Tag: aprons

Use baking soda to clean your sink.

To remove rust stains, rub with lemon juice, then rinse.

Put talc inside your rubber gloves, it makes them easier to get on and off.

To remove water marks on wood put some mayonnaise on a soft cloth and rub.

To remove candle wax warm a knife over a candle flame then use it to lift the wax.

To remove candle wax from clothes cover with brown paper and run a warm iron (switched off) over it.

To remove candle wax from a candle stick or similar use a hair-dryer.

Use a walnut to rub out marks on wood.

If you fancy a creative challenge then The Shabby Tea Room Challenges are just for you.

They are created to inspire your creativity and share with others.

Each week you can submit any type of project to their site, unless the challenge calls for something specific.

You can enter as many times as you like, then link it to your blog and win publicity, or just enjoy the inspiration and creativity in the virtual tea room.

It’s well worth a visit to the site to just see what others have made, http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.co.uk/

National Embroidery month is from February 16th – 22nd.

According to ‘wikipedia’ embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with a needle and thread or yarn.

It can also incorporate other materials like pearls, beads, quills and sequins.

Different stitches are used in embroidery from chain stitch, buttonhole, blanket stitch, running stitch, satin stitch and cross stitch.

Although the origin of embroidery is unknown, some examples survived from Egypt, Iron Age and the Dynasty China around 5th – 3rd Century BC.

Different materials can be used in embroidery from wool, linen and silk.

A very popular magazine available throughout the world is ‘Embroidery and Stitch Magazine’, which has free designs and templates on the internet.

‘Embroiderer’s Guild’ is the UK’s leading crafts association with 10,000 members http://www.embroidersguild.com

The last time I embroidered was about 13 years ago when I was recovering in hospital after developing an infection after my last spinal surgery. Due to all the medication I was on I found it difficult to concentrate to read and with one arm attached to a drip, I really only had one hand free. So, a friend suggested doing some embroidery with my free hand and a picture was born. I’ve still got it but not framed it as the memories of making it are not something I want to remember.

Have you done embroidery recently, it’s like knitting, it’s become very fashionable again. I really fancy doing some on some hankies for my friends.