tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23269328625647445502024-02-18T22:07:44.166-06:00Unique by KarleeUBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-55563548772877279792010-12-30T15:20:00.002-06:002010-12-30T17:29:53.739-06:00Card Trick is not impossible(This post is dedicated to my friend, Franni, who gets high blood pressure and wants to cry at the mere mention of the Card Trick quilt block)<br /><br />The Card Trick block is something that has mystified me for eons. It isn't that I don't understand how to put one together and have it look the way it is supposed to, it's that I can't understand how I seem to be one of four people on the planet who have figured it out.<br /><br />Franni tells me the instructions she has seen in the past were confusing and she did not understand them. Well Franni, those who can not explain it simply, do not understand it well enough. Here is my attempt to show everyone how to make the Card Trick without needing massive doses of anti-anxiety meds when they are finished.<br /><br />You will need:<br /><br />Scissors<br />Seam ripper (just in case)<br />Rotary cutter (if you do not have one, do NOT attempt the Card Trick block. Your purchase will be well worth it, so I highly suggest investing. I can't live without mine.)<br />Cutting mat<br />Omnigrid ruler 9.5 x 9.5 (I also recommend the 6.5 x 6.5 as well as the 5 x 24)<br />Sewing machine<br />Steam iron and appropriate amounts of water to make the steam (You do not want to know how many times I thought my iron was broken because it was not steaming, and my silly butt had not filled it with water.)<br />Ironing board<br />Beverage of choice (I prefer a little coffee with my cream and sugar)<br />Catchy tunes<br /><br />If you do not know what an Omnigrid ruler is, or why you so desperately need one, the short version is it is a clear ruler with bright yellow markings, a 45 degree line, and if you plan on putting any serious effort into quilting, it will be your best friend. You can see through it, so it makes it easy to line up edges for cutting and trimming. With the Card Trick block, you will find the 45 degree line the best invention since dirt. I promise to explain as we go through this.<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=j9wu8m" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/j9wu8m.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br />(My Omnigrid and rotary cutter)<br /><br />A note about rotary cutters: <span style="font-style:italic;">USE A SHARP, UN-NICKED BLADE!</span> A nick in the blade will annoy you to no end, and you will press harder when you cut to force it to cut despite the nick. This will make your cutting mat cry. A dull blade is much, much, much more dangerous than a sharp blade. The expense of a new blade is far less than a trip to the emergency room for stitches. Keep the blade retracted when you aren't actively cutting.<br /><br />On with the show.<br /><br />First, you need to decide how big your block is going to be. I picked 12 x 12 because I'm making a king size quilt and did not want to have a million teeny blocks to sew. If you are doing a baby quilt, you may want a six inch block, or an eight inch block. Your quilt, your rules. Remember that.<br /><br />Okay, you have your size, but your color options are limitless. You can have each "card" a different color or shade, like I did. You can have two colors and alternate them, or three colors. Three colors looks neat, especially if you are mixing the card trick with an alternate block such as the four patch. You could make the opposite cards the same color as one of the colors on the four patch, and the other two cards different from each other. Don't forget a consistent "background" color! You need something to go around the cards. I like to use solids for background colors so you are drawn to the cards, but your mileage may vary. <br /><br />Cut your squares. By now you have decided how big you want your block. Mine is 12.5 x 12.5. It will be 12 x 12 when it's in the quilt, but standing alone, it is bigger. Seam allowances. At the end of this post I will give you a cutting guide for the block, for blocks from six inches (finished) to 12 inches (finished). We will skip that fancy stuff for now, because you are reading this and not trying to cut or sew, right now. You can print this for your own reference, or email me (karlee at uniquebykarlee dot com) and I can send you a .pdf with pictures. Free. I can not help you with the total yardage you will need for your quilt. I can give you tips on how to figure it up, but doing it for you? I'm sorry, I only have two brain cells and figuring your yardage might just implode both of them. Not fun.<br /><br />Once you have cut and piled your different colors, you'll have a mess like this:<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2ic5oye" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2ic5oye.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Woah, Karlee! Back up!! How do I cut good triangles? This thing is LOADED with triangles!!!<br /> -weeps-</span><br /><br />Oh. Right. Sorry.<br /><br />You have your square. Cut your square on the diagonal. Sounds easy, but remember the 45 degree angle on your Omnigrid? Let it help you.<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=34jf0as" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/34jf0as.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=j7ssbq" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/j7ssbq.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br />(Do you see the 45 degree line going from the middle top to lower left? Line that up with the edge of your fabric after you turned it on point. Line up the edge of the ruler with the top and bottom points for additional help, cut.)<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2mrehww" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2mrehww.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br />(Repeat with the half triangle, when necessary)<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2hg6ydc" target="_blank"><img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/2hg6ydc.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br />Off to the ironing board we go.<br /><br />A few words about ironing: Iron before you cut. Iron between sewing bits together. Iron your seams to the dark side, not toward the light, not open, iron to the dark side. Why the dark side? They have cookies. No, just kidding. If you iron to the light side, it will show through, especially if you are using white like I am. Iron to the dark and you can't see it. The only time you are ironing too much is when you scorch your fabric; then you've gone too far. If it isn't scorched, you haven't ironed too much.<br /><br />I've seen people get so lost when putting a block together, it only makes sense to lay it out and sew in small bits. Lay it out, in a grid. You have nine mini-blocks in this one block, so lay out the mini-blocks in a grid with a little bit of a gap between them. Like this:<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=1yalx4" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/1yalx4.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br />(<span style="font-style:italic;">"But Karlee, it looks bad! Some of the bits are bigger than others and, and, and, and....."</span> Yes. I know. It -needs- to be like this. Do NOT trim down what you think is too much. I will show you why, shortly.)<br /><br />Look at your grid, carefully. You now see the mini-blocks, right? Start sewing them, one by one, and putting them back in their place on your grid. Keep your ironing board near your sewing machine unless you feel the extra exercise is necessary, then put it on the other side of the house. <br /><br />You may sew them in whatever order you please, but I start in the upper right corner and work right to left, top to bottom. The first block I sewed was the upper right, and after I sewed, I ironed. I ironed the seam to the dark side. <br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=5vn9ys" target="_blank"><img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/5vn9ys.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br />The three piece mini-blocks really aren't that hard. Sew the two little pieces first, then open them and sew to the big one. Iron the seams, to the dark side. If you sew carefully, you can coax the seam of the two little pieces to the dark side as it is going through the machine. This will encourage that seam to lay toward the dark as you iron it.<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=207njhx" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/207njhx.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br />The center mini-block gives the most problems for most people. It has points. People like points to match up. People cry, cuss, and scream when the points do not match up. Here is how to make it EASY. I promise. Follow the pictures.<br /><br />First, fold half the block in on itself, like this:<br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2wgxh4w" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/2wgxh4w.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br />(I pushed the top ones back a bit so you can see it better. Match up your edges when you sew.)<br /><br />Sew the two inside seams to make two big triangles, but DO NOT SEW THE TWO BIG ONES. Go iron. But. I want you to iron it a special way, to make lining up the points EASY.<br /><br /><img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/bezza8.jpg" border="0" ><br />Look carefully. First, I laid the blocks back in the grid the way they were supposed to be, and then flipped them upside down laterally. I then ironed one seam to the left, and one to the right.<br /><br />Ironing them in two different directions does a couple different things.<br />1. It makes butting up the points EASY.<br />2. It cuts down on the bulk at the exact center of the block. <br />3. By cutting down the bulk, it will lay flat. The flatter it lays, the prettier it is.<br /><br /><img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/i27p1f.jpg" border="0" ><br />Here is a picture of the seams butting up so the points will be perfect. With one seam going one way, and the other going...well, the other...you can -feel- when they match up exactly.<br /><br />Sew down the long side, and iron the seam whichever way you please. It does not matter on this one, unless you are using a light color on one of the blocks. In that case...<span style="font-style:italic;">iron to the dark.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=106x3ip" target="_blank"><img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/106x3ip.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=vxj0o0" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/vxj0o0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br />(Perfection! Without tears!!)<br /><br />Fast forward, all nine of your mini-blocks are sewed, and you need another cup of coffee. I know you are eager to now sew the little teeny blocks into your massive masterpiece, but DON'T!!!! STOP!!!!<br /><br />No really. Don't. There is work to be done.<br /><br />Years ago, I was in a quilt guild, and one of the ladies was 97 years old, and just a gem of a quilter. She had learned to quilt from her childhood best friend's mother. An Amish woman. Well, Flossie gave me a tidbit of information that I have carried with me since I met her, and it was the best, most important, most *valuable* thing, ever.<br /><br />Square it.<br /><br />Take your nine little mini-blocks back to your cutting mat and square them up before you do anything else.<br /><br />First of all, you have little tag things hanging off each corner of the mini-block. This adds unnecessary bulk to your finished block. It also looks sloppy.<br /><br />Squaring up isn't as hard as it sounds, and that 1/16th of an inch, or even the dust you shave off, can make all the difference in the world. I promise.<br /><br />Take one of the two-piece mini-blocks, first. Line up the 45 degree line on your Omnigrid with the seam. <br /><br /><a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2lcwxld" target="_blank"><img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/2lcwxld.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a><br /><br />Line up the edges where they need to be. For this block, take the finished size and divide by three, then add a half inch. For me that is 4.5 inches. My mini block, when trimmed, should be exactly 4.5 inches by 4.5 inches. See the bits hanging off? Trim them. If you have to take a little bit off of all four sides, THAT IS OKAY. I'm giving you permission to cut off of all four sides to square your block. (Some people need this permission. You now have it.)<br /><br /><img src='http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/2659/mvc727s.jpg' border='0'/><br />I took a close up for your benefit, and because this part is very important.<br /><br />Where you have two fabrics coming together at the seam, make sure they join at the exact corner. If they are not going to join up at the exact corner, slide your Omnigrid around until they DO. This applies for all three types of mini-blocks.<br /><br /><img src='http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/4980/mvc729s.jpg' border='0'/><br />(For reference...this is what I took off two sides of that mini. This much coming off CAN make a difference if you DON'T remove it. I promise.)<br /><br /><img src='http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5319/mvc730s.jpg' border='0'/><br /><br />Three piece mini. It *looks* wonky on that white side, doesn't it? It is. I'll fix it by squaring it up. Remember: Keep the seam in the exact corner, even if you have to slide the Omnigrid around. This one had bits taken off all four sides to get it to perfection.<br /><br /><img src='http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/8599/mvc734s.jpg' border='0'/><br /><br /><img src='http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7429/mvc735sr.jpg' border='0'/><br /><br />You get the idea. It is also okay to do this to the four piece block in the center. Cut, turn, cut, turn, as many times as you need to get it square and get the seams exactly in the corners.<br /><br />Iron those mini-blocks again. They may have gotten rumpled when you were cutting.<br /><br />Lay them back in the grid again.<br /><br /><img src='http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2633/mvc741s.jpg' border='0'/><br /><br />Do you see the difference after you squared them up? No? Have a look at the "before".<br /><br /><img src='http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/143/mvc724s.jpg' border='0'/><br /><br />WOW. What a difference, huh?<br /><br />NOW you can sew the mini-blocks into strips. I work top to bottom.<br /><br />A few things before you get started. Because I have a white background, I ironed away from it. This means SOME of the corners are not going to have one seam going one way and the other seam going the other. That's OKAY. Don't go trying to fix it...just work with it.<br /><br /><img src='http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1228/mvc742s.jpg' border='0'/><br /><br />Sew your first three mini-blocks together and STOP. You need to iron, AGAIN, BUT.<br /><br />Butbutbut. This next part is going to HELP you match up the rest of those points.<br /><br />DO NOT go ironing willy-nilly. <br />DO NOT iron those two seams in the SAME direction.<br /><br />No, no, no. Iron them in the opposite direction. On the top strip, I iron them both to the center block. On the middle strip, I iron them away from the center block. On the bottom strip, I iron them to the center. They are consistent, I can feel where they need to meet, and all is right and happy in the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">But Karlee!!!! If I iron the top to the left, and the middle to the right, and the bottom to the left...</span><br /><br />Uh huh. That works too, but it actually looks neater on the back doing it opposites instead of sames.<br /><br /><img src='http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/5205/mvc743s.jpg' border='0'/><br /><br />Get the three strips finished, then sew them together, using the same method of butting up the seams as before. You will find that since you squared everything up before you started this, all your seams match without bunching and your corners match properly. <br /><br /><img src='http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/976/mvc744s.jpg' border='0'/><br /><br />In, out, in, then when you are done putting the strips together, iron the two last seams to the middle.<br /><br />Now, flip it over. Look at your Card Trick.<br /><br /><img src='http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/3046/mvc745s.jpg' border='0'/><br /><br />Perfection!!!<br /><br /><img src='http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5580/mvc746s.jpg' border='0'/><br />Perfect point...<br /><br /><img src='http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/1830/mvc747s.jpg' border='0'/><br />Perfect point...<br /><br /><img src='http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/7126/mvc748s.jpg' border='0'/><br />Perfect point. This last one is on the edge, and not in the middle. Once it has been sewn into the quilt, it should meet up with the edge of the next block or the border.<br /><br />Congratulations! You've made a Card Trick block while managing to keep your sanity.<br /><br />Now for the sizes of the squares you will need for various size blocks.<br /><br />First, there are two different triangles. Triangle A and Triangle B. Refer to the picture to see where what goes.<br /><br /><img src='http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7058/54480098.jpg' border='0'/><br /><br />"A" Is a half square<br />"B" Is a quarter square<br /><br />Cut as many of these pieces as you need from your various fabrics.<br /><br />For a six inch block: For "A" you need to cut a square 2 7/8 x 2 7/8. For "B" you need 3 1/4 x 3 1/4.<br /><br />For a seven inch block: For "A" you need a 3 1/8 x 3 1/8. For "B" you need 3 1/2 x 3 1/2.<br /><br />For an eight inch block: For "A" you need a 3 1/2 x 3 1/2. For "B" you need 3 7/8 x 3 7/8.<br /><br />For a nine inch block: For "A" you need 3 7/8 x 3 7/8. For "B" you need 4 1/4 x 4 1/4.<br /><br />For a 10 inch block: For "A" you need 4 1/8 x 4 1/8. For "B" you need 4 1/2 x 4 1/2.<br /><br />For an 11 inch block: For "A" you need 4 1/2 x 4 1/2. For "B" you need 4 7/8 x 4 7/8.<br /><br />For a 12 inch block: For "A" you need 4 7/8 x 4 7/8. For "B" you need 5 1/4 x 5 1/4.<br /><br />Happy sewing! Remember, if you need me, I'm only an email away.UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02472193774285082265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-50465731803568568762010-06-26T07:09:00.002-05:002010-06-26T07:45:41.967-05:00Coffee CooziesI get a lot of questions about the coffee coozie, and I decided to answer the most common ones here.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. What is it?</span><br />It is a handy little doo-dad that wraps around your favorite coffee mug. How many times have you reached in your microwave for a hot, steaming cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and burned your fingers? I did it one too many times, and thus the Coffee Coozie was born.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. How does it work? Won't I get a mouthful of fabric instead of a mouthful of my beverage?</span><br />Not if you put it on your cup, properly.<br /><br />If you lay your Coffee Coozie flat on the table or counter, you will notice the tabs are slightly closer to one side than the other. This is the "top" of your Coffee Coozie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_1636639742_thumb_large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 205px;" src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_1636639742_thumb_large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />If you look carefully under the handle, you will see how the tabs are slightly closer to the top than the bottom. <br /><br />You want to fasten the tabs under the handle for maximum effect for both coverage for your hands as well as showing off your own personal style.<br /><br />The tabs are thin enough that it should not hinder your ability to use the handle of your mug if you prefer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. I like to hold a hot cup of coffee in the winter to warm my hands, will the Coffee Coozie stop all the heat?</span><br />No. The Coffee Coozie still allows heat to get through, it just prevents you from burning your hands.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Won't it slip off?</span><br />Not if you have it pulled taut around your cup. If it is loose, it may slip, but the way it is designed it can be pulled tightly around your cup so it will not slip off. I use industrial hook and loop tape for maximum grip, as well as put two small ribbons of grippy stuff on the back so it won't slide off when you are holding it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. I've seen similar things elsewhere...talk to me about them.</span><br />They are poor imitations. <span style="font-style: italic;">They are also stealing my copyrighted pattern and changing it just enough so they think they are getting around the copyright infringement laws.</span> If I thought they were a threat, I would pursue legal action, however, I can't be bothered. It won't take people long to find the superior product.<br /><br />Those knockoffs do not have the rounded corners that mine have, and from the pictures I've seen, are more of a hassle than a help. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. So what do I do when I get my Coffee Coozie dirty? </span><br />I'm a messy coffee drinker too, especially at 5 in the morning, blurry eyed, and doing good to make sure I add the grounds to the hot water to get my coffee. Spills happen.<br /><br />Put your Coffee Coozie in your washer. Wash it like you would anything else, but <span style="font-weight: bold;">do not add bleach.</span> They are *not* to be bleached. Ever. You've been warned, don't try to sue me for it. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Do not bleach.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span>After your Coffee Coozie has made a trip through your washer, toss it in the dryer. No need to air dry flat unless you want to. (This is why it is a good idea to buy more than one!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Okay, I want some now. Where can I get them?</span><br />You can purchase them from <a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/UniquebyKarlee">http://www.artfire.com/users/UniquebyKarlee</a>. I am currently building stock for an upcoming craft fair and do not have many listed on my ArtFire site. I do, however, have plenty to go around. If you do not see what you are looking for, contact me there, leave a comment here, or email me at karlee (at) uniquebykarlee (dot) com with your request. <br /><br />I am more than happy to show you my collection of fabrics as well as make you a single coozie (no minimum purchase required) to get your collection started.<br /><br />They make great gifts for the coffee, tea, and hot chocolate drinkers in your life, and at $5, won't break the bank. Remember: if you buy four, you get one free! <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span>UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-79895580751415381682010-02-24T08:19:00.002-06:002010-02-24T08:23:15.708-06:00Custom ordersA month or so ago, I was approached by a friend of mine at church. She wanted a couple aprons, custom made.<br /><br />She is on the short side, and most aprons are too long for her, and hang too far down her chest. I took measurements, she brought me the fabric, and we now have two custom aprons. With the left over fabric we are going to make placemats, pictures of those soon to follow.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq294/UniquebyKarlee/Fabrics/MVC-664S.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq294/UniquebyKarlee/Fabrics/MVC-665S.jpg" />UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-51821514504163807692009-09-08T08:23:00.002-05:002009-09-08T08:39:20.385-05:00Ongoing bead sale!Good morning followers! <br /><br />I've been having a bead sale, and it will continue until my stock is completely sold out. I am continuing to add new beads to my studio, including some bead sets.<br /><br />All beads are made from polymer clay which has been oven baked. Most have been sanded and finished with Future floor wax. There are a few exceptions which have been left "raw" for the sake of asthetics. Sanding is a catch 22 at times, you never know what you are going to wind up with after you sand. Sometimes I will get a bead that is so striking without being sanded that I leave it the way it is.<br /><br />Here are a few of the remaining beads. They are all buy one get one at equal or lesser value free, and in some cases, it can be quite a steal!<br /><br />11 piece bead set - $7.00 + shipping:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=265955" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28150--8341_product_247206957_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Red hat colors, 3 bead set - $2.00 + shipping:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=265962" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28150--8341_product_1503476717_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Large Lavendar and Blue Pearl heart - $3.00 + shipping:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404197" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28150--8341_product_1103097026_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Small red and pink marbled bead - $1.00 + shipping:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=265924" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28150--8341_product_1516989522_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Green polymer clay bead set - $1.00 + shipping:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=218488" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28150--8341_product_1524641864_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Layered butterfly pendant - $4.00 + shipping:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404174" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28150--8341_product_803127038_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Large lavendar and blue pearl marble pendant - $3.00 + shipping:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404217" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28150--8341_product_1087669861_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />I will get the rest of the beads listed in my ArtFire studio today, and get another blog post up for you to see.<br /><br />Happy shopping!<br />KarleeUBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02472193774285082265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-77187486001851317652009-09-07T11:35:00.002-05:002009-09-07T11:59:58.181-05:00New listings!I know I have been queen of the procrastinators lately, but life has been really busy.<br /><br />I took pictures and listed 7 new items today! 3 new magnets, 3 new beads, and an altoid tin.<br /><br />You may click the picture to see the listing and purchase. Remember, you do not need an account with ArtFire to purchase.<br /><br />Huge polymer clay magnet:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404154" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28146--8341_product_1176278449_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Bottle cap magnet:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404182" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28146--8341_product_2053916180_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Butterfly and hearts magnet:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404132" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28146--8341_product_972855793_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Marbled heart pendant:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404217" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28146--8341_product_1087669861_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Mirror image heart pendant:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404197"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28146--8341_product_1103097026_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Butterfly Pendant:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404174" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28146--8341_product_803127038_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Rose theme altoid tin:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404106" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--28146--8341_product_932817025_thumb_large.jpg"></a>UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02472193774285082265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-87212223763403831952009-09-05T09:52:00.004-05:002009-09-05T10:01:59.828-05:00Facebook Contest!I want to get as many fans as I can, and get the word out about my Coffee Coozies!<br /><br />Use the link to your right to see my facebook page! ----------------><br /><br />Grand Prize: Two coozies of your choice! If I don't have one you like already made, please visit my <a href="http://www.uniquebykarlee.com/fabric.htm">fabric pages</a> to pick yours!<br /><br />How it works:<br /><br />Refer people on your facebook friends list.<br />Either have them post on my wall "_____ referred me!"<br />or<br />You post who you referred and who fanned me.<br /><br />Person with the highest number of referrals by 1 October, gets two coozies of their choice.<br /><br />If they (and/or you) have your own fan page, PLEASE link it so I can fan you back.<br /><br />If you become a fan without a referral, it still counts, and just post that you were referred by my blog.<br /><br />Winner (or winners in the event of a tie) will be notified through facebook. I will need a mailiing address so I can mail your coozies. I will ship internationally and to P.O. boxes. <br /><br />Happy spamming!<br />KarleeUBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-55915524914377770622009-09-05T09:18:00.004-05:002009-09-05T10:02:38.661-05:00Project WonderfulMy PW boxes are up and running on the <a href="http://www.uniquebykarlee.com" target="_blank">website</a>. I'm seeng a little bit of interest, but would like to see more.<br /><br />There are three types of boxes. Two of them are 125x125 box ads, and the other is a small banner. The ad boxes appear on the most popular pages of the Unique by Karlee site, and two of the ad boxes appear on more than one page to maximize your exposure. <br /><br />Ad space starts at $0.01/day/USD, and if I manually approve you once, you are automatically approved any time you wish to advertise. <br /><br />Preference is given to other handmade artisans who sell on ArtFire, Etsy, 1000Markets, etc. I do NOT accept get-rich-quick games (I denied and blocked one of those already), weight loss pills (I've tried a number of them myself, and they don't work), teeth whitening, home refinancing, etc.<br /><br />My goal is to help further the handmade movement. I am not so desperate for pennies that I accept any ad that comes along, and will be clicking links to see the website that wants to advertise.<br /><br />I accept animated ads, text ads, and static image ads. If you are interested in advertising with PW and are not graphically inclined, I can design you a static ad for $1, or an animated ad for $2, or reccomend quite a few fabulous digital artists on ArtFire. Sign up with PW is free, advertising isn't.<br /><br />If you have questions, comments, or want to join the UBK mailing list, please use the form to your right.<br /><br />Have a fabulous day!!<br />KarleeUBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-46072776752575503742009-08-18T13:11:00.003-05:002009-08-18T13:56:55.474-05:00Accidental Stash EnhancementNo no, not a stash of weed, stash of fabric.<br /><br />I've discovered that as loving and wonderful the crafty types are, we tend to be rather scatterbrained at times.<br /><br />I am not immune to this.<br /><br />Last night I was inspired (and slightly sickened) by the new show on A&E channel..."Hoarders". Hoarding is a mental disorder in which people do not throw away, use, or otherwise get rid of seemingly meaningless things. Some hoards are or include: newspapers, cats, dogs, magazines, craft supplies, clothes, toys, and/or mimentos of loved ones. (The star of last night's show had a problem hoarding food as well as a lot of other stuff. They REALLY focused on the food though.)<br /><br />I used to be a lot worse at hoarding craft supplies, but two moves ago I downsized a lot of it. I did hang onto the majority of my unused fabric. It was carefully packed away in clear totes and stuffed in the basement.<br /><br />There it sat, unused and unloved, for more than 3 years. I was going through a depression when we moved, and had no desire, inclination, or space to really get with the program.<br /><br />By the time I started to come out of my depression, my treasured fabrics had been mostly forgotten, and instead of going through my fabric totes, I went and bought more. <br /><br />We moved again a few months ago, and I once again found the totes with my precious fabrics, but didn't have the time to go through them.<br /><br />Lately I've been buying FQ's (fat quarters. They are slightly smaller than quarter yard of fabric, typically 17 inches by 22 inches) to use for my coffee coozies, as well as other bits of fabric that are large enough for me to squeak out one or two coozies. Some of my coozie fabric is left over from other projects, which is why you often find different products that "match" in my ArtFire shop.<br /><br />Anyway, I've got quite a collection. Most of it is scanned into my computer and on my website. After another mad dash through the stash (poetry in action!) of uncut/unused fabric and newest additions, I had 16 fabrics to cut and scan.<br /><br />Then I had a light bulb moment.<br /><br />Remember the aforementioned totes? I did. I also remembered that one of them had 6 or so FQ's in it, visible from the outside (this was a clear tote). I did what any other broke crafter would do, I went to get them so it was 6 less that I had to buy.<br /><br />I pulled them out and looked at them carefully. I was quite happy I'd found them, and remembered why I had bought them but decided they needed to be used for coozies instead of a gay pride quilt for a friend that I haven't talked to in years.<br /><br />I saw the corner of some pretty purple flowered fabric, and pulled on it.<br /><br />Not only did it fall out, but so did a lot of other stuff, so I started digging.<br /><br />I discovered the light blue dragonfly 1/2 yard I got for a quilt. I looked a little closer and found some fabric that was blue flames on a black background...2.5 yards...then the "vegetable birdhouse" fabric that would be GREAT for placemats (their original intent anyway) and about 9 yards of light yellow fabric to use as backing.<br /><br />More digging, and out pops this <span style="font-style: italic;">bag</span>.<br /><br />It was tinted green and had the "write on" area. <span style="font-style: italic;"> "Hmm. Must be an old freezer bag,"</span> I thought, and peeked inside.<br /><br />Oh good heavens. My <span style="font-style: italic;">"LOST"</span> FQ collection. As in: the FQ's that I'd been saving and hanging onto. My <span style="font-style: italic;">expensive</span> FQ's. My hoard.<br /><br />The ones I had bought years upon years ago, at LEAST 4 moves ago - or more. Some of them I KNOW are at least 10 years old. Some were gifts in a FQ exchange for a quilting group. Some were purchased by yours truly...at the quilt shop, where a yard of fabric started out at $9 minimum...10 years ago. As I was rootling through them I kept having to remind myself <span style="font-style: italic;">"I bought these to USE them, not just sit here and LOOK at them!"</span> because I so desperately did not want to cut them. I remembered the TV show last night, and decided they will be cut and turned into coozies. I will keep one coozie from each fabric though, my single coozie I've kept for myself isn't enough for this house.<br /><br />Including the ones I knew about, this brought the "toted FQ" total to 25. Twenty Five. That equals...a lot of yardage.<br /><br />I also found a couple yards of velvet, 4 yards of navy blue lace, and another green-tinted gallon size freezer bag full of "charms". If you quilt, you know what charms are. If not, I'll make another blog post about them.<br /><br />Another prize was the $150 worth of fabric I bought to make a memory quilt with the money my grandfather left me after he died. I'll finish that quilt eventually, but not today.<br /><br />I was packing that tote up (minus the fabric I held out for coozies), when I spied yet another tote on the garage floor. It was not see-through like the first one, but it <span style="font-style: italic;">was </span>labeled.<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> (Thanks mom...thank you for making me anal-retentive about labeling things) </span> "BIG PIECES" says the sign.<br /><br />I pop open the tote. Inside, I found...BIG PIECES. I remembered where I got them. One of the quilters (remember the quilting group?) was downsizing. She sent me a gargantuan box of fabric. I paid $10 shipping on it (roughly 7 years ago). At least three pieces of fabric inside were ENTIRE BOLTS. Some fabric was truly awful, some was gorgeous, and some was "eh". ALL of it was name brand, high end, obscenely expensive fabric.<br /><br />Oh. And 3 yards each of two easter egg print fleece.<br /><br />I went for a dig-through of that stuff also. <br /><br />I yanked out a gorgeous burgundy Northcott (2 yards), a really neat floral on tan (5 yards), 3 yards of the white novelty healthcare fabric, and this really unusual bolt. It isn't patterened evenly all over, but rather from side to side. Its this stunning eggplant at one end that fades to almost a brick red on the other, with neat...hell I can't describe it. I'll get a picture. There is absolutely NO information on the selvedge (like there is with the Northcott). Its stunning, to say the least....and there is a LOT of it.<br /><br />Ok so wow. I'm buried in fabric, and I have to find a way to hide it from my husband.<br /><br />If he sees it, I will be banned from JoAnn's until I use up at least half.UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02472193774285082265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-11932273851016235912009-08-14T16:18:00.003-05:002009-08-14T16:24:51.030-05:00New magnets, new listings!I've been a little busy lately, playing with my clay. My sewing has suffered, but I will fix that tonight.<br /><br />I listed 4 magnets today, with many more unique polymer clay creations to come in the next few days.<br /><br />Please click the photo to go to the listing.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=365486"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--24713--8341_product_240630538_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=365502"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--24713--8341_product_46760261_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=365515"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--24713--8341_product_247411072_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=365522"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--24713--8341_product_167483888_thumb_large.jpg"></a>UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-61289043030918737622009-08-07T11:07:00.003-05:002009-08-07T11:18:50.264-05:00Facebook fan page has arrived!I took the plunge and made a Facebook fan page. You can visit and become a fan <a href="http://www.facebook.com/business/dashboard/?ref=sb#/pages/Salina-KS/Unique-by-Karlee/115420094586">here.</a><br /><br />Don't forget to follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/UniquebyKarlee">Twitter!</a><br /><br />I have some exciting new things to post (and list on <a href="http://uniquebykarlee.artfire.com/">ArtFire</a>) in the next few days.<br /><br />Keep in mind:<br /><ul><li>I accept reasonable trades.</li><li>I do custom work (it's honestly my favorite!)</li><li>ALL of my polymer clay beads are buy one get one at equal or lesser value free (I won't be doing beads in the future, check back in a few days to see what my newest projects are!)</li><li>I am donating proceeds from 4 of my favorite <a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&sc_id=42824&seller_id=15721&op=new">Coffee Coozies</a> to a dear friend in need of surgery to save his life and provide assistance for his needed (but not covered by insurance or medicaid) medications. 100% of the net proceeds (minus shipping) go to Larry of <a href="http://chelsealynndesigns.artfire.com/">ChelseaLynn Designs.</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&sc_id=30904&seller_id=15721&op=new">The rest of my Coffee Coozies</a> are buy 4 get one free! If you don't see your favorite color in the current list, just ask! I would be happy to go shopping to find the perfect fabric for you.</li></ul>Happy Shopping!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-61095689422493198642009-07-26T07:22:00.002-05:002009-07-26T07:34:38.555-05:00Help me decide!I love getting input from other people with regards to my products. My favorite guinea pig (so to speak) is my mother. She loves all the free goodies she gets, and (as mothers are by nature) is extremely blunt with her reviews. <br /><br />Once a product has passed her critique and has recieved a grade of "B" or better (gotta love teachers! You can take her from the classroom, but you can't take the gradebook from her), they either start getting produced for sale, or I turn to you, my buyers.<br /><br />So here we are, at an impasse. I have decided to make magnets from my polymer clay instead of beads, but I'm a little stuck on where to go with the sewing.<br /><br />I beg forgiveness, I haven't taken any pictures of these, and my mom's computer is on the fritz again, and her camera doesn't seem to like my computer. I imagine that somewhere in my next posts I will have taken pictures. In the mean time, please use your imagination.<br /><br />While you are using your imagination, please take a few minutes to vote in the poll. You may select more than one option. I also encourage you to leave a comment (you may do so anonymously).<br /><br />I am going to be starting a mailing list soon for Unique By Karlee, and until I can find code I like, you will need to email me at karlee (at) uniquebykarlee (dot) com and tell me you want on the list. I plan on sending out mailings once a week highlighting sales and new products. (Please also tell me if you want it in HTML format or plain text with links)<br /><br />Thanks for helping!!<br />KarleeUBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-70606249773635375612009-07-04T08:53:00.003-05:002009-07-04T09:00:39.106-05:00Please help me help my friend!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg_sfcWxM8h2QdQjOuMEh_YokrVUOl7kRWSOuMX92Hji0aw9S4mEDKu6JWcXC4GMvMLdpH5xsAseG0ZGI2mEpuWOcL5TPaCmTG_HCEsH9y8ZGykvDOpLfuw0zAOBHi8_5Q4NsExtZa7Q/s1600-h/larry1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg_sfcWxM8h2QdQjOuMEh_YokrVUOl7kRWSOuMX92Hji0aw9S4mEDKu6JWcXC4GMvMLdpH5xsAseG0ZGI2mEpuWOcL5TPaCmTG_HCEsH9y8ZGykvDOpLfuw0zAOBHi8_5Q4NsExtZa7Q/s320/larry1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354603507923054098" /></a><br />Larry Hamm over at <a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/chelsealynndesigns">Chelsea Lynn Designs</a> on Artfire is a friend of many in the world of handmade, he is also the voice of The Crazy Train on <a href="http://blockheadradiolive.com/">Blockhead Radio</a>. Larry has a fantastic wife Janet, and an 8 year old son Jacob who live with him in Lansing, NC deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Larry is a friend to everyone and just an all around swell guy. He is most definitely the "shirt off your back" kind of friend. Right now, all of Larry´s friends and Blockhead Radio are teaming up to help him out in a tough time.<br /><br />Larry is a disabled diabetic who currently has lost his health insurance. His medication alone monthly is over $2,000. Larry is not receiving disability, he has not been approved yet. His wife is the only source of income and she doesn´t make enough to cover his medications. Larry´s doctors have given him an outlook of only 18 months to live if he doesn´t receive a $17,000 gastric bypass surgery as soon as possible. Larry and his family need all the help from their family and friends they can get! Jacob and Janet need Larry to hang around here with them as long as he possibly can! All of his friends surely want Larry to stick around too!<br /><br />All of us at Blockhead Radio are gearing up for the biggest Radiothon you´ll ever be a part of! July 24th at 6pm until July 26th at 6pm, Blockhead Rod will be live on the radio for 48 hours straight raising money for our friend Larry. A silent auction of donated handmade goods will also be going up on the home page of Blockhead Radio with 100% of the proceeds going to Larry.<br /><br />If you would like to be a part of this wonderful event, please email DeDe Sorensen at: <a href="mailto:48forlarry@blockheadradio.com">48forlarry@blockheadradio.com</a> Please donate any handmade items you can for the silent auction have your emails in with your donations by July 22nd. If you would like to donate cash for Larry’s prescriptions and surgery please visit Blockhead Radio July 24th through July 26th. There will be plenty of ways to get your donations in.<br /><br />Keep listening to <a href="http://blockheadradiolive.com/">Blockhead Radio</a> for fantastic indie music, and how you can help Larry Hamm of <a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/chelsealynndesigns">Chelsea Lynn Designs</a>.<br /><br /><hr><br /><br />Larry was the 2nd person to buy coozies from me, and I will be making two coozies from the same fabric that his were made, for his auction.<br /><br />The fabric he chose was DCU pants my husband had worn in Iraq in 2005. Please tune in for the auction, as there are some really great things for you to buy! You will also be able to get your own "Just Like Larry" coozies!<br /><br /><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/afv--22973--8341_product_1150634718_thumb_large.jpg"><br /><br />Hang on Larry, you're on the Crazy Train now, and help is on its way!!!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-4583535227178967202009-06-18T10:17:00.002-05:002009-06-18T10:53:51.157-05:00Public Service AnnouncementI apologize for the lack of crafty news, updates, and spotlights in this post, but this is something we all need to take seriously.<br /><br />Computer hackers, virii (plural of virus), parasites, keyloggers, autoinstallers, and all kinds of horrible things that can comprimise our systems are out there. Thousands. Keeping up with them all is hard work.<br /><br />We have firewalls and we have antivirus software. Some of us get them for free, others pay big bucks for our protective software. <br /><br />(All links will open in a new window)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Before you read any further, please realise that all of the products I am going to list are programs that I run on my system, and the download sites are the exact ones where I have gotten them.</span><br /><br />Things like <a href="http://download.cnet.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html?tag=mncol" target="_blank">Spybot Search & Destroy</a> and <a href="http://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Anniversary-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?tag=mncol" target="_blank">AdAware</a> are fantastic free programs that will help you in your battle to discover, contain, and remove harmful software. <br /><br />These programs, I've found, do not always completely remove the gunk from your system. The bad programs will often leave registry keys behind, and that can mean bad business. To avoid a lengthy(er) post, I will let you google "registry keys" on your own. <br /><br />There are three ways to remove these pesky keys. You can manually remove it, but I don't reccomend this unless you are VERY advanced in your IT skills. It is possible to delete a key you REALLY NEED to keep your system running, and if you delete that key, not only will you crash, but you won't be able to recover your HD at all. <br /><br />I run both of the following programs on my computer, just in case one misses something the other hasn't.<br /><br />I reccomend two programs to safely remove those keys once the program is deleted. <a href="http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2048" target="_blank">RegscrubXP</a> only works for you if you have WINDOWS XP. If you are still running 2000, 98, ME, Vista, or any operating system other than windows xp, don't bother with this.<br /><br />RegscrubXP runs through your registry keys and safely removes the deleted/invalid/empty registry keys. It takes a little while to run if you've never done it before or if its been a while since you removed any keys, but it works. <br /><br />Another one is <a href="http://download.cnet.com/ccleaner/?tag=mncol" target="_blank">CCleaner</a>. It used to be called Crap Cleaner, but they changed the name to protect the easily offended. <br /><br />It does the same as RegscrubXP, but it also goes to your running applications and links them to a directory of "what it is" so you can see if you have any processes going that are harmful. You can also quickly add/remove software through CCleaner without going to start > control panel > add remove software. You can also clean your cookies and cache through here, as well as a few other things that I'll save for another post.<br /><br />(The creators of CCleaner also have a program called <a href="http://download.cnet.com/Recuva/3000-2242_4-10753287.html?tag=mncol" target="_blank">Recuva</a> which will recover deleted files, <span style="font-style: italic;">even if you've emptied the recycle bin.</span> This handy little program helped me retrieve over 10,000 files that had "gone missing" on my computer. I hadn't deleted them, they had gotten dumped into a rogue file on my external hard drive and I couldn't get them out of that file.)<br /><br />Not only do I have a firewall on my router, but I use Windows firewall. Lots of people poo-poo Windows products, but I've not had anything get through the Windows firewall as long as I've kept my system updated through Windows updates.<br /><br />In addition to Windows firewall, I also use <a href="http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Home-Edition-Free/3000-2239_4-10019223.html?tag=mncol" target="_blank">Avast Home Edition Free</a>. I used to use TrendMicro, AVG, Norton, McAfee, etc. I always wound up with serious issues with them (especially TrendMicro that wouldn't update the software, even after multiple calls to their tech department and several hundred bucks worth of subscriptions, and Norton, which seemed to allow some really ugly stuff to get through (mom found that out also).)<br /><br />Now don't get me wrong here, I'm not dissing TrendMicro or Norton, but I just don't think they are the software for me. Your mileage may vary.<br /><br />With <a href="http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Home-Edition-Free/3000-2239_4-10019223.html?tag=mncol" target="_blank">Avast Home Edition Free</a> I had to jump through some hoops getting it registered, but it wasn't painful, the hoops weren't on fire, and it didn't cost me anything but time and a few clicks. It has stopped trojans and keyloggers dead in their tracks before they could get into my system and do damage.<br /><br />One of my favorite sites to visit is <a href="http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/" target="_blank">Doxdesk</a>. It doesn't install anything. You don't download anything. It is a site "badthing sniffer". If you have a parasite lurking in your browser, it will find it. It will tell you what you have AND how to get rid of it. The very first time I visited that site, it found 5 parasites. I had no idea they were there. They weren't tking up resources, my browser wasn't behaving badly, but they were there, with their potential nastiness.<br /><br />It also has a lot of other really good information for you on how to prevent these nasty bugs. I visit that site in 5 different browsers at least once a week. (Yes, I have 5 browsers and it is hard to tell who is going to pick up what.) <br /><br />I hope that my little PSA can help you keep your computer free of internet nasties. I've had my share and learned the hard way (through many windows reinstalls) that you need some software to protect against other software.<br /><br />Happy computing!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-40528155686060365502009-06-17T13:02:00.003-05:002009-06-17T13:06:15.594-05:00Sale!I'm running a sale in my shop! I haven't decided how long I'm going to run it, so my indecision is your gain! <br /><br />Coffee Coozies are now buy 4 get one free! <br /><br />All polymer clay beads are buy one get one at equal or lesser value for free!<br /><br />All refunds will be given through paypal, so don't pay right away! Not only will I refund the price of your freebie, but I'll refund shipping too!<br /><br />I just added new coozies and some really great beads, including an 11 bead set.<br /><br />Stay tuned and check back often, I will be adding more coozies and beads over the next few days. If you have something specific in mind, please contact me through ArtFire and we can work something out. <br /><br />Happy Wednesday!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-24534820658998340462009-06-16T08:01:00.003-05:002009-06-16T08:15:59.007-05:00Unusual ChickenThis is a recipe my (favourite) aunt put in the church cookbook many years ago, and I finally got around to trying it. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Note of warning: my own troops loved this so much that they FOUGHT over the last piece of chicken.</span><br /><br />This is very easy to double if you have more mouths to feed, or very hungry mouths to feed. <br /><br />Ingredients:<br />Boneless, skinless thick chicken breasts (4-6) (The thin ones won't work as well, so get the thicker pieces)<br />1/2 C. (118ml) Russian dressing<br />1/2 C. (118ml) Apricot preserves<br />1 envelope dry onion soup mix<br /><br />Mix dressing, preserves, and soup mix and pour over chicken breasts. Cook uncovered in oven at 350F (176C) for one hour. Serve over cooked rice.UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-77328426598243728232009-06-11T16:33:00.001-05:002009-06-11T16:36:31.525-05:00Do you have a question?If you have questions about polymer clay, the PCSG Blog is the place to be.<br /><br />A few days after you post your question, the great clayers of the guild will answer your questions and will be posted in the blog.<br /><br /><a href="http://polymerclaysmooshers.blogspot.com/">Here is the link!</a> Ask to your heart's content!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-5604630563305212172009-06-11T07:46:00.002-05:002009-06-11T09:00:44.352-05:00All things clayI have found polymer clay to be such a wonderful and relaxing medium. While I won't give up my fabric for anything, I still love clay.<br /><br />It is such a diverse substance, coming in different colors and consistencies, that I can't help of come up with a million ideas for things I want to make from clay.<br /><br />I feel very lucky to be part of the Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild on Artfire. They are really a talented group and haven't hesitated to answer my questions and help me along in my own clay journey.<br /><br />Here are some things that they have done:<br />(all pictures link to rapid cart so you can purchase)<br /><br />Jewelry:<br /><object width="350" height="670" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=10162"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=10162" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" height="670" src="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=10162" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent"></embed></object> <br /><br />More Jewelry:<br /><object width="350" height="670" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=11149"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=11149" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" height="670" src="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=11149" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent"></embed></object> <br /><br />Polymer clay isn't just for jewelry! I have seen what could be classifed as "fine art" for sale on ArtFire, from some of my fellow guild members. Some of them do some really amazing sculputres, and one lady does the most astounding miniatures.<br /><br /><object width="350" height="670" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=11151"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=11151" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" height="670" src="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=11151" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent"></embed></object> <br /><br /><object width="350" height="670" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=11153"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=11153" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" height="670" src="http://www.byhand.me/Main.swf?id=11153" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent"></embed></object> <br /><br /><br /><br />Thank you ladies for letting me make spotlights of your work! You have some really amazing things, I can't wait to see what else you do!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-81754003507301940142009-06-05T08:23:00.004-05:002009-06-05T08:35:08.499-05:00I've been tagged!I'm supposed to post 7 random things about me, and pick 7 other bloggers to tag. <br /><br />I'm running short on time, so I'll pick the other bloggers after my interview. woot!<br /><br /><ol><li>I have a Dutch show rabbit named Elmer.</li><li>My hometown is the largest city nearest the geographical and geodesic center of the US. (Kansas)<br /></li><li>Yes, I really have seen a tornado. (More than several, to be exact)<br /></li><li>One of my sisters is named Dorthy. </li><li>I really, truly, and sincerely <span style="font-weight: bold;">hate</span> the movie Wizard of Oz.</li><li>My favorite band is Little River Band, originally from Little River, Australia.</li><li>I have all but the two newest LRB albums, and paid more than $80 for my copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Net</span><br /></li></ol>Like I said, I'll tag people later...gotta finish getting ready! WOOT!!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-57405987289333849612009-05-24T07:32:00.003-05:002009-06-10T19:53:33.315-05:00Busy with clayAmong my many craft interests is polyclay. In recent weeks and months, my son has been encouraging me to not only sell some of my recently found older things, but to also create new ones.<br /><br />I've found some fantastic new mentors in my ArtFire guild, Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild, and we have some new and exciting things coming up in the near future.<br /><br />I thought I'd take a few minutes from my busy day to post a few of my clay things. <br /><br /><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_1214320230_thumb_large.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_432781338_thumb_large.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_841361209_thumb_large.jpg" /><br /><br /><img style="width: 499px; height: 374px;" src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq294/UniquebyKarlee/Other%20finished%20things/cup1.jpg" /><br /><br /><img style="width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq294/UniquebyKarlee/Other%20finished%20things/3beads.jpg" /><br /><br /><img style="width: 498px; height: 373px;" src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq294/UniquebyKarlee/Other%20finished%20things/MVC-348S.jpg" /><br /><br /><img style="width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq294/UniquebyKarlee/Other%20finished%20things/MVC-346S.jpg" /><br /><br /><img style="width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq294/UniquebyKarlee/Other%20finished%20things/pinkblack.jpg" />UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-8269404643055875242009-05-13T16:52:00.002-05:002009-05-13T17:02:07.694-05:00Sometimes you just HAVE to...Sometimes you just have to make time for yourself. I'm guilty of not taking time out for me.<br /><br />I work a 40 hour week job, and come home and work on my sewing or my beads. This morning before work, I found myself catching up on emails and plurks I'd missed the last couple days, while sanding beads. I rarely - if ever - take time for me. Sometimes my sewing counts, but I've been getting restless lately. I think its the weather, but at any rate...its time for Me Time.<br /><br />While I was at work I did some thinking. I had a few dollars in my pocket from my mom for my Mother's Day present, with the instruction to use it on something for me. Well, I'm not good at buying things for me, so I decided to go get more clay. <br /><br />While I was there (and the clay was 50% off) I found this neat 7 piece set of clay tools that has a long, flat razor that I need to do the mica shift. It was $15.99, but I got it anyway.<br /><br />Today is such a pretty day...high 70's, light breeze, sun is shining...and I realized that I miss my horse. I'm going to put off ALL my crafty intentions for the evening, and make the (short) drive out to see her and at least get her brushed. I'm sure her heavy winter coat is shedding by now, and she always appreciates a good brushing. <br /><br />My mom picks up the kids on Wednesday nights and takes them to dinner and then to the park, so I've got a few hours until I need to go get them, and some "horse therapy" is just what the dr ordered for today.<br /><br />Tomorrow I'll be back on the sewing and claying...but today, its all about me!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-69140145608240406022009-05-04T05:47:00.003-05:002009-05-04T06:04:21.353-05:00Votehandmade.comOk, I know that there has been a huge brouhaha over votehandmade.com. I *could* very easily post their official press release and smile and nod my head.<br /><br />But.<br /><br />I have a conscience. I can't do that.<br /><br />What I can do is give you my <span style="font-style:italic;">honest</span> opinion.<br /><br />I like the site, for the most part. It's clean, simple to use, fun to add links, fun to watch your added things get votes.<br /><br />What I don't like is that some of my posted things refuse to show pictures, even though the listing has a picture. I've tried to show it off twice, and it just flat refuses to show a picture.<br /><br />That is just a minor thing though. My biggest beef is one which is echoed by my friends and fellow ArtFire artisans.<br /><br />The downvotes.<br /><br />I <span style="font-style:italic;">will</span> grant you that <span style="font-style:italic;">some</span> of the downvotes may simply be because the voter truly does not like the product.<br /><br />I don't think that is the case all of the time, though.<br /><br />It affects mainly people in the jewelry category, but I've recently seen it take a dip into novelty and housewares.<br /><br />It seems that ArtFire links are being singled out and downvoted by a LOT of people.<br /><br />This truly saddens me. Not for the artisans, not for the products themselves (some of which are truly genius and works of art), but for the people targeting ArtFire links and downvoting them.<br /><br />It could be two things.<br /><br />One, is that it could be a competitor, trying to make their product look better.<br />Two, it could be someone from another venue trying to smear ArtFire.<br /><br />These people never leave critisim. Ever. They just downvote and slink off.<br /><br />They need to know that their own karma will drop, and their votes won't count anymore.<br /><br />Secondly, they need to know that I feel sorry for them. Do they think their own work is so inferior that they must downgrade someone else's work just to make themselves feel better? Are they trying to make a point about ArtFire?<br /><br />I'm not a big fan of other sites, especially the ones that charge listing fees, that's why I'm on ArtFire to begin with, but seriously. I don't go around downvoting 1000markets listings or etsy listings. <br /><br />If I don't like what they show, I just move on. It is better for me, and better for the lister to keep my mouth shut. If I have knowledge that may benefit them, I leave a comment...to help them improve.<br /><br />I don't downvote. <br /><br />In closing, I want to let the downvoters know that I truly feel sorry for them, and want to help them enjoy what they have to offer the handmade community. If there is anything I could do to improve their self esteem, I would.<br /><br />They don't anger me, they sadden me. I wish I could hug them to brighten their day, so they can see the bright side of handmade, even if it comes from a venue they don't like.UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-24405324396652628482009-05-03T06:24:00.002-05:002009-05-03T06:46:25.453-05:00Kickinskreations - delicious candlesKickinskreations has soome truly unreal candles. I don't know how she does it, but they look like REAL food. I leave her shop with a growling tummy, every time I visit.<br /><br /><br />Her <a href="http://kickinskreations.artfire.com">ArtFire</a> shop is usually my first stop.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=143758" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/19824_product_787174660_5_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />That "cherry pie" is a candle. Looks like a real cherry pie to me! This makes me want pie, for breakfast.<br /><br />She also makes soap. I would show you a picture of the soap I bought for my husband, but some might be offended. I will, however, show you her "Kiss my butt..." soap.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=192351" target="_blank"><br /><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/19824_product_743285233_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />She has been crafting (although in my personal opinion this is more art) since January of 2008, and I once heard her say that her son is her biggest inspiration.<br /><br />I have to wonder...did her son inspire her fantastic cola candle???<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=145176" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/19824_product_1535396170_2_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />If he is anything like my kids, maybe it inspired her margarita candle!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=153196" target ="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/19824_product_334225384_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Her favorite color is blue, and I love the vivid blue of the blueberry candle!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=147751" target="blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/19824_product_1906629711_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />She has an impressive presence on the web, and these are all the places I've found her.<br /><br /><a href=" http://www.mycraft.com/kickinskreations" target="_blank">MyCraft.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Kickins-Kreations/1250695555" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/kickinskreation" target="_blank">Make sure to follow her on Twitter!</a><br /><a href="http://www.indiepublic.com/profiles/profile/show?id=kickinskreations" target="_blank">Indiepublic</a><br /><a href="http://kickinskreations.artfire.com" target="_blank">ArtFire</a><br /><br />Her candles would make a great conversation piece (and they smell really great!!) for your next gathering! Take a look!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-77687508053635125262009-05-02T08:39:00.004-05:002009-05-02T08:53:52.611-05:00I want to promote you!Hi there! Looking for your first blog promotion? Your 17th? New to the whole online selling and need to get your name out there? Old hat?<br /><br />Want free stuff?<br /><br />You've come to the right place!!<br /><br />I want to promote you. Yes, YOU.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What I want from you:</span><br /><br />I want your shop banner (artfire, etsy, 1000markets, dawanda, etc). You can give me a link to the shop you want me to "steal" it from, or you can attach it.<br /><br />I want 3 pics of your things. Your choice. Attach to the email please!<br /><br />I also want to know (and this is the most important part, so PLEASE don't leave it out!)<br /><ol><li><span id=""gtbmisp_4"" transparent="" none="" repeat="" scroll="">Whacha</span> make?</li><li>How long have you been crafting?</li><li>Favorite color to craft?</li><li>What inspires and motivates you? </li><li>Anything else you want to add?<br /></li></ol>We are curious folk here on the internet, so please tell us where we can see more of you! Give me your links to your shop(s), website, blog, twitter, plurk, facebook, myspace, and anywhere else you have an internet presence!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What I'm going to do with all this:</span><br /><br />First of all, your banner will wind up on my <a href="http://www.uniquebykarlee.com">website</a>.<br /><br />Your interview will wind up here, on the blog. The more you write, the more you will promote yourself!<br /><br />Then, to top it off, I will put your name in TWO hats. One for the website, one for the blog. You get two chances to win a Coffee Coozie of your choice! <br /><br />The drawing is 10 May...US Mother's Day, but ANYONE can participate in this!<br /><br />If you win the coozie, and can't find the perfect one in my shop PLEASE email me so I can send you scans of the fabric I have cut but not sewed. I always have coozies cut to be sewed, but not all of it listed.<br /><br />Free. Won't charge you for shipping or packaging. Free means FREE. You can keep it for yourself or give it as a gift. Please don't re-sell it, as it is copyrighted, and I'll get a little cranky. You wouldn't want to host a giveaway and have someone sell your widget to someone else, would you? Your consideration and respect is REALLY appreciated!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Now, on to the nuts and bolts.</span><br /><br />Email me the information I'm asking for to karlee (at) uniquebykarlee (dot) com<br /><br />I will email you when you are featured on the blog.<br /><br />(To those of you already participating, I will be updating the website shortly!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">One more thing:</span><br /><br />While there isn't anything really in it for you other than self promotion, I'd LOVE to host your tutorials here. Anything handmade, anything at all, even if you are my "competition", I want your tutorials. Type it out, let me know if you want me to fix grammar and spelling, and email it to me at the above address.<br /><br />(There really isn't anything in it for me either, but this is about you, not me!)<br /><br />I look forward to hearing from you soon!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-13375591133000702652009-05-02T06:52:00.003-05:002009-05-02T08:35:05.653-05:00Suzanne Tate - Bead ArtistSuzanne has this to say about her beads:<br /><blockquote><br />I make handmade, lampworked glass beads, and jewelry from my beads. I have been making glass beads for about 6 years. I love working with molten glass and a flame – it’s quite addictive. I love trying to master new techniques and skills and I change styles frequently, trying new things. I am also involved with medieval re-creation, and I research and recreate period beads.</blockquote><br /><br />I'll let her art say the rest!<br /><br />(As always, click the picture to visit the listing!)<br /><br />This red necklace really is RICH (and I love it):<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=192060" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/14024_product_815584784_2_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />My mom's favorite color is orange, and I may just have to save up and get this for her:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=100946" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/14024_product_1316868235_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />These spring beads make me think of new grass:<br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=192047" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/14024_product_1817433109_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Isn't her work just incredible? <br /><br />I have a confession to make. I'm a lampwork junkie, and glass bead addict. I also have a secret obsession with cell phone charms. I feel the need to break my own "promotion rules" and post one extra picture, only because its a phone charm and its blue (my favorite color).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=100949" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/14024_product_142557977_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />You can find Suzanne by clicking the following links (and I hope you do!)<br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5377222 ">Etsy Shop</a><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=21435 ">ArtFire Studio</a><br /><a href="http://www.solarflarecreations.com.au/">Her fabulous website </a><br /><a href="http://suzanne-catching-up.blogspot.com/">Look! Her blog! </a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/suz01 ">Follow her on twitter!</a>UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326932862564744550.post-35329830969787217162009-04-29T05:51:00.002-05:002009-04-29T06:15:32.436-05:00New Coffee Coozies!Just last night I listed new coozies, perfect for Mother's Day!<br /><br />All of the pictures are clickable, and will take you to the listing in a new window.<br /><br />A light pink background with teal and pink swirls is perfect for the girly girl mom!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=205256" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_1733754511_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Is mom a wild child? Pink leopard spots is right up her alley!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=205245" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_1636639742_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />Maybe pastel horizontal stripes is more her style! I only have 4 sewed at the current time, and all are listed at the same listing. They all came out differently because of the uniqueness of the fabric, giving each a completely different feel.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=205242" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_869822901_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=205242" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_869822901_4_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=205242" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_869822901_5_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=205242" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_869822901_6_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />If mom is a musician or just a music aficionado, I have two music notes coozies! The white on black is stunning, and the staves are set vertically instead of horizontally for a "notable" twist.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=205224" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/8341_product_962666710_thumb_large.jpg"></a><br /><br />These are affordable gifts for mom priced at rock bottom $5.00! If you want me to ship straight to mom with a little note inside, I am willing to help! I giftwrap and ship to secondary addresses at <span style="font-style:italic;">no additional charge</span> unless mom lives outside the US. What I pay for shipping is what you pay for shiping. <br /><br />Use the "contact seller" or "note to seller" features to give me your special instructions. The invoice will be sent to you, while mom gets the giftwrapped coozie with your note and instruction sheet. <br /><br />Coozies make great gifts for any holiday, any season, any reason. 100% machine washable, 100% machine dryable, 100% microwavable! I highly reccomend putting the coozie on the cup before pouring coffee and putting in the microwave. Please do not bleach!!UBKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17768264144300509325noreply@blogger.com0