Monday, February 28, 2011

HF community: Monday Meetups

The 2nd and 4th (sometimes 5th) Monday of every month, watch this space for a few questions that you can take, post and answer on your blogs and THEN LINK BACK HERE so that we all can come around and visit.

This adventure is OPEN TO EVERYONE!  You DO NOT have to be a part of the Homefront Team.  We just ask that when you leave your link here, you TRULY have a post that pertains to the set of questions.

OK so....

This Week's Questions come from 

1. Are you an Urban, Suburban, or Rural living fan?
2. Do any of the above types of places inspire the creative side of you?
3. If you could live anywhere (jobs and money not a factor), where would you live?

Ok, remember to list the link to your blog in the comments 

Have questions? Send them to us for consideration via the "Contact" Tab at the top of the blog?

Saturday, February 26, 2011

HF Tutorial: Funky Skirt


When you are a creative personality it can be hard to stick to one craft. I pride myself in how focused I have been lately. In order to release some holiday stress I decided to let myself branch out. Using my same materials and tools I created a new fashion accessory.
Just in time for the "tail end" of winter.............................The mini scarf for your mid-section!
I turned this project into an 8-step venture, but you can complete it in two.

MATERIALS: You must have a sweater and scissors.
                        You may also want to have fabric for lining, pins, needle and thread, buttons, and cord.
                         It is suggested to use a sewing machine, but you can be fully content without one.

STEP 1: Get a sweater you want to cut up.
              This can be accomplished in your own closet if need be.


STEP 2: Cut off the body of the sweater.
              The bottom edge of the sweater will be the top (waist) of your skirt. If you are crafty you'll want to save the other parts for future endeavors.
         *You can be done here if you'd like. Just pull it on over whatever pants/skirt you already have on and it's an extra layer of warmth. You can weave a ribbon through the upper portion in order to cinch and tie it.

If not continue on,


STEP 3: Cut the length up one side.

If you want your skirt to have a lining proceed to STEP 4, if not skip to STEP 6.


STEP 4: Get a lining for your skirt and cut it in the same size as the sweater layer.
              Material to line the skirt can come from anywhere. To keep it simple I stole some fabric from an old slip. It would also be savvy to use an old t-shirt. Anything that won't fray is ideal. ( you don't have to hem the bottom.) For added warmth line it with sweatshirt fabric.


STEP 5: With the "Right sides" of the fabrics facing in, pin the lining to the sweater at the top, left side, and right side. Now sew around these three sides.
              After sewing, remove the pins and turn "right side" out. If your sweater is a bit thick you might have to do a few hand stitches to hold the seam in place.


STEP 6: Get some supplies to hold the skirt together.
              *If you want to be done here get some safety pins or broaches and pin the skirt around you.

If not continue on,


STEP 7: You'll need scissors, a needle, thread, cord, and buttons. Sew the buttons on one side and loops on the other. 
              I used a row of five buttons to fasten my skirt closed. You could have as little as two. Also, I did two rows of buttons so I'd have size options. You'll cut 5 strips of cord at 10" long. Make a loop out of each cord with a knot at the end. Use the knot to sew the loop securely to the skirt. These loops should be placed evenly down the length of one side of the skirt. On the other side you will sew your buttons. Be sure you are placing the buttons down in correlation to where the loops will catch them from the other side.


STEP 8: Try your skirt on for size.
        
      (Of course you can always continue on and add anything else you'd want to adorn this piece, but I'm done)


I think I look pretty good, and you will too.


STAY WARM!.......................... and Cool.

Thank you Sarah of Florida Scarf


If you have a tutorial you would like to share, please contact us via the CONTACT tab at the top of the blog for consideration.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Shop Diagnostics: June Vintage



















via on Pinterest


In 2009, Americans lost almost $560 million to internet crimes. Countless businesses and individuals lost productivity hours, information {customer/individual/financial, etc.} and a feeling of security {theirs and their customers.}
Staying safe online, particularly when running a business or a blog, is mostly about having common sense. These steps are some common-sense ways of protecting you and your business while maintaining the open community that is so wonderful about the indie and homemade business community:
1. Pay attention to how much personal information you divulge online. Lots of small pieces of personal information can be put together to form a much bigger puzzle. Many people don’t realize that these little drops of information make it very easy for hackers to figure out passwords, etc. While your business may be small, customers still have made an intimate connection with you, giving you their home addresses, Paypal details, and contact information. Protect your customers and yourself by making conscience choices about what information you put {permanently} on the web.
2. Invest in a P.O. Box. While the likelihood of someone getting all stalker on you because of the handmade widget you sold them, this simple step can give your business a professional edge and you a safety shield.
3. Loose lips sinks ships: choose your words carefully. As military spouses or loved ones, we have a further obligation to be careful of what we share online. Beyond operational security issues and rules, it just doesn’t make sense to share intimate or specific details about your military member and when they are or are not at home. While my opinions about military life are important {and finding a voice for them online is a good thing!}, we must be careful about taking controversial stances on issues for safety and business reasons. I stand by the fact that being a pseudo-member of the military does not remove my right to free speech but at what cost to my business and professional online presence? Don’t allow your business or blog to be more about divisive politics then about your creative talent.
4. Beware of file sharing programs. I know many creative bloggers use peer-to-peer file sharing {Gnotella, LimeWire, etc.} to swap patterns, music, etc. However, when you install and run these programs, you leave your entire computer open to computer-savvy strangers that could access any piece of information on your computer or to attack your computer with malware. Like #1, you have your personal information as well as your customers information to be considerate of protecting…don’t make it easy.
5. Always assume everything you say on the internet is permanent. With blogging and business building, we strive from search engine optimization. We want to be found. However, when we make decisions to say or post something, even if we “remove” it from a website, there are archives and screen-shots that make things impossible to erase from the web. The anonymity of the web gives us the ability to say things that we would never say face to face, but professionalism gives our blog or business the legitimacy to further our efforts to achieve our dreams.
Please visit my blog {Junevintage.squarespace.com} to add your comments or questions. This is a Homefront-specific version of Part 1 of a series on Online Safety. Coming up: online safety for personal users and a Q&A session to answer your questions!



Who I am: Hi, I am Heather of June{Vintage} but many of your remember me from Camp Cupcake Designs. I worked 10 years in law enforcement, 6 of those as a computer and high tech crimes investigator. I am a certified computer forensic examiner {I can find all your dirty secrets that you thought you deleted!} and am finishing my Masters of Science degree in Computer Forensics. I have taught computer safety and computer forensics to kindergarteners, college students and senior adults. I am a mother to one and have been living the dream with my Sailor for almost 11 years. 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Creative Homefires: The Yarn Chick

Creative HomeFires is a series which highlights the value that creativity offers to family members of a deployed spouse/significant other.  We offer stories of the creative life and the beautiful benefits experienced during some of the most difficult seasons.

Let me introduce Beth Thompson of The Yarn Chick.  Here's her story:
     Having a creative outlet has been invaluable to me as a military spouse.  Not only does it give me something to do during those lonely times at night after the kids go to bed, but it has brought me together with other spouses with creative interests.  Having goals to accomplish and tasks to complete in my creative business keeps me grounded at times when the mind can wander and think about things we’d rather not think about while our soldier is away.  The kids enjoy getting involved and learning about what mommy does too.  Distractions are important for kids when daddy is away.


Thank you so much Beth for sharing your story! If you would like to submit a story for this series please contact us ("Contact" tab at the top of the blog) for consideration.  

Monday, February 21, 2011

Military Life...From a Spouse's Perspective: Deb Ragsdale

Deb and her hubby

The Military Brat Team and the Homefront Team are combining efforts to share our experiences with the military lifestyle so that others can fully understand the sense of community, sacrifices, benefits, and expectations we all share as members of a truly unique group of people. Each month we will feature a story shared by a Military Brat Team member, and a story shared by a Homefront Team member.


I am pleased to introduce to you Deb Ragsdale, Owner of Lilac Ave
Deb is the Military Homefront Team Captain and has been a member of Homefront since May of 2008.

Here's her story:

"I have known my husband for half of my life. We met when I was 16, working at a Chinese restaurant. I was looking at colleges to go to, and he was inspired to make more of his life, but had no money for college. He joined the Navy, because they were the only ones that would come to the house and pick him up, since he had no car.
Now to look back, that we hung on to our little teenage romance through 4 years of long distance.  I was hooked. I could “see” no other boys around me at college.  I was smitten with my sailor. We got married when I was 20.
I have never made a more sound decision in my life! We have been together 16yrs now, on this military adventure. When people say, “I don’t know how you do it”…I say, “He is worthwhile. I will wait. I’d rather have him some of the time, than none of the time”.  I think most military wives, think this way. What better way to show your love and devotion, that always is waiting on that pier, for the love of your life, to return?"

To learn more about Deb, check out these spaces:

If you would like to be featured in this space, just send your info via the "Contact Us" Tab at the top of this blog.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

HF Tutorials: Crayola Tarlet Crayons: DIY Project with toddlers




Make these fun tartlet crayons with used up old ones.
It's super easy-just peel your old crayons and break them up small enough to fill your tartlet or mini-cupcake pan.

 Bake at 350 F for about 8 minutes.

 Put them outside in the cold (or your freezer) for 30 minutes to harden up. (I left mine outside for a few hours.)

Once they are frozen you can take them out and let them come back to room temp.


 Pop them out and color!

My toddler helped me peel, break, and fill the pan up. Perfect to keep any kiddo busy.



Aren't they GORG?!


 I love the color pop-this might be my new banner for Etsy, or maybe here on blogger.





HUNGRY HIPPIE

Thank you Natalie! If you are interested in submitting a post for Saturday Tutorials, please contact us via the CONTACT tab at the top of the blog

Friday, February 18, 2011

Creative HomeFires: BW Silver Jewelry

Creative HomeFires is a series which highlights the value that creativity offers to family members of a deployed spouse/significant other.  We offer stories of the creative life and the beautiful benefits experienced during some of the most difficult seasons.

Let me Introduce
Brittany Wende
of 
Here's her story:
Brittany working on her jewelry 
     Deployments are a hard adjustment to conquer especially if you are in an unfamiliar duty station or haven’t quite made a circle of friends yet.  As a Marine wife, I know the feeling. Upon my husband’s first deployment to Iraq, I was alone, on a base I’ve never seen, in a town I didn’t know and living in a state I had never been in before.  It was tough at first, but with a little encouragement, I found the way to take my mind off of his absence and turn it into a passion.
During one of the phone calls with my husband he was very saddened by my solitude.  He worried about my being depressed and encouraged me to start getting creative and work on some projects to keep me busy.

my husband and I after his return from deployment. 

      In college I took numerous metalsmithing classes for my minor and absolutely loved it.  My husband wanted me to buy myself the supplies I needed to get started creating my own jewelry.  It was a surprise that he would be so supportive of me, I always thought it would be a fun thing to do, but I never thought that I would actually do it.  So, I went for it and ordered the supplies, silver, and tools I needed.  I felt refreshed and instantly began drawing designs, going to bead stores, shopping online for more inspiring design books that helped my creativity flourish.   Once my creative outlets were flowing I finally had something to look forward to each day and worked for hours on new things.  After starting to make different rings, earrings and bracelets I thought about selling them online, which is when I discovered Etsy.  It was the gateway I needed to get my jewelry out there.   




     I started selling and I haven’t looked back, each day brings new ideas, challenges and customers.  I’m so glad I did it and I survived every deployment since then by keeping myself enthralled in my work.  It’s really amazing how the time can pass when you are elbow deep in a creative state.  Finding that little thing that makes you happy and gives you a new priority to think about each day is such an important thing to have.

Thank you Brittany for sharing your story! If you are interested in contributing to this series, please contact us (Use CONTACT tab at the top of the blog)


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Shop Diagnostics: C and J Jewelry

Shop Diagnostics is a series where we share tips coming from creative entrepreneurs who can run shops in light of adjustments brought on by military life YET APPLICABLE to all those interested in improving their shop's presence online and worldwide.


This article is written by

Christina Lengele

shop owner of C and J Jewelry
 Your Etsy shop and an overseas PCS
Here are some things I have learned to keep in mind during my recent move overseas.  I hope these are helpful for you and a starting point for preparing to do business in another country.

Etsy Shop:  Include your Etsy shop in your PCS timeline.  Before the packers come think about what craft items you want to hand carry, and what items you want packed.   Post a notice in your shop letting people know what your plans are for temporary closing your shop.

Tools:  Power differences in foreign countries (Electricity Voltage varies).  Find online suppliers for tools and extra parts BEFORE you leave the U.S
.







 
 Supplies:  Supplies may not be locally available.  Be flexible about supplies you use, or find online suppliers.  

Shipping:  Don’t forget that shipping out isn’t the only shipping you will be doing.  You will also be ordering your supplies. Recalculate your prices to reflect your additional shipping cost for supplies.  Revaluate your shipping fees, and change your shipping announcement to allow for additional time.  Each country has different laws about what can be shipped in and out of the country.   You will also need to become familiar with customs forms.
Overseas posts will have policies on “home businesses”, so get educated on those policies.  Don’t be afraid to go to Homefront team members who have firsthand experience PCSing to the country you’re about to go to. 


Thank you Christina for sharing these helpful tips with us.  If you have some information to share, please contact us via the Contact tab at the top of the blog.

Monday, February 14, 2011

HF Community: Monday Meetups

The 2nd and 4th (sometimes 5th) Monday of every month, watch this space for a few questions that you can take, post and answer on your blogs and THEN LINK BACK HERE so that we all can come around and visit.

This adventure is OPEN TO EVERYONE!  You DO NOT have to be a part of the Homefront Team.  We just ask that when you leave your link here, you TRULY have a post that pertains to the set of questions.

OK so....

This Week's Questions come from 
1. Do you like to celebrate Valentine's Day or do you cringe at the thought of Cupid?
2. Are you a flowers or candy kind of person? Or do you prefer something handmade?
3. What's your most memorable Valentine's Day story?

Ok, remember to list the link to your blog in the comments

Leslie's links:

Have questions? Send them to us for consideration via the "Contact" Tab at the top of the blog?

Saturday, February 12, 2011

HF Tutorials: Ginger Cookies passed on by Florida Scarf

I know this is a bit of a random post but, seriously, these are the best cookies I've ever had.
I found the recipe in a coupon magazine they gave out at the commissary this December. I never accomplished the recipe until now. I wish I had made them earlier. They were so easy and the texture of the cookie was right on. My husband Phil and his friends dig them too.
If you are having trouble reading the article: left-click it and it will open in a new page so you can zoom in. Enjoy!


Thanks Sarah! If you are interested in offering a post for Saturday tutorials, please contact us via the CONTACT tab at the top of the blog.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Creative HomeFires: Quite Crafty

Creative HomeFires is a series which highlights the value that creativity offers to family members of a deployed spouse/significant other.  We offer stories of the creative life and the beautiful benefits experienced during some of the most difficult seasons. 
 
  This Feature is written by Shanna Gassie, shop owner of Quite Crafty

Pink Newsboy hat
        Being married to your best friend is awesome!  But when your best friend is in the Air Force and he is deployed, well that’s just a bummer, as we all know.  Thankfully I have Etsy and my crocheting business.  My husband, Gabe, and I have been able to stay connected through Skype, and we talk about my “Quitecrafty” business frequently.  It is a wonderful feeling to model a new hat, or hold up a scarf design in front of that tiny webcam.  Gabe supports me as much as I support him, and he reminds me that my job brings a lot of joy.  What woman doesn’t love a new accessory?
Patriotic Towel Bears
      This deployment Gabe asked me to make him a hat for him.  Words cannot describe how happy that made me!  When I have a bad day, or I’m feeling lonely, I just think about him wearing that hat, and it makes me smile.  I volunteered to make hats for anyone in the squadron, as my tiny way to make a difference over there.  Now I’m looking forward to the day where I can see him wearing that hat in person!  Crocheting has been my outlet through the deployment, and I am so grateful for all the custom orders, love and support that the Etsy community has shown me during this time.  
Grey Slouchy Hat- my most popular item
 
SHOP   
Crocheted Gifts including hats, scarves, kitchen towels



Thanks Shanna! If you would like to submit a story for this series please contact us ("Contact" tab at the top of the blog) for consideration.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Shop Diagnostics: The Taffy Box

Shop Diagnostics is a series where we share tips coming from creative entrepreneurs who can run shops in light of adjustments brought on by military life YET APPLICABLE to all those interested in improving their shop's presence online and worldwide.

This is PART 3 of a three-part Series written by Koryn of The Taffy Box:

  Pimp Your Shop! Make the Most of your Etsy Site


The following are some tips that I have implemented in my shop which I believe have helped increase my sales:

Photos - If you are just getting started, I would say that the first thing I tried to (when I was new to Etsy,and even when I wasn't new but was not getting many sales) was to improve my photographs. Online sales requires great photos. If you don't have good photos your items will not show well and ultimately will not sell well.  You can use a simple camera and enhance the pictures with programs like Photobucket, photoshop and Picnik. Etsy forums offers good advice on this topic. There's even a feature called FotoFuze under etsy apps for this! It is truly amazing! And it's free!

Banners- Get a great looking banner. There are Etsy sellers who will do the graphics for you and you can find them searching under supplies or handmade and typing in Etsy banner graphics or something to that effect. Search under Homefront Team and the same terms and you may even find a team member who would work a trade with you!  Having an attractive site will help your Facebook Etsy shop page and also keep viewers coming back.  I find that having a photo of an item or items from your shop within or embedded in your banner  helps a viewer know what it is you create. If that isn't possible, try creating and then sticking with a branding logo of your own, unique to your shop.


Inventory - Make sure you have plenty of things in your store. Start with 15 items and work up from there. If you walked into a store in the mall that only had 5 things on it's shelves, you would probably walk out. You want to entice lookers and keep them there....that means having plenty to look at.  After that, then create sections  such as "scarves, hats, blankets, etc." (if you sell knits, for instance). Having a "sale" or "clearance' section is always attractive and may help you clean house with items you no longer wish to carry or attract bargain hunters. Tag it with the word "Sale" so that people who specifically search that word alone will run across it! Tag all your items appropriately. Be creative and try to think of ways that buyers may search. 

Tags and shop names - If you have extra tags available to you, use your shop name. For instance, The Taffy Box is something I try to put into empty tag spaces. It helps in Google searches as well as Etsy searches when your shop name may not be as recognizable as an item name. This is especially important if your shop starts with the word "the" like mine does because people often do not remember the part of the name "the", they only remember Taffy and Box and if you search under sellers for Taffy, I do not show up. Bummer. I would have chosen a better shop name had I realized this a long time ago.

Thank you Koryn! If you have any shop tips you would like to share, Contact us via the Contact tab at the top of the blog.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Military Life from a Brat's Perspective: Patti Neal Cadwallader



The Military Brat Team and the Homefront Team are combining efforts to share our experiences with the military lifestyle so that others can fully understand the sense of community, sacrifices, benefits, and expectations we all share as members of a truly unique group of people. Each month we will feature a story shared by a Military Brat Team member, and a story shared by a Homefront Team member.

   
This feature is written by
Patti Neal Cadwallader, 
owner of Ocean Kisses


Military Life….
From a brat’s perspective
       There are very few things that will make me scream.  In my opinion, snakes and mice, although note worthy, are not scream worthy.  Certain insects, however, can solicit a scream from me deserving of any good horror movie.  One such insect is the preying mantis.  It gets its name from it’s prayer like stance, but this bug is not praying.  It is PREY-ing. 
        Notoriously predatory, it lashes out with its spiked forelegs to snare unsuspecting victims, even having a reputation for sexual cannibalism.  It has a segmented body capable of remaining completely still while the arms whip out to grab a living meal.  This horrific creature has a triangular face and compound eyes and its head is so flexible, it has a 300 degree panorama of vision.  And if all these attributes weren’t enough to give you nightmares for the rest of your life; it is a master of camouflage, rocks side to side in the rhythmic movement of a professional boxer, some species hiss, pinch, bite, and fly. Plus, they can reach up to 12 inches in length and there are 2,200 known species in the mantis family on this planet.
      In about 1961, the United States Air Force sent my Dad to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippine Islands.  Shortly thereafter, my Mom, my two little sisters, and I followed. We resided in an off-base housing compound for the Americans stationed at Clark.  These housing compounds had a guard at the entrance, supposedly for our safety, however those guards could not keep out the incredibly huge bug population that lived with us there.  We not only had gigantic flying roaches and preying mantises, there were also rats the size of bunny rabbits and lizards, called geckos, that climbed up the walls in our houses.  This was the norm for life on these tropical islands. After awhile you simply got used to sharing your bedroom with geckos, but I never got used to seeing 3 inch long,  neon green, swively-headed  preying mantises that rivaled any monster Hollywood could come up with in their best scarey movies.
     There was a lot to be afraid of in 1961, especially when you’re only 6 years old.  Never mind Russia and the Cold War, never mind what was lurking under the bed.  For me it was the solitary swaying preying mantis that clung to my bedroom window screen, sizing me up, silently contemplating God only knows what.  The 664 days I was in the Philippines, I probably saw a preying mantis every day of my life.
       One particular day stands out in my memory.  My little sister, Brenda and I were just coming home from our neighbors house.  As we crossed the front yard in the steamy afternoon heat, I walked under a low hanging branch of a small tree.  We stopped momentarily and faced each other to discuss something of sisterly importance when Brenda, looking up at me, said, “There is something on your head.” 
     Somewhere, deep in my 6 year-old wisdom, I was sure I had a preying mantis in my hair.  “What is it?” I asked trying to sound innocent..  “I don’t know,” Brenda responded, her expression telling me a far different story.  “What color is it?” I asked, the terror starting to rise in my throat.  “Green,” she stated flatly.  I looked at her concerned expression and with my last ray of hope I asked, “Is it a leaf?”  At this point, I knew we both knew what was on top of my head, but she wasn’t going to be the one to give me the bad news.  “I don’t know,” she said unconvincingly. 
     Finally gathering a meager amount of courage, I put my hand up to the top of my sweating forehead as if in invitation and in that terrifying moment I felt the insect step on top of my, quivering, hand.
The next few moments are frozen in slow motion memory as I brought my hand down to inspect the inevitable. 
There was the blood curdling scream. 
     Brenda probably screamed too, I don’t remember.  I flung the monstrous creature from me and my sister and I ran for our lives, our screams echoing behind us as I was sure the enormous mantis was in hot pursuit, its barbed forelegs primed to snag me in midstride.  Of course, I would not be able to tell you this story if we hadn’t barely made our escape.

Patti's Shop



Thank you Patti!  If you would like to submit a story for this series please contact us ("Contact" tab at the top of the blog) for consideration.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

HF Tutorials: "Color Me Happy" Candy filled rings / bits & bobs by Hungry Hippie

Need a little sunshine?
Make these colorful & fun candy jewels.


Wear 'em to make you smile.





Turn them into rings, necklaces, hair pins, badges, you name it.



Here 's how:

supplies list
 envirotex lite or epoxy resin
bowl & spoon
surface area to work on that won't be ruined if damaged
(I used a canvas)
candy sprinkles or balls
jewelry hardware (rings,bails,hairpins)
E6000 super glue or other




Grab a throw-away bowl
(or label it for NO food use)
and mix the Envirotex Lite:

equal parts
mix
(This stuff can be found at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, and other craft shops.)







To be safe, don't touch for 24 hrs.


















Happy Creating!

Natalie Santini of HUNGRY HIPPIE

Thanks so much Natalie! If you are interested in submitting a tutorial, please contact us via the CONTACT tab at the top of the blog