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Archive for the ‘Sheets & Pillowcases’ Category

OK. So you have decided to take the plunge and start quilting. The challenge is that you do not feel comfortable with your sewing machine. What you need are some easy projects to get you started, but that do not feel like you are wasting your time. The following list of projects make great gifts and you will also have great practice when it comes to tackle your first quilt.

Wallets

Wallets are wonderful. What I’m thinking of specifically, is the Wonder Wallet pattern by Lazy Girl Designs. I’ve made so many of these because they are easy and practical. Over Christmas I used them as gift card holders. Because they only use half a fat quarter, you can go crazy over novelty prints without taxing your budget. With this pattern, you will get used to sewing in a straight line and using your walking foot.

Once you are confident with wallets, your next project can be a quilted purse.

Pillowcases

Pillowcases are all straight lines. Again, using novelty prints, these makes great gifts for young kids. I made pillowcases last Christmas out of High School Musical flannel. My nieces loved them!

Another benefit is that once you feel confident with your skills, you can make a quilt out of the same material. The recipient will get both the quilt and pillowcases. Now that is thoughtful!

Coasters

Folks who work in offices will appreciate a set of coasters to keep their desks nice. The upgrade for this project will be place mats to match the coasters.

Bookmarks

A quilted bookmark is the perfect gift for the reader in the family. You can choose the fabric and design according to the recipient’s hobbies. Adding a book with this gift would be a nice touch. Another option is just to make a bookmark for yourself. I know that I have a hard time keeping up with them.

Tote bags

You can easily find tote bag patterns all over the Internet for good reason – they are easy and practical. If fact, you can have a tote bag for different reasons. You could have a tote bag for the grocery store, a tote bag for the library and a tote bag for work. You’ll learn how to sew in a straight line. If you are a ready to branch out, you could use a quilt block as decoration on the bag.

Cranking out wallets, pillowcases, coasters, bookmarks and tote bags will have you getting comfortable with your sewing machine in no time. While you’re producing lovely handmade goodies, you’ll also be preparing yourself to start quilting.

It’s spring and you are looking forward to spending time at your summer cottage. Sprucing it up a bit, and making a few not too pricey changes, will make it feel like new again. It will take a bit of time and creativity, but not a lot of money.

If your old, shabby chic furniture is looking more shabby and less chic, make some simple slipcovers out of canvas. It is a strong fabric, and easy to wash. To dress it up a bit, recover a few pillows and toss them on the furniture. You can use fabric remnants, or make it super classy by buying a used pair of vintage curtains (they can be stained or torn a bit) and using that fabric to make your pillows. You can get three 20″ square pillows from one panel!

Whether your cottage has hardwood floors or linoleum, you can brighten them up with large area rugs. They can be pricey, but how about buying a few small ones and simply stitching them together? Lay out the design before you start.

Dress-up the bedroom by taking a set of sheets and pillowcases and adding an eyelet border to the top sheet and pillowcases…should take less than half an hour for the whole job!

Take that worn looking basket and spray paint it a light green. When it is dry, rub it with some steel wool to make it look antique. It can be a centerpiece on your table (filled with fresh fruit), hold magazines in your living room, towels in the bathroom, or rock and shell collections anywhere!

If not for the fact that Christmas is a time of laughter and merriment, the yuletide season can be awfully frustrating especially for people who have a budget to think of. With lots of expenses for the Christmas celebration already lined up at your door — decorations, dinner, gifts — sticking to the family budget can be difficult, at best! That is, unless, you are smart enough to come up with creative ideas on how to spend Christmas with a bang without spending a lot.

Here are some tips:

1) Reuse paper, bows and decorations.

Since Christmas happens every year, it is a good idea to reuse decorations and other yuletide materials for succeeding years.

Christmas trees and Christmas decorations, for instance, may be used over and over again until they wear out. If the family wants to create something different every year, they can always work with decorations that are already there and then buy some new ones to spruce the old ones up.

Although some families still opt for a real pine tree during the Christmas season, most use artificial ones, as they are more cost-effective and practical.

Christmas materials that can be recycled are yuletide decorations like lanterns, plates, table runners, curtains, bed sheets, pillowcases and all those home furnishings with Christmas designs. Using the same things year after year can however be pretty tiring. What you can perhaps do is to add a new element every year or to alternately use the home decors.

When storing materials that you will use again, make sure that you put them in a place that is easily accessible. Carefully store them in boxes and put them in a cool dry place to prevent moisture from coming in.

2) Make your own gifts.

Use your creativity to save money and still come up with the best celebration. Instead of buying Christmas pillowcases, sheets and place mats, you can create your own designs. Take a look at your house and look for things that you can use. For instance, instead of buying artificial flowers for a Christmas centerpiece, why not make use of the flowers that you grow in your garden? Another idea is to buy some small decors in craft stores and use them to spruce up curtains, runners and pillowcases.

3) You can make your own Christmas tree decorations. In fact, some people even personalize their Christmas tree decorations by putting the photographs of each family member on the tree. Young children in the family can also use the projects that they have made in school to decorate the family tree. Decoration-making is also a fun way for parents and children to bond.

4) Make your own gift cards, wrappers and table cards for dinner celebrations. Why buy when it is easy to make your own? All you need to do is gather some craft materials that may be sitting in your attic. You will be amazed at how fun it is to make your own Christmas wrapping paper and gift cards. You can coordinate them with each other and they will be totally unique!

5) Save money on the Holiday Meals.

Going out to eat may pose several advantages, two of which are, you don’t have to prepare the food and you don’t have to wash the dishes. Still, eating at a restaurant can chip away at a major portion of your Christmas budget. If you don’t have extra money, it is advisable to just stay at home and cook dinner yourself. In addition to saving a lot of money, you will also be able to control the ingredients, making sure that they are not only delicious but also nutritious.

To economize and add some surprise to the menu, you can ask your guests to bring a dish. One family can prepare the appetizer while the other family will take care of the dessert. This way, the cost of the dinner will not only be shouldered by the host family but by everyone in the guest list. And it will add entertainment and conversation as you lift the lid off the dishes to uncover the blessing within!

I have put together a list of things you need to do just in case you bring a woman back to your place from a date or just some woman you pick up.

Follow these guidelines so you will be prepared and make a good impression:

Is your bed made up and do you have clean sheets and pillowcases? Make sure your toilet and bathtub are spotless. I can assure you they will look and if they are dirty they will be turned off. Put a fresh roll of toilet paper on. Have your fresh condoms ready and near your bed. If she spends the night, be sure to have something for her to eat for breakfast (bacon, eggs, and toast would be ideal). Turn the volume on your answering machine down. You don’t want to be embarrassed if one of your girlfriends or ex-girlfriends calls and leaves an intimate message. If you have a dimmer switch for your lights, turn them down low before leaving. If you don’t have a dimmer switch, install very low wattage light bulbs in your lights. This is to create a soft and romantic atmosphere when you have a woman over. If you have a fireplace, put some logs on or have a Duraflame log ready to light. This way everything is ready to light up when you bring a girl over. Be sure and use this great prop for creating an intimate seductive setting. I’ve seduced lots of single women with my fireplace. Have your soft and romantic music out and ready to put on after you hit the door with your date. Make sure your bar is stocked with liquor, wine, beer, and champagne so you can offer her a drink. Make sure your icebox is clean and does not smell (tip – have an open box of baking soda in there to help absorb odors). Trust me, single women notice little things like what your icebox looks like. Make sure you have something to snack on in case you decide to watch a movie or TV. Make sure your house or apartment is clean before you leave. Most single women are turned off by a dirty, unclean, and cluttered place. She may get the impression that you are a lazy slob. This is really important – Make sure you have on clean and fresh underwear with no holes. Take a look around and make sure there’s nothing laying around in your closet or in your drawers that would indicate another woman has been around (women will peek in your closet and your drawers). Don’t forget to bring your breath mints. It’s a big turn-off to women if you have bad breath. I would also recommend having your candles and massage oil ready. You should always offer your date a massage as part of your seduction routine.

Cleanliness
Keep the hair Clean. It is recommended that the hair be washed at least once every two weeks with warm or cold water. Please wash the hair right after swimming and comb the hair after spa activities and exercising etc… When dirt accumulates, including sweating, hair tangles!

Shampoo/Conditioning
It is best to wash the hair with the unit removed, this will prevent premature slippage.

With Unit Removed
Remove unit and place on a Styrofoam mannequin. Rinse hair in the same direction as the flow of the water. Apply shampoo/conditioner in hands, lather and pat on the hair. Use a large tooth comb or wig brush and distribute shampoo/conditioner on the hair. Rinse the hair in the same direction of the water.. NEVER RUB THE HAIR TOGETHER this will cause tangles and matting. Allow the hair to dry and style as usual.

With Unit On
Dilute shampoo with water (50/50) into a spray bottle. Spray shampoo onto scalp. Press and slide shampoo into the Full Lace Wig from the root to the ends with a large tooth comb or wig brush; press with palms and squeeze the shampoo through the ends. For best results use moisturizing shampoo. NEVER RUB or RUFFLE the hair or tangling will result. Lean backward with the hair flowing in the direction of the shower water and rinse with lukewarm (not hot) water. Use a deep penetrating moisture and conditioner. Leave on for 3-5 minutes. Avoid using conditioners near attachment site as adhesive may detach prematurely. Or use a dry shampoo.

Detangling
Make sure you comb the hair after each wash and daily. When detangling the hair, please start from the ends and work up little by little to the scalp. Hold the base with the other hand to keep it from shedding or causing root tension. We recommend a large tooth comb or wig brush. Avoid using shine products on the root area as it may prematurely detach your Hair Grafting

Sleeping
Make a couple of big braids in your hair when going to sleep, swimming or exercising. You MUST untangle your hair prior to braiding. NEVER sleep on wet hair, your hair must be completely dry before going to sleep as sleeping on wet Full Lace Wigs WILL cause hair to be very matted. Or wear up in a very high pony tail which works for most curly or wavy units.

Chlorine and Salt Water
Chlorine and salt water have been known to damage hair used in Full Lace Wigs. Please understand that chlorinated pools, Jacuzzis, saunas and ocean water can cause irreparable damage to the hair that you have purchased and/or wearing and that a Full Lace Wig Specialist can not be held responsible if you decide to ignore such warnings. Also you have been advised not to expose your my Full Lace Wig excessively to chlorinated and/or salt waters and do so at your own risk.

Chemical Usage
It would be advisable NOT to chemically treat this hair yourself. Chemically treating the Full Lace Wig hair yourself may cause irreparable damage to your own and your Full Lace Wig.

Shedding

Some hair will shed out of some Full Lace Wigs easier than others. Curly and longer hair will commonly shed hair more rapidly than a short Lace Front Wig. Shedding of hair is considered very normal.
Slippage

During the life of your Full Lace Wig hairstyle, your Full Lace Wig may slip. To help avoid this, constantly apply firm pressure on the attachment site, especially after showering. This will help the attachment stay firmly attached to the scalp area. In the event of your Full Lace Wig slipping or lifting, you can successfully re attach using a small amount of “Retouch Adhesive”, wait 4 minutes for it to cure, and then press firmly.

Wavy Hair/Curly Hair
For wavy or curly hair, we recommend you wet the hair every morning with water and Protein Leave-in Detangler.

Dry Ends
To keep hair from dryness, please apply olive oil two to three times weekly prior to shampooing. Olive oil left on the hair overnight on the ends only is very effective. Remember Lace Front Wig hair does not have the benefit of your own natural scalp oils, so olive oil will help to replace those necessary oils in the hair shaft.
All of the Following Can Cause Premature and Excessive Hair Loss:

Excessive Combing or Brushing
This will ultimately break off hair and cause premature thinning of the hair replacement.

Unattended Matting And Tangling
Left uncorrected, excessive matting and tangling that is then removed forcefully will tighten the matted hair and tear out the hair.

Friction
From pillows or overly aggressive shampooing will break off the hair and thin and tear out the hair.

Over-Perming/Incorrect Perming
This will damage the integrity of the hair, especially in lighter colored hair replacements, and will lead to accelerated hair breakage and thinning.

Conditioners Remaining In The Root Area
This is probably the single largest factor creating major, ongoing, irreversible hair loss. Conditioners that are allowed to be absorbed onto the base and gather around the root system will ultimately prevent the root system from pivoting 360 degrees allowing for hair loss in your hair replacement. Conditioners must be rinsed out completely to avoid the breakage of the root system. Read your care instructions carefully to learn the proper application and removal for conditioning

If tangling from excessive friction occurs, comb it out immediately and gently with our rotating tooth comb, using a small amount of our Detangler or conditioner. Try using a silk or satin pillow case to avoid the friction of cotton pillowcases. If you must go swimming in chlorinated water, immediately rinse your hair when leaving the pool, then gently shampoo and condition with recommended products. For coloring and perming, try using “Semi Permanent” colors that use little or no peroxide. Always use perms designed for processed hair and to always air oxidize. Avoid using too much conditioner, apply it onto your palms and fingertips first, then apply it to your hair keeping the conditioner away form the root and base area of your hair, and then rinse the conditioner thoroughly.

Silk pillowcases and silk sheets have become a very popular item. Many people have claimed that they will benefit your hair, body, and your overall health. Here are some reasons to buying these 2 items.

1) Ultimate luxury: Silk sheets and pillowcases are the ultimate luxury in bedding. The feeling against your skin is smooth and soft. Your bed looks luxurious in the material and when you lie on it, you feel like a king or queen. Silk is therefore, pricier than cotton, but it will also last you a long time.

2) Enhances sexiness: Silk bedding can enhance the sexiness of your bed. Many times, you’ll see movies where people use red silk sheets to increase the romance in the air. It is true, the feeling of the silk against your body along with the smoothness will instantly help build romance in your bedroom. If you are looking to increase the sexy feeling of your room, consider adding silk bedding for an instant enhancement.

3) Beauty: Silk is beautiful and the sheen that it gives will brighten your bedroom. Buying solid color silk sheets and pairing them with patterned throws or patterned silk pillows will definitely make your bed look inviting and beautiful. Many decorators are choosing silk for the master bedroom sheets since it looks both elegant and beautiful.

4) No dust mites: Dust mites are known to avoid silk. Therefore, having sheets made of silk instead of cotton or wool will benefit anyone with allergies. Allergies are tremendously enhanced with the presence of little dust mites in your bed. With sheets and pillowcases made of silk, allergy sufferers will breathe a lot easier.

5) Less hair tangles: Because silk is so smooth, it is recommended by many hair stylists to sleep on silk to protect your hair. Silk decreases the amount of tangles in the hair. Also, if you’ve just gone in for a blow out, silk will help to preserve that look longer. Finally, because silk causes less tangles, your hair won’t rub against each other as much and you will have less split ends and less damaged hair.

6) Silk will help your body temperature stay regulated: Since silk is a natural material, it will help your body temperature stay regulated. In the winter, it will keep your body warmer since it will help insulate you from the cold. Surprisingly, in the summer, it also helps keep your body cooler since it allows your body to breathe. This will help you sleep better and not experience cold sweats at night. Many people who tend to sweat say they experience much better sleep when using silk bed sheets on your bed.