Fiber Fool

Crafty:

• For those of you who love all things stationary related (and who isn’t lusting after new stationary supplies with all this back-to-school talk?) check out these downloadable vintage hankie-inspired papers.
• If you pack lunch for someone you love and want to be more green yet insulating too check out Maya Made’s answer - a woolen sack made from a re-purposed blanket to insulate and carry stainless steel lunch boxes.
• For you sheep lovers out there, Lillyella has a great mini round up of sheepy things (mostly from Etsy).
• Are you an RPG geek and a crafter? Check out this column on using the craft skill more thoroughly (written by a college classmate of mine)
• While I think we are lacking in shelf space more than storage space, if you are in the opposite situation here is a great solution for storage on shelves.
• Since I’m on about books, check out these two ways to give old books a new life as jewelry or as a loom.
• Who would have guessed there were 37 ways to wear a neck scarf?

Photography

• I’m loving this DIY lens cap keeper which includes several downloadable templates.
• A great article from Nikon on why braketing either exposure compensation, shutter speed or flash power is a good idea (info applies to non-Nikonians as well).
• Adorama has a video with some helpful tips for taking self-portraits (handy for profile pics as well as FO pics for Ravelry). The tips cover all levels of camera equipment.
• A frequent photographer for Pixie Purls has started a series on photography for knitters. There are currently 2 posts, with a link to the next one at the bottom of the first post.
• Troubled by noise in your photos, Light Stalking has some tips for minimizing it. This is my biggest pet peeve of my point and shoot.

Cooking:

• Confused about the convection setting on your oven? Check out this article.
• It seems more people are jumping on Drew’s bandwagon that everything tastes better on stick - including pop tarts & cookie dough!
• If we had any peaches left I’d have to try Smitten Kitchen’s Peach Shortbread or Shivaya Natural’s Peach Pound Cake with Raspberry Glaze.
• Ever wonder what the best way to cook your vegetables to retain the most nutrients is? Rodale has a quick run-down.
• We had wax beans in last week’s CSA and enjoyed this salad with roasted red pepper and tomato and it is surprisingly low in calories yet really tasty.

Wishes:

• I’m loving this Large Sprout handbag from Queen Bee Creations.
• This eco-journal with kitchen utensils on the covers would be great for taking baking and cooking notes in!
• I’m really loving all things mustard right now and this canvas bag is to die for, especially since I’m pretty confident I can’t really pull off mustard except as an accessory.
• How neat is the idea of a felted flower ring? Too bad I find adjustable rings completely uncomfortable.
• I had been thinking I wanted a Shoot Sac, but after seeing one used at SIL3’s wedding I am definitely in lust! That was the first time I really changed lenses mid-shoot too…

That’s probably more than plenty for this holiday Monday. If it wasn’t enough and you’d like more links check out Chris’ Friday Linkity.

One more thing - I’m going to be working through Will Write for Food and have set up a private Google Group for sharing the exercises etc. We’ll be doing a chapter a week with completion of at least one exercise per chapter and constructive criticisming/editing suggestions on other’s exercises expected. So far two others are joining me. If you are interested just leave me a comment and make sure your e-mail address is correct and I’ll get an invite sent out to you. Right now I’m thinking we’ll start in a week, on the 13th, but I’m somewhat flexible if not everyone will have a copy of the book by then.