I have a Bernette 334DS that I absolutely love but I need to change the blades.  I dont have the transportation or the funds to take it to a shop.  Service appts are around $80 or more and I keep it cleaned and maintained otherwise.  However, I havent changed the blades myself.  Are there any tips anyone would like to share about changing the lower blade?  According to the manual the top blade shouldnt need to be replaced unless it has been damaged.  It has been replaced once in the shop so I'm confident its still good to go.  The manual doesnt have an part numbers for blades etc.  I have found a couple of places that sell the blades online but the info is contradictory on which blade to use.  I would appreciate any online recommendations for purchasing blades also.

I currently live in Indianapolis but I am going to be flying to Portland, Oregon at the end of the month to visit my son for his graduation. I wont have much to spend but I'd like to try and stop at a couple places along the way and look at beads and findings. I will be traveling by car from Portland to east central Washington (Prosser). The route would be similar if you were driving from Portland to Spokane but only about half as far. I will also be in the Tri-Cities a few times.

Those that are familiar with Eastern Washington will know exactly where I am talking about.

Any names of shops or the general area and I can put google to work from there.

I will cross post this on the OR board.

I'm getting ready to make a layered skirt with an uneven pointed hem.  There are several points on each layer and I'll be using my serger to make a rolled hem for each section.  I'm wondering if anyone has any other techniques for serger thread tails.  I've always run the rolled hem stitch out about 1 1/2 inches on the last side of the point and then used a crochet hook or big eye needle to thread it back through under the other stitches.

Dear Moderators: If this post is in the wrong area please move to the correct board.

I thought I would pass on this info since I know several people on here purchase from Shipwreck Beads and others belong to Myspace.

Shipwreck is having a jewelry contest just for Myspace users.  If you have a myspace profile you can enter.

For complete details check out their blog
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=85412328&blogID=254107244&MyToken=5776a089-3b9f-47f9-9643-9d21892d6f30

I’m cross posting this in a few different groups to get as many replies as possible.

USPS is making some major changes to International shipping.  They are eliminating the small Global Priority envelope and dramatically increasing the price of the larger.  $7.50 to $9 for Canada and $9.50 to $11 for all other countries.  95% or more of my international sales were shipped using the small GP envelope so my rates are actually doubling if I want to continue to use GP.  I appreciated the safety of the tracking feature of GP but now I’m not sure how to keep my international sales.  This is probably 1/3 or more of my entire sales.

How do you safely & economically ship your international packages?

I’m making a trip to the post office tomorrow and hoping I understand how the Certificate of Mailing works with the new shipping categories.  I may end up offering First Class international with the Certificate of Mailing.  This may offer me some security but I also want to offer it to my buyers.

What are your thoughts?

Most of the jewelry I make is for my daughter but this was a special request for her birthday.  Her birthday was in January but she was slow getting me some of the info I needed so I just recently finished this for her.

Its a very simple 3 strand necklace with garnet rondelles, bricks, and faceted ovals. I added some garnet colored freshwater pearls and garnet swarovski bicones to give it a little interest. She has wanted a garnet and sterling necklace or earrings for a long time but couldnt afford anything in a regular jewelry store. I picked up the beads and findings here and there for almost a year. This is the first time I've used all sterling (instead of plated) findings. I think I'm spoiled now with sterling headpins. They wrap so nicely without any problems.

I wasnt sure about the earrings so I gave her a choice and she picked style B. I ended up changing the toggle clasp, the one I used has a lovely design but seems a bit too small. I'll be sending it off to her in the couple of days. I'll get a call with a squeal when she opens up the package, lol.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a223/sophisticated_hippie/Jewelry/4673.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a223/sophisticated_hippie/Jewelry/4673B.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a223/sophisticated_hippie/Jewelry/4673C.jpg
 

I've been trying to research some sites (free or next to free) to set up my website.  I've checked out Yahoo and so far it looks like that may be the way I go even though I dont like it.

I've seen bravenet.com mentioned in several posts I've read on some other boards.  Does anyone here host their website on bravenet or know someone who does?  Any input would be appreciated.

If this is not the correct board for this question, please flag for an admin to move to a better suited board.

Thanks so much!
Lisa

I'm getting ready to start on several projects and going through my interfacing stash I realized I am almost out of the main interfacing I need.  I can not remember the name of it and I'm fairly certain I'm going to have to order it online.  I dont recall seeing it at JoAnn's or Hancocks.

It's used in the shoulder construction of men's suits and also often in neckties.  I originally purchased it for neckties over 15 years ago.  I've included a picture of it.  Its a loosely woven non-fusible interfacing of a medium heavy weight.  I dont remember the fiber content but it does have little "hairs" that feel similar to a coarse wool.  It is fairly soft, not like crinoline.



I would appreciate any help with the name and even better sources.  Thank you for your help.

I'm cross posting this in the book making section also, wasnt sure where it would fit better.

Now that the Christmas rush is over I am getting back to projects I had set aside. One of those is for my daughter. She has asked me to make her a cookbook. All the recipes she remembers as a little girl. She is ummmm well lets just say her attempts at cooking were compared to Ellie May Clampet, lol.

Now that she is older and forced to cook for herself she really wants to try again. Putting the recipes together is the easy part.

I was just wondering if anyone has ever tried to put together a cookbook before and if they have any advice on organization or supplies. I wanting to make something approx 9" X 6" with a 3 ring (or similar) binder.

I was also wondering if there is a type of paper that could be wiped clean. Not necessarily laminated, way too expensive.

Thanks for any suggestions.

I'm cross posting this in the cooking section also, wasnt sure where it would fit better.

Now that the Christmas rush is over I am getting back to projects I had set aside. One of those is for my daughter. She has asked me to make her a cookbook. All the recipes she remembers as a little girl. She is ummmm well lets just say her attempts at cooking were compared to Ellie May Clampet, lol.

Now that she is older and forced to cook for herself she really wants to try again. Putting the recipes together is the easy part.

I was just wondering if anyone has ever tried to put together a cookbook before and if they have any advice on organization or supplies. I wanting to make something approx 9" X 6" with a 3 ring (or similar) binder.

I was also wondering if there is a type of paper that could be wiped clean. Not necessarily laminated, way too expensive.

Thanks for any suggestions.