Background colors, done. Now to choose one

It helps to have a brother who is a computer genius and knows how to do such things . I think by now his hands have become permanently attached to the keyboard. Being a million years younger than myself helps, I'm sure he doesn't even remember a time without the internet. He's shown me a few tricks here and there that I' m glad I learned.

Anyway, over turkey last night he showed me a quick way to change the background color on the blog. Just one of many things I've asked about because as far as I've been able to understand the basic template stuff here on blogger only gives you a limited amount of pre-picked colors to work with. I might be wrong.

I actually have plans for a patterned background one day but have yet to decide which one. He'll have to show me how to do that 'tile work' when the day comes.... Meanwhile I think this color change is a nice change.

I am not a computer genius and have to learn things in a ''for dummies'' kind of way. Or even better, in a show me so I don't have to read the instructions way. Instructions and I-forget it. I'm illiterate when it comes to them.

I went to 'layout', then edit html, and scrolled down within the 'edit template' blabla til I got to this:
body { background:#------
That's where I changed the color! I played with it for about half an hour randomly filling in any number and letter and clicking back and forth with 'preview' and 'save template' til I remembered I could look for html color codes online. (Ahem, clears throat). I used this site: http://html-color-codes.info/.

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Please don't try this technique unless you wish to do so at your own risk. I'm not sure what could happen if you do without clicking 'save template' or 'preview' in a small window like I did for each color change. For all I know you could lose your whole blog??:(
Also this is only for 'blogger' users .

Do you know how to change the background colors-or am I the last one to know ?

Happy Thanksgiving !

I think this picture is seen through the eyes of the turkey today!

Have a great Thanksgiving. I will be enjoying the day relaxing instead of my usual running around like the girl above!

This is a cropped part of the pocket on the 'Farmers market tote' I have in the shop, with a little 'effects' work from picnik. I like picnik because I don't have photoshop and it's pretty simple to use. Which is a good thing for me...

Tonight I will go through and see which items I will put in my newly created 'sale' section...From tomorrow til Monday midnight some things will be 50% off ! See you there..........

Black Friday- Cyber Monday Sale !!

Hi there-

I will be having a sale in my shop from Friday the 28th to Monday the 1st on select items.....

Happy Thanksgiving if I don't post back before then.......

These are some of the things I will most likely be discounting....Not sure how much yet but it will be a very good deal for those interested !

Have a great week!

Mag-aholic

While I don't subscribe to many magazines I do buy certain ones (mostly craft related) quite regularly and always look forward to something new to read.
So for awhile online I've heard mention of the new "Stitch" magazine. I've been pretty good with the "not purchasing new craft supplies" unofficial rule, what with being on the couch sick for a week, so today I got cabin fever and after a difficult time getting my daughter to school I went to Joann's, and splurged.
I bought some things I didn't really need ( some I did-potential present excuse ) and I also got the magazine. Inside there are a lot of inspiring things I want to make. Not sure which one I'll start with. I'm loving the skirts, placemats and bags.

Sunday we braved the Southern California fires to attend a double birthday party in Palm Desert. I took these pictures for family that used to live really close to these locations. On the left is Anaheim Hills, notice how close the fire was to the freeway?!

On the right are the Brea area fires.

I feel so terrible for those who lost their homes and more.

On a lighter note.....In case you're wondering about the coffee sleeve 'on' the magazine cover, it's one I'm about to put in the shop. I made it a month ago and never got around to listing it. It's part of my "embellished coffee and tea sleeve'' line. I think it'll be great for any teacher or student.

I love jumbo ric-rac

Here are a couple more pictures that might not make it to the the shop...I've been told my backgrounds are distracting but I just can't help myself. I think they look too cute for this sleeve.

interior view

Lastly I'm working on my fifth hat. I'll how a picture once it's done. Not too sure who it's for exactly but I have a long Christmas list. It's amazing how different you can make a hat look with different yarn, needles and slouchiness ...

Off to list my sleeve. Take care...

The show has been cancelled

Due to the economy and lack of vendor participation(?) the December 3rd MOPS Boutique I was participating in has been cancelled.

Where will I hang my newly made bunting? I'll try and think of something. In the 'studio' for now.
Meanwhile from the sofa where I've been lying sick for 2 days , I did manage to make the little Flickr badge over there on the right....Off to eat some soup.

Veteran's Day Rememberance

I thought I would share some pictures of my Dad on Veteran's Day. He ran away from home to join the Air Force right after World War 2 . His unbelievable life story would fill volumes that I won't go into right now.

He was very proud to be a paratrooper. And nuts, I'm tearing up -he passed away 3 1/2 years ago. Time doesn't really ease anything. I make sure my daughters regularly see pictures of him and he is talked about often, so he won't be forgotten to them .

On a lighter note....

I finished my bunting/banner/flag...I've seen them called so many things. Is there an official name for them?

It's hard to take a close up picture of something so long. So here's a closeup cropped ,(blurry) view. I used scraps of ribbon, trim, fabric .I pretty much like how it turned out. I'm going to put it on the front of my 6ft table at the show....


Off to entertain kids on this second and last day off. Maybe I'll be more creative tomorrow! Have a great day!

A jumble of letters

This is a project I'm currently working on and if all goes well (as in the kids don't need major entertaining on this 4 day weekend) I should get it finished today.

I always like the look of those banners made with various vintage ephemera and scrapbook papers and thought I could make something like that for my upcoming show using some -ahem-of my fabric scrap collection and felt for the letters. (Later noticed it hardly made a dent)
After some calculating and remembering the spaces in between words, I blew up the font, and printed the letters needed out. I then placed them on top of black felt, left over from the brim of my daughters candy corn hat project.

Daughter #1 snaps a photo of me carefully cutting out those letters


I layered fabric scraps over a white base, then sewed them on using any and every stitch length and type for a random collaged look . I even made up new stitches by not turning all the correct dials.This doesn't seem to faze my machine but I'm not an expert and cannot recommend it for yours.
Today I will finish up the trims and different goodies including the felt letters.
Once it's all done , I'll show a picture .

Oh, and the show, is the MOPS Boutique at the Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church (in Laguna Niguel ,Ca.) on Wednesday December 3rd from 9-1. If you're local stop on by........

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If you're family please stop reading now as there will be a Christmas present giveaway in the following picture....

This is a hat I've already made 4 of in various sizes and colors. (O.k ,1 for me and 1 for my daughter in that count) . Because it's slouchy you can make it look as different as you want each time by varying the slouchiness , yarn type and size.
My wrists are killing me, but I've vowed to make my Christmas presents this year for as many people as I think won't hate me for doing so.

modeled on daughter #2

Off to do something creative on this four day weekend.......and Remember Veteran's Day.