Good Life 2 Go

Free eBook - School Needlework

2010-07-30T16:32:00.000+01:00

I am so happy to find this book. This is a lovely vintage book which was written by Olive C. Hapgood in 1893 with clear pictures Illustrated. It covers nearly everthing of needlework, from the basic introduction to the daily use projects. When I read it, I can somehow see the girls sitting next to the fireplace to work like in the movie.

Thanks to the Book Depository, we can download the ebook for free.

Free Cross Stitch Chart: Flower of the Month - July - Larkspur

2010-07-21T00:19:00.000+01:00

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How To Customize Blogger Sidebar Title

2010-06-21T15:07:00.000+01:00

I've seen so many beautiful blogs with lovely layout, pictures and logos. The most I like is the special sidebar title. After spending some time, I figured out how to make them and would like to share it with you if you want to give a go.

You will need:

image editing software, e.g. Photoshop, I used MS Digital Image.
the font you like

The customized sidebar title is actually a picture that I created and saved as .jpg file.

According to my experience, you might take a while to find your favourite font. You can search your free font online. There are many options and they will tell you how to install them into your PC after downloading.
Now we have the font, it's getting easy then. In your software, 'Create' a new file and 'Insert text'. Edit it to proper size to suit your blog. You can right click my side bar title to check the 'properties' and find out the 'dimensions'. The tip here is not to make big height, or else it won't look nice with big margin between the title and the text.
Once it's done, save the file as .jpg or even .gif if you want.
Upload the file as a picture to flickr or somewhere similar.
Get the HTML link. If you use flickr, open the picture, click 'all sizes' menu, the first option of 'Copy and paste this HTML into your webpage' is what you need.
Then you can 'add a gadget' to add the html just right above the sidebar.

Now, you can enjoy your customized blogger sidebar title and feel you are an IT expert too. I was absolutely happy when I did it.

Free Cross Stitch Chart: Kittens and Puppies Alphabet

2010-06-09T15:49:00.001+01:00

Picture credit

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Free Cross Stitch Chart: Alphabet

2010-06-03T17:26:00.001+01:00

Get the chart from Les Brodeuses Parisiennes.

The chart is free. You just need to 'add to chart' and it will be ready to download when you finish the order. At the right top, you may choose English language.

Free Cross Stitch Chart: Flower of the Month - June - Wild Rose

2010-06-02T15:56:00.000+01:00

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Meaning: love, appreciation, pleasure and simplicity.

Healthy House Plants

2010-05-27T13:06:00.001+01:00

'A study into indoor air pollution carried out by the UK fovernment's Building Research Establishment has revealed that pollution may be 10 times worse inside the home than outside it, and that the quality of the air we breathe at home poses a greater risk to health than breathing city smog.' -- I read this from a book.

Gradually, I started to be keen on organic and I never liked the air freshener. So, I will go for some house plants to improve the indoor air and decorate the house. Of course, I won't do it right now as we will move soon. But it is good to make some notes now.

Areca Palm
One of the best houseplants for chasing away chemical toxins while releasing large amounts of moisture into the air.

It is big size and grow up to 5m (15ft) high.

Boston Fern
This one scroed the highest for removing air pollutants and retaining moisture of all the plants tested.

It is good to put it in a room with new furniture or carpeting.

English Ivy

It is effective at removing chemical toxins. It is good in a home office containing computers, fax machines, printers etc.

I like this one and will certainly go for it.

Peace Lily
Good anywhere, particularly near office equipment.

I had one a couple of years ago, but lost it after a long holiday. She was too thirsty. Sorry!

Spider Plant

It can remove the potentially deadly gas and useful in the kitchens and living room with fireplaces.

This one is really common, cheap and easy to look after.

Birds Visited Our Garden

2010-05-10T16:48:00.000+01:00

Green woodpecker: I only saw it once and was excited to make the photos. At the moment I saw it, I didn't know it was green woodpecker. Unlike many of its kind, green woodpeckers rarly drum on trees. They hunt for food mainly on the ground, using their powerful bills and long tongues to break open ants' nests or eating earthworms. I did see deep holes he left behind. From the photo above, you can see his bill was deep in the soil.

Robin: One of the best-loved garden birds, they are highly territorial but also can be very tame, hopping down alongside the fence. Once I saw it on the handle of the mower.

Song thrush: These birds can sing both powerful and musical songs. They are excellent runners, and this allows them to pursue quarry such as leatherjackets. It is very interesting and funny to watch the bird running cross the lawn.

Blackbird: One of the most familiar garden birds, blackbirds like earthworms, slugs and snails. So I love them. Male birds are wonderful and talented singers.

Other birds have been seen in our garden are pigeon, magpie and tit.

Feeding birds is very common is the UK. Last winter was the coldest here in the last 50 years and there was a lot of snows. The birds really benefit from the feedings.

Free Cross Stitch Chart: Flower of the Month - May - Lily of the Valley

2010-05-05T16:05:00.000+01:00

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Lily of the valley means: Return of happiness, purity of heart, sweetness, humility and chastity. It is used often in bridal arrangments for the sweet perfume.

Cross Stitch: Lavender Bag

2010-04-25T16:29:00.001+01:00

I just made myself a lavender bag filled with the dried lavender harvested last year from the garden. I let the lavender in the sunshine for a while before I filled them in. The smell got a bit stronger. After my daughter was born, I have been in rush doing everything, as I feel I only have a very little time for myself. It might be the reason caused me poor sleep. I hope the lavender bag will be sort of helpful.

The pattern is from the French cross stitch magzine De Fil En Aiguille No. 44. There are more lavender charts. All are beautiful. I did mine with the 14 count aida. I think it would let more lavender smell out.

Wish everybody a good night sleep.

Free Cross Stitch Chart: Flower of the Month - April- Sweet Pea

2010-04-19T16:03:00.001+01:00

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Meaning of sweet pea: Delicate; Blissful pleasure; Thanks for a lovely time.

New Garden Tips

2010-04-14T16:28:00.000+01:00

Do check your soil. Take some soil of your garden and shake it up in a jar of water. After an hour to check how it settles. Dig a hole 1m deep in different parts of the garden. Notice the layers of soil, the stoniness, the worms, and the depth of any roots. Pour water into each hole to check how long the water takes to drain away. More than an hour means heavy, slow-draining soil, less than ten minutes and it is very fast-draining.
Do a double digging if you are preparing a new border.
Don't use treate timeber to make the raised bed of vegetables.
Edge the carrots with chives. Plant basil with tomatoes. Garlics help keep aphids from roses.

The tips above are I just learned from 'The Complete Gardener' book by Monty Don.

My Strawberries

2010-04-11T23:06:00.000+01:00

Here were the strawberries I fought back from squirrels, slugs, snails and birds in the last year. It is pretty good, isn't it? But the taste is just so so, not really sweat. I am thinking to order a new variety.

Squirrel In My Garden

2010-04-01T17:23:00.001+01:00

This picture was taken last year in my garden. The squirrels are our regular visitors and always help themselves with whatever they find, like bird foods, bread, apples and my strawberrries! The neighbour told me that she saw FIVE squirrels were eating my strawberries at 5 o'clock in the morning. Yeah, their party time. I can't do mornings. The neighbour also caught one in the cameral another time when the squirrel was eating the strawberry out of the hanging basket which was on the fence between our garden and neighbours. She said, 'just want to show you it was not me stealing your strawberries'.

Spring Is Here

2010-03-30T15:08:00.000+01:00

After a long cold winter, the spring is finally here!

Free Cross Stitch Chart: Little Girls by Kali

2010-03-27T00:56:00.000Z

Download charts: A, B, C , D

Free Cross Stitch Chart: Ancient Alphabet Red Sampler

2010-03-22T17:04:00.003Z

You may have this free alphabet sampler chart from DMC website. I like it as I will use it for my initial label when I do something handmade. Let's say a bag, a pincoushion etc. I have been crazy about the vintage style recently. So this one is just what I need.

Nice English Lavender Field: Snowshill Lavender

2010-03-17T16:23:00.000Z

Once we talk about lavender fields, the first name in mind would be Provence. I have not been there. But I am lucky as there is a nice lavender field not far from us. It's Snowshill Lavender field in Cotswold. As a tourist, you'd better not to miss cotswold. Then that's it, you won't miss Snowshill Lavender either. If you can, come in July. You won't be disppointed.

Handmade Easter Egg Candles

2010-03-13T15:04:00.000Z

Easter is just around the corner. Time flies. Here are the egg candles I made last year. It's esay pizzy. It won't cost you more than 5 mins.

You need:

egg shells

rice or beans

small short candles

egg cups

Here we are! Do you like my eggcups? I have a set of four. They are from my mother-in-law. I do like them. It's always good to start a day with them.

Happy easter! ( A bit early too say this. Never mind.)

A Nice Etsy Shop in France: Petits Details

2010-03-10T15:13:00.000Z

pictured by Petits Details

I found a nice Etsy shop today. The owner is from US and lives in France now. The books in her shop are very special, and they are hardly found outside France. I like the French vintage style cross stitch, especially when they work with the cartonnage together. Her blog is really lovely too.

My March Cross Stitch Progress

2010-03-08T15:20:00.004Z

This is the project I am currently working on. I started it right back to July 2008. It is called 'Summer Lane'. And I bought the whole four seasons kits. You know what my friend said? 'You will never finish it in your life.' What a praise and courage! lol.

Actually, I am quite happy with the progress, especially after I did the top frame. It gave me the idea how much work I need to do more. But I used out one floss and can not find the replacement. The kit is from a Korean company called Dome. I searched online and found the DMC floss to replace it. But the result is totally disagreed. The colours are absolutely wrong. So, I have to wait to look for its original floss.

How to Make Organic All Purpose Surface Cleaner

2010-03-07T16:05:00.001Z

600ml(1 pint) white vinegar
300ml(1/2 pint) water
20-30 drops eucalyptus oil

Pour the vinegar into spray-top bottle, then add the water and the eucalyptus essential oil. Shake well.
Pour a little of the mixture onto a soft, damp cloth and rub over the surface to be cleaned. There is no need to rinse.

Use it on stainless-steel sinks and draining boards, tiled and wooden surfaces, and plastic finishes.

Free Cross Stitch Chart: Symbol of Normandy - Cow, boat, fish, apple and cheese

2010-03-06T15:05:00.001Z

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Free Cross Stitch Chart: Day and Night Birds

2010-03-05T15:27:00.002Z

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Size: 140 x 219 squares

Canvas of 10' x 1"4' or 25.5cm x 39.8cm

Free Cross Stitch Chart: Wine

2010-03-04T16:52:00.004Z

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This is a big cross stitch chart which includes all steps in winemaking: grapes, barrels and bottles. Four objects will work perfectly on its own. I am thinking about using the barrel chart and put it above our wine rack. Of course, only when I have the time. Too many cross stitches, too little time!

Size: 189 x 221 squares

Canvas: 1"2' x 1"4'