Monster Icicles...and The Swap Meets is Extended

I'm not complaining, we do live in New England, but we've had one snow storm after another and there is more this week. The snow we have piled up will be here in July! The other night my husband and I happened to look out the windows of my sewing room to find these.




You can't tell by this picture, but the top of the icicle is about 5 inches in diameter.



and look how long it is!!! 48 inches and growing. My husband broke them all off the gutter before the whole thing collapsed.

Hope you're staying warm where you are in the world...snow or not!

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I've extended the Swap Meet Weekend until this Friday, so you can add your item that you want to trade all week. This is the first weekend for this, so we'll see how things go!

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Take care,

~Karen~

Swap Meet Weekend...January 29th-30th

Welcome to the first edition of Sew Many Ways...Swap Meet Weekend (S.M.W) What is a swap meet you ask? Well, I know we all love to go to thrift stores, yard sales and consignment shops, so why not have a blogging swap meet. Nothing better than thrifting in your pajamas!!! Not only will we find fun things to share, but just think of the wonderful people we'll meet!

Below is a Linking Party to add your picture of the item that you'd like to swap with someone else. Everyone will browse through all the items and click on the picture to link to the details. ALL items in this swap are FREE...NO MONEY will be exchanged. The only cost to each swapper is the cost of postage to mail your item (package) to your swap partner. Both swap partners will contact each other through the comments section or emails for the specifics of the swap. Both parties must agree on the items they will be swapping and the shipping costs. Sew Many Ways is just the middle man to bring the swap partners together.

Examples of swap items...

• fabric
• craft/scrap booking supplies
• gently used or new clothing items
• baby things
• new, handmade craft items...jewelry, purses, scarves, quilts etc
• pottery/china
• purses/handbags
• cookbooks
• collectibles
• teapots
• cookie jars
• home decor
• etc...

Here are the steps and instructions for the Swap Meet Link Party...

• you must have a picture of the item you'd like to swap on your blog or Flicker account or any other photo sharing website before you click the link button below
• you must have a description of the item
• location of item...state or country for shipping purposes
• don't forget to include a link back to Sew Many Ways Swap Meet Weekend, so every one can join in on the fun (you can grab the picture above if you'd like for your post or side bar)

The steps for filling in the Linking Party are easy!!!

• click the "Add Your Link" button below... 3 boxes will pop up
• First box...add your blog POST URL address (not your whole blog) or Flicker page URL...this is the address in the box at the top of the page...usually starts with http. Just copy and paste into the box
• next is the "Name" box...this will be the name of your ITEM (ex...1 yard of Moda fabric)
• next is your email address, which is not published at all. It's only if I need to contact you.
• last step is to click "Next Step" to choose a picture of your item for the party thumbnail picture. This may take a few seconds, so just click one time and wait for images to appear from the URL address that you entered in the first box. Just click on the picture that you want displayed in the party.

That's all...your picture and the link back to your post will be there for all to see and browse through. The Link Party will only be open until Friday February 4th to add your item, but the swapping can gone on forever!

Thanks for joining in on the fun,

~Karen~

Swap Meet Weekend...It's A Go For Saturday and Sunday

Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments on the Swap Meet idea...I think we are going to have so much fun this weekend! I will open up the Linking Party for Saturday and Sunday so you can add your picture of your item...then we'll have the weekend and all week long to browse through all the goodies and meet up with other swappers to make the swap.

I'll have all the details and instructions on the actual post tomorrow (Saturday, Jan 29th), but wanted to let you know now so you can add your picture of the item that you want to swap to your blog early. You can add the picture to your blog post any time over the weekend too, but just post it before you link up to the party.

Your blog post should include:

• picture of the item
• description of the item
• maybe a quick note of what you might be looking for in the swap...you could be looking to swap anything or you just might be looking for fabric or Pretzel M&M's (wink wink to The Chocolate Cat in Australia!)
• state or country the item is located, just so people can get a rough estimate of shipping
• link back to Sew Many Ways so people know where to find the party this weekend.
• You can steal this picture below and add it to your post or your side bar if you'd like.

There were a few comments about whether you needed a blog or not. A blog is the easiest way to show off your item, but Kelsey from Faith, Family and Cute Kittens had a great idea to use Flicker to show off your item...I think there is a comment section on Flicker too, so people can get in touch with each other.

This is definitely a learn as I go event, so we'll see how it all works out. See you on Saturday and Sunday!
~Karen~

I Have An Idea For A Swap Meet...What Do You Think?

Some call them swap meets, yard sales, tag sales, thrifting, flea markets etc...whatever the name, I know we all love them. Why do we love them? The Hunt! The hunt for that perfect item to add to our decor, to add one more item to a collection, to find that perfect sweater that you would never find in a store, to find that beautiful vintage necklace, to find fabric that they don't sell in your area. What ever we are looking for, it's usually "The Deal" that makes "The Hunt" all the better. So I was thing...what better deal is there than "FREE"!

Why not broaden our area for swap meets by having one here at Sew Many Ways! This is what I was thinking...

• every weekend I will open up a Linking Party for any and all who have something that they no longer want or need, but will Swap with someone else.
• you can also swap new items that you may have in an Etsy store or that you have online
• swapping is like the bartering system
• NO MONEY will be exchanged at all for the items...hence the word Swap
• the 2 people in the Swap agreement will only have to pay the shipping to the other person.
• you must meet up with your other swapper on your own, through your blog or emails
• agreements must be made that the items being swapped are similar and/or of equal value to each person
• it doesn't have to be the same item. Someone could have a beautiful handmade purse that she is willing to swap for that Pottery Barn pillow that you have that doesn't match anything in your house...you both just have to agree.
• Sew Many Ways is just the middle man by hosting the linking party to get every one together.

This is how it will work...(I hope!! LOL)

• The Swap Meet will be held here every weekend. It will be like going to yard sales in your pajamas with a warm cup of coffee by your computer!
• the week leading up to it, you will have posted the item on your blog that you want to swap. Have a picture or pictures and a detailed description of the item...new, old, handmade etc.
• when the swap party opens up here, you will follow the linky steps to post a thumbnail picture of your item and the link back to your blog for the item's description.
• all during the week people will contact each other working out a deal for the swap...such as location of the items, shipping, etc. For example, you may not want to swap with someone in Australia from the US if you're not will to pay the shipping. But what fun it would be to swap fabric with someone from around the world!
• plans will be made to ship the items in a timely manner
• and the swap will be made!!

Suggestions for items to swap...

• fabric
• handmade jewelry
• handmade items...aprons, baby items, quilts, purses, scarves
• pottery items
• scrap booking items
• clothing items
• baby clothes
• china...do you collect tea cups? How about one from another country?
• cookbooks
• magazines...2 people could agree to swap a magazine each month. Great to read a different magazine without the cost of a subscription and Media Mail (books, magazines etc) through the Us postal service is super cheap
• Books...I know we all have books that we've already read and are just collecting dust. A book swap is perfect.
• sewing or quilting patterns. We all have a pattern that we've already used, but who wouldn't love another one.
• toys
• craft supplies...rubber stamps, candy making supplies, etc
• how about all those shaped cake pans that you've made for you children's birthday
• the list is endless...

Just wanted to put this out there now to see what kind of response it would have.

Let me know what you think and I can start one this weekend and see what happens. Couldn't hurt right?

Thanks in advance for your input,

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Magnetic Frame- Picture Perfect Organization

Happy Tuesday! Today's Tool Time is a combination of a post I did last year and some new ideas too. This Picture Perfect Organization frame below is in my sewing room, but the ideas or the concept can be used in any room. I will mention a few other uses for this idea at the end of the post.




These little boxes were on the back of one of my craft tables. I love them and used them to store all those little craft items you just can't live without!



They stored all kinds of things, but the only problem was I had to open up each drawer to see what was inside. Yes, I could have labeled each drawer (I do love my labels), but this is a very small unit and there would be too many labels showing on the front...too busy.

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Here is a picture of the original post for the Magnetic Frame I made last year. Click HERE to go to that post if you'd like to make one. Yours can be any size you'd like. I just happen to find this frame in a consignment shop for $10.00. This picture was when I first moved into that sewing room...way more crap in there now!! LOL

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I also did a post in the past using those little plastic cups that you get duck sauce in at Chinese restaurants or the little ketchup cups from fast food restaurants. I would wash out the cups and recycle them for storing tiny craft/sewing items. Click HERE for that post.

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Well, I broke down and went to a party supply store and bought a boat load of them...yes, you are reading that label correctly...250 cups. What on God's green earth am I going to do with 250 plastic cups? Absolutely everything!!

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My only question for the Solo cup company. Why do you sell a package of 250 cups and then only sell a package of 100 lids. I can't even buy 2 package of lids, because that's still only 200. Now I have to buy 3 packages of lids and then I'll have 50 lids left over. Why Why Why??? I'd gladly pay more money for the larger package of lids.

The cups I purchased are the 3 1/4 ounce size. They do sell the tiny size up to a larger 4 1/2 ounce. The price break down for each cups is this:

• $10.72 for 250 cups = 4 cents per cup
• $4.72 for 100 lids = almost 5 cents per lid

That's 9 cents so far...

Now the fun part. Gather up all your stuff. Don't deny it...you have stuff!

You may think you don't have stuff, but once you start pulling out drawers, storage bags, bins and boxes...boy oh boy do you have stuff!



Now you will need magnets. Not sure how much they are in the craft store, but these are at Home Depot for only $2.49 for 8 magnets. I used the 3/4" round thicker ones for more strength.

• $2.49 for 8 magnets = 31 cents

Total for each plain lidded cup is 9 cents or 40 cents for each magnetic cup!

I used low temp hot glue to attached each magnet to the bottom of all the cups.

Fill the cups with your goodies...

pop on the lid...

turn it over ...

dab of hot glue and ...

just place your magnet.

Do that 40 more times!

If any of your cups have heavy items, I used two magnets on the bottom.

Now just stick them to your Metal Picture!! I arranged my by hardware, craft, sewing and office supplies.

I bought that Minnie Mouse teapot a few years ago in Disney World and this last trip in December, I bought that mug. It's the bottom half of Minnie Mouse...too cute!

Now you don't have to use the magnets at all. You can just put the lids on all your cups and they stack up perfectly on themselves for easy storage.

I mentioned in one of the other posts all the ideas you can use for these cups...but I'll list them here too and more.

• crafts
• sewing
• office
• hardware
• jewelry (lay out all the cups in a drawer and have all your earring, rings and necklaces separated)
• spices
• scrap booking
• organize daily medication
• sewing kit for your purse
• mini first aid kit
• pre measured snacks
• coin/money holder for your children's lunch money or allowance. You can stick them on the refrigerator next to their chore chart
• party favor containers...fill with candy, M&M's, Skittles etc...
• holiday treat...fill with Valentine candy and decorate with hearts for school party treats
• fill with chocolate and number them for Christmas advent calendars...one for each day

The list could go on and on...Have fun filling yours up. You can find these in party or restaurant supply stores. Be careful when you search for them online. If it's a higher price like $48.00 you are buying 10 packages of 250, so that's 2500 cups. Now that's a lot of cups!! I have a lot of crap, but I don't think I have that much to fill 2500 cups!
Have a wonderful Tuesday,
~Karen~

Give Away Winner...

I want to thank every one who left a comment on my give away post. All your kind words and thoughtfulness mean the world to me. You are the reason why I blog!

I couldn't use the random number generator this time, because there were some comments of congratulations, but they didn't want to be included in the drawing. So I did it the old fashion way...cut the comments up, dig deep and pick one!! and the winner is....

Tangos Treasures

Congratulations!!

Just need your snail mail address and I'll send your package right out to you!!

Thank you again for stopping by,

~Karen~

Blog Buddy...How To Comment On A Post

I haven't had a post in the Blog Buddy feature in a while. Blog Buddy is a feature that helps with different aspects of blogging. Just click on the button over on the right for more posts and helpful tips. Although I have other ideas for more Blog Buddy posts, I have recently had many emails asking how to post a comment...especially on my give away post

Posting a comment on any blog is easy. Different blogs might have their comment section in different places, but the process is still the same. Some blogs have the comment section in a Pop Up window when you click the Comment word, or some have it embedded below the actual post when you click the word Comment and some show up next to the post on the right side.

Either way it's set up, the steps to comment are relatively the same...

Below each post is the word "Comment". Sometimes people have a little phrase before the word Comment too. There is also a number, which represents the number of comments that are there already. No matter how it's written, that's where you click to get to the comment box. Click the picture below to enlarge the circled area. To leave a comment on my actual give away post, you'll have to go to that post...not this one.




Once you click the Comment word, it will bring you to the Comment Box...circled below.



Write what ever you'd like...a long or short message. We love to get comments and love to hear from you, so have at it!!

In some comment sections there is a sign in area. Mine has a blue arrow for a drop down menu. Just pick how you want to sign in. I have a google account through blogger and Gmail, so I would sign in under that. You can sign in under Name/URL, which means your name and a web address. There is also a anonymous section too, but when signing in under anonymous, remember we don't have any way of contacting you to reply back. In the case of a give way, if you sign in under anonymous, make sure you leave your name and email address in the comment box so we can get back to you if you are the winner

Once you have signed in and have written your comment, you must hit the "Post Comment" button or the submit button. (notice I'm experimenting with the editing circling features. This red is the spray can look for the paint LOL)

Now that you have hit the Post Comment button, DO NOT think your comment is automatically there. I always check to see if my comment ended up under all the others. Sometimes there is Comment Moderation on a blog and they will tell you this on that page. That just means the blogger will read your comment first then put in on the post. Another reason why your post may not be there yet is because a blogger has Word Verification on. See the next picture for details.

You have hit the submit comment button and you think your comment was sent, but scroll down to the bottom again...you might find this little box and a jumbled up word that means absolutely nothing. This process of word verification is just making sure you are a human being leaving this message. Sometimes computers will spam a blog with junk mail through the computer. Only a human leaving a comment can send the word verification. This just keeps Junk Mail out of the comment section. Duplicate the word in the box and hit Publish Your Comment.

I know there are so many people out there who love to read blogs, but a lot of you are afraid to leave comments. Now that you know how easy it is...just give it a try. I have made so many wonderful friends (that I have never met) through a simple comment that I have left or a reply that I have sent back.

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Comments are what make the Blogging World go round. If no one left comments...how sad would that be :( Very Sad :( For those of you who don't know what that symbol means...tip your head to the left. It's a very sad face :(

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I'm picturing every one reading this last part with their heads tipped to the left. I'm laughing out loud at the thought of that.

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Happy Commenting,

~Karen~

Sharing a Blog and A Give Away...

Good morning every one. Thought I would share a great blog called Sunshine Quilting (click the red link to bring you there). Martina is celebrating her One Year Anniversary for blogging and is having a wonderful give away to celebrate. I would love it if you could pop over for a visit and say hi. Her give away is so cute, but also look around her whole blog. Wonder quilt inspirations!!

Well, I'm off to work...have a great day,
~Karen~

Join Me For Zlaty's Baby Shower...

Many of you who have read and enjoyed Zlaty's blog know that she is expecting a baby girl this month. I've only known Zlaty through blogging, but I'm so excited for her. I did a post a few months ago to invite any one who would like to make or buy her a little baby gift.

As you can see by the PINK button below, she is having a baby girl. For some color hints , she loves the color green and she is using light purple in the baby's room. For more color help, pop over to her blog (click here)and you will see some beautiful baby blocks that a group of friends are making for a baby quilt for her.

The tradition in Zlaty's family is to have a baby shower after the baby is born. I was thinking, if any one would like to send her a little gift, which will probably be in February...let me know and I will arrange an address for you to send it to her.

Leave a comment on this post if you are interested and when I have arranged the address with Zlaty I will email it to you. That way you can send her the gift directly. If there isn't an email address attached to your blog or if you don't have a blog, please make sure I have a way to contact you.

Thanks so much and I hope you can join us in celebrating this wonderful time for Zlaty and her family,

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Door Design Wall

Happy Tuesday one and all. Whether you play with fabric when designing a quilt or sewing a craft project or your children/grandchildren play with shapes and letters...today's Tool Time will help with all your projects and it's hidden away behind your door! The door is the best place for this...it's out of sight when you aren't using it, great for a room that's short on wall space and really I think everyone has a door!

I think we all have wreath hangers around, especially right after Christmas. I bought these 2 in the clearance section for only 68 cents a piece.




They're adjustable too.



You don't need the adjustable kind...any 2 wreath hangers will do.

I wish these weren't clear for the photo...

but you can still see that I've placed one on each side over the top of the door.

Now you can place an old curtain rod, pvc pipe, yard stick etc through a hem of a piece of flannel from the fabric store, a flannel sheet or a flannel backed table cloth that you have cut to fit your door. I have a previous post on how to make one, so click here to bring you to that post.

The hooks on the wreath holder keep the rod from falling off even when the door is opened and closed.

Here is your quick and easy design wall/play wall!

The flannel will hold most all fabric on there to design your new project.

It's also great to audition fabrics to see which ones go together. This is especially helpful when you place them on the design wall and step away to get a better look. Sometimes fabrics look great up close when you're picking them out, but not so great when you stand back and take a second look.

If you are a mom or grandma and have little ones around when you are sewing, crafting or cooking, this is also a great place for kids to play. Take pieces of flannel or felt and cut them into shapes and letters and let them play on their own design wall while you get a little play time in your self! The kids can play with so many different shapes made with fabric...

• letters
• numbers
• geometric shapes
• states or countries
• animals
• flowers
• food
• cars and trucks
• holiday shapes

This design or play wall is great in any room. It's easy to take down, roll up and put away or just leave it hanging up behind the door permanently.

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Happy designing or playing...hmmm I think that's the same thing isn't it!

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~Karen~

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Don't forget to take a peek at my give away I'm having for my 2 year blogiversary!! See yesterday's post to leave a comment.