Tool Time Tuesday...Carabiner Carrier

Happy Tuesday!! You know my "tools" can come from any where...this one is from the sporting goods section. It's a carabiner. What's a carabiner you ask? From the online Merriam-Webster dictionary...

Definition of CARABINER

: an oblong metal ring with one spring-hinged side that is used especially in mountain climbing as a connector and to hold a freely running rope

Origin of CARABINER

German Karabiner, short for Karabinerhaken, literally, carabineer's hook

Here's today's Tool Time...This is a jumbo carabiner and specifically says on the package...NOT for climbing.

Mountain Climbing?...Me?...never. Shopping?...Me?...Yes.

Here's a picture of the back of the package. Great for camping and hiking to hook supplies to a back pack.

Here's the DO NOT CLIMB warning!! Don't worry about me. LOL

I do love carabiners though. I have a little one for my keys. Easy open to add or take off keys. Look how big the Tool Time carabiner is compared to my key chain. There is also a tiny one on there too. That little capsule carries 2 Tylenol.

The big one was only $2.38 in Walmart camping section, but check any sporting goods store.

Why I love the big one is the large padded handle.

Easy open spring...

Here is my Tool Time suggestion...SHOPPING!!

Bringing in groceries or any bags for that matter is a pain in my house. Long trip up the front walk way from the car or through the garage and up a big flight of stairs to the kitchen.

You know the feeling when you're try to make it all in one trip. It's a game I have in my head. Carrying 15 bags in each hand, the bags digging a permanent scare in the palms of your hands and your biceps burning because I'm too lazy to make 2 trips! Lol Thankfully, my husband is always there to help bring in all the heavy stuff.

Here's how it looks for me now. One carabiner in each hand with all the bags hooked on. No more plastic bag marks digging in my fingers...

I was thinking more about this. It would be great for any shopping. When you're out in a mall or outlet shopping, you have to carry bags for a long time. The large paper bags from the stores have those white twisted handles...they dig in your hands too.

Keep 2 of these in your purse and you can use them when...

• mall shopping
• bringing in the bags
• quilt show shopping...you can be walking around those shows for hours carrying bags
• quilt or craft retreats...carrying in your supplies from your car to the event
• on vacation when you are carrying in bags from the car to the hotel
• great for kids to help carry something. If they put the bags down, they won't lose track of all the bags
• great for carrying bags on a train, subway or other transit...keeps them all together

I'm sure there are more ideas for this...if you have any, share them in the comments.

Have a great day,

~Karen~

PicMonkey...My New Photo Editing Site

Pictures are important to everyone...not just blogging pictures, but the pictures we take of our family and friends. Photos are a permanent record of our lives, so making them extra special is a must.

In the past, to add that special touch to photos, I have always used the free photo editing service of Picnik. Unfortunately, Picnik is closing down in April. The site is still great and open for use by anyone...free of charge...even the premium services are free.

However, I've found an awesome new site that was started by 2 former Picnik engineers...

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 57

Happy Sunday. I think this blog should be called "Sew Many Ways to Link"...just kidding, but close though. Let's see what crafty, yummy, fun things you've been up to this week!!

If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long here at Sew Many Ways).

If you want to add the button to your blog's side bar or your list of parties that you're in each week...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking

• you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
• you can share what you've been up to (linking)

If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger who was willing to share her thoughts and ideas.


HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

• link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post. Copy and paste the address that's at the top of your computer into the linky steps.
• link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
• anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
• visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
• just click the blue "click here to enter" button below and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week
~Karen~

Blog Sale Week 3...

Thank you again for stopping by last week's blog sale!!

Our daughters were home for spring break and we have family staying with us too this weekend, so I only have one item for sale today.

EMAIL ME if you are interested. The comments section will be turned off for the sale to make it fair for all.

This is also a Linky Blog Sale, so if you'd like to sell a few of your items too, link below at the end of the post, where it says..."click here to enter"

email me at
sewmanyways@gmail.com

Guidelines...

• first come first serve through email only
• I will turn OFF the comment section for the Blog Sale. I have many people who do not have a blog and end up commenting as anonymous which doesn't show their email address. I also have people who subscribe to this blog through email. Saying you want an item through "Email Only" makes it fair for all. Helps me with communication too. Guarantees me your email address not the dreaded No Reply
• I will ship world wide
• buyer pays shipping. I will only charge what it costs to ship to you according to your zip code
• email communication will decide HOW you want it shipped (regular, priority etc)
• I ship Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
• item will be shipped from Rhode Island
• payments made through Paypal. I will send you Paypal Invoice after sale.
• Just starting out with this Blog Sale idea, Paypal is the easiest for me and for you too. If you do not have a Paypal account, it's fabulous...safe, secure, easy and free if your are buying something. You can attach a credit card, bank account or debit card to your Paypal account. If you're still worried, open a separate bank account just for "fun" money...like shopping online. That way you won't worry about your regular bank account being involved. Paypal only charges ME a small fee for receiving the payment. They don't charge you anything for shopping. Look into it...it's worth it. CLICK HERE to a link to Paypal. I have no affiliation with them.

Just one item today...

Thimbleberries Autumn Wall Hanging...Quilt top only. You will need to add your own batting, backing and quilting.

$40.00 plus $5.35 flat rate Priority shipping

Wall hanging made by me with all 100% prewashed cotton fabric from many Thimbleberries lines. I made this quilt top about 5-6  years ago. All blocks (leaf, pumpkins, letters and scarecrows are pieced...not paper pieced.

The quilt is 51 inches x 29 inches. The layout design is made up by me of different blocks I've found over the years in assorted books and magazines.

Add your sale items too in the linky part below...

Thanks again for stopping by...
~Karen~

sewmanyways@gmail.com

Find A Friend Friday...FAFF

Hi everyone...last week I did a post about Daryl's blog. CLICK HERE if you'd like to read that post. In short, it was about a wonderful blog (could be any blog) that needed to be shared.

Some blogs are hard to find...there are millions out there. There are blogs that fit our personality, our creative side, who and what we are. I am quoting a blogging friend Kirsty, from the blog You had me at bon jour, who said it best in the comments from Daryl's post...

"I think a big part of blogging is finding 'your' people. They are out there, it just takes time to find and accumulate them! Commenting on the blogs you love is a great way to find folks as similarly interested people will follow your comments back to your blog. If they are 'your' people then it will just take one look and they'll be hooked!"

I just love what Kirsty said...so true. There is a blog that fits you...you just need to "find" it. So on Fridays, I am starting a linking party (I know, not another linking party...LOL. I just think there are the best to share and participate in the blogging world)

Welcome to "Find a Friend Friday...FaFF

This is an easy one to participate...you are just linking to your own blog. No projects to sew, furniture to paint or cookies to bake and take a picture off. You are just sharing your blog and then friends will stop by for a looksy.

• click on "click here to enter"
• copy and paste or just type in your blog address
• enter title of link...your blog name or phrase to grab attention
• add a photo of you, your profile picture or your blog button or whatever you think will grab some one's attention...(I'm thinking a picture of a big piece of strawberry cheese cake, but that just me LOL)

That's it...super easy. Just think of the possibilities of finding some wonderful blogs.

Thanks for participating,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Most of the time I buy clothing detergent when it's on sale or if I have a coupon. However, there are some that I like because of the fresh smell.

Here's my thought this Thursday...why don't detergent companies make the dryer sheet to match the smell of the detergent?

That way, the smell I love in the soap will stay after I've dried them.

Don't you agree?

Just thinking,
~Karen~