Mimi McPherson

NAME: Mimi Macpherson

SIBLING: Elle Macpherson

CAREER: Entrepreneur (Mimi McPherson Whale Watch Expeditions) / Property developer / Bikini designer / Reality TV Contestant (It Takes Two)

QUOTES: "I've always been in business myself, that's what I've always done. I would really like to make a difference... Elle is really supportive that I should start designing again. But for three years [after bankruptcy] you can't run a company, and then it's another four years where you can't get any credit. It's terrible."

"I'm quite happy with my boobs. They're real, they're a decent size... They could be perkier, but gravity's starting to take effect."

Animal wallpapers: Ubuntu

Check back Picwall Blog http://www.picwall.blogspot.com for more Ubuntu Wallpapers.

Animal wallpapers for Ubuntu users....

New 2012 Wallpapers of Justin Bieber

the winter solstice and new moon

Today, Dec. 22nd is the winter solstice.
The length of daytime is the shortest and it's getting longer day by day from tomorrow.

The shortest daytime means the longest nighttime which is the length of darkness is the longest.
Some of you might have to face your ugly and immature parts you hate.
And you are trapped in bad delusion and think the world around you negatively.

It is said that people who are spiritually awakening are affected by natural cycle like moon cycle and planet retrograde.

Therefore, if you feel negative, it might be due to the winter solstice.
Then now it's over and you can feel better.

In addition to that, the last new moon is on Dec. 25th.
Soon after the date is changed, it is the full moon at 3:06am,

The darkness is over at the winter solstice and the new beginning starts at the new moon.

Enjoy the new start!








 

Christmas Crafting Complete!

My Christmas Crafting is complete! FINALLY!

I made a bunch of these slippers from http://www.ithinksew.com/ . I found that the pattern required a little tweaking, but after 1 test pair, they were really simple to sew and REALLY cute! I want to make a dozen for myself!

I found the best tweak, was to add a stretchy panel at the heel, reinforced with a bit of sturdy elastic. It allowed the slipper to stretch a little, while the elastic held it snug on your foot. I found that making them up "as is", they were either slightly too tight, or falling off my foot. But, with that one little change, the slippers are great and so comfy (I made a pair for myself a few weeks ago that I have been wearing non-stop!).

I added non-slip "hearts" appliquéd to the bottom of the soles to make them a little safer for wearing around the house. I'd imagine with out these, they could be dangerously slippery!

Now... to finish wrapping everything...

Free Blue wallpapers: Ubuntu

See also:  Ubuntu Wallpapers
               New Ubuntu wallpaper for everyone

 

Wallpapers Love

Wallpapers Love

Katrina Kaif in black wallpapers

See also: Some special wallpapers of Katrina Kaif

Clint Howard

NAME: Clint Howard

SIBLING: Ron Howard

CAREER: Actor (Gentle Ben / Evilspeak / Splash / Cocoon / Parenthood / Backdraft / Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker / Body Chemistry 2: Voice Of A Stranger / Carnosaur / Infested / Leprechaun 2 / Humanoids From The Deep / Santa With Muscles / The Dentist 2 / The Cat In The Hat / Bloodrayne: The Third Reich / Blubberella)

QUOTES: "There's really no friction between Ron and I. Solace, yes, definitely. He's a director who loves me, who trusts me, and who hires me! It's better to be Ron Howard's brother than Charles Manson's brother."

"Ron is, you know, actually a really cool shadow to be in. And you know, the thing about shadows is that they're just that. What you make them. Cool."

phew . . .

I thought I wouldn't finish these throws in time.

Nearly finished my shopping and wrapping - now for some serious baking!

More festive fun over on my blog

Christmas Chaos!

Hi all!

I'm Fiona and I have fairly recently started blogging over at Diary of a Chain Stitcher. I never got round to posting about my Christmas Crafting Plans (it's taking me a while to get into the swing of blogging all that regularly especially amongst all the Christmas chaos) but I have been determined to post about what I've been up to!

As I haven't long been crafting I knew attempting to hand make too many of my presents was just going to be pushing myself a little too far and would only result in a horribly stroppy me for the last few days before Christmas which no one would appreciate. So instead I've done ` combination of handmade, produced with a lot of thought but not completely made by my hand and shop bought presents. As much as I'd like to give everyone handmade gifts I one don't have enough time and know that my handmade taste is not necessarily everyone's cup of tea.

My main made project was my Stepdad's iPad case (from this tutorial) with fun chemistry related lining! (He works in a lab) I love it because it looks very professional on the outside so he can take it to meetings but inside it's fun and colourful. I got the lining fabric from Spoonflower which I have only just discovered and highly recommend. There are hundreds of prints to choose from, and if you can't find what you want you can get your own design printed up.

I've also made my boyfriend some boxer shorts using a free pattern from BurdaStyle. They were really quick and fun to make so I think he'll be getting some more of those for his birthday! I don't have a picture unfortunately as I wrapped them as soon as I finished to avoid any accidental discoveries. The surprise is one of the best bits of a gift I think!

One of the gifts I'm most proud of is a cookbook I put together for my Mum and Nan filled with our favourite family recipes. It was a big and time consuming job but I really enjoyed it and it was very straightforward to do using the software on Blurb. They have lots of page templates to choose from which you just fill with the photographs and writing you want, press publish and they'll print up as many copies as you want, and speedily too.

I've made the majority of my Christmas Cards by cross stitching festive designs, which I also sell on Etsy. I can't stand how much printed mass produced cards cost in the shops and would much rather make my own which can be tailored to the recipient and the effort is always appreciated much more.

I've made a few Christmas decorations this year too including crackers, a table runner and these stockings:

Finally I've been doing A LOT of baking including some little Christmas boxes of shortbread for family friends who always send me a little something and who I never know what to give. A little discovery for everyone - shortbread holds up very well in the post! And this recipe for orange pastry is a winner!

Ooof writing this post has made me realise I'd actually done a lot more than I thought! Good luck with the last minute crafting everyone! Merry Christmas!

Make a little gift in under an hour :)

With some pretty scraps and a zipper, you could whip up a pretty little zipper bag in under an hour - tuck a little box of chocolates or some bath bombs inside and you have a lovely little gift!  Resize the pattern a bit and make a set of bags in varying sizes, tie them with ribbon and you have a lovely gift for a last-minute gifting occasion :D 

Don't forget the value of downloadable patterns - it's quite convenient to shop in your jammies and to get a pattern almost instantly once you find it :)  I found this one recently and whipped it up for a Christmas gift for our 3 year old nephew - I'll do the snowman next!  (NAYY - just a happy customer)

We're in the home stretch now - I hope everybody is done or almost done!

Christmas PJ bottoms

Here's my last bit of Christmas sewing - new PJ bottoms for my two boys.  I made them from cotton flannel: digger fabric for my younger boy and tartan for my older one.  They were very easy to make, all I did was use existing PJ bottoms as a pattern as outlined in this great tutorial.

I'd planned for them to be brand new on Christmas Eve, as this has always been our family tradition.  Not so easy I'm afraid, my boys loved them so much when they were 'modelling' them, they won't take them off! Happy Christmas everybody. x

Quick Knitted Gifts

Hello! Sarah O from Oh Sarah O! here. I'm still knitting away on my (ravelry link)Cambridge shawl and hoping to get it finished in time for Christmas. Knitting the same pattern over and over again can get a bit monotonous and boring, so over the weekend I decided to take a break from the shawl and whip up 2 quick knit Christmas presents for some other very special relatives this year.

First, I knit up a (ravelry link)Ribbed Watchman's Hat for a special soldier that I know who returned home from combat in one piece in 2010. I used about half of a skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Solids and Heathers in Navy and cranked this baby out in just over a day (with frequent breaks). I tried to take a picture of me modelling the hat, but I found it difficult to take a good photograph of me and the hat while it was on my head. I can testify that it is very warm and cosy.

Next, I knit the (ravelry link)Lyndhurst Cowl with 2 skeins of Lion Brand Amazing in Mesa for a "lady of the desert." This cowl only took me a day to make. The colors remind me of a desert sunset and the yarn is very soft and fluffy. I'm sure this lady will love it when the temperatures start to drop.

Christmas Movie Poll - What was "Your Favorite New Christmas Movie"?

THANK YOU to all the Networks - Hallmark Channel, ION, Lifetime, ABC Family, TNT, and GMC, who gave us New Christmas Movies on TV this Year. We are especially grateful for the Hallmark Channel.... who gave us, (in my opinion) not only the Most, but the Best in Christmas Movies - that were also Family Friendly!

Now, it's our turn to Choose our Favorites and there are many to choose from. I've added a Poll on the right - for you to vote for your favorites - and Yes, you may choose as many as you like! Perhaps, you have seen Some, All, or you have them Recorded and will watch them soon! Whatever the case - you can vote today and if you see something in the meantime, and love it, too - just come back and add it to your vote. You can only vote once per computer, but you can always change/update your vote on that computer.

The Poll will remain open until January 25th, 2012 - an entire Month after Christmas Day - so we'll be thinking of Christmas, even after the day is passed on the Calender.

Be sure to vote for your Favorites - so the Networks know which types of Christmas Movies we enjoyed the most!

 "Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!"

-

Wrapping Paper and Cushions

Hi, Pam from Threading My Way...

I saw some fabulous ideas for wrapping presents over at Hopeful Threads. One of my favourites, was Kristy's idea of using a pillowcase instead of wrapping paper.

I used this tutorial from Flower Press to quickly make up a pillowcase. Using the tutorial meant I didn't have to spend time measuring an existing pillowcase. I wanted the pillowcase to be suitable for wrapping a Christmas present, without being too Christmassy, hence the colours I have chosen. For me, the hardest part of making the pillowcase, is making sure the fabric is cut accurately as rectangles. Once that is done, it takes no time at all to sew the pillowcase.

Pop the present inside, tie it up and you have a present within a present. There's nothing to throw away, as even the ribbon can be used again.

I've made a sewn card to go with this present. It's going to be put inside an envelope, before it goes under the Christmas tree. I just wanted to show you the pillowcase with matching card.

What's inside the pillowcase you ask?

Two patchwork cushions for my Mum. I used this tutorial, which I found on The Crafty Christmas Club,  by Too Many Pastimes. This was my first time attempting patchwork, so I'm rather pleased with how they turned out, even though the corners don't match perfectly.

Not so long ago, I shortened a tablecloth for Mum. The patterned squares in the cushions are made from the offcuts of that tablecloth. I hope Mum likes them.

Present Roundup

Good morning ladies, it's Wendy here again from The Crafter's Apprentice.  I thought it was about time I showed you some of my presents as I'm nearly done now, in case you're in need of a little last-minute inspiration.  You could always bookmark the ideas for next year of course.

Now, I have to admit that I used some of the items below for birthday presents throughout the year, but that doesn't stop them being good Christmas presents!

Patchwork pouches.  These are from I Heart Patchwork, but tutorials for zippered pouches abound on the internet and once you've made one, you can whip them up in no time.

Lavendar sachets are also quick and easy to make and you can use whatever technique you like -this one is made with applique and a little free-motion embroidery.

 These little knitted wire bracelets are pretty easy.  Thread about 100 beads onto some jewellery making wire.  Cast on 7 stitches with a pair of thin needles and knit.  Bring up a bead every 3 stitches or so.  Knit to the length of the wrist, cast off and add the findings.

I'm sure you've all seen this before.  Free tutorial for the Buttercup Bag.

Show off your embroidery skills with a simple bookmark.  My patterns were from the Floss Box but you can use any designs you like.

These glasses cases are brilliant and so simple with Crafty Ady's tutorial.

You could make some tea towels to match these oven gloves, tutorial on Sew4Home

These counting bean bags are from my own tutorial and go down a storm with little kids.

Another idea for little kids is a travel car playmat.  I made this one up as I went along, but again you can find tutorials all over.

Coasters are a really quick gift and can be made with scraps.  These are from Last Minute Patchwork Gifts.

Crayon rolls are a great gift for children, mine were from a book, but there are about a million tutorials out there.

If you've got a few evenings to spare, you could cross stitch a bookmark, I used this free pattern (I'm very sorry, the formatting on this post has gone all weird and I seem powerless to fight it!) A great gift for babies from this free pattern.  Who doesn't love babies with ear-hats? Tissue holders stuffed with Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater tissues from this tutorial take minutes to make

Teacup candles, so quick, so easy, so cheap.

Wax tarts for a burner are also very easy.  I bought a silicone mini muffin tray from the poundshop and just added wax, colour and scent.  Lovely!

How about a tutorial for a wine bottle cosy for the wine buff in your life?

And my last offering, one for the men, a boxy wash bag.  Or you could do it in feminie colours for the ladies in your life.  These were super-quick to make.  I can't click on the tutorial link but google "Patchyapple boxy bag" and it'll pop up!

I hope I've provided you with some inspiration?  This will probably be my last post this year, but I'm hoping Tilly will open the blog again next summer so we can get an early start on Christmas makes for 2012.