How to Wash Cross Stitch Once Finished

by Susan Ashby

 

Having spent some time completing your cross stitch project, it is now the time to begin the process of preserving this piece of work. This article will explain how to get your piece of work spotlessly clean in preparation for framing.

Having spent some time completing your cross stitch project, it is now the time to begin the process of preserving this piece of work. Before you can frame your cross stitch pattern or picture, it must, of course, be spotlessly clean. Although the piece worked probably does look clean, especially as you wash your hands every time you start your cross stitching; you have not eaten or had a quick drink whilst sewing and have also taken great care to put your work away safely between each session of cross stitching, it is important to remember that as it is hand worked and your hands contain natural oils, the material will require washing to ensure that it is completely stain free. As you have put a lot of time and effort into completing the piece, it is vital that any stains are removed at this stage because anything dirty left on the cross stitching might, in the long term, cause fungal damage. Any cross stitched article that is not extremely clean and washed prior to framing may also loose its colour in the future.

Cross stitched pieces must be washed separately by hand and should never be allowed to mix with other garments. If you know there is a stain on the piece, treat it with either lemon juice or white vinegar before you wash it. Do not be tempted to soak the stain in bleach as this will probably remove the colour of the sewing threads used to complete your cross stitch. You need to place the piece of work in luke warm water containing either a very mild washing up liquid or gentle soap flakes. You should not use harsh detergents and although it is possible to buy products designed for hand washing, these are not suitable for needleworked items. Let the cross stitched piece soak for about a quarter of an hour, moving it very carefully around in the water. If you spot any further stains, these may be rubbed with a soft toothbrush but it is imperative not to scrub the article.

When you have finished washing the cross stitch, rinse it in several changes of water until the final rinse is completely soap free and the water remains clear. Place the work carefully face down on a clean white towel, smooth out any creases and then place a further clean white towel on top of it. Roll the towels gently squeezing the water out but do not wring the towels as this will cause creases which may be difficult to remove. Obviously, if you have cross stitched a table cloth or other large piece of work, it would be extremely difficult to towel dry and it is, therefore, better to carefully place larger items on a washing line and allow them to drip but do not let them dry completely. Please do not fold wet cross stitch pieces.

The piece should now be placed face down on another clean dry white towel and pressed on the reverse side using a pressing cloth and the iron should be set at a medium heat. Continue pressing the piece until it is completely dry. If you have cross stitched a heavy material, you may need to use the steam setting on your iron to remove the creases but as long as you use a pressing cloth, the heat from the steam will not damage the cross stitch or any beading you have worked into your pattern. You are now ready to frame your work.

You have created a beautiful piece of cross stitch work just using a piece of cloth, some thread and a tapestry needle but it will last for some considerable time if it is properly washed and pressed prior to framing. It will become a family heirloom, uniquely hand made by you and is a piece which could last for generations. Friends and family members will greatly appreciate a cross stitched gift and when you look at a finished piece or see the pleasure your cross stitching gives others, you realise the care taken to sew, wash and frame it are extremely worthwhile.

For more free tips about stitching go to Stitchtastic. We also have loads of new cross stitch designs.

Article Source: www.homehighlight.org

How your credit score is affected by common activities

 

 

(BPT) - Managing money wisely: It's something that everyone is told to do from an early age. From putting pennies in the piggy bank to classroom instruction in how to balance a check book, the message is to spend and save thoughtfully. However, in the real world, those lessons often fall by the wayside due to crunched schedules, unexpected expenses and simple forgetfulness. However, the way you handle - or mishandle - your money from day to day will have an impact on your credit score.

While many people only see their credit scores with their free annual check, a recent white paper by credit score model company VantageScore Solutions points out that roughly 70 percent of credit scores fluctuate by as much as 20 points in a 90-day period. Whether it goes up or down depends on your behaviors.

'When it comes to credit scoring, there are two questions that are most commonly asked by consumers yet rarely understood. These questions are 'why did my credit score change,' and, 'how can I improve my credit score,'' says Barrett Burns, president and CEO of VantageScore Solutions. 'We're providing answers to those questions and more, including specifics for how certain profiles of consumers are impacted by common credit activities, and how to further improve their scores or repair a damaged credit profile.'

Consider these common behaviors and how they'll affect your score:

* Paying a bill late for the first time: Missing that due date will likely cause your score to drop. Try signing up for auto-pay to make sure your bills are paid on time.

* Maxing out your credit card: When you are at or near the limit on your credit card, you'll see a drop in your score. By paying off your balance monthly, as is commonly advised, you can avoid the problem.

* Inquiring about a new loan: This common activity can cause a small drop in your credit score. Credit rating agencies might be uncertain of why you need the added credit exposure. You can show them that it's simply a normal expansion by making payments on time, which will also help rectify the minor drop in your score.

* Closing an account: You might want to think twice if you think closing an account is a good way to keep yourself from getting in credit trouble. Closing an account can actually cause a minor drop in your score, while scores get a boost if you have a long credit history with an account.

How long-lasting the effects of a drop might be depends on the severity of the problem. The minimal drop associated with things like obtaining new credit or closing an account can be righted within roughly three months - as long as you're being otherwise financially responsible. However, a more major drop, like a missed payment or default, can last for nearly two years, and the biggest drop, caused by bankruptcy, can affect your score for seven years. There are many other everyday activities that can impact your score, and the Consumer Federation of America offers more ways to learn about them at www.CreditScoreQuiz.org.

Keeping your credit score healthy will have lasting effects on your financial future, so it pays to be attentive each day. A slip-up here and there can make a real difference, and it's more challenging to raise your score than it is to lower it. Manage your most basic financial activities carefully and you'll see positive results in your score.

The Modern-Day Parent's Answer to Allowance

(NewsUSA) - Some parents feel trepidation about giving their children a weekly or monthly allowance because they fear it will lead to unrealistic standards or a sense of entitlement. But what if there was a way to reward kids based on a clearly defined system of chores that not only taught them about finances, but also how to manage money responsibly? "Divvying up household responsibilities between my older son and daughter sometimes becomes a chore in and of itself. And in doing a search, I came across the site DoughMain.com," writes Boston Globe finance blogger Christine Dunn. "It's not just a tool. It's a system. And it can grow as my family grows." Doughmain.com is the modern parents' answer to the allowance debate. But if doling out a monthly allowance is the best way to teach children financial literacy -- knowledge that most kids lack -- parents should promptly find an amount they're comfortable with and a list of chores. According to the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, schoolchildren are "ill-equipped to understand personal finance." The annual advisory report shows that most students continue to graduate high school without receiving any formal education about managing finances. This lack of financial awareness can have a detrimental impact on college students with financial aid refunds or personal bills. If your child has grown up riding the wave of electronic media and digital tools in the "Net Generation" but you're worried about their financial literacy, Doughmain.com systematizes both education and real-time money management. Kids can access it all from their smartphone, too. Check out some of the services offered by the free tool: * The whole family can join, share and manage an account. * A color-coded, integrated calendar allows families to filter, view and update events for the whole family. * A chore tracker logs completed chores while an allowance scheduler keeps track of what has been earned. * Three interactive, age-relevant gaming sites educate children about finance concepts through teacher-developed content. * As children mature, you can link actual bank accounts to Doughmain to track deposits, saving and spending. * A Teen Visa Prepaid Card can be used to teach responsible credit card habits.

Time to Tweak Grandma's Beloved Recipes

(NewsUSA) - Family matriarchs often covet secret family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. "My grandmother had some of the best recipes," said Vivienne Halpern, MD, a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery. "Yet, I know if she were with us today, she would adjust those recipes to provide her family with healthier meals." Time-honored recipes are likely high in saturated fats including butter, cream, lard, buttermilk, and fatty cuts of meat. Some family favorites feature fried foods or foods sautéed in fat. High cholesterol affects one in three adults in America according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although the human body makes cholesterol, foods high in animal fats, such as eggs, cheese and meat, add more cholesterol into the bloodstream. Over time, the extra cholesterol or plaque inside blood vessels narrows the vascular passageways. This can lead to a stroke, the fourth leading cause of death in America according to the 2010 National Vital Statistics Report. Last year, 137,000 Americans died from strokes. Dr. Halpern suggests substitute ingredients such as: * Butter or margarine -- replace these ingredients with trans-fat free tub spreads * Milk -- avoid whole milk; use skim or low-fat milk * Mayonnaise -- use cottage cheese or low-fat yogurt instead * Canned soups -- use the low-salt canned soups only * Breads -- select fiber-rich whole grain bread, not highly processed white breads * Cheese -- use the real thing in moderation. Avoid the high-sodium processed "cheese foods." Lifestyle changes can also have a positive impact on vascular health. For example, a 10-pound weight loss can result in a five to eight percent reduction in bad cholesterol. Other lifestyle changes include: * not smoking * participating in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily * consuming 1,000 to 1,200 calories daily for women; 1,200 to 1,600 calories daily for men to maintain a healthy body weight. If lifestyle changes aren't enough, a vascular specialist can prescribe medication to help lower cholesterol. For vascular health information, visit: VascularWeb.org.

How to De-Clutter When Mess Makes Stress

(NewsUSA) - Most of us have been there at one time or another: Too much stuff, not enough room and no clear way to fix it. And whether it's overtaking the garage, the closets, the basement or the whole house, it's still the same problem: clutter. When a mess turns to stress, it's time to de-clutter. A big de-cluttering project can be daunting. Professional organizer -- and one of the top five most organized people in America -- Alejandra Costello from Washington, D.C., suggests starting small. Try taking five minutes every night to clear bathroom counters of makeup, hair accessories and other products. And, check out these de-cluttering tips from Cathy Hobbs, HGTV Design Star finalist and John Trosko, an LA-based organization expert and contributing author of "The Experts' Guide to Doing Things Faster: 100 Ways to Make Life More Efficient." * If you have more time, break de-cluttering projects down into reasonable smaller actionable steps. Use a kitchen timer to tackle tasks in 25-minute chunks. When the timer is up, take a break or move on to something not related to the job. * Got less time? Recruit friends for a family (or office) de-cluttering day. Large spaces like sheds, basements, attics or garages provide tasks for all capability levels. Delegate responsibilities like sorting and categorizing to your "team" and provide encouragement. * Big clutter? Bring in the pros. Services like College Hunks Hauling Junk can carry out unwanted heavy furniture; pick up, discard and sort through charitable donations; and tow away antiquated electronics. The services work on very short notice (usually less than 24 hours), and your de-cluttered life takes shape in a dramatically shorter amount of time. * Decisions, decisions. Make tough choices about keeping or getting rid of things. Is the item genuinely used? Does this item lift your spirit? Does the cost of ownership outweigh replacement when you need it? * Keep it de-cluttered by keeping an eye on it. Address disorganization when you see it creeping back. Never leave a room empty-handed! Remember: If you don't want junk and discarded items to end up in a landfill, explore environmentally conscious trash removal. For instance, College Hunks donates, reuses or recycles more than 60 percent of your junk within the community. Visit getchhj.com for more information.

Freebies for 10/30/12



http://www.amazon.com/Boxed-Gifts-Baskets-Ideas-ebook/dp/B009TL07NG/ref=zg_bs_158142011_f_3

 

http://www.amazon.com/Housebreaking-Your-Dog-Hurry-ebook/dp/B009Q6PPN6/ref=zg_bs_305950011_f_21

 

http://www.amazon.com/Organize-Your-Household-Hour-ebook/dp/B004P1J236/ref=zg_bs_305950011_f_55

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Handcrafting-Artisan-Salves-Kitchen-ebook/dp/B009NKF86O/ref=zg_bs_154821011_f_68

 

 

New Of Local Interest Magazine 10/29/2012

Click Here to Download Your Free Copy of the Digital Version of Local Interest Magazine