Making Our Home a haven - Episode #5 - Using a Menu Board

Hi Friends,
I wanted to let you know that episode #5 of Making Our Home a Haven is up and ready to listen to. I discuss in more detail the ways we use our menu board that I mentioned in my blog post HERE. I also give an update as to what I'm doing with regards to creating and maintaining my good habits.
You can download it through iTunes or just listen to it here on my blog by clicking the play button on the player in my right sidebar. This episode is just over 9 minutes long.
You can also listen to past episodes here as well.
I hope you enjoy the podcast and I hope everyone here is Making their home a Haven.
Blessings,
Nancy
This Post Links To:
I am Only 1 Woman

Menu Board using Vinyl and the Cricut

Good Morning Friends,
Today I would like to show you something I made. It is my menu board that hangs in my kitchen. It's a dry erase board that is magnetic. I can write the menu for a specific meal on it or sometimes I write the meals for the week. What is handy is the magnets that can hold recipe cards so they are in easy reach when I'm ready for them.
Sometimes the kids will write what they WANT to have for dinner even if it is not in my plans!
The butterflies and letters were cut with the Cricut out of vinyl and I used the Storybook cartridge.
I hope you enjoy it!
Blessings,
Nancy
This post links to:
Women Who Do It All
Someday Crafts
Trendy Treehouse
Roots and Wings Co.
Creations by Kara
Make It From Scratch
Fireflies and Jellybeans
Tidy Mom
Just a Girl

Tip Technique Tuesday - How to Handle Weak Stakes

Good Morning Friends,
Have you ever woven a basket and the stakes want to fold to the inside or the outside of the basket causing it not to pack tightly or look pretty? I have and it can be very frustrating.

Today I'd like to share a few tips on how I handle weak stakes or spokes when weaving. This is one of those instances when an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

• If you are like me and you cut an entire handful of stakes at one time to the desired length, take just a moment before hand and feel each piece of reed paying attention for flimsy pieces. Remove the flimsy pieces from your bunch and save those weak pieces for weavers.
• The opposite is true as well. If you have a weaver that seems especially heavy, don't use it to weave. Toss it aside and save it for a stake.
• If you have started to weave a basket and realize you have a weak stake, make sure that your weavers are well soaked and pliable. Then, as you weave around the weak stake, go slowly keeping the weak stake straight and make sure that your weaver is the one that bends to do the over under weaving.
• Change the pattern a bit. If you are finding that you are struggling with weak stakes, switch to smaller weavers. Take a look at the little tote bag in the photo above. The stakes are 3/8" flat reed. They are very thin. By using 11/64" flat for my weavers as well as seagrass, which is very pliable, for some of the weavers, I was able to keep my stakes straight.

• You can always insert another stake directly behind the weak stake making it a double thickness. Be sure to hide the ends of the inserted stake. This technique works well if the weak reed is caught early in the weaving process. Consider adding a second stake just slightly thinner and of a different color and place this second stake on the outside for a double thickness. This can give you a great plaid or decorative effect. My basket above is not the best example but it does show two layers of stakes. Look at the stem of the flowers. The stem is the second layer or thickness.
• 99.999% of the time I make sure that my stakes are larger than my weavers. A larger size stake means a thicker and therefore stronger stake.

Reed is processed by a machine. Much of the time, you get a uniform consistency to each strand, but there is always the exception in the batch or even possibly you get an entire bad pound of weak reed. Sometimes you get a different piece just due to the conditions in which the reed was grown, for instance due to the amount of rainfall. Reed is grown in the tropics so there is usually sufficient rainfall. Perhaps though that strand of reed had died before it was harvested and has already dried out giving an exceptionally hard piece of reed. Reed is usually dried a bit before it is cut into the desired sizes. If the reed is swollen full of moisture and then cut, then when it dries, it will shrink a bit and therefore give you a weaker piece of reed. Things happen with it that are beyond our control. Sometimes it is also human error in the processing of our reed. We just need to learn to work with what we are given.

Now there are always the very few extreme exceptions to the rules I've given you above when you might not want to try my tips, but if you follow these ideas you should have a good sturdy basket where each row packs down nicely and weak weavers become a thing of the past.
Happy Weaving,
Nancy

Creating A Good Habit - Week 2

Hi Friends,
I wanted to check in. Last week's habit for me was to exercise for 30 minutes each day. My plan was to walk 10 minutes three times a day. I did get in my 30 minutes each day! I didn't do it in 10 minute increments though. I would do all 30 minutes at one time.
This was really hard for me and it still is hard. I have so many other things I would rather do than exercise. Most days I walked in the morning. Today, I still have not exercised so just as soon as I hit the publish post button I'm off for my walk. I'll also tell you the first four days I was SORE! I'm not sure my distance because I go through different neighborhoods that the sidewalk cuts through so I can't drive it to check the distance but I am getting in about 4000 steps in 30 minutes so I think that is good.
This week I am adding another good healthy habit. I am going to limit my eating of high fat items to only two servings a week. For me, I define high fat being something that is fried. If I can manage only two servings a week I may cut it back to once a week. I don't think this habit will be too hard which is good because the exercise habit is one I am still really forcing myself to do.
I am so glad to be writing this down to all of you because when I think I don't want to exercise, I don't want to tell you that I've fallen short. You are all making me accountable.
If you have a good habit you are working on, be sure to leave a comment so I can cheer you on.
Blessings,
Nancy
ps. I lost two pounds this week. 13 more to go!
Off I go for my walk now.........
This post links to:
5 Minutes for Mom

Shout Out to Fireflies and Jellybeans

Hi Friends,
I want to give a shout out to Fireflies and Jellybeans who featured me and my Blessings Journal on their Sunday Spotlight.
If you haven't been to Fireflies and Jellybeans, it is a MUST SEE blog full of great creative ideas.

Thank you Fawnda for putting my blog in your spotlight!
Blessings,
Nancy

Share A Basket Sunday - Button Trimmed Basket

Good Morning Friends,
Last night was ladies night where I got together with Anne and some of the girls to weave, relax and have a great time. I wove this fun little basket that I'm going to use in my craft room.
I used the reed that I had dyed with the Tulip Tie Dye Kit.
This was a strip of button lace that I got from Hobby Lobby.

The woven lace trim was wide. What I ended up doing was folding it over the rim row to the inside of the basket. I then clothes pinned the rims in place and used a piece of seagrass on top to finish it before lashing it in place.

I think I'll use this to hold my various bottles of adhesives or some of my paper punches. It's a bright and cheerful basket.

Have a blessed Sunday,

Nancy
One more thing, I know if you go back and look at my post on the Tulip Tie Dye kit that I linked to, the photos are too large. It is because I did those photos when my blog had a different template. After all the issues I've had with my blog this past week, those super large photos are just going to have to stay there. I'm too tired (lazy) to go back and fix old posts.

This post links to:

Along For the Ride

Under the Table and Dreaming

Skip To My Lou

Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Trendy Treehouse

The Girl Creative

A Soft Place To Land
Today's Creative Blog
Lucky Linky Tuesday

Emily's Fibromyalgia and her Diet

Good Morning Friends,
I had received a question from a reader asking about what foods I was giving and eliminating from Emily's diet to help her fibromyalgia.
I read a book titled "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia" by R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. and Claudia Craig Marek. It claims to be a revolutionary treatment that can reverse the disease.
For those of you truly interested in all it says, you need to read it in detail. In a nutshell though, it claims that the active ingredient in Mucinex which is Guaifenesin is the treatment for fibromyalgia. The thing is that you have to eliminate salicyates from your diet and cosmetics or anything topical you put on your skin in order for the guaifenesin to be absorbed. Salicyates are found in a number of things so anyone serious about trying this needs to do their own specific research.
The FDA has not approved the use of guaifenesin for fibromyalgia due to the lack of testing at this time. Tests that have been done did not regulate the salicyates and elimination of them seems to be key. Current testing is underway.
I did give Emily Mucinex and we did try to eliminate all salicyates from her diet. She complained of her chest hurting from the Mucinex (possibly a side effect). Anyway, after doing this for several weeks we stopped and did not see any improvement. We've since been to the pediatric rheumatologist who specializes in fibromyalgia and he did not encourage us to continue with the Mucinex. (we may try Mucinex again at another time but she is on a different medication at the present) Perhaps we didn't give her enough Mucinex or perhaps we didn't get all the salicyates eliminated or perhaps we didn't give it a long enough try.
The book did state story after story of wonderful success stories. We are in the process of identifying things that contribute to making it worse or giving her a bad day. The one thing I have found is that keeping her mind off of it is probably the best therapy for her. She loves ice skating and they say exercise is good for fibromyalgia so I'm glad it doesn't stop her from doing what she enjoys.
The book in interesting and I believe there may be some truth to it's claims and I will be following actual medical controlled testing results closely. The Dr. who wrote this book has a fibromyalgia clinic outside of the LosAngeles area. Perhaps someday we may make a trip there but do not have any current plans to do so.
Fibromyalgia seems to be a real mystery disease. I've spoken to others who suffer from it and everyone has a different story to tell regarding their aches and pains. One thing I find is that when doctors cannot figure out a diagnosis that involves pain, then they lump it into the category of fibromyalgia.
So I hope this helps. For those of you who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, give the book a read and see what you think. It would certainly be worth a try for you and in your case it might just help.
Little Emily and I appreciate all your continued prayers and good thoughts.
Blessings,
Nancy

I Feel Like That Phone Commercial

You know the one,
Can you hear me now? How about now? Now can you hear me? I want to say, Can you see my blog now? How about now? Now can you see it?
I've had so many helpful comments, and I've been trying so hard here. I first want to say Thank You to all of you who have helped me out or have told me what you are seeing on your computer screens.
If any of you are so inclined to tell me if you can see my blog now I again would appreciate it. If you're tired of me asking, I understand that too. I wish I wasn't having to ask. I've completely changed blog templates with the hopes this will work and all will look fine.
I wish I could give each of you a huge hug for helping me.
Blessings,
Nancy

Second Quick Question - How Does My Blog Look Now?

Hi Friends,
I have been messing around with my header and margins on my blog. I never dreamed that others would see it differently on their computer screens that what I see on mine.
Anyway, Can you see the entire header now?
Is the header centered?
Can you see everything or are you seeing something that doesn't seem quite right?
I must say, I have learned so much about computers by doing this blog. (At least I've learned 100x more than I knew when I started blogging. I still have a long way to go.)
Thanks so much for your responses.
Blessings,
Nancy

Quick Blog Question HELP Please

Dear Friends,
HELP! Since I've changed the picture a couple days ago I've had a long time blogger friend say she cannot see my header above completely on her computer screen and that it is showing up super huge for her when she looks at my blog.
I have looked at my blog on 6 different computers and what I'm seeing is my header with frame going completely across the screen with a slight margin on each side and it fills a little more than the top half. I can see it in its entirety. I know computers are different, but could you just let me know with a comment what you see? Can you see my header in full or are you only seeing part of it?
Please leave me a quick comment with your answer. I appreciate it. I want to make sure things are visually right with my blog.
Blessings,
Nancy

Happy 40th Annual Earth Day and a Free e-book

Good Morning Friends and Happy Earth Day!  Did you know Earth Day has been going on for 40 years now?  I didn't until this morning.  What are you doing to help save our earth?  Around the Jacobs' house here we have the energy saving lightbulbs in most of our lights.  I have re-usable bags in my car.  My husband's old t-shirts get cut up and become great soft cleaning rags.  Old bath towels get put in with the camping supplies and used when we are camping.  I cut the front and back panels off of cereal boxes and use them for chipboard with my paper crafting.  (They are not acid-free so you probably don't want to use cereal boxes around your photos, but they are great for cards and other paper crafting projects)  Remember I told you my house was on a diet HERE?  So we are trying to reduce, reuse, and recycle what we can and shop from home before buying new.  I'm a big fan of going to garage sales and shopping at thrift stores.  I'm sure you've heard, 'one man's trash is another man's treasure.'  It is so true. When I quit working to stay home with the children, I have ALWAYS felt that it was Mike's job to make the money and my job to SAVE the money.  It has amazed me over the years how God has provided us with exactly what we have wanted or needed at thrift stores or garage sales. 

FaveCrafts has put together another free e-book full of recycled crafts.  Some of these would be great crafting projects for children.  My favorite is the altered cd ornament with beads.  That reminds me, I have a stack of old silver cd's that I'm going to hang in my fruit trees in a couple of months to keep the birds from picking the fruit.  I'll be using fishing line to hang them so they spin in the trees.  They'll catch the sunlight and glimmer actually looking very pretty but it does the job to keep the birds from eating the grapes and cherries off the plants.  I'm getting off track here.  You can download FaveCrafts free book HERE.

What are you doing to reduce, reuse, and recycle?  Let me know!
Blessings,
Nancy

Keeping a Blessings Journal

A very nice thing to keep is a Blessings Journal. I bought a small monthly calendar at Big Lots a couple of years ago and altered the cover of it. It came with a plastic sleve. Each year I'm able to remove the calendar and replace it with one for the new year. I do my best to write down at least one thing daily that I am thankful for and that has in some way brightened my day. We have so many things to be thankful for both big and small. It is so easy to overlook the many small blessings that come our way and it is easy to forget to be grateful for them. (With raising two teenagers, almost three teenagers now, sometimes, many times the tension and stress level can be quite high at our house and I forget how blessed I really am.) The blessings journal is just one way to remind us to give thanks as we are all truly blessed.
BTW...This calendar shows one week on the two open pages. Each day has lines for notes so it is easy to write in.
You, my readers and friends, are a huge blessing to me. Thank you.
Nancy

This post links to
Someday Crafts
Blue Cricket Design
Women Who Do It All
Trendy Treehouse
Creations by Kara
Just a Girl
Fireflies and Jellybeans
Roots and Wings Co.
A Vision To Remember
Mom's The Word

Cupcake Baskets

Dear Friends,
My sweet blogging friend Cindy from Skip To My Lou made these adorable cupcakes during her Spring Blog Hop. She has so kindly given me permission to repost these from her blog. Skip To My Lou is full, Full, FULL of creative ideas. These would have been perfect for Easter but how about making them for Mother's Day. Please stop by her blog and say Hello. The specific post to these little beauties is HERE.
Thank you Cindy for letting me share these with my readers.

Nancy

Simply melt a little chocolate candy coating or chocolate chips. Place the melted chocolate in a zip loc bag. Snip off a tiny bit of one corner of the bag. Pipe the chocolate onto wax paper. I drew a handle shape on a piece of copy paper and place wax paper on top. It gave me a guide and I could slide the wax paper around using the guide over and over.



Allow basket handles to harden completely and then stick them into the frosting on your favorite cupcake. I used sugar flowers (from a cake and candy supply) for my basket, but you could easily pipe flowers or fill the basket with jelly beans or colorful chocolate eggs.

Making Our Home a Haven - Episode #4 Creating a Good Habit

Good morning Friends,
I am happy to announce that episode #4 of Making Our Home a Haven is ready for you to listen to.

Today's episode is on Creating a Good Habit. In this episode I give the steps needed to create a habit and give tips on ways to help you KEEP that good habit. I talk about how I'm planning to make exercise my new habit.
For those of you who have been reading my blog for some time you know I used to do Jazzercise for exercise. Last September I injured my knee and an x-ray shows that I have bonespurs on the inside of my kneecap. That canceled Jazzercise for me because of all the changes in direction we would go; front, back, left, right as we would exercise. All those fast changes in movement along with squats just hurt too much to do. When I quit Jazzercise last September I quit exercising and I MUST get started with it again. I am starting exercise again. I'm starting TODAY. Won't you join me in creating a new habit.

You can download Making Our Home a Haven through iTunes or you can listen to it right here on your computer. There is a player on my right sidebar. You can just click on the "play" button to hear the latest episode. If you would like to listen to past episodes, click just below where it says "past episodes" and select the episode you would like to listen to.
I hope you enjoy listening. This podcast runs just over 11 minutes. I'd love to hear/read about any new habits you are working on. Just leave a comment and I'll cheer you on.
Blessings,
Nancy
ps. Mike helped me record some bird sounds for my intro and outro. They make me smile. Thanks honey for helping me with this.
This post links to:
Mom's The Word
Blogger Chix

Have I jinxed myself?

Dear Friends,

This past week I've been painting my guest room. Now that Laura has returned to Germany the room is empty for a couple of weeks until my in-laws come for a visit. Perhaps it is spring calling me, but I've had the urge to get it painted.

Here's the funny story though. It has been a longstanding joke between Mike and I that every time I paint the last room of the house we end up having to move. Then I have to start all over again. The guest room was the LAST ROOM OF THE HOUSE for me to paint.

Mike knows I don't want to move and I don't believe he wants to move either. I feel really blessed where we are at right now as this home fits my family like a perfect glove. A couple of weeks ago I planted eight asparagus plants that my mother gave me. I planted them thinking, "Why? What's the point?... I should have planted these asparagus plants three years ago when we moved here. Now it is going to take two years until they produce. I'll never get the fruits of my labor with them. (woe me do I have the wrong attitude) Typically throughout our marriage my husband's company has moved us every two years and we've already been living here for three years now.

Ok, seriously, I don't believe in anything like a jinx. I'm only kidding here. I believe the good Lord has a plan for us along with having given us free will. Should an opportunity for us to move arise, it is our free will as to whether or not we would take that opportunity and and no matter our decision we will do our best to live as Godly children and to trust in the Lord to take care of us.

So I am hopeful that just because I painted the last room in our house this does NOT mean we will be moving anytime in the near (or distant) future. I've decided that my next project is to repaint my kitchen (see, I'm really not finished painting). I've never been happy with the color of my kitchen. What looked pretty as a paint sample is really kind of a pukey color (excuse my language). Actually it looks prettier in the photo than it does in person. I'm planning to paint it a light melon or coral color probably this fall sometime.

One more thing, as far as putting my home on a diet, when I painted the guest room I removed and took to goodwill a large trash bag full of stuff. I already had the paint and the only thing I did buy to decorate the room was a $16 bed skirt. Yes, I hide things under the bed and there never had been a bed skirt on it before. So for $16 I updated my little room.

BTW...The cabinet to the left of the bed is a computer armoir which is where I do my blogging and check my e-mails. This was also the room where I was growing my little seedling plants by the window when no one was visiting us. So this is kind of like MY room and therefore it is the girliest room in the house. (It's even more girly than my girl's rooms) My mother made the quilts, I did some of the needlework on the pillow (I'll have to take a close up of it) and I did the flower arranging. There is a couple of my baskets in the room as well that I made but the photos don't show them.

So this was my project for the week. I can't believe it took me three years to get to and paint this room. Did any of you do a project this past week? I'd love to hear and read about it.

Have a blessed Sunday,

Nancy

This post links to:

A Soft Place to Land

Between Naps On the Porch

The Girl Creative

Trendy Treehouse

Sumo's Sweet Stuff

My Frugal Family

Today's Creative Blog

Blogger Chix Designs

5 Minutes For Mom

My Home is on a DIET

Dear Friends,

We all try to eat healthy in my home and I do my very best to cook nutritious meals. I'm so grateful that we've raised our children up NOT to be picky eaters. Mike and I try hard to watch our weight as it will easily increase, but this is not the type of diet I'm referring to.

My house has a waistline that is increasing. I feel in some ways we are bursting. My pantry and freezer are full. Our closets are full. Our garage and backyard storage shed is full. My craft area is really bulging. I know that this is a blessing so please don't think I'm not grateful for having plenty of food to eat and a variety of clothes to wear. (I'm a very frugal thrift store and garage sale shopper and it is hard for me to pass up some great deals).

It is also very hard for me to get rid of things. I was always raised to be frugal and to save for a rainy day. Yes I do clean and declutter, but not enough. I really need to say "goodbye" to some of what we have.

My first plan of action is to 'live on what we already have'. I'm not saying I won't buy anything, because there are things we need to live on. We need fresh milk, fruits, vegetables and bread. We have a few upcoming projects that we will need things for. That is fine. What I'm saying is that we will shop from home first. I'm notorious for buying surplus when it is on sale and sticking it away. Then when it comes time that we need some of the surplus, sometimes I forget that I have it and buy more! Argh!

My second plan of action is to 'reuse and recycle what we already have'. If I need something, how can I make it with what I have on hand. I have things stuck in closets that could be repurposed into something else if needed because they are just sitting in the closet not being used at all. Yet, I don't want to get rid of those items because they are in perfectly good condition and I might need them 'someday'.

My third plan of action is to be more ruthless with my decluttering. It is truly time to say goodbye to some things. I hope that over the course of a year our home waistline will whittle in size.

Have a beautiful day.

Nancy

The Bible in Five Words

Good morning Friends,
I've had a phrase floating around in my head for the last few days that summarizes the Bible in just 5 words. We Are Called To Love.
Just think about it. We are asked to love the Lord our God and to love one another. Love is one of our keys to the kingdom of God.

Of course I know we need other things. We need faith and we need to invite Christ into our hearts as our Lord and Savior. We need to forgive. We need to repent. With Christ in our hearts, we are called to Love....always. The Bible speaks a lot about love and the power of love.

4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not
proud, 5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not
provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but
rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. (1Corinthians 13:4-8)

What a wonderful world this would be if we all believed that our calling was to love one another.
The one thing I do know is that sometimes loving others is not easy yet it is something we must do. It's a door opening key. Not only is it a key into heaven, but it is a key that will open many doors for us here on earth. Think about it.

With this in mind, you have to read this lovely post HERE about simple ways you can show love and random acts of kindness. I wish I could be like this fellow blogger.

I hope all of you have a wonderful day and know that I love you.
Blessings,
Nancy

Primo Blog Award!

Thank you Karin from Mini Ramblings and Musings for this lovely award!

It didn't come with rules (completely ok by me) so I'm just going to pass it on to 5 blogs that I enjoy. I hope you will take a moment to check them out. These are blogs that I find informational, motivational and just fun-ational (ok, I made that word up). I bet you will find these blogs as enjoyable as I do.

Becky at Clean Mama - This is a recent blog that I have found. Clean Mama has some great organizational printables and fun ideas. (I think Clean Mama and I must be kindred spirits)

Becca at Nap Time Journal - Love the craft ideas here!! I put some of her craft ideas on my to-do list they are THAT good.

Lynn at Queen of the Castle Recipes - Lynn finds some truly delicious recipes around the web that she shares with her readers. Thanks Lynn for the yummy food you've helped me get on the table!

Passport to Savings and Food - Here is a great blog to get some menu planning inspiration.

Rachel at Frugal and Simple Living - Rachel is full of ideas and tips for just like her blog says, frugal and simple living. Most importantly, she has been a real inspiration in me starting my Making Our Home a Haven Podcast.

Thanks again Karin for the great award,
Blessings,
Nancy

2010 Ultimate Blog Party

Dear Friends,

I just wanted to let you know about the Ultimate Blog Party going on over at 5 Minutes For Mom. It's running now through April 16th. I always think it is nice to find like minded women and great ideas.

5 Minutes for Mom is an interesting place to visit. When you visit their home page you will find links to things such as 5 Minutes for Parenting, 5 Minutes for Faith, and so much more.

Come join the fun. You might win some cool prizes, but more importantly you might meet a great friend on a new blog.

Blessings,

Nancy

Beautiful and Busy Springtime

Dear Friends,
Spring is my favorite season. It could stay spring year round as far as I'm concerned. Here are a few pics from my backyard.

The high school play has been in full production with Seussical the Musical which is a compilation of Dr. Seuss books. Ok, I'm going to gush here, but this has been the best high school musical I've ever seen. The vocals and choreography were amazing. Mike and I were smiling the entire performance. Perhaps we're just proud parents. Here is Katie as one of the Whos from Whoville. Her picture was on the front page of the paper today. (I bought 2 copies)

I have made this bunny cake every year since the kiddos were babies. It is a tradition to have this with our Easter meal.

Below are some pictures taken on Easter Sunday.

Top left: Katie is alter serving at a special outdoor mass.

Top right: Getting ready for the egg hunt. (Katie, Laura, Tim and Emily) Laura has been our German foreign exchange student from near Frankfurt. The group of exchange students were here only 2 weeks. I took Laura to the airport this morning. It was a sad farewell as she was such as sweet girl and fit in perfectly with our family. We will miss you Laura. You will ALWAYS be in our thoughts and prayers.

Bottom left: I thought this was such a sweet picture of Emily as she is hunting for eggs. (As for Emily's fibromyalgia, we're trying a new medication. She has good days and bad. I think the best thing for her is to keep her mind off of it)

Bottom right: Tim found a grand prize hiding in the grill!

I hope each of you are enjoying the warmer weather.

Love and blessings to you all,

Nancy

Feature a Friend Friday - Bety from Deep End of the Loom and Think Pink

Dear Friends,
Today I would like to introduce you to Bety from Deep End of the Loom.

Bety has donated this luscious scarf for our "Think Pink" raffle to be held this October. Money raised will go to the Susan G. Komen fund towards the cure for breast cancer.

The pictures are pretty but let me tell you the scarf when seen in person takes your breath away. It is gorgeous!!!! Not only is it pretty, it is soooo soft. I am simply in awe at it.

Betty states:

I'm a wife, mom and child of Christ living in South Florida. I enjoy
weaving, knitting, some crochet and really love to help others learn a fiber
hobby. I've been a weaver for 3 years and am still learning and growing. My
newest adventure and challenge for this year is spinning yarn and I'm having fun
with my disastrous results.

Well Bety, I must say, I don't consider your results disastrous at all. I asked Bety how long it took her to weave this scarf. She said it was about 6 hours in total from wrapping the loom to twist fringing the ends.

Below are some other photos of Bety's work.

Please be sure to stop by Deep End of the Loom and say "hello". Bety really has some pretty photography of her work on her blog.

As a reminder, all information about "Think Pink" can be found HERE. I am encouraging all of my readers and fellow basket weavers, crafters, and scrapbookers to donate an item to my “Think Pink” efforts. Whatever you can offer would be much appreciated! It does not have to be handmade. It can be any item that promotes “Think Pink” for breast cancer awareness. if you have a prize you would like to donate, please e-mail me at basketmaster_nancy@yahoo.com .

Remember, more prizes will mean more money for the foundation. I'm so thrilled as thus far we have my Pink Pot of Hope basket, beautiful and fun Stampin' Up supplies from CJ , a Sentsy candle warmer and fragrance set from Naomi, and now this beautiful pink scarf from Bety.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you ladies!!!! Your contributions are deeply appreciated.

Blessings,

Nancy

Easter Blessings

He didn't have to do it, but I'm so thankful that He did.
He did it for me and He did it for each and everyone of you. He loves you... always.

May you all have a very blessed day today.
Love,
Nancy

Finding the Time to Cook

Hi Friends,
Today is a very busy day so just a short note here. I wanted to let you know that I have a new Making Our Home a Haven podcast ready to listen to. You can click on the play button over on the left sidebar and it will play the most recent episode or there is a pull down menu to listen to past episodes. You can also download it through iTunes by searching Making Our Home a Haven.
I hope this podcast gives you some ideas you may not have thought of regarding finding the time to cook and have meals on the table.
I'm sure everyone is getting ready for Easter just as I am.
Blessings
Nancy

This post links to:
Mom's The Word

Feature a Friend Friday - Alexey from the Ukraine

Good Morning Friends,

I'd like to introduce you to Alexey who is basket weaving in the Ukraine.

Alexey and I have been corresponding about weaving. I want to say right off the bat, Alexey's English is pretty good, but there are a few words that occasionally do not translate well so I am writing this with the hopes that I have no factual errors.

He weaves with a material which he calls packaging flax which I believe to be a packing tape and he uses a linen cording for the twining. Alexey has been invited to be on television in his country as they are interested in his weaving!

His current project is a very large laundry basket woven on a wooden frame for stability.

Alexey says he doesn't have a website or a blog. (I think Alexey, with you becoming a TV star you will need to consider a blog!) The other thing Alexey mentions is that his wife does get tired of the debris created by weaving. I think we can all relate to that.

Thank you so much Alexey for letting me share your photos and for letting us know a little about you. We all wish you much success with your weaving. Perhaps if your TV segment becomes available on YouTube we can all see your show.

Blessings Everyone,

Nancy

Free Basket Weaving Pattern

Hi Friends,
Here is a quick reminder for a free pattern from Baskets of Joy.  This sweet basket is called a Tulip May Basket.  It has a square base and goes to a round top.  If you need some of the materials, they have kits available for $20.  Be sure to print off your pattern soon!
Enjoy and Happy Weaving,
Nancy