eightofspades

Here are some blogs I think you should check out:

mon petit poi
article-girl
ali-clad bi-fold door
aluminium bifolding doors
bifold doors
timber folding doors
upvc folding sliding doors
hertfordshire recording studio
online mastering
voice over recording

There are many advantages to buying a bi-fold door for your home or business.
Here are just some of them:

#1 Perfect for saving space - If you have a small room, or perhaps a large room with little space to spare, a folding door is the perfect solution. Neatly fold-away doors and maximise the usage of your room.

#2 Create a full opening - Standard sliding doors block off half the entrance, whilst standard doors require operating space and sometimes having the doors open can mean blocking access to other areas. A full, clear entrance allows you to really open up your room, creating an unbeatable atmosphere for homes and restaurants or a large, accessible entrance for businesses and showrooms.  Bifold doors create a 90% clear entrance.

#3 Make your entrance as wide as you like - open out and entire wall on nice days or just open one door for standard access needs. It's easy and versatile.

#4 A flush threshold and a wider opening space mean greater accessibility for wheelchair users and the elderly, as well additional safety for active children!

#5 There are a wide range of options available - both aesthetic and practical:
4 different types of frame - aluminium, wood, uPVC and aluminium with timber cladding - each with their own security, style, maintenance and budget assets.
Glass options - choose to suit your needs, whether your priority is increased security, safety or fade protection for valuable rugs, curtains and paintings.
Opening configuration - from one row of door panels opening in either direction, a split row of panels which open in each direction, doors which open outwards or doors which open inwards.
& more: hardware, additional security, steps, sills & thresholds, etc.

Resources: Bifold Doors Shop

by Caroline Chapman

Many people avoid folding sliding doors for the simple fact that in the past they have had a bad reputation. A lot of people probably still think of the heavy, flimsily fitted doors that would get stuck on their running tracks, or worse, come off them altogether. The technology behind bi-fold doors has come on in leaps and bounds since then. True, a lot of companies do still offer flimsy, poorly made doors which pose a security risk. There are many reputable companies around though and I'm going to tell you what to look out for in a quality bifolding door.

1. First, make sure the company is genuine. Check for contact details, business location and the whois details of the domain name. Google for company reviews.
2. Do the doors the company supply have concealed running tracks? Bifold doors with exposed running tracks are an outdated design. Good quality doors have a concealed track system which can't be easily broken in to or damaged.
3. Check to make sure the company can provide doors for larger entrances without the need for a centre post. Old designs required larger openings to have a post blocking the view for structural support. With the newer designs this isn't necessary - you can enjoy an unspoilt entrance.
4. What type of hinges do the company use? A lot of companies use external hinges, with large plastic coverings. These also pose a security risk - the plastic coverings can easily be removed and the hinges unscrewed. Make sure you opt for a company with high security hinges.
5. Are the doors Secure by Design Bifold Doors? Secure by Design doors have been thoroughly tested to ensure they provide the best security.

Modern bi-fold doors are long-lasting, low maintenance, secure and attractive.

by Caroline Chapman

but I do quite like cramming posts with crafts.

I first learnt how to crochet when I bought a 'Crochet your own Bikini' kit by Parcel in the sale. I never got round to crocheting the bikini until now. I used the cotton I got with the kit.

And here's the 'Yeehaw Lady' crocheted cowgirl hat from Happy Hooker. Sadly made with acrylic, but I love it so much when I can afford to I'm going to get some cotton to make a red one for summer.

Yeehaw Lady!

3 comments

I made these from Fabulous & Flirty Crochet - it was such a nice pattern to work with, for starters there were no pattern errors (after working with the Happy Hooker for so long such a huge relief) and it gave a very nice shape. I made it using wool from my Nans stash. It turned out a good size, over time I've found they stretch slightly, but I just put them in with my clothes on a cool wash and it shrinks them back down again. They look a bit of an odd shape in the photo, but that goes away the more I wear them.

DSCN9425

Last year I made a bag from scratch, based on one I'd seen somewhere. It turned out okay, but not as I wanted really, but I couldn't be bothered to change it after working on it for so long. Last week I suddenly decided to take it apart and redo it, with a better sewing machine.

And I made a bracelet out of my sisters fiancés green can ringpulls too.

Well, it's been a while, most definitely time for an update I think.

I finished the Short'n'Sweet Shrug. I decided I perhaps should have made it a size smaller, but I'm thankful it's over with. I left the sleeves shorter than the pattern indicated, partly out of laziness and partly because I thought it looked better.

Some other things I've finished;

- Ivory crochet necklace from this pattern, but without the snowflake! My great aunt donated to me quite a few very nice ancient fine crochet cottons. This is the first time I've ever worked with such a small hook.

- Knitted drop stitch shrug - pattern by ohmystars! - my first finished attempt at knitting. Not brilliant, but not so bad either I think.

Drop stitch shrug crochet necklace

- Knitted fingerless gloves - pattern also by ohmystars!

- An improvement on the fishnet bag I posted last year. Pattern to come later.

- Christmas presents including Cute Candy Pouches, 'Cold Shoulders' Capelet from Happy Hooker, 'Getting Dizzy' Scarf from Not Your Mama's Crochet, Granny Square Blanket and a Star Mat from this pattern. Phew! I didn't get a chance to take photos of everything sadly.

Fingerless gloves

Currently working on;

- 'Yeehaw Lady' Crocheted Cowgirl Hat from the Happy Hooker

On the Back Burner;

- 'Ladylike Lace Gloves' from the Happy Hooker

Fishnet bag

I ran out of my Neals Yard Lemon & Coriander Deodorant a couple of weeks ago, but then I found this recipe, which I'm pretty sure is 99% the same as the Neals Yard one.

Recipe as follows;

LemonCoriander

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons witch hazel (the kind from the pharmacy)
2 teaspoons vegetable glycerin (also found at the pharmacy)
2 drops each clove essential oil
2 drops coriander essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops grapefruit essential oil
5 drops lime peel essential oil
5 drops palmarosa essential oil
10 drops lemon essential oil

Blending Procedure:

   1. Mix all ingredients in a glass bottle with a tight fitting lid. Shake well and label the bottle. You can use a spray bottle if you'd like.

   2. If your bottle is fitted with a spritzer top, use this product by spritzing a little underneath armpits. If your top is a screw top, just put a bit onto a cotton pad cotton ball and swipe. Do not use this product on just shaved skin as the essential oils might cause irritation.

I didn't have all the essential oils listed, so I replaced a couple (rosemary & eucalyptus), but it's still just as effective :)

Long time no update.. Mainly because the only crafty activities I've been indulging in have been for christmas presents, which I can't post about yet! Firstly, excuse the poor quality photos.. bad lighting, tiredness + lack of photoshop = badbadbad.

Found a sweet little craft shop the other day with a sale on wool! I've been getting low on everything but acrylic recently *shudders*
I managed to get - soft tweed in grey (I'm not sure what to crochet with this, I only ended up getting 200g, maybe I'll get some more next week) with £2 off each ball (£2.75 for 50g), some courtelle (whatever that is? It's probably just fancy acrylic..) for £2 for 100g and some crochet thread for 75p!
Also managed to get a 350g of black mohair mix cheapish on ebay, for another christmas present.

I crocheted my first granny squares. I didn't realise how easy they were. I had intended on making a blanket, but alas that shall have to wait until after christmas.

I started on the Short 'n' Sweet shrug from Stitch'n'Bitch. I've managed to do just over half in under 3 nights. I have to say the pattern is a bit confusing, I ended up relying on the diagram for most of the back as they kept missing 'ch 2' here and there. When I got to the front part of the pattern though, which had no diagram, it went a bit wrong. The pattern was mostly "work in established pattern" but at places it didn't seem to work atall. I tried to follow it but it just wasn't happening, so I turned to google. And there was the answer! (here if you need it - it's in pdf format) I'm not sure about the cotton yarn I used for it. I managed to find it cheap on ebay, I like red & black but it looks a bit crazy & messy I think.. See how it looks when it's finished I guess.

ETA: This article has been updated & moved: http://aishawood.blogspot.com/2008/04/ocm-oil-cleansing-method.html

Thank you :)

Original article below for reference.

ETA #2: Comments have now been disabled due to spam. Please leave comments on the post above.

My first post, I'm here to pimp OCM (oil cleansing method)
Fed up of trying hundreds of skin care products, only to find nothing really works? Or they work wonders, then one day you wake up and find it no longer works? Do you spend a small fortune on expensive skin care products?
In my skin care cupboard I have; A bottle of OCM and a bottle of witch hazel. This is all I really need, and it costs under a fiver.

Many cleansers on the market these days contain many chemicals, or atleast parabens which have been linked to breast cancer. All-natural cleansers are either expensive, or difficult to get hold of. The oil cleansing method is cheap, easy & highly effective. All you need to do is adjust the quantities to suit your skin type (something you can't do with market cleansers). If your skin changes, you just change the quantities. Easy!

Useful Resources

The thousands of google results for "oil cleansing method"
OCM Discussion on LongHairCommunity - 41 pages of feedback, tips & info!
Livejournals NaturalLiving community's memories on OCM - Many questions answered.
Investigate the safety of your current skincare products

The Method

When cleansing and moisturizing your skin, it is imperative that you keep in mind that oil disolves oil. Do not be afraid of applying oil to your face. Oil, alone, will not cause you blemishes. Pimples, cysts, zits, blackheads and whiteheads are a result of several different factors including hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the buildup of these factors. Your skin naturally produces oil because it needs it. It is not a malicious force to be reckoned with, it is there for the benefit of your skin. It is naturally occurring. Oil helps lubricate, heal, protect, and moisturize your skin so that it may function properly. Properly functioning skin is beautiful, clear, and glowing.

While I'm talking about the benefits of oil applied externally, I'd like to mention how important it is to moisturize from the inside as well. WATER! Drink no less than 8 glasses of water a day. If your skin has issues with blemishes, drink up! Water will help release and remove the toxins from within, leaving behind glowing, dewey, toned skin. Carry a bottle of water around with you throughout the day so water is always available.

Now, to the point of this article.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is used for moisture, while Castor Oil (CO) is used for cleansing. Castor Oil tends to be a bit on the thick side, so a mix of the two (EVOO/CO) is frequently used. This allows for the Castor Oil to really sink into the pores and draw out the dirt and grime to the surface. You can vary this ratio to match your skins needs. More EVOO for moisture or more CO for cleansing (25/75 EVOO/CO for Oily skin, or 75/25 EVOO/CO for dry skin). EVOO is incredibly high in antioxidants, while CO is excellent for drawing and healing. CO has been the focus of many books and medical discussion because of its seemingly "magical" healing properties. It only makes sense (after a bit of research) that one would use CO on their face to help treat blemishes and acne, or simply to make their skin look and feel better.

As quoted in The Oil That Heals by Dr. McGarey, a country doctor (unknown?) states, "Castor oil will leave the body in better condition than it found it."

The Routine:
Massage a substantial amount (the cup of your palm, while hand is held open) of EVOO/CO into your face and neck.

This is to be done over makeup or any visible dirt. Take this time to give yourself a facial massage. Really work the oil into your skin. Take your time, breathe deeply, and relax. Sit down to do this if it helps.

You, of course, do not have to sit and relax, but keep in mind that stress isn't good for your skin and you should take any moment you can to destress and let tension float away.

Take a washcloth, terry cloth or flannel preferred, and soak it in steamy hot water. Wring it out and drape it over your face.

What we are doing is steaming your face as an esthetician would, but without the steam machine. You want to open your pores. This helps release any impurities from deep within your pores.

As the washcloth begins to cool, gently wipe the oil and dirt away. This will also help remove any dead skin cells that are stubbornly clinging on.

Rinse the washcloth out in hot water and wipe away any remaining impurities. You may have to do this two or three times more to remove any remaining dirt and oil residue, but it will come off leaving your skin with a beautiful, healthy glow. No additional cleansing is necessary.

After you have rinsed well, you can either splash your face with cool water to help tone and close your pores, or if your face feels tight, you can moisturize.

If your skin feels tight, take a tiny drop of your EVOO/CO, rub it between your clean, damp palms and pat it into your damp skin. Massage any oil residue into your skin so there is no film of oil left sitting on the surface. Being prone to breakouts, myself, I've found that this is perhaps the most important step.

Your skin should glow now.

Taken from http://community.livejournal.com/naturalliving/437205.html

Personal Tips

Here's some of the things I've found out/learnt since I started using OCM.

Don't be afraid to experiment with this method! Adjust the oils and the ratio to suit you. Some people find extra virgin olive oil far too heavy for their skin, so they substitute with another moisturising oil such as jojoba or sweet almond. Some people leave out the castor oil altogether. You can add skin-friendly essential oils to the mixture to suit also (be careful with essential oils - always use the correct dilusions, anything more and you could end up with skin sensitivities! I think the safe dilution is about 1 drop of essential oil to every 10ml of OCM mixture) A great site listing the properties of both carrier oils and essential oils

Castor oil is usually sold as a laxative, and is quite cheap. Cold pressed is best.

If you get problem skin in other areas of the body this is great to use all over! Even if your skin is not problematic it will help keep it in condition - I tend to rub the excess oil left on my hands after applying the oil to my face into my hands, cuticles & arms - it keeps my nails strong and healthy, and my skin clear & soft.

Also massage this over your eyelids (when your eyes are closed!) being careful not to get any in your eyes - the castor oil thickens and darkens eyelashes!

For a time I was using OCM in both the mornings and the evenings with great results. Then my skin changed and I found this was too much, so I started using it in the evening only and again I got great results. This is what I mean with experiment, if your skin changes it doesn't necessarily mean the method no longer works, it is more likely to be internal changes - whether it's hormonal or diet or whatever. Work with your skin :)

Around the time of my period I get horrible breakouts. These being hormonal there's not alot I can do to prevent nor treat it. I tend to apply Hypercal cream - A natural blend of the plants hypericum and calendula. Hypericum has pain relief properties, so it helps to soothe those painful spots, while calendula is highly effective in healing and will help your skin heal as quickly as possible.

Other money saving diy beauty

The "No 'poo" Method - A method using rinses of bicarbonate of soda for cleansing and apple cider vinegar for conditioning instead of shampoo!

Make your own Sugaring Solution - Natural Hair Removal

Absolutely tons of natural beauty recipes