We don't get too many days of freezing weather here in the south, but it's been a very cold winter this year and our central propane heat has been costing a bundle to keep the house warm. 

When I found out that Harman Pellet Stoves can save a bunch of money on our heating bill, I just had to share the info with you. According to the infographic below, using a pellet stove or fireplace insert costs 44% less than oil, 47% less than electric and 53% less than propane heat.

I was amazed to learn that pellet fuel is such a popular heating alternative, and that it can save us over half off the cost of our current propane heat. Even more exciting though, is the news that you can get a Federal tax credit on 75% efficient biomass heating appliances. The 10% tax credit of up to $300 is available for qualifying biomass heating appliances purchased through December 31, 2013. With over 36 models of stoves, inserts and home heating units available from Harman, you're sure to find something that's perfect for your home.

And, thanks to Harman one lucky US reader will win a cool notebook made from recycled materials complete with pen! How do you win? Just leave a comment below telling us what you like about Harman or something you learned from visiting their website.  You can also earn extra entries by doing the following:

Like Harman on Facebook

Follow Harman Stoves on Twitter

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry – up to three per person.

I will pick the winner on 2/23/13 and send an announcement via email. If there is no response within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.

Winter styles bring so many more opportunities to layer pieces and mix and match accessories and I greatly enjoy the chance to create whole new outfits with tights in different colors and textures. Just like you can change your look with a different lipstick, you can easily update or change the feel of any outfit by adding a pair of colorful tights. For example, this sleeveless colorblock dress above can easily go from summer to winter with a pair of black tights and a blazer or cardigan.

I have a drawer full of tights and leggings and I really enjoy creating interesting new looks by mixing them up with my favorite wardrobe pieces. I'm a big fan of No nonsense tights and leggings because they're available in lots of different textures, prints and colors, and they're very affordable. Just like with a new lipstick, and for about the same price, you can create a whole new outfit around a pair of tights.

I'm also a big fan of Jill Martin, author and fashion expert, and I like to watch her style segments on the Today show so I think it's pretty cool that she just became a brand ambassador for No nonsense. She's terrific at styling new looks without spending a fortune. Check out the video above to see her in action.

You can find No nonsense tights and leggings at food and drug stores as well as major retailers like Walmart and Kohl's. While you're at it, be sure to follow No nonsense on Facebook and on Twitter at @benononsense to keep up with all the latest style tips, trends and promotions.

This fall the most popular pattern for plus size boys is Pattern 6105 - the jeans pattern.  I’m assuming that the oversized sweatshirts and tops are clothing items that are by their very nature, big and bulky, so are fine for everyday wear.  The pants, on the other hand, appears be a totally different story.  What do you do for plus size children when a size 16 only fits around the 8 year olds’ waist — the legs are a couple feet too long and the crotch hangs down to the knees.  This year we have nearly TRIPLED in sales for the boys jeans Pattern #6105 from last year.  The patterns come in 3 size ranges – 4-5-6 / 8-10-12 / 14-16 and have been made with plus size childrens’ actual measurements.

There were TWO that actually tied for the most popular plus size girls patterns.  And, as with the boys pattern, the plus size girls jeans pattern #5302 was extremely popular.  I believe the same reasons mentioned for the high volume of jeans pattern sales for the boys is also why the girls jeans patterns sold so well.  In addition, we did have a very popular Long Sleeve Tops pattern (#5103) for the plus size girls.  The Long Sleeve Tops pattern has many variations that can be made for the plus size girls.  Also, both of the girls patterns have the same size ranges as the boys — 4-5-6 / 8-10-12 / 14-16.

We do have a wide variety of patterns at PlusSizeChildren.com, where you can see these and many other styles.  Remember, all patterns have been made using actual plus size children’s measurements in order that they will FIT the plus size children.

Happy Sewing!!

Each of the potholders in this project takes flannel fabric and quilt batting, plus any small decorations you’d like to add.

 
Enlarge the squares to 1″ squares and draw the outlines of the bell and tree.  You can use graph paper, or if you have a photocopier available, enlarge the pictures until you have 1″ squares.

BELL PANHOLDER

Use red flannel or felt for the outside pieces; any kind of green fabric for the inner piece that shows at the bottom, and old cotton blanketing or quilt batting for the inner lining.

Make two patterns — one including the entire bell, and the second pattern all around the top but cutting across the bottom on the line just above the clapper.

Using the first pattern (the entire bell), make three layers, one each of red flannel, green fabric and cotton quilt batting.  Using the second pattern make one layer of red flannel for the front, allowing 1/4″ extra at the lower edge to turn under.  Fit this red front over the green piece, insert a braid loop between for a bell clapper and stitch two rows across.  Now on this double piece place the first pattern and draw around the edge for a stitching guide.  Put the cotton quilt batting layer under the green, and the other red flannel piece under the blanketing, and stitch all together, following the marked line on the front.  Then trim evenly around the utside to within 1/8″ of the stitching.  finish the edges with blanket stitching or binding.

Sew the braid by hand across the bell in the position shown.  Braid enough for a bow and fasten to the top.

CHRISTMAS TREE PANHOLDER

Cutting slightly larger than the outline, make three layers, one each of green felt (for the front); cotton batting for inner lining and red flannel or felt (for the back).  ut the paper outline down on top or front (green) piece and trace around with a marking pencil to make a stitching line.  Fit the layers together (green, then batting, then red) and stitch around the line just marked.  Trim evenly around the outside to within 1/8″ of the stitching.  Place two strands of braid across the tree in the positions shown and stitch down by hand.  finish the edges of the panholder with blanket stitching or binding.  Cut out circles from felt scraps of any bright colors and sew in the positions shown.  Sew a bone ring to the top to hang.

CIRCLE PANHOLDER

Again, enlarge the above design to 1 inch squares.  Cut out the circle and the gingerbread man.  Cutting slightly larger than the circle outline, make two layers of red flannel or felt (front and back) and one of cotton batting (inner lining).  Put the paper outline down on the front piece and trace around to mark the stitching line.  Fit the layers together and stitch around the line just marked.  Trim evenly around the outside to within 1/8″ of the stitching.  finish the edges with a blanket stitch or binding.  Hand-stitch the braid around the edge, spacing the loops as shown.  Let one extend up at the top for a hanger.  Trace around the gingerbread man outline on brown felt and cut out.  Embroider the eyes, nose and criss-cross buttons.  Tack tiny rickrack across his middle for a belt.  Whipstitch the gingerbread man to the center of the panholder.

A burlap wall hanging or a greeting card made out of construction paper can have candles of woven-braid trim, each topped by a flickering flame (a single notch from gold rickrack makes a perfect flame).  Or a fireplace stocking can display felt animal decorations with face features and other portions formed by bits of trim.  Stuffed animals, aprons, tree skirts, center pieces, and home decor items offer backgrounds for the creative use of trims.

 
Ornaments in the shapes of stars, balls, bells (as shown above) and trees can be made from pieces of folded double-knit fabrics or felt.  Decorate them with beads, braid or rickrack and attach a hanger for putting them on the Christmas tree.

Spheres from ball fringe can become bunny tails, eyes or noses on faces, centers of flowers or entire flowers, spots on a giraffe, clappers on bells or the tassles on Santa hats.

Fringe in layers makes any character’s hair or fur.  In many tapered rows, fringe can become a tree; in a circle, a lion’s mane or a holiday wreath, and in a single row it can become a horse’s mane.

Rickrack is the frosting trim on a gingerbread man, a cat’s whiskers, any creature’s mouth or raised eyebrows, a flower’s edge or a petal’s edge.  When gathered in a circle, 8 notches become a violet while clusters of more notches become a marigold or rose.  One rickrack notch is a nose; two notches make a feline’s claws.

In addition, consider a very tiny folding screen trimmed with holiday motifs, or a small autograph book or small scrapbook decorated with holiday trims as gifts for someone.

During the Christmas Season, imagination and originality never had it so good.  And it seems that one trim leads to another.  Once you get started with the trims, ideas for additional uses just seem to pop out of nowhere!  Dig into your scraps and trims and get started early, so you’ll have time to get everything finished.

1) Do take photographs in good lighting.

Lighting plays a tremendous role in photography. When possible, avoid taking photos under shadows and direct sunlight. Natural, filtered light is always a good option, such as sunlight passing through a window. If you can afford to do so, purchase a proper light box (or create one!) that uses daylight bulbs so that your photographs can appear more professional.

2) Don’t overdo things.

Keep your photographs simple. If you’re using props, make sure it relates to your product. Take a good look at your background and ensure that it doesn’t take the spotlight away from your jewelry.

3) Do use your camera’s macro setting.

When customers shop for jewelry online, they want to be able to see every single detail since they can’t see touch it or even turn it over. With jewelry photography, the macro setting on your camera is your friend. This option allows you to take crisp, close-up shots.

4) Don’t use your first photo.

Don’t settle for the first (or even second) photo you take of your products. Take your time and experiment with different angles, backgrounds and lighting. It pays to have more options later on!

5) Do stick to a look that works.

If you want to keep things clean and professional, then it’s best to stick to just one look and style when taking photographs of your jewelry. Experiment to your heart’s content—but once you figure out a look that best complements your products, then stick to it.

6) Don’t upload your photos without editing them.

Always make it a point to edit your photos before uploading them online. Crop your photos, resize them, and tweak anything that may need tweaking. There are so many programs out there that make editing photos really simple!

You’ve already created beautiful jewelry—now do your labor of love some justice and take good photographs of your pieces for all to see!

Photo Credit: iClipart

I always try to get my gift giving list out early so I have enough time to figure out what each person would like to have, then be able to order the gift or make the gift in order to have it just in time for the big day.

If your friend/relative is a frugal type of person and you know they make a habit of using coupons each time they go to the store, you would be doing them a big favor by getting them a beautiful Coupon Clutch to hold their coupon collection.  The  coupon clutch fabric binder cover comes in many different designs, and makes a 3-ring binder look like a designer purse.   Throughout the years these coupon clutch binder covers have been one of our most popular Christmas gift items.

Another great idea for all of your sewing and crafting friends would be a sewing machine repair book — your friend or relative will thank you over and over again as she is able to use this book to do her own repairs on her sewing machine and keep it out of the repair shop.  If the gift recipient is someone who is looking for a way to make a little extra money, you might want to consider the Sewing Machine Repair as a Home Business manual for that person.

You still have plenty of time to be making gifts for those on your list, and I’d recommend that you check out Patterns2Go for dozens of sewing, crafting, crochet and knitting projects you can easily make.  These patterns are all downloadable so you don’t even have to wait for the pattern to come in the mail or use any gas to run to a fabric store to browse through pattern books.

Practical gifts are always a great gift – and one that is appreciated for many days and months after the Holiday has come and gone.

The many varieties of lace offer delightful openwork designs.  There are the fine woven laces, plus the heavier crochet types from which to choose.  Whether flat, ruffled or narrow edging, lace adds beautiful detail to all types of clothing.

Venice type laces have a raised texture.  A multitude of Schiffli stitches are massed together into floral design motifs.  Charming edgings, decorative bands and clip-apart flowers allow Venice laces to fit into many fashion categories and are suitable for all age groups.

Fringes are of special interest because they fall free, have swingy action and add exciting texture to all kinds of funwear and western wear.  They are excellent for home decor items too.

Fancy ruffles are feminine, soft and add a pretty touch on almost anything.  Some are even pleated and come in a selection of widths.

Accent trims add spark and individuality.  Fold-over braid is usually of basket weave texture.  Narrow tubular cords or yarns woven in various designs such as loops, scrolls, or other textured designs add interesting detail to skirts, jackets or blazers.  Ribbon-like bands of tape woven with colorful floral or geometric designs make a nice border or top trim.  A frog closure comes in cotton, rayon or metallic cord.  It is looped in groups at each side of a self-cord knotted button.  Use as a decorative closure or fastener.

Eyelet embroidery comes in fine dacron polyester and cotton blends with a scallop edge.  It is available in various widths as well as in insertion widths that could be used for extending the length of a child’s skirt or pants that have gotten a little too short.

Next time you’re in a fabric store, take a few minutes to look through all the trims and laces that are available.  Think about some of your upcoming projects, and I’m sure you’ll find a few of the trims that would be perfect for the project.

1) Plan ahead.

Before acting physically, always make it a point to prepare mentally first. By thinking one step ahead, you will avoid making costly mistakes and wasting time.

2) Learn from other people.

Make use of the great people, books, opportunities and various resources all around you. Read materials from experts and consult with professionals, and you’ll gain so much more insight compared to simply learning from experience. You can never learn too much!

3) Learn from the mistakes of others.

If you want to work smart, you need to realize that you do not have all the time in the world to make mistakes in your business. See how other people fail and bounce back. Know where you are vulnerable, and see how others recovered in a similar situation.

4) Know how to speed things up.

Always keep an eye out for easier or more efficient ways to do certain tasks. Is it possible to eliminate, reduce or combine certain steps without having to sacrifice effectiveness?

5) Get help from technology.

It may be hard to teach an old dog to do new tricks, but it’s always best to keep tabs on the latest technology related to your industry or task. A certain tool, gadget or even program may be able to help you do things in a more efficient manner.

6) Know when to delegate.

If there are lower impact items that are tying you down, delegate them to someone else. If certain tasks are not in your area of expertise, then outsource them. Spend your time doing the tasks you can add the most value to.

7) Pick your battles carefully.

All business owners face numerous roadblocks on a regular basis. Before going up against a particular roadblock, carefully weigh out all the pros and cons to determine if it is truly worth the time and effort.

8 ) Take a break.

From experience, you probably know that your quality of work goes down when you’re tired. Take a break every now and then. Once you’ve rested well, you’ll be able to work better and faster.

These are just some of the many ways you can stop working hard and start working smart. Try them out and you may be surprised at how much more work you can do with less effort.

Photo Credit: iClipart

1) Invest in a good quality camera.

If you are serious about selling your products online, you should be able to invest in a proper camera. There’s no need to buy an overly expensive, top-of-the-line model, but at least spend your money on a decent digital camera with settings and features that can help you take the best possible photos.

2) Learn how to use your camera.

You may have a great camera, but do you know how to use it? Although the camera’s auto setting may be great, it may not always be the best option. Learn how to use these settings! Experiment, take a class or workshop, or read online tutorials.

3) Embrace natural light.

Proper lighting is an important element in a good photograph. When possible, grab your equipment and products and head outside to shoot your product photos. Take note that direct sunlight may not be the best choice, as it will increase the harsh lines and shadow effects on your product. Indirect light, on the other hand, will definitely give you great shots.

4) Use solid-colored backgrounds.

White is the most popular background color when it comes to product photos, and with good reason. You want your customers to focus on the product, and not what’s surrounding it. If a white background isn’t available, then use any other solid color.

5) Play with angles.

Avoid shooting directly down on your product. Instead, take a variety of pictures in all kinds of angles. Shooting your products from various points of view will make them look more appealing and interesting. Be careful to avoid angles that may cause the product to appear distorted due to perspective, however, such as clothing shot at strange angles.

Many websites allow users to post several shots per listing. Take advantage of these slots by posting at least one full-sized photo of your item and a number of close-up shots, as well.

6)Don’t be afraid to use props.

Many times, sellers opt to use props in their product photos. Be creative! Props, when used properly, can add a professional touch. Of course, be sure that your choice of props are not overwhelming and steal the scene completely.

Photo Credit: iClipart