Kitchen Table Gang serves those who serve

I have volunteered for The Kitchen Table Gang for several years. I have never met Charlie Taliaferro (he lives in CA) but he is one of my heroes and my friend. Check out his newest weekly update below.

This is what he sent me:

Dear Pola: Boy have we ever had the rain out here! While it's much needed it gets old after awhile! Hope you are well and staying dry? Below is our weekly newsletter for you to send out to our subscribers. I really "thank you" for doing this over the years. Best regards, Charles T.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

KITCHEN TABLE GANG TRUST NEWSLETTER ~ 23 JANUARY 2012

U.S. Military Women Exposed to More Combat Than Ever Before
Female American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have been involved in more combat than in prior wars and have the same post-traumatic stress disorder rate as men, a new study has found. For the study, researchers looked at over 7,000 active-duty soldiers who served in the war zones and found that 4 percent of female soldiers reported killing, 9 percent reported witnessing killing, 31 percent reported exposure to death and 7 percent suffered a combat-related injury. In comparison, 1 percent of female soldiers involved in the 1990-1991 Gulf War reported killing, 14 percent witnessed a death and 2 percent suffered a combat-related injury, the investigators found.This is a very interesting study, see it at http://news.yahoo.com/u-military-women-exposed-more-combat-ever-190408538.html

AMERICAN FLAG RETIREMENT
Do you have a old, tattered flag that's laying around your office or home that’s not fit for display and you just don't know what to do with it? Then send it to us! We will properly dispose of it according to federal laws. The Kitchen Table Gang will retire your worn out and frayed American flags with honor! Anything else is desecration! Send your flags to the Kitchen Table Gang Trust, 42922 Avenue 12, Madera, CA 93638-8866 and we will dispose of your flags in a proper and dignified manner with full honors and dignity pursuant to the United States Flag Code Section 8K (PL 93-344). Last year the KTG retired over 2,000 American flags! When you send us a flag, please enclose a small donation for this service which allows us to continue our many patriotic programs. Thank you very much!

Persian Gulf Claims Deadline Extended
The Department of Veterans Affairs has extended the presumptive period for Persian Gulf War veterans to file claims for undiagnosed illnesses. The new deadline is Dec. 31, 2016. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 25-35 percent of veterans of Desert Shield/Desert Storm have undiagnosed and chronic multi-symptom illnesses, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and concentration problems. For more information, visit VA's (http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/) Gulf War Illnesses website.

Hod did you get such a crazy name?
People are always asking us how the Kitchen Table Gang got its unusual name. Well, in 1981, several of us guys had a weekly penny-ante poker game at my house which was played around our kitchen table. One day Johnny Choate (my long-time fishing buddy) had the great idea of taking a portion of every pot and doing something positive for our hospitalized veterans, homeless veterans and our troops deployed overseas. It started out just at our nearby VA hospital over 31 years ago and it rapidly spread throughout the United States. After awhile, our wives and friends started calling us the "Kitchen Table Gang" and the name stuck, and we have been serving hospitalized veterans and soldiers and Marines deployed overseas ever since.

VA Announces Changes to Emergency Care Payment Policy
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today a change in regulations regarding payments for emergency care provided to eligible Veterans in non-VA facilities.
“This provision helps ensure eligible Veterans continue to get the emergency care they need when VA facilities are not available,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
The new regulation extends VA’s authority to pay for emergency care provided to eligible Veterans at non-VA facilities until the Veterans can be safely transferred to a VA medical facility. More than 100,000 Veterans are estimated to be affected by the new rules, at a cost of about $44 million annually. VA operates 121 emergency departments across the country, which provide resuscitative therapy and stabilization in life-threatening situations. They operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. VA also has 46 urgent care units, which provide care for patients without scheduled appointments who need immediate medical or psychiatric attention. For more information about emergency care in non-VA facilities, visit www.nonvacare.va.gov.

Time for troops to think about absentee ballots
The Republican presidential nomination could be all but sewn up after tomorrow’s South Carolina primary, but Army voting officials are reminding soldiers that doesn’t mean election season is finished. Time for troops to think about absentee ballots. The Republican presidential nomination could be all but sewn up after tomorrow’s South Carolina primary, but Army voting officials are reminding soldiers that doesn’t mean election season is finished.
Time for troops to think about absentee ballots. The Republican presidential nomination could be all but sewn up after tomorrow’s South Carolina primary, but Army voting officials are reminding soldiers that doesn’t mean election season is finished.
http://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripes-central/stripes-central-1.8040/time-for-troops-to-think-about-absentee-ballots-1.166387
utm_source=Stars+and+Stripes+Emails&utm_campaign=fe4e5fb81f-Daily+Headlines&utm_medium=email

A financial slap in the face for military veterans
Starting this semester, military tuition assistance has been reduced from 100 percent to 50 percent. What does this say to our brave men and women who are returning home, battle-hardened and wanting to move on with their lives? http://www.collegian.com/index.php/article/2012/01/a_financial_slap_in_the_face_for_military_veterans

Rules Restrict Political Activity
With election activity steadily picking up, the Department of Defense (DoD) is issuing regular election-year guidance to remind military and Defense Department civilians that they are subject to several sets of rules regulating their involvement in political activities. (http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134410p.pdf) DOD Directive 1344.10 applies to most members of the armed forces. Also, the (http://www.osc.gov/hatchact.htm) Hatch Act applies to federal civilian employees, and employees also are subject to widely published DoD guidance that discusses participation in political campaigns and elections. These rules are designed to prevent military members' or federal civilian employees' participation in political activities that imply -- or even appear to imply -- official sponsorship, approval or endorsement.

Law Eases TSA Screenings
President Barack Obama signed a bill into law Jan. 3 to streamline airport screening procedures for servicemembers and their families traveling on official orders. The Risk-based Security Screening for Members of the Armed Forces Act gives the Transportation Security Administration six months to develop and implement a plan to expedite screening services for servicemembers on orders and in uniform. The agency also expedites the screening process for Honor Flight Network veterans, and partners with the Defense Department to expedite screening for wounded warriors and their families.

National Guard preps to leave border
Hundreds of National Guard troops are preparing to leave their posts along the U.S./Mexico border by the end of February. They have provided support to the U.S. Border Patrol for the last 18 months from hilltops as lookouts and on special security teams. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/18/national-guard-preps-to-leave-border/

USO Connects Families
A cooperative effort between the USO and the federal non-profit organization United Through Reading allows overseas personnel to read to their children back home through recorded video. They can read for up to 30 minutes while being recorded. USO patrons can bring their own book or choose from the selection provided. For more information, visit the (http://www.unitedthroughreading.org/military-program) United Through Reading website.

VGLI Insurance Coverage Increases
Some veterans covered under the Veterans Group Life Insurance program (VGLI) now have the opportunity to increase their coverage to the current maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program. Veterans can increase their coverage by $25,000 at each five-year anniversary date of their policy to the current legislated maximum SGLI coverage of $400,000. Eligible veterans are notified of this opportunity a week before the start of the 120-day period prior to their anniversary date, and twice more before the actual anniversary date. For more information about VA's Insurance Program or other VA benefits, visit the VA website at (http://www.va.gov/) www.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000. Veterans are also encouraged to visit VA's web portal (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=TemplatedFilterContentPortlet_24&_urlType=action&wlpTemplatedFilterContentPortlet_24_tab=subTopic&wlpTemplatedFilterContentPortlet_24_eb.event=tabEvent&_pageLabel=Insur href=) eBenefits - Insurance.

VA Deploying Mobile Centers
The Department of Veterans Affairs has deployed 20 additional Mobile Vet Centers. These customized vehicles travel to communities to extend VA's reach to veterans, servicemembers and their families, especially those living in rural or remote communities. VA has 300 Vet Centers across the country offering individual and group counseling for veterans and their families, family counseling for military related issues, bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death, employment assessment and referral, VA benefits explanation and referral, screening and referral for medical issues and other services. To find out more about Vet Center services or find a Vet Center in your area, visit VA's Vet Center webpage at (http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/) www.vetcenter.va.gov.

New Navy Personnel Qualifications
The Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) has announced the update of the Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS) for master training specialists (MTS). The updated PQS is available on Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) via the Navy PQS link found on the Quick Links tab in the middle of the left side of the main (https://nko.navy.mil/) NKO page. From the Navy PQS page, Sailors should click on the PQS 43100 Series link on the left side and choose the 43100.7 link for the new MTS PQS. For more information about Personnel Qualification Standards, visit the (https://nko.navy.mil/) NKO website.

AF Offers Early Retirement
The Air Force began offering a second round of voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentive pay Jan. 9. Civilian employees will receive VERA/VSIP eligibility surveys from their personnel managers in January and applications are due Feb. 3 or an earlier date established by local authorities. Applicants approved for this round of VERA/VSIP will need to separate on or before April 30. For more information about civilian employment, voluntary separation programs and other personnel issues, visit the secure (https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/) Air Force Personnel Service website.

PLEASE KEEP US ONLINE
If you find this site useful, please consider making a small donation to help offset the routine expenses of the operation of this website. You can use the PayPal icon on the front page of our website (http://www.kitchentablegang.org) or just send us a check to 42922 Avenue 12, Madera, CA 93636-8866. Thanks for your kind support. GOD bles you and GOD bless AMERICA!

Charlie Taliaferro, Director
crtaliaferro@gmail.com
THE KTCHEN TABLE GANG TRUST
http://www.kitchentablegang.org
42922 Avenue 12
Madera, CA 93636-8866

Newest Hive Split Report

When I created the 3rd hive with a queen who was barely making it. When I received my new queen her attendants were all dead in the queen shipping box but she seemed to be in good shape. I installed the queen and she took.

Of course, when I readied the hive for fall and winter, I realized it was feeling light and I had some decisions to make. I left it where it was - knowing that I would have to feed it all winter because the hive did not have a lot of stores.

Then, we have had this crazy, crazy weather - too warm, sudden strong winds, rain storms and a night down to 4 degrees!

I took some raw sugar to the hive yesterday to give them something to "chew" on on a warm day and found that the bees were out foraging and there was quite a bit of activity at the entrance of the hive.

Go bees! Cross your fingers for them.

Flemish Bowstrings, Quivers, Trapper Baskets and more

Just sent this email to possible wholesale clients in NJ. If you are interested, please let me know.

~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever wished to have a local supplier for Flemish bowstrings for your customers? Well, that’s a service that I can provide.

I have been building strings for 4 years now and have recently added Excalibur-type Flemish strings for crossbows to my list of available strings.

I can provide either Brownell or BCY strings in Dacron or FastFlight. I include padded loops with the modern materials which helps to absorb some of the energy after the arrow is cast. Adding that little bit of cushion helps to provide some protection to the bow limb tips.

Wholesale accounts are welcome as are custom orders? If you would like to know more or order some strings, please contact me at (609) 534-0087 or email me at pola@webmavennj.com (Ask me about retail or individual sales too.)

As a weaver I also craft hand-woven quivers from reed and oak. The quivers can be custom ordered with color, all natural or with a walnut stain. Trappers Pack Baskets are also available.

I am a traditional archer who hunts, shoots and fishes. I have been weaving for almost twenty years. Let me weave something for your customers.

Handmade Christmas at Murray Grove 11/9/11

Handmade Christmas at Murray Grove, a group on Flickr.

So my home is way too small to host a holiday trunk show for myself and my friends. Partnering with Murray Grove Retreat Center, I can now have a Trunk Show party with some refreshments, a little wine, some music and lots of shopping.

I feel like I am having a Christmas Party for a couple hundred of my closest friends. I have my Christmas Tree out of storage and plan on making some Christmas Cookies just to get in the mood.

More on original hives

With all this heat and dryness (not counting the yucky humidity), I wanted to make sure that my original two bee hives were doing well and having plenty to eat and drink. I headed out there today to fill the division feeders and put the beetle traps in place.

They were doing well and the bees were hanging around the outside of the hives trying to deal with the heat. It surprises me that I have so much in common with my bees.

I hope to get some photos the next time that I inspect the hives. It's been a while and I would like to have more photos.

Checking in on the new hive

Added the 2nd hive body today with the division board feeder. Those bees are growing in numbers and their disposition was good. They could have cared less about what I was up to because they were busy.

I'm pleased with their progress and it seems like the queen is doing well and laying eggs in a good pattern.

This hive is going to go to my friend's home in Medford in August. I'm really excited.

Update on New Queen

It's been a week since the hive was split and they both appear to be doing well. I was excited to see that the new queen had been released from the cage and the attendants cleaned out. On inspection, there appeared to be brood in various stages of development although I did not disturb it for too long - only long enough to give additional food.

Already thinking about getting all the hives prepared for winter.

Summer Split

I have been thinking about it for a while but wasn't ready for my split in the spring. Now, I have a friend that has offered to let me put a hive in his yard in Medford. On Sunday, Mike Long of Uriah Creek Apiary, brought me a queen -- My first queen outside of my original hive delivery. I had to get ready to get her hived.

Went over to Nature's Rescue and split one of my hives -- took 4 frames of brood and shook off a 5th frame of bees into the new hive and placed the queen carefully between two of the frames. Then, closed up the hive (already had a screen in place) and brought the new hive over to the Lighthouse Center to beef up for several weeks.

Fed them a sugar solution from a bag feeder and am hoping that everything takes. I checked yesterday (Monday, 7/4) and there are bees flying in and out so I am hopeful.

Going out tomorrow morning to feed the original two hives and check on how they are doing. Also, going to check on the weight of my honey supers. I'm looking forward to my first taste of honey from my own hives. Now, all I have to do is figure out how I am going to extract it.

Spring Hive Report

So far, my bee hives have made it through the winter. I'm trying to get a decent day where the foragers are out flying so I can really go through to check the frames. I have a sinking feeling the #1 hive has lost its queen.

Last week, when I checked the hives. #2 was calm and the bees were industrious and ignored my clumsy hands going through to see what's happening. Those frames are really glued in there! Hive #1 was completely different -- bees came flying out by the hundreds when I took the top off. Smoking them did not seem to have any effect and their buzz was not the happy rhythm I have been used to.

I wished that I had brought some sugar water in a spray bottle to distract them and decided that it would be better to wait to a warmer day, when I had plenty of time (and sugar water) to inspect the frames more thoroughly.

Well, so far Mother Nature has not cooperated with me with a warm, sun-shiney day where the foragers would be out gathering pollen and I could take the frames out one-by-one and check their disposition and their health.

I'm glad that there are plenty of bees in both of the hives and they are gathering pollen but want to give them every opportunity to be healthy and grow.

Also, I am officially a member of the New Jersey Beekeeping Association and am looking forward to my first meeting of the Jersey Cape coming up on 4/21/11.

Women's Educational Pheasant Hunt 1/16/11

Registrations are being accepted for the next Educational Pheasant Hunt sponsored by the New Jersey Quail Project. While female and younger hunters are encouraged -- all hunters who are looking to learn about hunting over pointer dogs are welcome to apply. The hunt is limited to 20 hunters. This is truly an educational experience and not meant for hunters who regularly hunt for upland birds whether over dogs or not.

The day may start early but is full of activities, education and great food! Here's the informal agenda for the day:

• Gathering and breakfast @ 7:30 AM
• Welcome, Safety Talk and Overview of the Day
• Off to the traphouse for some practice
• Hunting in the field with a mentor, guide and dog
• Lunch at the Club house
• Back out in the field for afternoon hunt
• Meet at the Clubhouse for tagging and cleaning the birds
• Departure about 4:30 PM

Attached you will find a registration form with additional information. All hunters must have a 2011 NJ Hunting License, require amount of safety orange, and their own eye and ear protection. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. However, I am smack dab in the middle of about a dozen projects; so, please be patient with me. I promise I will get back to you.

Sponsorship and donations in support of these educational programs are accepted. Friends or family attending with young hunters will be asked for a donation to cover their meals. Pola Galie and Mike Mazzucco, co-chairs. Reservations/Registrations are REQUIRED.

Special Thanks to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Environmental Projects/NJ Quail Project, English Setter Club Directors and Members and our volunteers - mentors, dogs and our Camp Cook, Ed Gerber!

Additional details, photos and registration form are available online at http://www.njquailproject.org

Where's my website traffic? You have to work for it!

A few new Internet clients have voiced concern over their disappointment that creating and launching a website did not bring them the results they were hoping for. They are not getting significant numbers of what they consider good qualified leads or sales.

Some people feel that if information is placed on the Internet and available over the web that the world will come marching to their door, everyone clutching credit cards and cash! In fact, some new website enabled businesses are actually afraid that there might be too much business and they will be overwhelmed the very minute their site goes live.

Well, I hate to always be the one that sometimes crushes someone’s website dreams but I have to tell people a very disappointing – “Well, that usually only happens with gambling or pornography websites or websites that are giving away really good prizes for free.” I try to never say it just like that but, unfortunately, that statement is honest. Of course, there are always the terrible embarrassing photos of a celebrity that make the rounds of the email world and drive people to go look at the photos. Seriously, we do not even allow those types of businesses on our servers so . . . .

For the rest of us, a website is a tool that still has to be taken out, used and maintained from time to time. Websites are wonderful tools that expand our communication capabilities – they are there, 24 X7, in full color (and sound), giving a lot more information and photos than we could ever afford to put into magazine or newspaper advertising – How many of us can afford radio or TV? Not many, I am afraid. Websites give businesses the ability to collect information and receive questions, quotes and/or orders at any time.

It takes a while to build traffic to a business or personal website and that takes time and good old-fashioned hard work and diligent communication -- Communication of all kind – face-to-face, telephone, email, forums, advertising, etc.

However, it is not all bad news. There are many things that you can easily do to help build traffic to your website as well as hone the information that you intend for your target audience.

Here are some easy, economical things that people can do to drive traffic to their site and over time, communicate with potential members or buyers.

1. A website needs to be updated regularly with fresh and timely content. Make people want to come back to your website again and again – try to get them to leave something behind . . . email address, money – it’s up to you.
2. A banner exchange with websites whose constituency is similar or complementary.
3. A link exchange (similar to above) – you can ask everyone you know who has a website to link back to your website but you should offer them a reciprocal link if they have a business.
4. Make sure your content tells the story you want it too and use photos to help explain and clarify your message.
5. Use your domain based email – It just drives me crazy when someone has a website. Visit me at www.MyBusiness.com and then their email is MyBusiness@my internetprovider.com -- It should be MyName@mybusiness.com -- there are a million things you can do with email if you have your own domain.
6. Make it easy for people to find and/or communicate with you. Nothing drives me crazier than not being able to find out where people are and how to contact them. If there is no email address or contact form, I often pass businesses buy. If you are too busy to answer my email, then you definitely do not need my business.
7. Do not be afraid to list your website on search engine websites. Do everything you can to help people find their way to you. (Just remember to make the trip worthwhile.)
8. Use the forums that let you talk about your business website. Sometimes forums will not let you have a link if you are not paying for advertising but you can talk about what it is you do and why others should join you to do it. You could also ask your friends and family to do this but this should be more than a once in six-month activity but something that you do and participate in on a regular basis.
9. Email lists and/or groups – search them out and you may find one that you can put an ad on a regular basis. I belong to a weaving group that allows any sales notices or ads to be placed on Friday. I actually pay more attention to the email chatter on Friday because I am always looking for a bargain.
10. Ahhhh, the social media bug-a-boo. It’s important to be active (within reason and do not throw away your personal privacy). You can meet a lot of potential customers by using Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, CamoSpace and others. Seems like there are more social media sites that are specific to an audience or a networking site popping up every day. Most are FREE! Use them. Even purchasing an ad on Facebook is rather inexpensive and you can control the content and budget!

But once you start, you want to keep up with it – get in the habit of posting something on a regular basis on a schedule that you are comfortable keeping or get someone in your organization that is more comfortable with the web community to do this. Even if you put it in your schedule to do something 1-3 times a week, it helps to promote your business.

These are just a few ideas for people to use to promote their websites and try to get more traffic to them. However, make sure there is something for those visitors to see or do when they get there or they will not necessarily come back.

I hope this helps as this is just a little synopsis of what I have seen since starting to host and design websites when we were still using DOS Trees as menus and a GUI was still a dream.

Bees are working hard

Checked on the hives yesterday and it's a really satisfying feeling when you remove the frames for inspection and their weight is full of honey and larvae. Since my bees arrived in May and we have had such a hot, dry summer, that the original weight of the frames is what I have often felt when I inspected the hives as they bees drew out the comb and the colony continues to grow.

Looking closely at the frames full of future bees at various stages of growth, the beautiful colors of the pollen and the crystal diamond-like shine of the nectar brings me a lot of happiness and satisfaction . . . .almost maternal because after all, they are living creatures like the cats, dogs and bunnies, that I am responsible for.

No honey will be taken from them this year. All their hard work will remain to help them get through their first winter. I think that the location is really a good one for them and hope that the fall and winter will prove true.

My interest continues to grow as I watch the bee "civilization" at work and sometimes, I think, at play.

The last time I inspected the hives, I thought they were more aggressive and unhappy. Yesterday, I delivered their syrup first in the feeder and could almost hear the collective "ahhhh" from the hive as many bees made their way over to that sweet smell that they have come to know in their new home.

PhillyBurbs.com: Homegrown talent

Check out this great article about Abbie and the Handmade Faire.

PhillyBurbs.com:  Homegrown talent

Selfish Streak continued WebmavenNJ discovers pancakeandlulu

I have been consumed by thinking about the upcoming fiber events: The Crafters' Retreat Weekend and the 1st Annual Bayside Fiber Bash. All I am thinking about is 2 days of weaving and spinning with friends and getting to play with alpacas and angoras. Sounds almost like heaven to me.

This morning I decided to take a short trip through the EtsyNJ websites and see if I could find some more fiber addicts. I discovered pancakeandlulu! Wow. I can almost feel how these fibers would feel against my cheek by looking at them. The beautiful colors leap out of the computer and I want to touch them and spin them.

Of course, if I don't have the patience to wait to spin my own beautiful spun, hand-dyed roving, I could just buy one of her exquisite yarns. A true feast for the eyes.

Also, I could not help but noticing the eco-friendly dyes that are in pancakeandlulu's shop. If I wanted to make sure that I had sufficient amounts of yarn for a project that are consistent in color, this would be a great choice to make.

So you see, each Team Tuesday, I think about my EtsyNJ Team members and how they can help improve the quality of my life! I am so blessed to have so many kind and talented folks that I can depend on for gifts, supplies, workshop leaders, and just plain ole' fun.

Shop local. Support local artists and yes, as AbbieRoad says on her T-shirt, "Save the World."

Greco's Woodcrafting has the Webmaven's Attention

I love wood! I absolutely can get as excited about a beautiful piece of wood with nice grain and color as I can some nice fiber or weaving a basket. Recently, I made the decision to give myself a present. I ordered a matching spindle and nostepinne from Greco Woodcrafting. I will get it in a day or so. I wonder if it will look like the one in this photo.

One can almost imagine the smooth feel of the finished wood as well as the weight of the spindle spinning the wool that will be made into a nice pull ball on the nostepinne which eventually will make its way into a special project of some kind.

With the relationship of the shop to Arbor Day Foundation, I would encourage sales so that for every five, a tree will be planted.

So, whether you are looking for a weaving tool that will be in your hands for many years and projects to come or an heirloom toy that will be as much fun for the next generation as it is for the lucky child it is purchased for.

Give yourself a treat for your eyes by checking out his shop and give yourself a real treat by buying a toy or a tool.

Nature Dyeing Workshop

DSC05240
Originally uploaded by webmavennj

Well, we finally got together to do some dyeing using nature's materials. What a great workshop. I'm sure that I'll be adding photos to the Flickr album as I receive them from others or download a few more from my new iPhone.

We learned so much and the discussion during the work and play was absolutely the best conversations I know that I've had in a long time. I cam away with a new appreciation of my friends and family. We are definitely not "talkers" but are "doers."

Duffy Barrow, Naturalist at the Lighthouse Center, and I have about 3 more projects on our list that we are looking forward to completing.

We'll keep you posted but, before I start any more projects, I have to put my bee hives together and get them painted. Pictures, as always, will follow.

IT'S TRUE - The right mug or glass does make things taste better

As some of you may know, I won an online fan contest from Creative Genius in Historic Medford Village. Yesterday, during the time that Abbie had to put up with me, while I waited for my truck to be repaired and before we headed on over to the auction, we went to pick it up.

I love visiting Julie's shop. It's a very special place where you can find the perfect gift for anyone -- even yourself. Artistically and visually, a visit to the store is a real treat and Julie's great personality makes everything an added bonus. {Abbie is one of the artists whose work is available there too!)

Well, I digress. Of course, we chatted about my new mug and how I was not sure about changing mugs this morning. After all, I have been using my Jersey Devil mug by J. Gruber and had to choose between them. Of course, my new happy, pretty mug even holds MORE coffee, always a good thing first thing in the morning. Then, the additional bonus of it made me smile, a pretty large feat at 0545!


Picture this early in the morning, approaching your face with steaming hot, dark, liquid. I am a huge supporter and fan of the Jersey Devil and truly feel that he (or she) is totally misunderstood. I can still hear my friend, Dwain Wilder, asking me at Music By the Bay: "What manner of creature is that upon your mug?" He is from Connecticut and did not know the history of good ole' JD. Thanks to Julie and Teri, I now have a fun, colorful, artsy mug to consider.

I pondered this dilemma before the pot even finished brewing. What to do? What to do? I put them by the window in the dawn's light. Lifted them to feel their weight, their balance in my hand. . . . . this was a momentous occasion. After all, I've used that same mug for over 2 years now. In the light, I knew what I must do.

You might just say the idea developed its own legs! I chose my new mug, filled it with fresh brew and enjoyed my java and the big smile that I got just thinking about the artist, Teri Cody and the imagination that goes into every piece of pottery. I also thought about the relationship of pottery and basketry.

So you see, the correct drinking vessel does help everything seem to fall into place. I hope you all have a great day.

On a warm day WebmavenNJ has Wool Mountain on her mind

I do not know this artist personally but I love her passion for FIBER and excitement for color and freeform composition. I just know she is a lot of fun and very creative.

You may know that I have Angora bunnies and have been learning to spin on my drop spindle and spinning wheel. Wool Mountain's items look like what fun fiber and warm, cuddly hats should look like. You just want to touch them and wear them. Give one for a gift. I especially like this little bonnet.



Of course, on a day like today, when it's over 70 degrees in the shade, one may not actually be wearing one of these beauties but you should certainly be thinking about owning one or two.

It's this kind of spirit that we would like to see participate either as a vendor or workshop leader in the 1st Annual Bayside Fiber Bash and Crafters Retreat Weekend in May. The freedom to let your creative muse take you mind and hands off to a wonderful flight of fance -- come on, Look at her store. I'll bet you are smiling as you look at these great hats and other items.

One of the special things I tell people when I encourage them to BUY HANDMADE is that you can get just what you want, not what some buyer somewhere thinks you will buy because your choices are limited. Indulge yourself - get something you really wants, that you won't see on someone else next winter and will fit!

Clear Communicator - Laser Cut

I pride myself on being a clear communicator. What I say is what I mean, nothing hidden, no booby traps for people to fall in and I look for that quality in people around me.

How does this fit in with Team Tuesday? Easy. Ed Maloney and Laser Cut & Engraving. His products go from from the very creative to the simply useful. . . a wide range. All of the products that I have seen help to make communication of ideas and way-finding easier and clear.

Also, ordering is simple and straight forward which is a bonus for people who are busy and/or maybe unable to describe the final product. I appreciate the EtsyNJ folks whose products I can incorporate into both my personal and business life. Laser Cut has become a vendor that I can depend on to be affordable, just want I want, timely and dependable. I'll bet you will find the same thing -- the photo is of numbers on a dormitory door. May not seem like a big deal to some, but if there were ever an emergency and I had to find someone, it would be a huge help to me or any other responder.

All right, I'm making my list of signs that I will need for the summer season here at the Center. It just feels good that I can reach out to Ed and my EtsyNJ friends and get quality products, at affordable prices right here in New Jersey.

So, let your imagination free flow and I'll bet you will think of something for your festival set up that you have been printing over and over, that would translate nicely into something Laser Cut could produce -- in a variety of colors, styles and graphics.

Talk about the concept of BEST VALUE!

Creations by Robin ~ serenity jewelry

Since I live by Barnegat Bay, I find that that water and tides are a major life force in my life. The good and the bad since we have had to deal with all the Nor' Easters this year. However, since I've been involved with Etsy and EtsyNJ I have met a bunch of very nice and creative people.

When AbbieRoad first started the Handmade Faire, I met so many fine artisans that I seldom have to go outside of my circle of friends to shop for gifts.

However, I was especially taken by the beautiful pieces made by Creations by Robin inspired by the glass she collected from the ocean. The colors and themes fit my overall life. The fact that Robin, Kevin and the family is so nice is a huge, happy bonus.

Robin is a very talented artist and fun to be with at a show or other places. I think that is what shines through in her work.

I love wearing the jewelry that I have purchased from Robin and feel that she puts something of herself in each piece. That's what I try to do when I weave baskets.

So my Tuesday shop is Creations by Robin.

This post is a bit short because I am getting ready for an event this Saturday and Robin will be here. She even makes life easier for an event planner.

We hope to see you on Saturday too!