high praise for Nintendo

Best customer service I have received in a very long time...from this company! Long story short but the borrowed Nintendo DS stopped working. Lights came on when it was plugged into the wall, but no screen...at all. So, I slowly resign myself to buying a new one to replace it, lamenting the $130 price tag. I google "nintendo ds troubleshoot" and come across Nintendo's 800#. I call, and get a live person, nearly immediately, on a Sunday. Yes, you read all that correctly. This person determined it is 100% covered under warranty, including the return shipping via FEDEX. Off this little guy goes tomorrow with an estimated return in 9-11 days. If they cannot repair it, they will replace it. Go Nintendo! This makes Santa more willing to purchase a few more of your games for two game systems coming our way.

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my first thrift finds!

I do walk around when I drop off my own stuff for donation at the local St. Vincent DePaul but have never happened upon a treasure. Today I came armed with a list, at the top were wool sweaters for felting. I thought I had struck gold finding this enormous men's sweater at 100% cashmere. I mean, I actually do not know, but from what I have read on other thrifter's blogs, this is gold, so I found joy based on that. So, I got it for $2 b/c it had some moth holes. I got another 100% wool sweater for about $2 more and then this desk hutch. Sigh. It was sitting outside the front door as I walked in marked $12. I check it out, LOVE it for my office and go in only to find out that furniture is 50% off today. I did not even see the original $99.99 price tag until I loaded it in the car. It is so heavy, someone had to help me. I am so darned excited to clean it up and then spray paint it something fun, like orange, and then rough up the edges. I totally get the thrill of this thrifting business now! Hopefully, me and my meager sewing skills can also make someting of the sweaters. Are already washed and dried them. Now I am on the hunt for bright colors. This feels like yet another little sickness...one I do not really have time for.

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krystal hartley: feelin' frosty kit

You can find this kit at Funky Playground. Good stuff. That top layout is way outside of my norm, cutting out or extracting the photo but I thought it worked well here. Krystal also has a FREE alphabet on her blog so grab that too.

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crafting: a pencil wrap

I have seen this idea many times, both online, and then in my copy of BHG Weekend Decorating Ideas, which I love. That one said to use a dinner napkin, so I had two of these on hand from who knows when and gave it a try. The stripes actually made it VERY easy for me to sew straight and to space out the lines correctly. And this was FAST. My daughter's preschool class is collecting for an "artrageous" gift basket to be given away at the Cookies With Santa and I thought this would be perfect. I might get super ambitious, make another, and give it away here!

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camera strap slipcover: prototype

A clean house, and folded laundry are highly overrated. I'd rather make this, so I did :) A few improvements, I would change fabrics to something slightly less busy yet still modern but I had this around and it worked fine. Next, I'd shorten mine a bit to expose the "pleather" part on each end. Additionally, I will finish off each edge better, and maybe do an X inside a box, like I have seen on some others. I will also make it a tad wider so I can top stitch over both sides, that really finishes things off right. I am so grateful for all the sites that inspired me. I notice some of the above links are not working but if you do a search at etsy for "camera strap" you will see plenty.
Oh, a tad heavier fabric would look nicer too. I hesitate to line this with anything b/c it was pretty tricky to turn and then get onto the strap itself. Although, I am a notoriously BAD cutter and then my straight lines when sewing could only be called semi-straight at best. I will share once I make another and work out some of the kinks.

Today, I made this recipe for the teachers' conference tomorrow after school. Super easy. Super yummy. Peanutty Buckeye Bars. Photo from BHG website.

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