YOKE DU YOUR
On New Year’s Eve, Marilyn stood up in the local pub and said that it was time to get ready. At the stroke of midnight, she wanted every husband to be standing next to the one person who made his life worth living.
As the clock struck, the bartender was almost crushed to death.
ARTspiration
Artists or art that turns me on and feeds my muse! Like it or dislike it, what about this art inspires your own art or creativity? This is by artist, Michael Mazur. It is Untitled (Study), 1994.
DESIGNspiration
Look around you. Design is everywhere! How can you incorporate the beauty that surrounds you into your art or craft? “Cigarette Vending” Mechanical Bank. Circa 1920’s
IDEA I LOVE
I love the idea of taking care of the homeless. This is a way to pay it forward by crocheting a plastic sleeping mat for the homeless with yarn you make yourself from plastic grocery bags. Simply amazing. Go for it, cupcake:
http://www.finecraftguild.com/craft-for-humanity-crochet-a-plastic-sleeping-mat-for-the-homeless/
This is another tutorial for helping the homeless and saving the environment by crocheting:
http://www.crochetspot.com/helping-the-homeless-and-saving-the-environment-by-crocheting/
IDEA I LOVE
Cross stitch a group of scissors. Here’s the pattern:
http://stickeules-freebies.blogspot.com/2011/03/sampler.html
YOU’RE INVITED
JUST A FEW SPACES LEFT!
Just a couple of spaces left! Book Now!
It’s the first ever Slow Stitching Movement Getaway WITH Meg Cox, Allison Aller, and Liza Prior Lucy. Please consider yourself invited (we want the event to be intimate, so we are limiting the attendance to just 30 stitchers, so I’m encouraging you to reserve your spot quickly). Please take a look and please share this information with your fellow stitchers:
Simply go to The Slow Stitching Movement website and click on The Slow Stitching Movement Getaway button: http://www.slowstitching.com/
YUMMY DISH!
CROCK POT ROAST
INGREDIENTS:
- chuck roast
- potatoes
- onions
- carrots
- beef Stock or broth
- water
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- Italian seasoning
- salt
- pepper
FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE: http://www.mynaturalfamily.com/recipes/crock-pot-recipes/pot-roast-crock-pot-recipe/
IDEA I LOVE
Sew up this cute hound from your fabric scraps. here’s the pattern:
http://bustleandsew.com/tutorials/free-liberty-patchwork-pup-tutorial/
SO DRINK, CHUG-A-LUG CHUG-A-LUG
NEW YEAR CHAMPAGNE JELLO SHOTS
Ingredients:
champagne (or prosecco or sparkling wine)
sugar
Knox plain gelatin
White sparkling sugar
For the Full Recipe Click Here: http://www.ericasweettooth.com/2012/12/champagne-jello-shots.html
IF YOU HAVEN’T SUBSCRIBED TO THIS BLOG YET:
For well over 2 years, I have been posting up to 20 links per day or every other day, on the Mark Lipinski’s Fan Pageon Facebook. Of course, in Facebook’s never ending quest to make lots of money, Facebook seems to have abandoned their mission of a real social networking site and it has become more about Facebook revenue.
Several months ago, Facebook, without warning, had implemented a new business model. As a result, the vast majority of “LIKErs” who have been faithful readers of this Fan Page have been blocked from receiving my posts, time and time again, from getting all or a few of the postings onto their timeline feed.
The reason is, Facebook would like pages like, Mark Lipinski’s Fan Page, to pay money every day, and on every post, in order to advertise and lure readers like you, onto the Fan Page.
With out “BOOSTING” a post, only about 5% of people who clicked LIKE on the Fan Page are actually seeing anything I post — and it could be random – sometimes you get a post, and sometimes not. Basically, it sucks for all of us. I am finding that we are all better served if I posted my tips, ideas, links, and jokes, etc. to my blog. You can subscribe to my blog (only if you wan to) and get an email each time I post a grouping of ideas, links, etc.
I AM NOT shutting down Mark Lipinski’s Fan Page on Facebook and you are welcome to follow me there, too. What I am doing is putting everything that used to be on the Fan Page individually onto my blog, AND there will be a daily link to the idea blog on the Fan Page, just as there were multiple links to the various blogs that I’ve always linked to in the past. It’s not that different, really. It will save me a lot of time, and guarantee those who want to see the creative posts will actually get to see them. And Facebookers, will STILL have to click on “GET NOTIFICATIONS” in your Facebook Settings if they want to see what I post on Facebook (sometimes that works, but not all of the time).
Actually, my new model gives you at least TWO ways to get all of the ideas, etc. PLUS you can PIN them and they will be TAGGED so you can find them again in the search bar even years later. – through the FACEBOOK FAN PAGE and YOUR CHOICE (not mandatory) to subscribe to the blog and get email postings that way.
BREATHLESS INSPIRATION!
IDEA I LOVE
Melissa Zexter’s embroidered patterns overtake images with a dream-like surreality.
IDEA I LOVE
A few oversized fabric yo yos can create a pretty and bright pillow to happy yup the winter blahs. Here’s how you make the pillow:
http://www.patchworkposse.com/2013/04/pillow-pattern-52-ufo-quilt-block-pick-up/
WORDS TO LIVE BY
IDEA I LOVE
Knit this easy stripped lap afghan. Use your favorite team colors and you’ll have something to keep you warm during the New Year’s Day football games. Here’s the pattern:
http://www.redheart.com/files/patterns/pdf/LW4396.pdf
MAN CAN LIVE BY BREAD ALONE!
EASY HOMEMADE NO-KNEAD BREAD
HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
bread flour (recommended) or all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
instant or active-dry yeast
salt
cool water
MEMBA?
Maxie Coats
And now a word from our sponsor . . .
COOKIES!
PINK CHAMPAGNE CAKE POPS
Ingredients:
Pink Champagne Cake
Pink Champagne Buttercream
lollipop sticks
white chocolate or white chocolate melts
diamond sugar (optional but recommended)
Directions: http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=702c8860df37a8151baaad991&id=f0d329ca99&e=b3c6f6052f
IDEA I LOVE!
Look no further than the nearest pasture for inspiration to dress up plain dishware. To duplicate these mugs, print and cut out the animal shapes. Use these templates for Cow, Sheep, and Pig shapes. Place each shape atop a small piece of contact paper and outline it in pencil. Cut out with a craft knife; then discard the paper inside the outline. Peel away the backing and affix the stencil to a clean, dry mug, making sure to center the image. Following the package directions, use a soft brush to fill in the outline with dishwasher-safe PermEnamel paint ($3.49 for two ounces, joann.com); let set for a few minutes. Carefully remove the contact paper, clean up any edges with a damp cotton swab, and allow the paint to cure for 10 days.
BE DAZZLED!

Gently Hued Coral Turquoise Diamond Brooch, $5,675
PATCHWORK, BABY!
Spring can’t come soon enough. Why not start you garden now — OK, it’s in fabric, but what the heck . . . Here’s a Fons & Porter applique quilt to get you through the next grey months:
http://www.fonsandporter.com/content_downloads/Bonus-Sprinkle.pdf
SHOEspiration
Alexandre Birman Caged Heels, $985.00
WHAT I LOVE
A cheap plastic chest can be transformed into a work of art (well, kinda). Take a look at the transformation and tutorial here:
http://patriciabasson.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/altered-stationary-caddy.html
DESSERT!
OLD FASHIONED COCONUT CREAM PIE
HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
sweetened flaked coconut
half-and-half
eggs
white sugar
all-purpose flour
salt
vanilla extract
pie shell, baked
frozen whipped topping, thawed (or your own homemade whipped topping)
FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE: http://community.qvc.com/forums/kitchen/topic/449767/old-fashioned-coconut-cream-pie.aspx
STASH SLASHING!
One creative’s hoard is another creative’s treasure . . . read on:
When I began The Slow Stitching Movement I asked stitchers and quilters to reduce their impact on the planet and their creative psyches by letting go of the stash of books, papers, patterns fabrics, and tools that they have been collecting over many years and haven’t used. I have been preaching to myself. So, in an effort to put my money where my mouth is, to open my creativity by being less boxed in by ‘stuff’, I have begun posting boxes of book and fabric bundles on eBay for various charities.
Here’s how I price the packages . . . I research the amount an individual could buy each of these books or fabricss, pre-owned, at their lowest online price. I total the price, split it in half and add Priority Mail Flat Rate Shipping (about $12.65). Then I add a little surprise from my stash as a bonus (it could be extra fabrics, a book ,or notion).
I WILL BE ADDING NEW PRIORITY MAIL BOXES FULL OF GOODIES OFTEN!
Please visit my eBay store to do me, you, and a few of my local charities a favor and check out my eBay store for what I’ve listed each day:
Books from Saturday’s Book Review! FREE SHIPPING!
AUCTION ENDS TOMORROW
SLOW STITCHING
Canadian author, designer, and teacher, Cheryl Arkison discusses her participation in The Slow Stitching Movement in a newly posted Slow Stitching podcast. Listen here: http://www.slowstitching.com/podcasts.html
The Slow Stitching Movement Podcast’s are sponsored by Aurifil and GloriousColor.com
Then visit The Slow Stitching Movement blog . . . .
Guest Blogger, Liz Kettle, asks
Looking for Nirvana? Try Healing Stitch Meditations
http://bit.ly/1v8oC5M http://bustleandsew.com/tutorials/free-liberty-patchwork-pup-tutorial/
IDEA I LOVE
This is a great wallet to sew. All of your friends will want one. Here’s how you make them:
https://darnkat.wordpress.com/quilted-fabric-wallet-tutorial/
If you’re liking this blog Please tell your friends about it!
I’d really appreciate it! xoxom
Just cut and paste this into an email or post on your Facebook and Twitter pages:
I LOVE this blog and think you will, too! Check it out: https://marklipinskisblog.wordpress.com
Re: mats for the homeless–the constant energy and resources that go to accommodating the homeless and making their lives safer do nothing to solves the problem. In my city–the same homeless have been on the street for 10 years. Perhaps the time spent in crocheting sleeping mats should be put into political advocacy. Just sayin”
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I totally see your point, but there is no reason that as we might advocate, we can also offer some comfort who have no one who cares for them. Happy new year, Sandra! Wonderful wishes for you in 2015! xoxom
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