-based, love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those less fortunate. It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world."

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There are different project happening all the time. The most recent one is "Margaret's Hope Chest". Please go read about it on the Craft Hope's blog, but Margaret's Hope Chest will provide a quilt to homeless children in the Grand Rapids, Michigan Public School System during the Christmas season. The deadline is November 15th, but you may already have a quilt made from your stash that you could send.

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Thanks for stopping by and now I'm off to start checking things off my "To Do" list.. one of which is a recipe I have to share with you later.

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See you soon,

~Karen~