In-Tune News You’ll Want To Use

For those of you who are conscious of wish lanterns and have used them many times earlier, you’ll have been angry that in the last month or so our stash of wish lanterns at our Wimbledon warehouses plummeted to zero. We were made to disappoint many customers awaiting to purchase wish lanterns in mass for a wedding party or party, because we quite simply didn’t have any available. This was not due to catastrophic governance on the part of the wish lantern team, nor due to an unprofessional and sub par supplier. We got into this mess simply because everyone loves wish lanterns so much. Due to unprecedented demand, the team found themselves giving away wish lanterns quicker than they could load them up. While this was very sweet for business, it was not so good for customers when we eventually reached the point where there were no longer any lanterns left to sell. We had to let down many people wanting to buy lanterns in bulk for their wedding or for parties, because there were simply none to spare. Thankfully this is no more the situation. partners won’t have to put their weddings on hold for the sake of a lantern. We now, at long last have them in stock again in their thousands, so get buying!

Poet Stephen B. Wiley’s first book of poetry, Hero Island, reflects tender snapshots and reminiscent overviews of various stages of his life as a youngster working on a farm in New Jersey, summer vacations spent with his family in Northern Vermont, and his positive stance on life.

His elegant command of language magically explores and brings to life such varied topics as the shovel we are reluctant to part with, city living, opening up of the summer cottage, shucking corn, Albert Einstein and world federation, and the more weighty experience as the death of a loved one.
All are composed with a great deal of introspection and with a sincere palette of words that are easily accessible to even the inexperienced poetry reader.

Particularly touching and one that struck home is “Going,” where Wiley portrays the passing away of his ninety-four year old father-something I personally just recently experienced with the passing away of my father-in-law. The ending of the poem’s unadorned spoken language poignantly describes his inner feelings:

“I knew father wouldn’t die
I bent over his bed though
and we embraced with a kiss
as he was going.”

Above all, Wiley’s strength lies in that his poems are characterized by a sense of wonder and nostalgia with which he imbues his reflections, that is neither sad nor frustrated, as is often the case with so many poets.
Moreover, descriptions are effortless and fresh, reverberating with vitality, as exemplified in the first two stanzas of his poem To My Hands:

“Yes, yes I do admire your solo work
how you throw a ball
write your name
tip you hat

And I’m proud that things are named for you
giving a helping hand
handing down your outgrown clothes
even handing over something you shouldn’t have”

Quite noteworthy is Wiley’s remarkable skill with language, perhaps attributable to his legal training. When I interviewed him and asked him how had this affected his poetry writing, his succinct reply was “words are the subject matter of law - spoken words and written words - and precision of language is most important. Poetry draws on the same strengths.” That just about sums up the poetic style of Stephen B. Wiley.

Although, I must admit that I initially opened Wiley’s book of poems with some trepidation, my only grumble, when reaching the last poem, was that I did not have enough of it. It is my hope that Hero Island only marks the inauguration of a long and creative career.

Norm Goldman is the Editor of the Book Reviewing site
http://www.bookpleasures.com and the travel site, http://www.sketchandtravel.com

Norm is also a travel writer and together with his artist wife, Lily, they meld words with art focusing on romantic and wedding destinations.

Is your kitchen drawer full of old pot holders that are so scorched and worn looking that you would never want anyone else to see them? Well, don’t throw them away yet!

Here is a sewing tip to revitalize them.

Try this “how to sew” sewing lesson and recycle all of your old pot holders by sewing a new cover for them.

This sewing technique is a good sewing tip to cover other items in your home, too. Sew a cover for your comforters, quilts, placemats and pillows to spark up your home dec.

Here is how to sew a new cover to recycle your old pot holders and make them look brand new again.

Use some fabric scraps from your stash to match your kitchen decor or look through the remnants at your local fabric store.

Cut off the old pot holder loop or ring if there is one.

Lay out the pot holder on some paper and draw a pattern around it adding a 1/2 inch seam allowance all around the shape of the pot holder. You can save this pattern for future pot holder covers. Label it so you know what the pattern is.

Using the pattern, cut 2 layers of fabric to make the pot holder cover. You can use 2 different fabrics if you like.

Here are a couple of ways that you can sew this.

Method 1:

Place the 2 right sides of the fabric together.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam around 3 sides of the cover plus go around the corners on the 4th side leaving an opening to insert the pot holder.

Press the seams open.

Turn the cover right side out.

Insert the pot holder in the cover.

Slip stitch or machine stitch the opening closed.

Add a fabric loop or curtain ring if you prefer to hang up your pot holder.

Method 2:

Sandwich the pot holder between the two layers of fabric with the right sides of the fabric facing out.

Pin to hold all layers together.

Use your zipper foot to stitch close to the edge of the pot holder all around.

Trim the seam allowance to 1/4 inch all around.

Use bias tape or self or contrast fabric strips to bind the edges of the pot holder.

If you like to hang your pot holders, form a loop at the end of the binding to extend from the edge of the pot holder.

Note: You can quilt these pot holders if you like, however, it really isn’t necessary. Experiment with some of your sewing machine’s decorative stitches.

Extra sewing tip: Pot holder covers are a great way to use up some of your embroidery or stitching samples that you have in your stash. Give them as gifts or make up some great bazaar items.

An extra, extra sewing tip: Cut up that old mattress pad to use as the “batting” for some new pot holders and placemats.

Try it! It just makes sense!

©2006 Marian Lewis - All Rights Reserved 1st Step To Sewing Success

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