LINKS I SO TOTALLY LOVE!

Everyone has links they 'like', but these below are my very most favorite.  Whether learning how to do something, finding a way to improve something, getting advice on something, or just treating myself to a few minutes on a site that makes me smile!  Please enjoy them with me.  I usually only recommend sites that I've interacted with myself on many occasions and fully trust the real PEOPLE running them, and these are truly some exceptionally nice people!

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First of all, if anyone is here to find more information on implants, this is the site you should see, www.ImplantInfoNet.net

They can answer your questions about implants, complications from them, sites to research, where and how to get laboratory testing done, where to report problems, information about having breast implants removed, etc...  There's an EXCELLENT 'Frequently Asked Questions' page that will clear up a lot of questions right off.  Be sure to join their forum to meet the people there, who can offer you advice and provide a wonderful support system with fast answers.  There are probably other sites out there with bits and pieces of the information you'll find on their website, but I know of no other place with as clearly presented and easily understood answers and such a personal touch.  ImplantInfoNet.net is truly the most well done website I've found on the subject of implants, thus far.  

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For anyone who has breast cancer or knows someone who does, please visit this site:

www.NavigatingTheJourney.com

A lovely person contacted me about adding a link from her website to mine, but of course I had to check it out first.  To put it mildly, I was thrilled!  The site has so much of the info I'd wanted to add to mine for years, but it is much better written than I'd ever have been able to do, or would have had time to do.  Everyone can find SOMETHING they can use right away on that site, and don't worry, it has nothing to do with sewing.  :^) 

There are links to services (most free), information on how to..well...NAVIGATE through the confusing and time consuming aspects of the cancer survival journey.  Go look, you'll be glad you did.  You may be able to find a little of the same info in pamphlets the doc gives you, but I promise you, you'll find this website much easier to understand and more comforting, with everything put in a more logical manner, and presented beautifully.  I'd meant to add this link hours ago but kept jumping from page to page and then going off to other offsite links that looked interesting.  It's my understanding that it's even a new site and she'll be adding more and more, so I'd suggest bookmarking it and revisiting it every few months.

Thanks, Sue, for letting me know about the new site, it's great!  :^)  I'll visit often.

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Below is my own copy of the Charlene Phillips book, next to my own sewing machine.  It's called

The Sewing Machine Attachment Handbook

and it has 144 pages of clear close-up color photos  If you have unidentified  old attachments laying around, you're going to be so glad to get this book.  Just learning to use a hemmer attachment could save you hours of work.  Be sure to also check out her book called, "

The Sewing Machine Classroom: Learn the Ins & Outs of Your Machine

to learn all about what your  sewing machine can do, and in the fall, I'm anxiously awaiting her newest book called:

Simply Serging: 25 Fast and Easy Projects for Getting to Know Your Overlocker

Look for her books on Amazon, as I get all my books written by her there, just like everyone else, so this is NOT a paid commercial advertisement...I truly do think she's one of the best teachers on sewing machine topics that I've ever found and I treasure her books.  If her publisher ever reads this, by the way, PLEASE convince her to keep writing more books, we need her!

Here's the scoop:  I had pretty much stopped sewing for years and forgotten most of what I once new.  I preferred older model sewing machines, but they come with all sorts of wonderful attachments that are difficult to use unless you know the simple directions.  If finding this website THE SEW BOX was like GOLD to me, actually getting to know the woman behind it was like PLATINUM and DIAMONDS!  I kid you not, this lady knows her stuff. 

If there has ever been an attachment made for a sewing machine, Charlene Phillips most likely knows how to use it and shows how either on her website or in her book called The Sewing Machine Attachment Handbook (available on her website, on Amazon, and at most bookstores).  She has written articles for various exceptional sewing magazines (such as Sew News, Threads, Creative Machine Embroidery, and probably others by now), taught everywhere, and is...well...THE 'go to' professional for anyone who loves sewing. 

Her website is a treasure trove of clear photos and instructions, and she sells the most amazing presser feet, both new and vintage, that will allow you to do things with your sewing machine that you never thought you could do.  I've found the best prices consistently at The Sew Box, and believe me, I look around because I can't afford to spend a lot.  (I've noticed that she's cut back on the website's products for sale lately, I imagine she's more busy teaching and such, but you can still find great info there.)

My photos aren't as good as hers, but I have often used similar camera angles because you can really SEE how to do things the way she shows it.

I have literally a bookcase full of sewing books, but her sewing machine attachments book never leaves it's spot next to my favorite sewing machine, it is referred to so often.  I credit the woman behind this book with this website of mine actually becoming real.  Her book and site got me excited about sewing again after breast cancer had knocked me for a loop, and gave me the courage to get my information out to other breast cancer survivors.

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Have a look around their website and double click on their little photos there to see them in a larger size.  The pictures are nice, but the yard art is even better when you see it, as it's hard to see in a picture how something that's sometimes almost life size is going to look.  Even the edges and backs of the items are finished nicely.  Dogs are only a tiny part of what they do, but I happen to love dogs, so these are some sample photos below to give you an idea of their work.

You'll love this site!  Have you seen the painted wooden cutouts people have in their yards and wondered where to find them?  Here it is!  I own several pieces of yard art made by this husband and wife team, and they are all of EXCEPTIONAL quality.  I've looked at loads of craft shows and have never found anything to beat the quality of these items.  The wood is the thicker more expensive kind, so you will be surprised at their very reasonable prices!  They simply do not cut corners, so you don't have to worry that it'll fall apart in bad weather conditions.  They also use the best quality paints, and then, as if that wasn't enough, they carefully clear-coat each piece so that sun and rain seem to have little effect. 

I own the little Pekingese dog you see at left, and some seasonal pieces like snowmen, Santas, even comic figures and such, and have never seen undue wear on any of them yet.  My husband and I have a Christmas sign they made for us, and we've put it up after Thanksgiving and taken it down about 6 weeks later, every year for probably 10 years now, without any excessive fading or damage. Our snowman has sat in the snow many times and still looks like new.  Each piece is shipped really nicely packaged for safety, too. 

When you look at their website, you'll see it's similar to mine, because I liked the colors and the way it was arranged, so Harlean gave me tips on how to make one resembling it.  It makes you feel at home, and Harlean (who answers the emails) will make you feel the same. 

Since it's all hand made, don't wait to order on seasonal things.  Doesn't hurt to ask if they have something on hand that isn't spoken for, but do give each hand-crafted piece time to be finished because their paint and clear-coating must have time to dry properly.  They won't ship something that isn't perfect....and wow, their stuff IS about as perfect as you'll find anywhere.  I've never seen anything that comes even vaguely close to their quality.

Ooooh, I just had a thought, I bet Harlean could make a great pink ribbon for a mailbox, gotta go look for a picture to send her to see!  (Yes, she does sometimes design and make special things that aren't shown on the site, and you can just guess how I know that, lol... did I mention the Pekingese dog item at left?  Looks JUST LIKE my real Peke because she made it that way!)

Now, here is the name of the website:
www.YardArtByHarleanFromArkansas

No kidding, lol...I have teased her about that name, but it's what everyone calls her stuff so she chose the name.  Yes, it's a long one, so just click on the name to go there.  :^)

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The ThriftyFun.com website is all about making life better and easier, (and more fun!), often by helping you save money and connecting you with people who are the best at it.  A friend suggested it to me years ago and I've gone to it so often that my keyboard is practically worn out on the letters that make up their name, lol...

Any problem you might have from needing to save money on your electric bills to finding out how to remove ink from your new leather purse, or keeping your pet healthy, go there and you'll likely find tips on it.  There are newsletters you can sign up for on several topics to keep up with new posts on all sorts of topics, more than just money saving...off the top of my head I can think of the gardening one and the recipe one, and oh, just go have a look for yourself, you'll not be sorry!  I've even sent in tips myself on arts and crafts, and sewing of course.  :^)

People write in asking how to do something, and helpful people from all over chime in with answers of what worked for them.  There are articles and posts with an unbelievable amount of knowledge so you can search it out with just a few clicks.  The people who run the site are a truly nice, helpful, considerate group.  With our country's economy the way it is, I can't believe this website's name isn't up on billboards all across the nation.  Their information has been more valuable to me personally than any 'stimulus' program.  Tips on saving on energy costs alone have cut my utility bills in half.  Explore their website, learn from it, and then share what you know as well.  I'll be watching for your posts!

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www.listia.com more free stuff on Listia
A friend who uses Listia just told me about it, and he LOVES it!  After viewing it, I do, too, lol... so I joined.  It's a FREE auction, as in...no money involved, people giving stuff to each other, by using a point system.  They give you some points to start just for registering, then you can bid them on the 'auctions', and get totally free stuff as long as you're bidding on auctions with free shipping, otherwise you pay a little for postage. 

Since I have a lot of duplicates among my craft items, or things I don't use anymore, I'm going to list some things there to give away from time to time with free shipping, just so I can build up points to trade for fabric or whatever when someone has something I could use. 

If you click on my freebie auction link over to the left, and sign up there, they'll start you up with lots of free points that you can spend right away.  (Of course, I hope you bid on my things someday, lol...but don't worry, I get some points even if you don't.)

 Don't you just love getting stuff in the mail?  I do, so go register and have fun 'shopping' for your freebies to bid on!) 
 
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