7 Unique Ideas the Scrapbooking Pros Use to Make a Page Unique

1. Vellum

Vellum is a transparent, translucent material. Vellum can be used to create a slight shadow or shade change to background or embellishment colors. This can be used as a softening agent for baby scrapbooks, as a touch of elegance to gift scrapbooks, or to create dimension in a boring flat page.

To reduce the cloudiness effect caused by gluing, apply only a thin line of glue along the edges of the vellum. In this way, you will see a slight shadow only along the very edge. This will look like a border to the vellum. Vellum is available in both acidic and non acidic forms.

2. Shadow Boxes

A great way to add depth to your scrapbook page is to add shadow boxes. Basically shadow boxes add a shadow to your images. Shadow boxes are also a great way to make your most important photographs or text boxes stand out form the rest of the page. Shadow boxes can also be to emphasis dedications.

To make a shadow box, simply cut a box shape out of paper. Next, put your embellishment on a larger square of cardstock. Then, add glue to all four sides of the cardstock square and attach it to the back of your paper. The embellishment will show through, adding greater dimension to your page.

3. Patterned Paper

Patterned paper can be used for backgrounds, borders, and embellishments. Often plain white backgrounds look rather boring and dull. Patterned backgrounds add a touch of excitement to your page. The right pattern tailored to your theme and purpose can also increase that professional look.

Colors and patterns can be used to coordinate with your photographs or to add dramatic effects. Paper with various themes and patterns is widely available. For instance, a birthday scrapbook could have a background made of your favorite gift wrap. This could add a touch of elegance or a touch of humor depending upon the patterned paper you choose.

4. Textured Paper

Textured paper can add extra dimension to your scrapbooking page. Textured paper can be used to highlight focus items on your scrapbook page. Textured paper can also be used as a backgrounds or border to give your page an interesting fresh look.

Textured paper is available in a variety of textures and colors and is available in most craft and office supply stores.

5. Book Jacket Backgrounds

For an added personal touch and artist flair use a book jacket as a background. This scrapbook technique looks especially nice when the book jacket is the reader’s favorite book or author, adding a wonderful personalized touch.

Be aware, however, that the glossy coating on the book jacket creates an added challenge to sticking objects to this background. Alternative attachment methods include sewing and eyelets.

6. Adding Dimension

One good way to add dimension to images is to use double stick foam tape. Double stick foam tape literally allows items to pop out at your reader adding realism to items. This technique is especially useful in children’s art and educational scrapbooks.

Simply, cut the foam tape into whatever shape and size you want. Then, attach to shape onto your scrapbook page. Double stick foam tape is available at most craft stores in various colors and thicknesses.

7. Ribbons and Lace

Ribbon and lace are by far the most common, and most beautiful, border embellishment. The flowing nature of both materials encourages a touch of softness and elegance. Ribbon and lace are especially popular in gift and memory scrapbooks.

Moreover, ribbon is easy to glue and attach. Lace requires a bit more patience.

For an interesting change from ribbon and lace, try using jute or raffia.

Lena Fields loves helping others to save special memories using the fun and exciting art of scrapbooking. For more scrapbooking resources, please visit Scrapbooking Success.

Beaded Lanyards: Quasi Jewelry

The typical lanyard is a length of basic rope, wire, or cloth that is designed to secure a small object. They are often purchased in large quantities and are fairly inexpensive. Many employees wear lanyards around their neck to secure identification badges while on the job.

Beaded lanyards can be as basic as an inexpensive metallic, beaded chain. They can be ordered through most typical lanyard suppliers and feature a variety of hardware attachments to secure small objects. These lanyards are often in several different lengths and an array of colors.

Other beaded lanyards are quite unique and are referred to by some as jewelry. They are designed by skilled artisans and can be extremely expensive depending upon the type of materials used. The cost of a beaded lanyard depends on the type of beads and wire used in its design. Beaded lanyard patterns may consist of colorful patterns of seed beads, glass beads, crystals, or even gemstones.

The most popular beaded lanyards are used to secure eyeglasses or sunglasses around the neck. They attach to the temples of the glasses, allowing them to hang around the neck when not in use. These exquisite neck lanyards are often referred to as eyeglass necklaces or eyeglass holders. They are a fashionable way to keep track of an item that can be easily misplaced or damaged. Beaded lanyards allow the wearer the freedom to easily put on and remove glasses frequently throughout the day.

Many bead artisans also offer jewelry pieces to coordinate with beaded lanyards. The beaded lanyard patterns are often duplicated in a bracelet, anklet, or pair of earrings.

One drawback of the beaded lanyard is that they are often fragile. They may look elegant but also may not have the durability of a nylon or cotton lanyard when worn frequently.

Lanyards Info provides information on printed, custom, beaded, badge, neck, key lanyards, and cell phone accessories and jewelry. Lanyards Info is the sister site of Lapel Pins Web.

The Advantages of Specialising and Only Collecting the Finest Antiques!

As rather specialised Asian antique collectors, over a very long period, we have managed to help form collections of really fine Japanese netsuke, inro, lacquer boxes, Chinese snuff bottles, pendants, jade and hard stone carvings.

One advantage of collecting in such specialised fields is that most people will not have any idea of what these things are. We believe that on the odd rare occasion when we might have some of these antiques at home, if the average burglar were to break in and find them, the chances are, that it would be the DVD machine, or the TV, that is more likely to be taken.

Another two advantages can be gained, by only buying the finest quality examples that is, providing one can afford to. The first benefit is that these are sure to increase in value, so much more than the average, or poorer pieces and one has far greater pleasure in owning them. It has been apparent over the years of collecting, that owning just one or two superb pieces has always been worth very much more, than having twenty, or more, indifferent ones. But the second advantage is that these, the finest antiques, are also well known amongst the more serious collectors and dealers, as well as by the better auction rooms.

So should a burglar grab any of these treasures and then try to sell them, especially the finer examples, the burglar would not find it so easy. For not only are all these pieces well documented and illustrated, but also serious dealers, collectors and auction houses all belong to (and have an international reporting system) where the word would soon be out. The Internet is so useful for the speed with which such information can be spread. As such unique important pieces are certain to be recognised eventually, the police would then have a valuable lead back to the culprit.

It is true that there are certain top quality antiques that are stolen to order; these then end up in secret collections where the owner dare not ever show them. This is very hard for the owner as one of the pleasures all collectors enjoy is being able to show what they have acquired to fellow collectors. But even if such stolen antiques end up somewhere like this, then although it might take very much longer, there will come a time when they will be discovered. It might not happen till the owner dies, but then what will any heirs do with such collections? If they try to sell any, then the chances of such stolen pieces being recognised still remains very high.

The author has been a very keen collector for many years in helping to create ‘The Cohen collection’.

See other articles with photographs by using the following link: - http://www.jncohen.net/antiques/articles.htm

For more information on collecting Asian antiques please use the following link: -
http://www.jncohen.net/Asian_antiques

So You Want To Sell your Wares

Sewing can be addictive, you start out making garments for yourself and your family and then see many other projects that you would like to do. Every time you visit a fabric store or craft shop you get ideas and sooner or later want to make up these projects.

Some you can use in your home and give to family and friends as gifts, the compliments come and sure enough you want to do more, ….but to do more would require you to have more family or friends you can give them to and then there is the cost of it all.

One way to recoup the costs is to sell these items, but how to go about it.

There are many ways to go about doing this and here are a few ideas..

You can start with your family and friends, let them know that you are wishing to sell your items and if they could recommend your work to their friends and acquaintences. If you are wishing to take on the craft side of sewing or sewing homewares then you make up a sample range and maybe they would like to have a party for you to help get things off the ground.

Selling by party plan is a great way, you take the orders at the party, have a delivery date for pick-up, this gives you the time to get the orders made and you don’t have to worry about collecting the money, the hostess will have done that for you and have it ready when you deliver the orders. You need a good incentive for the hostess so that others will be willing to host parties for you. You can book up parties from one party to another.

Craft markets are anoher good outlet. the first time you go will be the wordt, in most cases that is, mainly because it takes the people time to get to know your products. A good line to sell at craft markets is handbags or scarves, both are popular, homewares like cushion covers, table runners, placemats and matching serviettes and yes there may be others there selling the same but yours will be unique to you. Visit the craft markets and see what is being sold and decide then on your product line. You can find unusual materials at factory outlets, try the interior designers or any retail outlet that has sample ranges of fabrics, these become superceded and can be bought very cheaply.

Many retail outlets will take consignment stock, that means they take your stock and only have to pay you when they sell it. You put your price on the item and then they add their markup onto that. The bags and scarves are good to go into the fashion boutiques, the homewares into the interior decor and gift shops.

Make up a list of your items with the price you want for them, package them or if you have a handyman around then maybe he will do up a display for you to go into the outlet if they are short on display stands, (don’t make them too big as room in these stores is often at a premium).

You will need a consignment agreement that you and the retailer will agree to. Things like the time frame before the item is changed over, who carries the insurance, if your stock will be covered by the retailer’s insurance, how and when you will receive payment for your stock once sold, who keep the display neat and tidy, who is responsible if the stock is stolen.

You also need to leave them a stock sheet with all the items you are leaving in their store. This they can mark off when something is sold and have a good record for you. Consignment stock doesn’t come into a store’s stock records until it is sold, so they will not have the same records as their other stock.

That is a few things you need to work out, I’m sure you will think of others but it is important to get it all on paper right from the start. Some stores do a lot on consignment and already know the ins and outs but you need to know them too.

Don’t be put off by all this, it is just doing the groundwork, setting things in place to cover yourself and once done you will be on your way.

There is another area and that is the World Wide Web. There is always eBay and other auction sites but you could consider your own website. You could make it similar to the party plan idea, take the orders, give a delivery date, they pay when they place the order and include the postage and handling, then you make the idem and send it off.

Making your won website today is very easy. There are places like FreeWebs, where you can design a site so easily and they even host it for you and you can do all that for free too. If you find it works then it would be better to get your own domain name and take their premium version that has more options. To collect the money there is Paypal, again free to get your account and FreeWebs make putting the access to Paypal on you website very easy too.

With digital cameras, taking the photos for your website is very easy and FreeWebs make uploading them and even resizing them a snip. So you would have your very own store on the Internet, get your business cards done, even that can be done on your own computer now. There are packs of business cards you can purchase to print our yourself and they can be done with MS Word too. Have your details on your business card, your email address and your website address and hand them out to all you come in contact with. I know a salesman who, whenever he is introduced to someone, hands them his card as he goes to shake their hand, he always seems to have one in his hand. He’s practised it and has it down to perfection, you can do that too.

So all in all, taking it one step at a time, you could have a very nice little business, your party plan, your craft markets, remember these are often monthly, your consignment stock and your website store.

Now with all of these there are things you should search out first and make sure you follow the necessary procedures to cover yourself. Read the fine print before you sign anything and make sure you get the documantation in place where needed.

Then go have fun as this can be a fun way to make some extra money and pay for your habit, the habit that is,of being swayed by fabric and projects and not being able to stay out of fabric stores and craft shops and above all else, loving your sewing.

CTBaird, Author of Sew More For U, a DIY Sewing eGuide. Get great sewing tips and techniques, http://www.sewmoreforu.com/patterns.html
http://www.sewmoreforu.com/sewingbook.html

Why You Should Race RC Cars, and Not Just Bash

For those of you who have been racing your RC cars for years,
and have a friend or two who you have been trying to get out to the
RC tracks, this article is for you. Feel free to forward it to
them.

For those of you who are fanatical bashers, and have avoided racing
your rc cars at the local track, hear me out, because I have 5 great
reasons you should take a run at it.

1) Hanging out with other RC car enthusiasts- You will absorb new
ideas on how to keep your RC cars running at peak performance, just
by hangin’ out in the pits. Not all of them will be good, some
could even do more harm than good. but if you are careful who you
listen to, you can learn some terrific stuff that will make your
ride handle better, run faster, and be more durable.

2) The game within the game- Its not just about racing, and being
first in the heats (altho, that is a huge thrill) but its also
about pushing the limits of your RC cars, and fighting agianst the
track itself in a measureable way. When your bashing, you don’t
really get a precise way of knowing how fast your vehicle is. When
you race, you will actually know to the millisecond what your
vehicle, limited by your driving skills, can do.

3) By being at the tracks, you get to see the latest RC technology
in action- You can go to the hobby stores and look at boxes of RC
cars and buggies all you want. But if you really want to see what
a Hot Bodies Lightning Pro or an XRAY T1′FK05 can do, there is no
better, and cheaper, way to do it than hang out at the tracks. You
get an even better idea when you race against them.

4) Making new friends- Not that you need new friends, but it’s great
to have a friend who knows RC cars tips and tricks. Someone you can
ask questions, or bounce ideas off of. Or catch rides to the track
when your full scale car is in the shop.

5) Just like when your bashing and you finally nail that jump you
set up in your backyard, mastering a track is a total rush-
Everyone will tell you when you first start racing rc cars, just
try to do crash free laps. Isn’t that essentially what you are
doing in your backyard?

Why not take your Monster truck to the track, and do some racing,
and see if you can handle the track’s jumps and rhythm sections?
I bet it will be months before you have a crash free lap. Howse
that for a challenge?

If you have put off racing rc cars because it looks intimidating,
your worried you will make a fool of yourself, or smash up your car
or buggy, or piss off someone by smashing THIER car up… well,
your right!! All of that can happen!

In fact, when I first started racing my RC cars, I made every
racing mistake there is. I embarassed myself, I smashed my poor
little car up, I was totally confused. Frankly, I didn’t have much
fun.

But, I fought through it, learned from my mistakes, got some great
advice, and now I enjoy every weekend at the track. I strongly
suggest you give racing a chance. I think it’s the best way to
enjoy your RC cars hobby.

J.P. Turner, is the author of “The RC Insider’s Unfair Advantage Radio Controlled Car Secrets Guide”, at http://www.rccarsecretsguide.com and also runs an RC blog, RC Smackdown, at http://www.rcsmackdown.com

This article may be reproduced in its entirety only if unaltered and the resource box is included.

Conquering Confusion

God is not the author of confusion
Where therefore does it begin?
How then can we alleviate it?
The word itself - confusion
Can be separated into two words
Con – meaning to deceive
Or the Spanish translation
Meaning with
Such is a paradox of sorts
Perhaps it is chronologically backwards
And the Spanish translation should come first
Which is to say
First we are with our desires
Settled in our hearts
As to that which is true
But somehow thereafter
We question ourselves
Become double minded
And thereby deceive ourselves
Allowing our doubts
To overshadow our desires
Or intermingle and coexist
With our desires
From this comes the fusion
The combining and merging
Of that which is true
And that which is false
Of that which we desire
And that which we do not

How then is a human
To differentiate between
Both desires and doubts
When they both arise from within?
Moreover which of the two
Should bear the most weight
Determine his or her fate
And course of action?
Which of the two
Produces the most satisfaction?

It seems desire
Is under girded by faith
Believing that the inner yearnings within
Can be fully satisfied time and time again
Doubt on the other hand
Is embedded in fear
Throwing caution to the wind
Throughout the year
Such a hesitation
Leads to vacillation
Tending toward a deviation
Resulting in a limitation
Leaving one’s self-esteem
Diminished by inner reservations

Such inner withdrawal and reservation
Continuously causes one to miss
Their divine visitation
Though within there is always meditation
In which the true self
The heart within
Ponders and fathoms personal exaltation
The uplifting of the inner self
The fulfilling of the inner desires
The igniting of one’s passion with fire

Sadly however
Most tend to be double minded
Seeking outside opinions
Rather than listening
To the still small voice within
That gives birth to dominion
Dominion over thoughts
Dominion over flesh
Dominion over external opinions
Enabling divine rest
Giving one zeal and zest
To be his or her best.
Such a rest of the soul
A peace within
Shuts out the world
And creates your world
As you know it
And would have it to be
Most however know nothing of the sort
They meander in the mud mentally
Stuck in second opinions
Questioning themselves
Overriding their inner impressions
Intuition
And spontaneous expression
Is it any wonder
People go into depression
When they recoil
From authentic expression
Expression of oneself
Not living for another
Breaking forth into joy
Despite the resistance
Regardless of pain
Projecting themselves
Without disdain
Yet most are diminished
Deep within
Always looking
For someone to affirm them
Sadly however
Most cannot even
Affirm themselves
Is it any wonder therefore
That you are left out
Left feeling odd
Left feeling blue
Repeatedly not knowing
What you should do

As for me
I know it not
This dreadful evil
A soulish rot
For I fear not mistakes
Or human upheaval
I’ve learned to live
And let live too
I’ve learned to stand
And not to bow
No, never bow before
The altar of man
For you were created uniquely
By God’s own hand
Skeptics will come
Critics will go
Nevertheless all
Soon shall know
That this man was born
An original from conception
Passing through the womb
Without rejection
For I shall not fear
No matter what
I feel or hear
Because deep within
I can hear Him
The eternal Father
Who loves me dearly
And affirms me daily
To magnificently
Be me!
In me I rejoice
Made in God’s image
In me I celebrate
No need to deviate
For in God’s likeness
I was made
I am His will
On earth today
Therefore I am
And need not to be.
Therefore what I do
I do so happily
Not driven by ambition
Seeking some position
Yeah rather content
Complete in Christ
And He with me
From a position of victory
I stand amazed
As I work out my salvation
Each and every day
Making new discoveries
Seeing new manifestations
Of all for which I was designed
His creation
With the power to create
Create I do
Not concerned with the future
Each day is new
Even what seems to be a mis-step
With it does God surely make
Something profound
And always great

My Lord and Maker
The Great I AM
Was there through my past
And today holds my hand
Journeying with me
Into the future
Showing me that
Which is to come
Removing hesitation
So I can run
Though most do not
Understand
It bothers me not
I’m in His hands
Should I fall
He’ll hold me up
With such security
I erupt
Like a mighty volcano
As a calve from the stall
I shall go forth
Standing tall
My eyes in front of me
My but behind
Not bound to a memory
The future’s fortune I find
Surely I will achieve greatness
For the greater One is in me
Now this is the secret
Listen to me
Before you can become
You first must be
In that you’ll find
Security
At that moment of time
Upon this rock of revelation
You will know for sure
And be without hesitation
The limits will be broken
The chains fall off your mind
Self awareness and authenticity
You will find
Then confusion will go
And you’ll live in the know
The knowings of God
The intuitive ability
The magic of heaven
For which He created thee
To flow
To marvel
To move in miracles
To rest
To realize
To not despise
Who you are
From whom you came
Never again
Your desires to tame
Awaken the lion
The conqueror within
Lay to rest confusion
It is a sin
A sin deeply rooted
In fear of man
A fear that cripples
Paralyzes and hinders
A soulish disease
Your life to tease
To rob you
From the ability to realize
Reality is near
Just beneath your eyes
It’s not without
Nor is it complex
Reality is in you
Now just relax.

Paul Davis is author of Breakthrough for a Broken Heart a book telling us “How to overcome disappointments and blossom into your dreams!” He is a minister, life coach (relational & professional), dating expert, popular worldwide keynote speaker, creative consultant, humor being, adventurer, explorer, mediator, liberator and dream-maker.

Paul’s compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has also brought revival to many in war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His nonprofit organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams and breaking limitations.

Paul’s Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

Paul can be contacted at: RevivingNations@yahoo.com - 407-967-7553 or 407-282-1745.

For additional info:
http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV
http://www.BreakthroughSeminars.org
http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com

Settlers of Catan Strategy - Part 2 - The Wood-Brick Strategy

The Settlers of Catan has been the flagship for German Style Designer Games for many reasons, some of the main ones being its elegant simplicity and its depth of strategy. Your choice of strategies will influence your initial setup and overall game play. The separation of strategies that are outlined in this series is a bit artificial, but it is useful to understand the concepts behind them. In practice, players will use a combination of these strategies during gameplay. This article, the second in this series, will discuss the Wood-Brick Strategy.

The Wood-Brick Strategy is a strategy to get a lot of wood and brick early in the game, in order to build settlements and roads fast.

A wood/brick port is very useful in this strategy, as finding a way to get ore/grain will be important to build cities for the middle to end game.

Lots of people think this strategy is less effective on a small or congested board, as you need room to grow. Actually, it can be more effective, as your increased road building capability gives you the advantage in reaching those limited number of expansion spots first. An ore-grain player’s worst nightmare is playing on a congested board with one or two wood-brick players.

This strategy naturally lends itself to getting the longest road.

For this strategy, it is very important that you build new settlements around open grain and ore hexes, or you will have a very difficult time trying to build cities later on in the game (which can be crucial for a win).

Optionally, with your increased settlement production, you can build on a number of ports to get ore and wheat.

With your increased road building capability, you should build your roads to cut off other player’s expansion. This can help in denying Ore/Grain players from acquiring enough building sites they need to win the game. This leads into the next variant, which takes this to more of an extreme:

The “Road Boy” variant works to build roads fast in order to block off other players’ expansion. This strategy concentrates on building roads first, rather than on production. Only when you are done blocking people off do you work on getting enough victory points to win the game. This requires a lot of wood and brick, so your first cities should be on these, rather than ore. Trade aggressively for wood and brick, before it’s obvious you might be a threat. This is an interesting variant in that it violates my general philosophy of building up production first. It could work better on smaller boards with less people, so you don’t miss blocking anyone. In addition, it might not work well in many Seafarers scenarios, as people could just build to islands.

For more information about the game, please visit the author’s Settlers of Catan fansite. This series is based upon the Settlers of Catan Strategy and Tactics Guide, which is located at http://settlersofcatan.blogspot.com

Dan Kozarchuk is a self admitted board game junkie who has an obsession with designer board games, particularly the Settlers of Catan.

Quilting - Essential Tools for Success

You’ve seen those beautiful wall hangings and quilts, and thought that is something you would like to do. If you have a sewing machine - go for it. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you might want to rent or borrow one to see if quilting is something that you would like to try.

My neighbor is a real sweetheart, but a bit eccentric. She thought she would like to try sewing and ran up against an unscrupulous dealer who sold a novice like her a wonderful machine for $7,000!

For that exorbitant price, it can do anything from basic sewing to appliqué with blanket stitching to embroidery. Now, she’s discovered that she really isn’t interested in making quilts. It is too much detail work for her with all those small pieces to cut and piece together. So, the expensive machine just sits there gathering dust.

A basic machine that sews an even straight stitch will work fine. I have one that is 30 years old that I’ve kept in good repair by oiling it regularly and taking it in to a professional to have it checked over periodically. I did buy a newer machine for about $400 that works just fine.

My husband wondered why I would need two sewing machines. You never know when one will malfunction, and you need a back up right away. As long as the old one still works, I will store it.

You can probably find a good machine for about $250. There are three types of machines on the market. Computerized models like the one my neighbor bought can perform the widest variety of tasks, but you don’t need all those bells and whistles for quilting. The mechanical kind, the most basic, uses manual knobs and dials, and is often the least expensive.

Electronic sewing machines are what you want for quilting. Besides having a straight stitch, it should also have an adjustable needle position and dual feed. With dual feed, both the top and bottom move the fabric through the needle position, which helps you match patterns or sew fabrics of different weights.

I also bought a special pressure foot for quilting that makes an exact 1/4 inch seam. This pressure foot was an added expense, but making exact seams are well worth the cost. I had always thought I was sewing a 1/4 inch seam with the regular pressure foot. After I bought the special quilting pressure foot, I found that my seams had really not been the right width, and that was why some of my blocks didn’t end up the correct size that the pattern had said they should be.

If you’ve decided quilting is something you’d like to invest time and money in doing, having the correct tools makes a great difference in the quality of your results. No need doing the work if you aren’t going to be satisfied with the final product.

To find a sewing machine you’d like to work with, do some research on-line and go to stores that specialize in sewing machines - they’ll have the greatest selection and they’ll be set up so you can test them. Bring some fabric with you, and enjoy the process of choosing the tool that will help you create beautiful quilts and wall hangings for your home and for gifts.

Rita Bode’s creates custom-designed quilts and wall hangings. Her articles on topics related to quilting are published at Quilt Concepts and The Quilt Box , leading resources on-line for information about quilts.

When You Sew, Do You Know How To Find Your Waist Line?

When you work on a sewing project, do you have trouble trying to find your waist line?

Some waist lines are not as obvious as others. You think you know where it is, but you aren’t sure.

You need to know this even for basic sewing.

So many sewing instructions tell you to do this or that from your waist line.

If you can’t find it, how can you follow the instructions?

As women age, they get thicker in the middle and really have difficulty trying to figure out where their waist is.

Another reason so many of you have this problem is because you don’t wear garments at your natural waist line, especially in the last few years with so many garments cut below the waist.

There is a difference between where your natural waist line is and where you might wear your garments or be forced to wear your garments because of the ready-to-wear clothes available on the market today.

Here are some tips to help you find your natural waist line.

1. Tie a narrow piece of elastic around your middle

2. Bend to the right side

3. Bend to the left side

4. Bend forward

5. Bend backward

The elastic will roll to where your body bends.

Voila! That is your natural waist line.

It may not seem like the best place, but it is where your body naturally says it is.

Garments will be more comfortable there.

Don’t worry if your waist isn’t level. Mine is up in the front, down in the back, up on the right side and down on the left.

Have you ever put on a pair of panty hose, hiked them way up trying to hold in your “blubber” and watched what happened?

The minute that you bend, they will roll right to where your body bends and the “blubber” just spills out over the top.

Place a 1″ waist band at that spot on your body. Bend in all directions. Wear it around the house for a while. It should settle at your natural waistline. When it feels comfortable, continue with the rest of your measurements.

You really should use your natural waist line when you are fitting a master basic pattern. This is particularly true for pants and skirts.

Then, once you have your fit, if you choose to wear your garments below the waist, just make a design change to a copy of your master basic pattern.

Copy design changes from other sewing patterns or garments and learn how to apply them to your master basic pattern that you know fits you. Don’t start from scratch trying to fit another pattern.

The rule is: Fit your natural body, then create your designs.

It just makes sense!

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- by Marian Lewis

©2006 Marian Lewis - All Rights Reserved

1st Step To Sewing Success

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Marian Lewis is a sewing instructor and the creator of an amazing new fitting method for hard-to-fit sewing folks.

In her ebook, “Common Sense Fitting Method For Hard-To-Fit Sewing Folks Who Want Great Fitting Skirts And Pants”, find out step-by-step WHAT you really need, WHERE you really need it and HOW to apply that to a commercial sewing pattern.

For more information, go to:

=> http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/fitting.html

Marian is also the author of other eBooks related to sewing including, “Sew A Tee Pee And Accessories For Your Tribe Of Kids” and “Classy Designer Straight Skirt” where she teaches basic and advanced sewing techniques.

To learn more, go to:

=> http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/sewing.html

To discover sewing and fitting secrets to achieve sewing success, follow the link:

=> http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com

An Afternoon in Chicago [a poem: in Spanish and English]

The sun like a dear trail—bit my brow,

Industriously, as my wife and I took the train

Back to O’Hare, from downtown Chicago, —

Windy city, with stretched-up eyebrows

In its winter sleep.

We walked around, downtown: busy city—

From Washington Street to Michigan; across

The bridge, there on East Ontario, we

Ate at ‘Bice,’ Italian Restaurant (my wife

Paid the bill) her treat, Valentine’s Day.

I’m waiting for the plane now, it’s 5:00 PM;

It has been one of those happier days, moments,

In my life: strange, even with Northwest being lat

It is pale, to dark now (6:00 PM)

Sitting on these warn out seats…!

I’ve been thinking, like when you’re a little boy,

And spent the whole day rambling through the

City, on your high, two wheel bike!…

Whistling away the sunny day,

With nothing much to do or say.

My wife, sitting next me fell to sleep, hat on:

Holding my jacket in her two hands, sleeping,

Had to remove her coffee cup, in case it fell:

She’s in some joyful lofty solitude;

While I’m sniffling away like hell.

It was nice, just being ourselves today

Before having to go back home, to St. Paul,

Go back to the kitchen, and fixing things.

As I look about, everyone’s on cell phones.

Hurry-up—flight: NW 145!

Now that I think of it, you could smell the lake

The Great Lake Michigan; feel its pulse, its

Winds like tides in the air all about.

Softer dust, swirling along the cities streets;

Street people blowing brass horns for a meal.

Rhythmic packs, misplaced men and women

Everywhere: like undergrowth, weeds not growing.

Drunks, and derelicts, eyes staring at your every move,

And endless forest of a city, with boulders,

Towering bricks, next to an unforgiving lake:

Chicago!…

Semi prose/1/14/06 #1208

IN SPANISH
Translated by: Nancy Peñaloza

Una Tarde en Chicago

El sol como una huella querida.-muerde mi ceja,
Trabajosamente, como mi esposa y yo tomamos el tren
De regreso a O´Hara, desde el centro de Chicago,-

Ciudad expuesta al viento, con cejas dispersadas

En su invierno dormido.
Caminamos alrededor del centro de la ciudad: ciudad ocupada-
Desde la calle Washington hacia Michigan; a través
El puente, allí sobre el este de Ontario, nosotros

Comimos en “Bice”. Restaurante italiano (Mi esposa

Pagó el ticket) su regalo por el Día de San Valentín.

Yo estoy esperando por el avión ahora, son las 5:00 PM;
Esta ha sido uno de esos días más felices, momentos,
En mi vida: curioso, aun con el Noroeste atardeciendo.

Esto esta pálido, oscuro ahora (6:00 PM)

¡Sentado sobre estos asientos cuidados!.
¡Yo he estado pensando, como cuando tú eres un niño,
Y pasas el día entero divagando a través de
La ciudad, sobre tu alta, bicicleta de dos ruedas!..

Silbando lejos en el día soleado,

Con nada más para hacer o decir.

Mi esposa, sentada cerca de mí cayó dormida, sobrero puesto:
Agarrando mi chaqueta con sus dos manos, durmiente,
Tuve que quitar su taza de café, en caso que esto caiga:

Ella es en algo alegre, sublime solitaria;

Mientras yo estoy resoplando afuera como demonio.
Esto fue hermoso, siendo nuestro día para nosotros mismos
Antes de tener que regresar a casa, a Saint Paúl,
Regresar a la cocina, y arreglar cosas.

Mientras miro alrededor, los celulares de todos.

Rápido- vuelo -NW 145

Ahora que yo pienso de esto, tú podías oler el lago
El gran lago Michigan; sentir su pulso, sus
Vientos como oleadas en el aire por todos lados.

Polvo muy suave, arremolinándose a lo largo de las calles de la ciudad;

La gente de la calle soplando cuernos de metal por una comida.
Pandillas acompasadas, hombres y mujeres extraviados
En todo lugar; como maleza, debiluchas sin crecer
Borrachos, y abandonados, ojos mirando fijamente a cada movimiento tuyo,

Un bosque interminable de una ciudad, con pedruscos,
Torres de ladrillos, cerca de un lago implacable:
Chicago…. Semi Prosa 1/14/06/# 1208

See Dennis’ web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com