4th of July Memories

www.FabricGreetings.etsy.com

The 4th of July is just about here. Although Memorial Day heralds the official start to the Summer season, the 4th of July seems to be a bigger celebration. People flock to the beach, have backyard cookouts and scout out a good place to view the fireworks. All rites of the Summer holiday.

I am sure everyone has a special memory of this holiday. Does it involve a spectacular display of fireworks, a great cook out or a sunburn from too many hours on the beach?

In my case it is a memory that spans a decade or more. And it was all done from the comfort of our living room. I absolutely loved watching Arthur Feidler conduct the Boston Pops Orchestra. The Pops always did a 4th of July concert on the Charles River Esplanade and it was broadcast on many PBS stations. Thousands of people would pack picnic suppers, grab a blanket and head to the grassy areas to wait for this free concert. A great display of  fireworks on the Charles River followed the performance.

Arthur Feidler was the conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra for 50 years. That was longer than the 17 previous conductors combined. He is credited with making music fun and interesting. He was known for his popular and light classical programs.  And although I am tone deaf and had no idea what they were playing, watching him conduct was a thrill in itself.

The July 4, 1976 concert is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest single audience for classical music concert. 400,000 people attended that concert. July 4, 1976 was a very special year.

Arthur Feidler was a spirited little man who always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye. He had a head of white hair that sometimes seems a bit unruly. He just had fun with his orchestra and himself. One of his biggest likes was watching the Boston firemen do their jobs. He often went to see firefighters at work when there was a fire in the Boston area. On his 75th birthday, his family presented him with his very one full sized fire truck....wonder where you keep something like that.

Arthur Feidler died in 1979. A 32 cent stamp was created in his memory. And for me, the music was no longer the same. He was followed by John Williams as conductor of the Pops. Certainly another great conductor, but in my eyes, not an Arthur Feidler. Somehow the 4th of July has lost a bit of its sparkle

Making Mushrooms

  by: www.FabricGreetings.etsy.com


Winter is hopefully coming to an end. Everyone is beginning to go stir crazy from being snowed in or bothered by the intense cold that has blanketed much of our country this year.  

Those who garden are scouring the seed catalogs that arrive. Thoughts are turning to what to do with the yard and gardens when the weather permits. Here is a little crafty idea to get you started. These little - or big - mushrooms make wonderful garden art. Or they can be displayed on a patio table. They are fun to make and the kids can help as well. And is a great way of recycling.

If your children are young or clumsy, then I suggest using some of the plastic ware that can be found in the dollar stores.
  

Here's what you need to do.

I scour the thrift shops, Goodwill, and flea markets for my supplies. With  yard sales starting, you can find ideas there too.

You will need glasses, vases, hurricane globes, candle sticks or bottles for the stem of your mushrooms.

The "caps" of your mushrooms will be bowls, lids, plates, cheese domes.

Again - this is left to your imagination. 









Now comes the fun part. Experiment with putting different "caps" on the stems. Turn glasses upside down, try longer vases on smaller tops or larger tops. Your imagination is  supposed to run wild here.

When you  have decided on the way 
you want your mushroom to look, you will glue 
them together. I use E6000 glue. 
It has a very strong odor and should be 
used near an open window, or in the open air. 
It works on glass and is waterproof. 
I do not recommend kids using it without
parental guidance.





Once you have your mushroom completed, you can add embellishments if desired.

The little mushroom above is made from a candle stick topped with a desert plate. On top of the desert plate is a small condiment bowl. Finally a green glass bead is glued to the top. This mushroom is approximately 6 inches tall. The large, tall mushroom in the header picture is 10 inches tall. The size depends only on what you choose for a stem and cap.




                   
                             If you are making mushrooms with plastic
                             ware, a good glue to use is
                             Aleene's Jewel-It.
                            The glue is non toxic and water proof.







If you make some mushrooms, post a link in the comment section so we can see the creativity of our readers.

How to Clean a Ceiling Fan

Today's post is a by one of our Friends team members, JewelsbyTrish.  It's a repost from her own blog, but she's generously shared it with us.


I have devised a great way to clean a ceiling fan WITHOUT all the dusty mess! You see I am highly allergic to dust. So you think I would clean the fans often, but alas I fall into the trap we all fall into...can't see it up there so pretend it isn't there! Right!? ;-) Then when I finally do clean them, there is dust falling everywhere & I am sneezing up a storm. No more folks! Here we go:

{ITEMS NEEDED}
• ceiling fan (hehe...I couldn't resist)
• old pillow case
• umbrella
• bandana (optional)

1. Put hair in ponytail & wrap head with bandana. This keeps any stray dust from landing in your hair & causing an allergy attack later. (optional)

2. Open umbrella underneath your fan. This will catch any falling dust! Now your bed won't have dust bunnies for you to clean nor will there be any to vacuum off the carpet! Simply take the umbrella outside & shake.

3. Take your old pillow case & slip it over the fan blade. Grip it tightly so no dust falls & pull to end of fan blade. Dust will be trapped inside the pillow case & none should be falling or billowing out into the room.

4. Clean 1 fan at a time being sure to take pillow case outside after to shake dust from pillow case before proceeding to the next fan.

5. If your fans are not extremely dusty, skip step 4. Clean all fans in your house, then shake out the dust when job is complete.

6. Shake out umbrella of dust. (You should not have much, if any, due to the pillow case catching it all.)

7. Wash pillow case with your load of cleaning rags for the week & save for next time!


I hope you found this how-to helpful!!!

Creative Valentine Gifts

by FabricGreetings

We would have to live in a bubble not to know that Valentine's Day will be here in less than a month. The B&M stores are already filled with hearts and chocolates and lacy things. And there is nothing wrong with that - if you are a hearts and lace and chocolate kind of person. However, there are some other great options available from shops on etsy.

I am a member of the FriendsofHeartsandHandsUnited Team on etsy. Our members are scattered across the world and their shops are just as diverse. What I am going to do here is introduce you to some great finds from these shops. They are not the traditional type of Valentine, but are gifts that would be well used, enjoyed and appreciated.                 

                                                 

Our team leader runs Robin'sFlight - a shop 
that is well stocked with lovely crocheted 
purses, wallets and gadget bags. Everyone, 
young and old alike can use a gadget bag. So 
take a look.www.RobinsFlight.etsy.com


If your special person is at all crafty or sews, then something from this shop is sure to please. The shop is called Sewsouk and is run by a Brit living in Morocco. The shop is www.Sewsouk.etsy.com and is chuck a buck full of colorful items.


Jeanie is a knitter and her shop features some wonderful cold weather items. Who wouldn't be thrilled with a knitted cowl or fingerless gloves to get through the rest of the cold weather. It sure isn't over yet. Be sure to visit www.JeanieBeanHandknits.etsy.com


Is your special someone into vintage? We have a vintage seller who specializes in vintage buttons as well as other items. Personally, I have never met a button I didn't like. She is well versed on buttons and can answer your questions. Her shop is www.NouveauxRetro.etsy.com

Jewelry is always considered the "go to" gift for this holiday. And we are lucky to have several jewelry shops on the team. Each has its own niche. You need to check them all out and find what works for you.

Getting married soon? Then head on over to KC's lovely shop. She specializes in unique wedding accessories not only for the bride, but for the groom, the attendants (male and female) and the parents of the bride. Her memory charms are a huge success. www.KCowie.etsy.com

We have a Southern lass who does very pretty dainty items. She has a flair for the flirty but with a lot of class. Trish runs www.JewelsbyTrish.etsy.com

Resin jewelry is the specialty of our Aussie member. Topaz offers a wide variety of colors and shapes with her resin accessories. The color combinations she gets are wonderful. Her shop is www.TopazTurtle.etsy.com  She is a busy one and also has a décor shop called www.TwoCrackedJars.etsy.com

Inspirational necklaces, definition necklaces and map necklaces can be found in a shop run by Lisa. Her pendants are not something you will find everywhere,
The shop is www.JewelrybyJakemi.etsy.com

How about a lovely piece of stained glass? There are so many ways you can use it - a sun catcher, a wall panel, a nightlight, a decorative box, a stand alone ornament. This shop is sure to have something special. Nancy runs two shops.  www.DesignsStainedGlass.etsy.com says it all. 

Her other shop has a softer side and features fabric purses, pillows, cat toys and other fabric items.

That shop is www.NancyEllenStudios.etsy.com

We have another Aussie on our team. Belle also runs two shops - both very distinct and miles apart. If you have a cat, you will love what she offers in her shop www.Kiteepee.etsy.com  for your feline friend. She has just started offering kitty tee pees. They are wonderful as kitty hidey holes or litter box covers. And while you are at it, check out www.BeljaysFeltnArt for lovely scarves and belly dancing accessories.

April is on a roll with her magnet boards and organizing items. So if you are buying for someone who wants to stay neat and tidy, be sure to pop into www.MooreMagnets.etsy.com Her countdown calendars are also a huge success.


Last but not least are the shops I run. If you are looking to send a unique and special Valentine card, you will find some ideas in my shop. I also offer pillowcase greetings which work well for kids big and small. All of these can be found in www.FabricGreetings.etsy.com  If the special person happens to be an 18" doll then check out www.ADollsNecessities.etsy.com

So there you have it...a wide variety of items. Actually, there is something for everyone if you brose through those shops. And nothing says love like Handmade.