Kansas has often been said to mean “People of the Wind” and the title has been derived from the Indian settlers originally in that State. Why were they called people of the wind? Perhaps it was because of the sporadic tornadoes that went through the area. Maybe because of the way they lived their lives; I have this image of them in my heads, doing everything as fast as the wind.

Whether or not people in Kansas lived like that, the farms down there are anything but rapid. Life moves along at a comfortable pace here, going smoothly and surely. Naturally, the people living in these parts find some things to do in their idle time to occupy themselves. More often that not, the folks in Kansas find time to go into one hobby or the other.

You can find a lot of diverse crafts around here if you just take the time to meet people. You’ll be able to see finely carved wooden sculptures and even amazing woven cloth. Kansas practically has a sampling of every craft you’d want to see. And there’s no better way to see all these crafts in one place, but in one of the numerous craft shows happening around Kansas.

Because craft shows happen in droves every single day, you’ll be well-advised to know beforehand which shows to go to. Not all of the will be worth your while, as some will have lousy organizing. But how can you tell which will cater to your interests best? The best way is to go on the Information Superhighway that is the Internet.

Of course, you’re online as of this moment. That makes it much easier! Just go to a search engine (Google or Yahoo! works) and search for Kansas Craft Fairs and you’ll very soon have a number of websites that keep a list of all fairs that are scheduled to take place within the year.

If you are new to card making and looking for card making ideas, rubber stamps are a perfect addition to your craft box. Rubber stamps can be used in a variety of ways, therefore they are well worth investing in.

When you begin crafting or card making it is important that you do not rush out and buy everything you see. You will save a huge amount of money if you purchase a few items, some stamps and embossing powders until you find out some card making ideas or find out what your special interest is, whether it is animal stamps or flowers or what ever interests you.

Never buy cheap stamps for your card making, although some stamps are quite expensive they will produce a much better print and have a crisper look if they have been properly made.

Rubber stamps range in price, usually the larger or more detailed rubber stamps are expensive. I always consider how many times I can use a stamp for my card making before I purchase one. Some of the larger stamps can also be repeatedly stamped and used for decouapage, which will create a completely different type of card.

If you do decide to use a rubber stamp for decoupage never cut it into the embossed lines as this may cause the embossing powder to flake off and look unattractive.

I find the stamps that are mounted on a clear block are great for beginners as you can see exactly where you are stamping leaving less room for error.

The biggest tip that I can give you is that when using rubber stamps that you will emboss, you should lightly brush the area of card you are going to stamp on with talc. This will stop the embossing powder sticking to other parts of the card as well as the ink.

Always lay your stamp flat and take the ink pad to it rather than pushing the stamp into the ink pad. This will ensure that the entire design on the stamp is evenly covered in the ink.

Remember once you have used the stamp it is important to clean the stamp and remove the entire ink residue. Depending on the type of ink you have used for your card making ideas, it may not be necessary to use expensive ink removers, I find an acid free baby wipe works just as well as some of the chemical solutions you can buy from craft shops.

Always store your ink pads level and upside down to prevent uneven ink distribution and keep the ink on the top of the pad ready for its next use.

Rubber-stamping can be used for all your card making ideas and also for scrap booking, however it is important that you use ink that is acid free and fade resistant to ensure that your project looks bright and effective.

Wire jewelry is made by using simple materials to make a beautiful piece of art and is an easy project when learning how to make jewelry. A simple design can turn out to be a thing of beauty in the right hands. It only takes some simple tools and materials to make jewelry you can be proud of and sell for a good price.

First gather the necessary materials. You will need different gauges of wire. There are various thicknesses–20-gauge is thicker than 24-gauge and works well for most jewelry, especially earrings. Memory wire is a special type of wire that holds its circular shape. This is especially ideal for bracelets because you can cut it, string it with beads, and bend the ends and it will still stay looped around your wrist. You will also need clasps such as headpins, eyepins, jump rings, and earwires. These are called findings. Lastly you will need lengths of chain in various thicknesses and styles.

You have to have clasps for fastening the jewelry. Earwires, eyepins, headpins, and jump rings are referred to as findings. You will also need some chain of different types and thickness.

You will also need the right tools to make the jewelry. You will need some small pliers with a round nose. You may have to buy these at a craft shop, as the ones typically sold at a hardware store are too large. Some use chain nose pliers to grip a jump ring or the wire. These pliers are flat on the inside but the outside is round. You will need something to cut your wires with such as wire cutters.

Now that you have all the necessary equipment, it’s time to get started. To make a simple necklace, bracelet or anklet you start with a length of wire and make a loop at the end with your round nose pliers. Thread some decorative beads onto the wire then cut it. But be sure to leave enough wire for a finishing loop. Then you will add a length of chain either with a jump ring or attached directly to the loop that you made in the wire. The last step is to add jump rings on the ends and attach a clasp.

Making some simple dangly earrings is quite easy. Start with a head pin and arrange beads on it in the style and colors you desire. Use your round nose pliers to bend the end of the head pin to a 90 degree angle and then into a loop. Add a french-wire or earring finding to the loop and your earring is complete.

It is very easy to make some simple earrings, use a headpin and put beads of your choice on it using an interesting color or design. The head pin needs to be bent at a sharp angle and looped. To complete your earring, use a french wire or other earring finding on the loop and you are done.

When you get used to creating simple pieces of jewelry you can come up with endless patterns and designs to make your jewelry unique.

Cut your sewing time in half with the amazing serger. Seam, overcast, and trim all at one time.

The markings on the tension dial are only a guide, so you must learn how to adjust your serger tensions properly. Tension means drag on the thread. When all threads drag is equalized, the tensions are said to be balanced.

A sewing evaluation will reveal stitch quality and tension balance. Using a piece of scrap fabric, serge several inches. Inspect the stitch quality and tension balance.

It is quicker to track the threads when you are first starting if you will use a different color of thread for each cone of thread. This will enable you to trace the source of each thread. Red goes to the upper looper, so you can see the upper looper thread all the way along the row of stitches. Check each color to see if it is too tight, loose, or OK. Adjust the thread that appears out of balance.

Thread tensions ought to be adjusted individually. Work on one thread before going to the next. Is the thread tight, loose, or about right? Does its tension need to be increased a little or decreased? Follow the users manual instructions and work until all the threads are balanced. Do another serge test, and adjust accordingly.

Notice that the thread from the loopers form the overedging part of the stitch, while the threads from the needles produce the seaming. Along one side you see the lower looper and along the other side you see the upper looper. Adjust the tensions as needed.

Not all threads have the same amount of resistance at a particular tension setting. Thicker threads have more drag, while thinner threads have less drag at the same tension setting. Therefore it is essential that you adjust the tension based on how the threads look in the stitch rather than trusting particular number on a tension dial.

It is easy to adjust the width of stitches on a serger. Just turn a dial, but when you do, watch what happens to your tensions. To widen a stitch requires additional thread from the loopers, therefore the looper tensions must be dialed down. To narrow a stitch involves less thread from the loopers, therefore the looper tensions ought to be increased.

Tensions are significantly affected by the stitch length settings. Increasing the stitch length requires decreasing the tensions. Decreasing the stitch length involves increasing the tensions. These adjustments will normally affect both upper and lower loopers.

Some problems pop up even after the tensions appear to be properly adjusted and balanced. Some of those problems come about when a thread snags on a thread guide, a dirty tension assembly, or elsewhere. Remove the cause of the snag usually solves this problem. Some of those problems can erupt from simply serging faster than the threads can flow in proper stitch formation. Slowing down often helps.

When all is set and balanced, it is time to serge. First, however, clear the stitch finger and pull the threads under the presser foot and behind the needles. This will reduce bunching up and jamming.

Breaking threads are indications of threading problems and adjustment problems. Rethreading is the most common solution. Reducing tension on a particular thread, elimination of burrs, and clearing the stitch fingers before you begin serging often help. Learn your serger and serge within its capabilities. Do not try to make the serger do things for which it is not designed.

So you own an American Girl doll. Well, as the owner, extra effort is expected from you for your doll to always look best. As the owner, you must know how to take good care of your doll so she will always be presentable. You must know the do’s and don’ts in regards to taking care of your doll.

I myself also own a doll so personally I have my own list of do’s and don’ts in regards to taking care of my doll. And I actually want to share this list to you.

Do’s:

Keep doll away from sunlight. It is not advisable to expose the doll to sunlight most especially for a long period of time. Doll will quickly look old when often exposed to sunlight.

Wash hands before grabbing the doll. Our hands are oftentimes full of dirt and so grabbing our doll without first washing our hands is not a good idea. It is best to wash hands first to make sure they are clean.

Clean doll’s face with baking soda. According to some doll collectors, baking soda can help clean doll’s face and so it will help if sometimes we use baking soda along with water when cleaning doll’s face. However, never rub the baking soda directly to the face. Mix baking soda with water first.

Use good wire brush when brushing doll’s hair. Using other kind of brush is actually a bad idea.

Keep doll in her box if possible. If you can, keep your doll in her box but if you can’t just be sure to clean her up regularly.

Don’ts :

Never place doll near foods and drinks. Some foods and drinks can cause stain to dolls.

Don’t keep your doll in a damp wet environment. Keeping your doll in such kind of environment won’t bring forth any good result.

Never use hair dryer or the like on your doll. Heat can damage your doll’s hair.

Don’t tumble dry your doll’s clothes. Aside from your doll, her clothes are also important. What is she going to wear if her clothes are all damaged? Dolls’ clothes are normally delicate and should not be tumbled dry.

Rubber stamp ink pad contains ink for use by rubber stamp. It is mostly used in offices and is easy as well as enjoyable to make such an inkpad on your own. It is expensively available in market.

You may make this stamp pad in a variety of colors such as violet, blue, red, black and green.

These also include the items such as seashells, washable inkpads, dye inkpads, nick bantoch dye inkpads, archival jumbo inkpads, and distress inkpads.

Palette hybrid inkpads, sea bright dry inkpads, memento inkpads, Marvy matchable inkpads, stazon inkpads and versa craft inkpads are also other available types of inkpads.

This ink pad delivers quality and colorful imprints. Children usually use washable inkpad for creativity.

To make rubber ink stamp pad equip yourself with poster paints or watercolors, plastic container with lid, scissors, sponge, paper towers, white school glue, tablespoon and small bowl.

First, cut a big piece of sponge in a size of plastic container. Check if this size fits well within the container.

In a small bowl, mix one-tablespoon white school glue with four-tablespoon poster color. Stir well. After this, place the mixture over sponge, which is fixed on plastic container.

Use the container lid to cover this container. Then, allow the sponge time to absorb this mixture.

You may try the same process using different colors. Make sure you cover stamp pad while processing.

If the stamp pad becomes dry, add little water and then resume with the process. You may even include your friends in this entertaining creative activity. After the stamp pad color becomes lighter, again begin creating new stamp ink pad.

Rubber stamp ink pad is stationery usually for commercial use. It makes your hands dirty, as the ink spreads all through your hands. Here, in this method, both your clothes and hands remain safe.

This stamp inkpad making method is not only easy, but also money saving as well as time saving. Finally, you may make use of the stamp pads in a variety of work related to craft and creativity or as according to your preference.

Many young girls today are hooked up with collecting dolls like American Girl dolls. Well, this is not that surprising to know as it’s totally fun and exciting to collect some pretty girl dolls and be able to dress them up and buy them some accessories, furniture, books, and presents, like you would do to a real dear friend.

Collecting dolls like American Girl dolls is a good, fun hobby. After getting a doll, you can buy her different cool and trendy clothes and accessories. You can do whatever you want with the doll. If you want your doll to look like sporty or be dressed like a princess, you can. If you also want her to be comfortable like a real dear friend, you can also get her beds, tables and chairs, trunks and other storage cases, and many other furniture options. You can also get her different pets, musical instruments, suitcases, horses and carriages to enjoy.

Also, if you want your doll to meet some new friends, you can bring her to some doll retail locations that offer special activities for doll collectors and their dolls. You and your doll can meet new friends and have lunch or tea. If you wish to have your doll’s hair be trimmed or be cut, it is also possible in these retail locations. You can also visit some online resources and communities for doll collecting. For American Girl doll collecting, for sure you will find lots of these said resources and communities. In these places, you can interact with other collectors and eventually be able to share your doll with them and same thing as they eventually share their doll to you. You can engage yourself and your doll to parties and the like.

However, doll collecting can be expensive specifically when it’s American Girl doll collecting. On the good side, the dolls you may possibly own can become investments. Most especially if they were released long long time ago.

But if you wish not to spend much, you can try looking at eBay and Amazon. In these places you can find retired or used dolls and discounted dolls that are in good quality. Clothes, accessories, books, furnitures and other great stuff for dolls are also available in these places. However, you must be careful and wise in checking of the quality of the dolls and the stuff for them to be sure you’re getting best value for your money.

Uglydolls are the hottest collectibles today; both kids and adults are always on the lookout for the latest editions. Each doll is handmade and has their unique individual personalities. Created by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, they play up to the ugly theme with cute but monstrous design features like having 3 eyes, or just one eye, or snaggly teeth, or tentacles.

I have my personal favorites and its a satisfying feeling that no other people share the same doll as mine.

Abima

Abima is out of control! Hes got his hand in the cookie jar, and his mind on the next adventure, which is probably going to involve bouncing off the walls and knocking over expensive stuff. He only knocks over the expensive stuff. Not to worry though. This adorable doll is very protective and would always watch out for you.

Babo

Babo will protect you and what Babo lacks in mind power, he makes up for in love. Hes everybodys best friend. He will stick with you to the end and when something scary happens, he will send you a nice greeting card from wherever it is he runs away to. A very curious, mischievous creature, Babo may need some guidance and parenting, so make sure to bring him with you to as many places as possible.

Deer Ugly

Deer Ugly lives in the forest where its nice and quiet. But deep down, hes thinking: Please take me home with you! The nice quiet forest is great, but Deer Ugly wants to see the world…YOUR world! He wants to explore the fantastic places you frequent. Like that room with the desk and computer?

Cinko

This adorable doll fears the water. The best way to keep Cinko calm is to sit him down next to you to watch TV. Watch something about dry stuff. Maybe sit him on a towel. Those are dry. Or tell him your best joke.

Antique Knives

My fascination with antique knives started when I was just a little kid. I used to love going to look at the medieval armor in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My parents took us the Metropolitan Art Museum nearly every weekend, and we would spend hours there. I would usually spend most of my time looking at the big suits of armor. I loved swords, knives, daggers, axes, and all other manner of weapons.

My favorite of all were the antique knives. There were some pretty decorative ceremonial daggers there. Of course they had the daggers used in sword fighting, but they also had knives from other parts of the world. They have antique Bowie knives from frontier times, strangely curved scimitars from the Far East and wickedly undulating Indonesian daggers.

I actually started my antique knife collection when I was 13, although I didn’t know it yet. They were selling some old knives at the flea market I want to with my dad. He thought it was about time for me to own my own pocket knife, so when I asked for one he acquiesced. I didn’t really know they were antique knives. They looked like old, somewhat weathered blades with ornamental hilts. The one I bought had scrimshaw on it. It was only years later that I realized that it was made out of whalebone.

Since then, I have collected many different antique knives. I love anything that is old, and so my antiques collection is pretty extensive. I have antique armor, old records, a phonograph machine from the 20s, and many other pieces of curio. Nowadays I’m not as obsessed with weapons as I used to be as a kid. I still like them, but I have spread out to try collecting other things.

Still, there is a certain childish joy I get when I look at my antique knife cabinet. I have a genuine Bowie knife from way back in the day, stone knives found at an archaeological site, and a World War II GI knife. I could go on, but you get the idea. Unless you’re a nerd for collecting old weapons like me, you probably won’t appreciate it that much. For me, however, there’s something beautiful about antique craftsmanship. Looking at hand made and individually decorated antique knives never ceases to be a source of joy for me. I know it will never get old no matter how long I live for.

What is it that makes or breaks your business? While there may be several different factors that relate to your business, patrons are among the most important. Without them, the business goes broke. So, how do you get new customers?

A business without patrons is not a real business. Attracting, servicing, and meeting the needs of clients is what business is all about. You may sell groceries, electronics, or another product, but your real business is serving your clients. You may serve you patron by doing sewing machine repair, window washing, or hair grooming, but your real business is attracting, serving, and meeting the needs of your customers. When you meet the needs and desires of your customers, they reward you with sales, income, and hopefully some profit.

In 1992, I started a sewing machine repair business out of my garage. It is a real business grossing over one and a quarter million dollars last year. The foundation, however, is simple. Get, satisfy, and keep clients.

So, can we agree on the importance of finding clients? There are really only two ways to do the job: Advertise or Get others to advertise for you. The first approach is expensive, but the second approach may take some work and time.

This approach can be described as leveraging your promotional efforts. Letting others help you promote your business does not mean that you never need to spend dollars on advertising, but it does mean you can get more results from the money and time you spend.

One traditional way to apply this principle, is by asking existing satisfied customers for referrals. This involves a simple but vital program to achieve any real results, however, no advertising is as effective as a referral. In the world of direct sales, you would collect the names and contact information of the customers friends, relatives, and associates who might be considered as prospects for your product. You might actually pay the client to give you those referrals. Then you would contact the names supplied and pitch your product or service.

There are three basic challenges with traditional referrals. Customers do not like giving them. Often you feel awkward asking for them, and therefore fail to do it consistently. Tracking referrals can also be a challenge.

A home based repair business depends on patrons feeling neighborly and welcome, but not pressured. I got a few traditional referrals, but then I discovered a slight variation that really worked great. I printed up 500 GIFT CERTIFICATES for $5 each. When I completed a sewing machine service, I included a stack of five gift certificates. I explained, if you will sign your name where is says Authorized By, I will credit you for $5 every time one of these gift certificates is redeemed by one of your friends. That way their next service could possibly even be free. I also told them that if they needed more certificates, I had plenty and they were free.

Explain that when their friends bring in their machines for service, the new patron can redeem their gift certificate. As a reward for handing out the gift certificates, you will credit the existing customer for an equal amount toward her next sewing machine service. Obviously, you do not want to ever give away cash. However, if an existing client can bring you a dozen other customers, doing her repair will be a time of celebration.

You can also tap into other peoples networks or spheres of influence enabling them to promote your business. You can offer brief seminars or demonstrations for sewing clubs, quilt guilds, and crafting groups. You can connect with various womens groups at churches, libraries, or wherever people gather. Everybody loves receiving gifts. So, give away gift certificates, personalized seam rippers, anything you think might attract interest, get people talking, and encourage others to sell your business for you. When people feel good about something, they talk about it.

Other businesses are often ready to help you. You can do joint ventures where non competing business people distribute your information for you and you do the same for them. You can hand out items to your patrons, send letters of endorsement, distribute gift certificates, and much more. When you get several other businesses promoting you to their patrons everybody wins.

There are many mass merchants that sell low end sewing machines. Visit these stores and let the workers know you are available to help them and their customers. Have them pass out your business cards, gift certificates, or other offers for you to their patrons who need your services. You might even agree to teach an introductory sewing machine class to those who buy a sewing machine for free. The issue is one of letting people know you exist.

As a sewing machine repairman, I have discovered a great way to let others promote me. I made a list of all the quilt shops and fabric shops in my area. I contacted the owners and explained what I do. I offered to pay them to help their clients by allowing them to conveniently drop off their sewing machines at their shop for sewing machine service. Once a week, I stop and pick up the machines. It may be one or five, it does not matter. I service and repair the machines and return them. I pay the shop $5 and charge the patron $95. The shop collects for me.

To get the biggest return on your advertising investment , empower others to market for you. Get others to promote you. Let your patrons sell for you. Everybody wins.