Everything You Wanted To Know

Wow!

Yes, I know that is a word I use a lot. (And I use a lot of exclamation marks, too!)

Let me diverge from my point for a second to say some of us are "enthusiastic speakers" in person ... always talking with exclamation marks ... so I am trying to write like I talk. Other languages might have additional ways to denote emotions and inflection, but English WORDS seem limiting sometimes. If we were chatting face-to-face, I am sure you would laugh at my facial expressions and waving hands. I think I am a little more "wholly involved" with talking than many people .... so I use exclamation marks as a way to make up for the body language lost in print. Sooo .... back to what I was intending to say (if I remember ... lol!)

I am SO AMAZED at all of the information available at ones fingertips. You know ... right here on the ol' computer.

Starting to look for information on developing this blog -- kinda like looking for the equivalent of good blog parenting classes. I am AMAZED at everything out there.

Yes, I have discovered backgrounds, vintage images, and tutorials. And, ohmygosh ... craigslist! Then there's the twin shopping Mecca's of Ebay and Etsy!! And who doesn't LOVE Youtube? (Or maybe I should say .... who doesn't heart Youtube?) And so many recipes and sewing sites ... and on, and on, and on ...

WAIT!! I can hear you saying "Sammy Girl, what do these have to do with blogging??? Let's just say I change course to follow butterflies and squirrels. Interested in simply EVERYTHING, or almost everything ... lol! I am a sister to all of your who are "unintentional multi-taskers". What? You call it getting sidetracked? Hmmm ... must be something to do with perspective.

Well -- here goes our little peek into the fun of blogland ... er, computerland! (But first, my apologies, as I have not yet figured out how to have links. Maybe tomorrow ... ?

BACKGROUNDS

The Background Fairy is just one of several: http://www.backgroundfairy.com/ Maybe more on other options later ...

VINTAGE IMAGES

Many blogs have yummy items on their posts from time-to-time, but I like the graphics fairy http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/ -- Isn't this a cool FREE image!

And sign up with The Vintage Workshop http://thevintageworkshop.com/store/ for the newsletter and free image like this one. (Lots of wonderful things for purchase, too!)

TUTORIALS

So many out there -- like this one on vintage photo refrigerator magnets: http://www.unique-re-tiques.com/magnets.html

.... and of course tutorial royalty ... Dawn at The Feathered Nest ... http://the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/ The one pictured below is her "aging concrete" FREE tutorial. She also has some great ones for purchase.

Ahh ... let's give a moment of silent awe for CRAIGSLIST. In our area, it is HUGE!

Holding a garage sale? Newspaper ad, maybe .... signs, sure .... but want it noticed? Craigslist, baby! And better yet? The "not-a-garage-sale-but-I'm-selling-this" listings. JUST TOO SPECTACULAR FOR WORDS! Now you can be just an e-mail or phone call away from that treasure. And no sign-up sheets and long lines!! (Not as exhilerating as the fun of digging through rusty stuff in the barn at an estate sale ... but so satisfying!)

This is a great way to buy locally without looking through the paper. Kinda like the farmers' market for everything else! http://portland.craigslist.org/ (Portland not your city ... see the index to click where you live ... or are willing to visit, lol!) If you live in a place like Montana - where Craigslist virtually unknown, it's okay. I know Montana has KILLER garage sales. So - just know what venues are in your locale - and ENJOY!

I have several finds from Craigslist. (Thanks Mr. Sammy Girl for being my partner in these "let's go look and see if it resembles the photo" adventures!) Like this RED chaise.

And this sweet little table. Don't those legs look like they just want to run around the room? This table was looking a little .... how do we say it ... FUNKY? A little TLC to remove the cobwebs, and some Old English. Voila! A new/old family heirloom!

And, not all finds are big ones. Check out this glass dome. Cash for the seller and a happy buyer -- Oh, ya ... that'd be ME!

And don't we all love EBAY and ETSY? No links here, as WAY TO MUCH good stuff ... so I didn't want to temp you! And I'm sure many bloggers have Etsy sites ... (shout out to Martha of Vintage Trifles!!)

YOUTUBE, Youtube, youtube, youtube. Yes, it's the media of the current generation, but MY WHAT GOOD STUFF! (Gotta be careful though, because there is also a lot of T-R-A-S-H out there.)

Here's an international piece showing some unbelieveable 3D art. Edga r Mueller is incredible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SNYtd0Ayt0

And youtube may be the destination, but many blogs mine, compile and sort the incomprehensible amounts of data ... and give you ways to access. Like this blog with Oscar winning songs ... many with filmclips! OMG ... a walk down memory lane ... (except for the years when I must have been on another planet and don't know ANYTHING about the movie they are talking about. Seems to coincide with when the kiddos were small ... or I had a new job ... or I went in for the brain transplant ...)

When is the last time you saw Patrick Swayze dirty dancing ... or sang "Zipadee do dah?" Maybe now is the time. So, here's the place to go:

http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/30-videos-of-oscar-winning-songs-boss-wins-for-the-wrestler/

Something current? The Plain White T's and a great love song - for any age. (Don't know their "Hello Delila song ... it's also a must listen!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2Y2zQvCoqE

And RECIPES, and SEWING, and priceless ARTWORK and ARTIFACTS .... whew! Too much for today!

And -- I have now learned that if I backspace to edit the post, I can accidently delete pictures. (Did it MORE than ONCE!!) and then adding in new pictures puts in all kinds of extra lines that I have to go in and delete ... and carefully or I'll delete a picture ... repeat as needed ...

So -- I am learning and hoping to get ahold of this blog thing ...

Thanks for your help, and support. Without sharing and caring our journeys would be ever so much more difficult. Glad you can venture out with me and take a minute to explore ... even if it isn't everything you wanted to know ... lol!

POSTSCRIPT

Some of my favorite small things? How you can use keystrokes to make images ... that come to life much easier than those hidden pictures that always gave me a headache and crossed my eyes!

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Swimmingly yours .... Sammy Girl !