Trip back to NY and Projects and Fun

Check out I got my new website up ....still under construction but its looking better and much more friendlier to use. :)

www.pointbreezedesigns.com

Cute idea...make a plastic canvas playing card holder...tutorial here

my 1st strawberries

my front flowers

I love spring when the trees are all in bloom

the river leading up to the falls

the Falls

rain is coming

pouring thunder and lightening

cute store

I finished my mystery puzzle

Some Interesting Chocolate Facts, Crafts, and ,What's in Your Bag?

Ok now don't hold your breath!! LOL....but I was thinking about making something for my yard and I stubled upon this cute Wind Chimes. It's pretty easy, colorful, and will sound so pretty on any patio.

I also thought that maybe I might add some hanging beads strung down at different lengths in the middle too. When I finish mine I will post it here...but here is the directions to make one like this..

Wind Chimes
 made from small terra-cotta pots.



MATERIALS:
1 5 1/4" diameter plastic flowerpot saucer
5 1 1/2" diameter clay pots
Acrylic paint
Clear acrylic finish
Pushpin
Scissors


String
Hole punch
5 leaf shapes cut from a soda bottle

5 small bells

11 buttons



DIRECTIONS:

1. Paint the saucer and pots. When the paint dries, add a coat of clear acrylic finish. Let it dry.
2. Using a pushpin, make a hole in the center of the plastic saucer and at four equidistant spots around the side of the saucer. Widen the holes with scissors or a compass point if needed (a parent's job).
3. To attach the outside hanging pots, cut four 1 1/2-foot lengths of string.
4. To make each chime, punch a hole in the end of a plastic leaf and tie it onto the end of the string. Next, slip on the bell, tie a knot about 3/4 inch above the bell, thread on a button and then a pot (upside down).
5. Thread the end of the string out through one of the side holes in the saucer (thread from the inside and make sure the saucer's upside down). To fasten in place, run the string up through one hole in a button and then down through another hole and knot tightly.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with three other pots.
7. For the center pot, repeat step 4 but use a string that's 3 1/2 feet long. Also, before you thread the string through the center of the saucer, check your length (all the pots should hang at the same level, and you'll want about 2 feet of string above the saucer). Then knot the string at the correct length.
8. Attach a button above the knot, thread the string through the saucer, add another button and knot to secure.
9. Tie the leftover string above the saucer into a loop to form a hanger

Then I saw this idea and thought I would make a few for my backyard birdies... how easy is this and a great way to use those plastic bottles..

I love Chocolate!!! Especially dark chocolate and it is great for you too...There is in fact a growing body of credible scientific evidence that chocolate contains a host of heart-healthy and mood-enhancing phytochemicals, with benefits to both body and mind.

Dark chocolate is also healthier because it has less added sugar.Milk chocolate, on the other hand, contains added butterfat which can raise blood cholesterol levels. And it has less antioxidants and other beneficial phytochemicals than dark chocolate.


How much chocolate would you have to eat to obtain these benefits? Less than you might think. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, adding only half an ounce of dark chocolate to an average American diet is enough to increase total antioxidant capacity 4 percent, and lessen oxidation of LDL cholesterol.

High blood pressure is a well known risk factor for heart disease. It is also one of the most common causes of kidney failure, and a significant contributor to many kinds of dementia and cognitive impairment. Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate daily can reduce blood pressure in people with mild hypertension.
So eat more chocolate!!!



these are a bit scary....



A place for your little fishes but how do you feed them?

 Why do gals carry purses? hmmmm probably because most of our garments come without pockets and we always need so much with kids in tow and just for us. I carry many things besides a little lip gloss, lipstick, aspirins, change bag, g-kids photos, keys, coupons, pad and pen, check book, [although I rarely write checks anymore] extra hair tie, mini flash light, scissors, nail file, IPod, Cell phone, and always have tissue...What do you carry in your bag?

What are some funny things some gals carry in their bags???? socks, water bottle,

13 things you should carry in your purse:

1. tissues- the runny nose, nose bleeds, spill something
2. pad and pen- you never know when you need to write something down
3. army knife-multi uses especially the multi purpose combo ones
4. pins- never worry if you lose a button or your hem falls
5. allergy meds- always need this if an allergic reaction occurs
6. book or magazine- if you have to wait anywhere you have something to read or if your girlfriend is late for your lunch date
7. to do list- so you remember what your doing away from home or just to add things to it
8. cell phone- for ER and just for enjoyable conversations
9. matches or lighter- you never know when you'll need these
10. ER snacks- running late and hunger strikes or you get stranded  
11. address lables- save time when your personal info is asked for
12. traveler checks--try not to carry cash it is dangerous
13. spare house and car key-you'll never have to call expensive locksmiths

Think about these things before you leave home and add some of them or all of them to your bag!! You'll never regret it!!!

Thanks for stopping by as always....



Craft Fair Saturday

I did a craft fair Saturday, it was fun...I had a ton of people looking and ooggling over my items....I sold a few, not as well as I would have liked but I had fun...

Off to the LA County Fair

This is what I am entering in the LA County Fair this year.... :) have to drop it off tomorrow and then the fair starts the end of August...can't wait...remember last year I won ribbons on all my entries....

My Spooky Cat Bag is from my "kitty" bag lines "Spooky" even has fangs...just in timeand the Tea Bag holder is new that I just did last night as a fridgie or can also be used on a tote bag.....

for Halloween...

Who Wears Aprons? What to Sew?

I have lots more to make and SEW for my aprons and bags, but I just love the new material available today. Since, I have visited one of my favorite secondhand store and they are selling a lot of "vintage" clothing. Yummy .... I can really get some wonderful fabric there by using clothing and cutting from it to line my bags and make some aprons.

Here is another new bag I just finished that will be available soon in my Etsy shop and my online store.




Ya know one of my pen pals, that I wrote to and sent a photo of one of my finished aprons asked me, "so...who wears aprons anymore?" And I started to think about that statement and thought I would look it up to see if any info was out there on it..


Here are some of my findings:

Buy a vintage apron on EBay
or try Ric Rack Attack
a funny apron
for kids direction on making a "turkey" apron
tie-dyed aprons


I loved this saying since I am a Marylyn Monroe fan "Forget the Diamonds. Aprons Are A Girl's Best Friend."

But who wears an Apron?
Many people say they can almost smell good food cooking when they see an apron that
reminds them of their mom or grandmother. Some dads like to wear aprons when they
barbecue outdoors in summer. Throughout history aprons have also been a sign of certain occupations. Fishermen wore oilskin aprons. Blacksmiths and carpenters had leather ones. Butlers and maids wore clean white aprons. Lumberyard workers often had short canvas aprons with advertising on the front and pockets for nails. Many people have an apron as part of their
historic national costume. They wear these aprons today for special celebrations. But the apron probably had a useful purpose years ago.

What Is an Apron?
The word apron comes from a French word, naperon, meaning a small tablecloth. An apron is an article of clothing usually worn on the front of the body and tied around the waist with strings. It is used to protect clothing, to cover the body or to adorn a costume. An apron can be made of cloth, plastic, leather or other material. Half aprons tie around the waist with a skirt that hangs in front of the body. Full aprons have a skirt and a top section called a bib. Aprons are often hand-made, but can also be purchased ready-made.


To most people, aprons are mainly good for protecting your clothes while cooking or working. However, there are multiple uses for aprons.


Try using your apron to:

• Pick up hot dishes
• Wipe away your grandchildren’s tears
• Dry the inside of a freshly washed mug
• Carry in eggs from the henhouse
• Warm your arms when the house is drafty
• Dust the furniture
• Wipe up spills
• Let the children run and hide underneath it
• Carry freshed vegetables from the garden
• Make people laugh (funny aprons are great for this)

An Apron for Housework

To be entirely consistent, an apron that is worn in the performance of household duties must cover the whole dress underneath. Otherwise it wouldn't be much of a protection, would it? But the apron must be absolutely neat, for surely one cannot do neat housework when the apron one wears is untidy! And after all, why shouldn't a woman look as attractive in her own home, among her own dear ones, as she does at a fashionable dinner? (Read entire essay.)

A funny apron story:

One lady even told a funny story about how when she was newly married, she and her husband lived on a small farm. They had a few goats, one of whom was a little obnoxious. This goat was always following her around and bumping in to her. She always had to dodge that annoying billy goat, until one day her apron came to the rescue.
She was so frustrated at that goat that she actually ripped her apron off and threw it on his head. He was so confused, that she was able to rush out to the garden and pick her vegetables before the goat knew what hit him. Her little trick never ceased to work on that dumb goat, and she had her apron to thank for getting her work done every day.

And check out the Apron Queen for some fabulous ideas like a tutorial on "How to make a Hanky Apron" for clear instructions and fun! I love her site!!!



And over at another blog I found this interesting observation:


My Mother always wore an apron and any time we are cooking together it always began with ‘where’s your apron’, or ‘here let me get you an apron’. I would happily oblige her, and put on one of the waist-style aprons she had on hand. Never really seeing the point, but doing so, because its how things are done in her kitchen.
Now, years later, with a family of my own, I am always reaching for my apron when beginning a task. The type I wear is a bib-style that goes around the neck and ties around the waist. This is the only style that works for me.
This link show basic ‘types’ of aprons. Mine is the ‘Designer Kitchen Bib’.
http://www.chefwork.com/aprons.htm

Apron history, blogs, and uses goes on forever and I was amazed at just how popular they have become. So for my pen pal and all others who are not aware of this "craze" that has been going on for centuries....lots and lots of people where aprons and aprons are here to stay!!!!