Wall hanging creating a memory quilt

You could recreate pieces of clothing into a valuable artwork and a souvenir. This could be perhaps the greatest gift you could either give or get as a mother. You could easily create your memory quilts with the assistance of several local quilt shops. These offer quilt-making classes from beginning to the end, provided you already know the usage of a sewing machine. If sewing and quilting is not exactly your forte, these shops may help you to find someone who will allow you to help designing the quilt and create it too. Nothing can be more enjoyable then creating a unique memory quilt wall hanging. This quilting project is truly fulfilling.

If you wish to make your memory quilt extra special then do consider several points like:

• Being choosy-discarding a defective item with holes or stains is unwise. Any item may contain a fabric that you could use. You need not use the entire garment. However, you must select those items that evoke fond memories in you.

• Being creative-if your wish that your quilt looks unusual then start thinking differently. Leave squares aside except those that are to be used to square up the sides to get straight edges. You can use the bottom of a dress, round edges of sleeves or any kind of imaginable shapes inside the quilt.

• Being far-sighted-you must experiment by laying all the items on a design wall, the floor or on a large tabletop. This is done to get the final picture of the finished product. You must allow yourself the option of making changes while you can. So, go by the cardinal rule of ‘ measure twice and cut once.’ This ruled is followed by the carpenters and the quilters alike. Hence, without actually cutting the clothes simply overlay them first.

• Being sensitive to children-avoid cutting up something your child is emotionally attached to. Cutting the item in front of the child may cause trauma. So, if the item has been out of sight and mind of the child for quite sometime, it is safe to be used.

• Using textures in your favor-various fabrics are available that offers different types of surface to the quilt like cottons and mix flannels or even fur collar from coats. Most people want the material to feel good when touching it.

• Using pictures-scan the photograph of your child in a particular outfit into a computer. Then use an inkjet printer to print the photo on the fabric especially made for this printer. After this cut out the photo fabric to include it in your quilt. You can do this by sewing it upon that same outfit in the picture.

• Using stabilizing fabrics-ironing and sewing stretchable fabrics on these will ensure that your quilt does not lose its shape. Plus, you can work easily on them as well.

• Having fun while creating - your finished quilt is likely to look more loveable if you have loads of fun when creating it. After all, you must remember that it is an artwork of love!

4 places to go camping in minnesota

Minnesota is full of beautiful country that is perfect for camping. However, you may find it difficult to choose the right spot to camp in since there are so many options. Here are 4 great places to go camping in Minnesota that you really should visit. If you enjoy horseback riding, then Ann Lake is the perfect camping location for you. There are plenty of trails and fishing holes to be found here as well.

Bear Lake State Park is a great place for family camping. It is a very simple structure so that it is hard to get lost. There are plenty of picnic areas for families to enjoy while hiking. There is also a very inviting swimming area that isn’t very deep but offers plenty of fun. Bear Lake State Park offers show facilities as well for the camper who doesn’t quite like that part of getting back to nature!

Cadotte Lake offers more than 20 miles of camping ground for you to enjoy. The camping spots are very private so that is a nice change from what most of them offer. It is said some of the best fishing in Minnesota takes place here. You can fish from the shores or take your boat as there are plenty of great boating ramps for you to use. The swimming area is a nice place to take some time to relax on a hot afternoon.

Fenske Lake is the place to go if you enjoy wildlife. There is plenty to be observed from this particular campground area. You will find marked trails for hiking as well. Other activities include boating, fishing, and swimming. Regardless of which one of these 4 places to go camping in Minnesota that you choose, you will have a wonderful time enjoying the outdoors. Happ[y camping and enjoy your trip!

Airsoft pistols never be caught without a back up

Let’s face it! Anything can happen during a game of airsoft. Your weapon may get jammed during the most crucial part of the game. You may even run out of spare magazines without any time to fill them up with BB’s. Even worse, you may end up with a rifle that has completely burned up. When one of your opponents is about to reach your hiding place and your main weapon can no longer protect you, you would wish to have one of these side arms tucked in your vest. It may not be as strong as a rifle, but having an airsoft pistol in your hand during such times is better than nothing.

A Friend That's Got You Covered!

Airsoft pistols are very good support weapons for airsoft games. They also have a place in Closed Quarter Battles or CQB’s. There are three kinds of airsoft pistols: the spring pistol, the gas pistol and the electric pistol.

Springer Airsoft Pistols

Spring airsoft pistols or springers are the cheapest airsoft guns in the market. It is the best option for people who do not have the money to buy a gas airsoft gun or automatic electric gun (AEG). The pistols can cost as low as $25. High-end springers can reach a price of $50. The springer airsoft pistols are also used during cold weather when the AEG’s and the gas airsoft pistols do not function well. The disadvantage of using a springer is that it has a limited range and power.

Electric Airsoft Pistols

Electric pistols, on the other hand, are powered by 4 AAA batteries. Most low-end electric pistols are as cheap as spring guns. High-end electric airsoft pistols are just slightly more expensive like the Tokyo Marui Dezert Eagle Electric Pistol which fires semi-auto rounds and costs only $59. These pistols can go as high as $65. Although they are cheaper than gas guns, the disadvantage of using electric airsoft pistols is that the power and range are also limited. They shoot around 100 to 130 fps and they are not very durable. They have the tendency to burn out after a few months. They sometimes don’t work well during cold weather.

Gas Airsoft Pistols

A gas pistol, whether it is a low-end one or a high-end one, is the perfect back up weapon. When it comes to power, range and accuracy, a cheap gas pistol can surpass the two other types of airsoft pistols. Unfortunately, just like the AEG, it might not work well during cold weather. Temperature does have the tendency to make the gas contract. When it does, the pressure is significantly decreased. Also, owning a gas pistol can be very expensive. They cost around $100 and above. You also need to load these babies up with gas. A canister usually costs $20.

Realistic Blowback Feature

Some gas guns have gas blowbacks. This makes the experience more realistic because it resembles the recoil that one would feel when firing a live gun. Try firing one and feel the slide of the pistol move back just like a real gun.

Despite the extra expense, gas airsoft pistols would be more useful in an airsoft game. Gas airsoft guns have been used for a very long time. In fact, it has been around longer than automatic electric airsoft guns (AEG). In the past, there were gas assault rifles and machine guns. Unfortunately, none of them are manufactured today. They are now considered as “airsoft antiques.”

Learning how to play poker

While many card players may be well versed at understanding most variations of games, it takes more than knowing how to play poker when involved in a game of Texas Holdem poker. Learning how to play poker also means learning how to convincingly lie or bluff, bluffing online is a lot harder than real life games but there are a few tips you can learn.

As this particular game has grown in popularity, even advancing to the professional level, many folks who believe they know how to play poker find themselves lost in a river of cards, playing with two hidden cards and five face-up on the table, scrambling to make the best poker hand they can out of the available cards. When you first sit down for a game of Texas Holdem, even knowing how to play poker can make the game a little confusing. Basically, the dealer gives each player seven cards with which to create the best five card poker hand they can make. The fun comes from the five shared or community cards which can also be used by all of the players in the game.

To begin, each person in the game is dealt two cards face down, known as his or her pocket cards or the hole cards. After an initial round of betting the dealer then deals out the flop cards. These are three cards which are dealt face up in the middle of the table and the players can then start to consider the possibilities by using the current five cards available to them in their hand.

While you are first learning how to play poker; if your hole cards are nothing spectacular and you are counting on a pair of aces or kings on the table it is a good idea to fold your hand before any money goes in. All of the other players will be able to use the same cards that are face up on the table and there is a good chance that one of your opponents will have a third card to match the pair.

After the flop has been dealt and the players have had time to think about the possibilities there is another round of betting action. Going clockwise from the dealer, each person can bet, check or fold based on these first five cards. Although the first two players to the dealer’s left can make a blind bet to get the pot started, there is no ante in Texas Holdem.

As each round of betting passes, another card is dealt out on to the table and added to the ones already face up on the table and each progressive card increases the value of a player’s hand, unless they choose to fold. After the final card known as the river card has been dealt out on to the table each player now has seven cards to create a hand from. The remaining players who are still left in the hand keep betting until a showdown is forced and a winner is decided.

Learning how to play poker is fairly straightforward and the best way to learn for your self is by practicing and playing the game. There are many internet sites where you can play for free and a lot of them also have practice tables.

Custom made mountain bikes

Practically everybody wants to feel that they are an individual, and to have their own particular needs met, whether they are a road biker or a mountain biker. So whether you want customization or custom-built, there's a bike out there for you.

If you're thinking of getting a custom-made mountain bike, there are several factors you have to take into consideration.

Frankly, the typical weekend biker doesn't really need a custom-made bike. As long as you buy your bike at a bike store where they can get you fitted properly, you'll do just fine.

But for really serious bikers to whom speed is all - the professionals and the dedicated amateurs, the customized bike is something to consider.

Custom - Built vs Customization

The terminology of "customization" can be confusing. People use the words interchangeably, when really they are two different things.

A customized bike is one that takes an off - the-shelf frame, and puts on the seat you want, a stem of the correct height, a crankset with pedals you can reach easily, etc.

A custom-built bike is one in which the frame itself is built exactly to you measurements.

Basically, when one talks about a customized bike - or rather a custom-built bike - one is talking about the frame. You send along your measurements to the manufacturer - length of foot to knee, knee to pelvis, torso, overall height and they construct the frame with those measurements in mind. They then put on all the rest of the stuff - the high-end tires, the brakes and shifters you require, the crank set, and you're good to go.

All t hat costs money.

An Easy Customization - the Paint Job

There's other ways to customize mountain bikes, of course, though I haven't seen many people do it. Why not give them a stylized paint job like you see on lowriders? Of course mountain bikes used for actually going down mountains (as opposed to those used for cross-country or even road riding) take a bit of a beating and can get scratched up, but for most bikers, a hand-painted mural on their bike can be quite attractive. Why let the lowriding crowd have all the fun? The only reason why I haven't painted my own bike in orange and black tiger stripes is because I know I don't have the skill to pull it off - but if you've got any artistic talent at all, why not go for it?

Bike technology is improving all the time, as manufacturers strive to make the strongest frames out of the lightest of materials. So keep an eye on the review sections of your favorite bicycle magazine, as it will keep you up to date on what is happening in the world of cycling.

Golf instruction recommendations

Are your golf skills up to par? If not, golf instruction can help improve your swing, and your status on the links.

With the exception of those natural born Sultans of Swat, every golfer can benefit from golf instruction. Consulting with a professional golf pro can diagnose your hooks target the weaknesses in your swing. Proper golf instruction also provides secret tricks of the game and simple mind tricks to help you better focus before and after every shot on the course.

All of the best amateur golfers on the circuit take golf instruction from the pros. You can bet that all pro golfers also received golf instruction along the way to the top. Natural born athletes like the Michael Schmidts and Michael Jordans of the world turn to pros from time to time, to point out faults like hitches in the back swing, or how they tend to look up in their short game. Even professional golfers seek out golf instruction from the gurus of the game when they're in a slump or losing distance on their drives.

In other words, don't feel ashamed if you think you need golf lessons. That's why clubs keep golf pros on staff. If there wasn't a need for golf pros, these talented individuals wouldn't be professionally trained and PGA certified. Reaching this degree of certification is no easy feat. It takes years of hard work, study and intense training to be certified by the PGA. The pros are there to give golf instruction and to plan club tournaments, run the pro shop and interact with club members. Even after they earn their stripes, golf pros keep ahead of the game by attending seminars and workshops to brush up on new training techniques.

The very pros that provide golf instruction took lessons from the pros before them. In the beginning of the 20th century, serious golfers from Scotland and England traveled to America for professional training. The PGA was established at that time, to teach Americans to play and spread the gospel of golf. Several decades later, golf is taught and played worldwide. Early golfers from the United Kingdom created some stiff competition.

Golf instruction can help your technique and bring your game up to par. Who knows, with a few lessons you could be on you're way to becoming the next PGA certified pro golfer.

Tasco exp - the finest scopes available

For the last 50 years Tasco has been providing the gun market with high quality rifle scopes. Built to very high standards a Tasco scope is designed to give you longterm shooting pleasure with the absolute minimum of trouble. Another really neat thing about Tasco scopes is being to mount your scope in a lower position on the rifle itself. These scopes were specifically engineered so that they could be mounted in a lower position while at the same time providing a large objective lens to the shooter.

The EXP (Extreme Performance) range of Tasco scopes came onto the market sporting an oval objective lens. This was a step away from similar wide view lens on the market; which were often asymmetrical in nature. While the older lens did provide a wider viewing range they did not offer a lot of light.

The EXP range also offer variable magnification with two options on offer. At the lower end it ranges from 1.5 to 5 power magnification. The more powerful model ranges from 3 to 9 power variable. Regardless of what type of hunting you might want to pursue this will provide you with more than enough power. With an objective lens measuring 54 mm by 42 mm, you have the choice of mounting the scope low on the rifle, just as you would with any 42mm scope; however, you also gain tremendous light-gathering capability. In fact, the new Tasco lenses are able to gather just as much light as larger objective lenses, even though the area is not much larger than a traditional 42mm scope.

These new Tasco scopes are able to provide as much light as possible without the risk of losing any from reflection due to a special coating applied to the scope. Regardless of whether you're hunting at dusk or when the day is just beginning you can focus on your target and obtain a clear image with this scope. When you find yourself hunting in a low light situation, the ability to dial up the power on this scope really comes into its own.

You will also find that the new Tasco scopes have a finish that is quite unlike many of the other scopes currently on the market, as well. This scope has been finished with a matte coating that provides a smooth, quality feel and look. The eye-piece was also designed to provide the maximum amount of convenience while hunting. There is no lock ring, which means that it can be easily maneuvered for easy adjustments.

All Tasco products come with a No Fault lifetime warranty. This basically means that if you encounter any problem with your scope Tasco will either repair or replace it; regardless of what actually caused the scope to fail.

So if you're in the market for a new scope why not check out Tasco today?

Candle making in school as a fundraiser activity

Candle fundraiser activities are done by most schools because they are more effective than any other fundraiser strategies. Some schools will sell cakes, cookies, and more, but it’s really not as effective as candle selling. Selling candles is a very effective fundraising activity for your school.

Candle making is being taught in some schools, so it is a good way to start the candle fundraiser because the students are already trained on how to make unique candles with their own styles. You might wonder if people are interested in buying candles throughout the year. Well, candles are not usually bought for lighting. People buy candles for their collections and decoration purposes.

If you want to start a fundraiser in your school, make sure several students will cooperate with the activity. Each member should play their own part so that you have a lot of candles to use for your fundraiser. Candle making is not hard and you can come up with some great designs that will be suitable for the whole year. Those who have tried fundraising through selling candles have proved that is a profitable way to raise funds because of its relatively low cost. Teach the students a standard design or you can let them make out their own designs and styles. This activity does not only aim to raise funds, but it also aims to boost the creativity of the students and give them a sense of inspiration that they can do anything. It will also promote friendship with the other students.

It is important to plan your fundraiser activity near the holidays because they will surely sell. It is also the perfect time to apply the decorative designs to the candles.

You need to instruct your students properly on how to make the candles. The procedures should be explained to them step-by-step so that the candles will be perfectly made. Make sure that every student knows what they are doing and that they know how many they should make in order to promote the fundraising activity.

Although you can also buy candles from a company that makes candles, and sell it with a little additional profit, making your own candles is still the best choice. The students will love the activity, and they will surely learn from it.

In making the candles, you must come up with different varieties and sizes. Make small and big candles so people will have choices. Candle fundraisers are always a good option for fundraising activities because you are sure to sell every single candle. Everyone loves collecting candles especially the scented ones. You just need a little patience, and you will surely get the amount of donations that you wish to achieve.

How to buy a telescope

So you have decided that you want to take up astronomy. Many do! It’s a fascinating hobby after all. Many take up astronomy because their interest has been fired by a TV documentary which introduces them to the wonders of the heavens. Others become interested after talking to an avid amateur astronomer, and get bitten by the bug of wanting to look at a closer view of the stars and planets.

Still others were interested as children, but then lost the interest, only to have it rekindled in later life, perhaps by seeing a TV documentary, talking to an amateur astronomer, or maybe just one day looking up at the night sky and being bitten with a longing for those long-forgotten childhood pleasures of discovering the universe.

So the next step is, of course, to go out and buy a telescope. Or is it? Here’s a strange piece of advice, think of a pair of binoculars first. Why? Because, quite simply, a good pair of binoculars will allow you to see much of what you can see with a telescope. And a good pair of binoculars can often give a better view (a much better view in many cases) than a cheap telescope.

This is because binoculars have a wide field of view and allow you to navigate the sky very easily. Many great things can be seen with binoculars, including hundreds of thousands of stars, many of the most striking star clusters and most of the planets of the solar system. You can also see much of the detail of the moon, including craters and mountains.

But eventually you will want a telescope. And as with all purchases, the best thing to do is ask an expert which is the best one. And where do you find experts? At your local astronomy club, of course. Ask the members about the pros and cons of the different telescopes. Every telescope has its advantages and disadvantages. With the experience of a pro under your belt you’ll be able to buy the telescope that’s right for your viewing needs.

Happy viewing.

The history of fishing in maine

Fishing has played an important part in Maine’s rich and varied history from as early as the 19th century. Alongside mining, lumbering and shipbuilding, commercial fishing played an important role in the economic development of Maine, which remained one of the areas most popular industries for several decades. However, developments in the mining and manufacturing industries saw a decline of Maine’s fishing industry. Fortunately, smaller communities living on and around Maine’s numerous rivers and lakes ensured that fishing would remain part of the areas heritage and become the hugely popular tourist attraction that it is today.

Following on from this foundation, Maine now bases much of its economy on the tourism industry. Though Maine has many attractions, not least of all its lush areas of natural beauty, the fishing locations on offer are arguably the premier attraction for visitors from around the globe. As a result of Maine’s unique mix of freshwater and saltwater fishing locations, countless fishing communities are continuing to thrive on the back of keen enthusiasts and professional anglers alike.

Maine is also home to more than its fair share of fishing heritage, including that of Cornilia Crosby, or “Fly Rod” as she was affectionately known. Cornilia had the honour of being the first person to be awarded with a Guiding License in 1897 having spent years learning the woods, lakes and rivers of Maine. As the nickname would suggest, Cornilia was a keen angler who became highly skilled at fly-fishing. One story in particular claims that Cornilia landed 200 trout in a single day.

Cornilia began journaling her fishing expeditions and submitted them to numerous publishers and editors under her nickname of “Fly Rod”. Such a hit were her tales that “Fly Rod’s Notebook” became a hugely popular column in newspapers in New York, Boston and Chicago, and no doubt attracted hundreds of keen fisherman from around the country to the rivers and lakes of Maine.

Fortunately for the people of Maine, the lakes and rivers remain some of the best fishing locations in the world, and countless fishing resorts continue to prosper on the back of superb scenery, big fish and warm, friendly communities. With well over a hundred years of fishing heritage, Maine continues to make history as one of the world’s premier recreational fishing locations.

Feeling lost about how to choose a handheld gps

If you are looking into buying a handheld GPS, then chances are you already have an idea of what these items are and how they can make your life easier. In fact, many people are starting to look into these very useful Global Positioning System devices, since they quite literally tell you were you are in the world. Obviously if you are active in outdoor sports, such as hiking, camping or boating or the like, a GPS can be a very handy item, giving you piece of mind that you will always know exactly where you are. With a GPS, you never need to fear getting lost in the wilderness ever again.

When it comes to choosing a handheld GPS, the first step is to know what you will be using it for. For example, the best GPS for hiking in the Canadian Rockies may not be as useful if you are trying to navigate the city streets of London. Moreover, if you are using your GPS in a boat or car, as well as when walking, you should look for a multipurpose unit.

GPS receivers perform so many functions that you need to decide on the right one for you. For example, the basic GPS simply displays the latitude and longitude of your location. While it might include routes and tracks, the basic variety will not include maps or points of interest.

If you do require maps as well as location details, you should opt for a Mapping Handheld GPS which has the power to download maps from CD-Roms sources such as Garmin MapSource, and Magellan Mapsend. A Mapping Auto GPS is the perfect answer if you are exploring in your car, and likewise the Marine GPS is the ideal choice if you are planning to do a lot of boating.

Before you chose you handheld GPS, be sure to consider how you will be using it. Again, what is needed for hiking in the wilderness may not be appropriate for urban adventures! Speaking with knowledgeable staff can make you decision a lot easier!

Soccer balls for every use

As long as there have been children, someone in every corner of the world has been kicking a ball, or some semblance of one, around the ground, at or through a target. Soccer balls have been improvised from every conceivable source, including animal skulls and bladders, coconuts, and even human skulls.

Over the decades every type of animal skin, including the obvious leather, was used as a means to keep the ball more closely rounded. In 1836, Charles Goodyear developed and patented vulcanized rubber, and by 1855, he had translated his discoveries into the designing of rubber soccer balls.

Fast forwarding through the years, we now have exceptional balls, sanctioned by FIFA, The Federation of International Football Associations. In a statement regarding the importance of a good ball to a good game, the February 28, 1988 of FIFA Magazine states, "The football is more than just stitched leather. There can be no game of football without a ball and the better the ball, the better the game."

The FIFA mark on a soccer ball is an assurance of rigorous testing towards a ball of proven quality standards and performance. Today's players depend on the FIFA mark of excellence in all levels of play, both recreationally and in the competitive arena.

Another recognized mark for choosing a soccer ball that will stand up to long field time and weather extremes is the NFHS, which is the National Federation for High School Associations, a sanctioning body for all high school sports, including soccer.

Soccer balls come in both leather, widely recognized as the best ball for numerous reasons, such as shape retention and weather resistance, and also in synthetic leather, which can be a viable choice for the beginning recreational player. Once the player has come to recognize the difference in ball handling though between the natural and synthetic leather ball, it will be time to make the move up to one of the many available to choose from in every color and necessary size.

The top three sellers, and most readily available in sporting stores as well on from online retailers, are Adidas, Bremen and Nike. Among those, it is Adidas that offers the public the opportunity to play with the same ball used in Major League Soccer games, the +Teamgeist. It retails for 130.00, so although, it may not be the first ball you buy, it is sure to be one you will find delightful to work with once you have tried it. It offers superior reaction, spherical retention, and it may be the most accurate football ever produced. Proponents of this ball claim no other ball can compare with the +Teamgeist in flawless performance, both on the ground and in the air.

Many of the high end balls are only available in size 5, the adult size, with a few expanding their repertoire to include the smaller size 4 ball. To get the youth starter ball in the requisite size 3, the consumer can expect to pay only 10.00 to 20.00 for a great beginner ball, in many choices of colors. Puma and Lotto have long been good choices in the entry level range of ball, offering fine performance and durability for the money.

Save on golf clubs

Bag a great deal on golf clubs with help from the Internet. Cyberspace is a vast world of sites to help you save on the things you need. With virtually billions of online retailers, competition is fierce and the potential for big savings is huge.

Online retailers can help you save on golf clubs because they need to undercut real world retailers. Big block stores can offer some good bargains, but surfing the net will usually get you a better deal. Rock bottom prices are available on golf clubs as well as balls, clothing, golf bags, shoes and everything else you need to golf the perfect game.

While the Internet offers endless opportunities to save on golf clubs, it is also a notorious hangout for crooked operations and shady retailers trying to filch some of your money. Simply corresponding with friends online can cause an onslaught of bogus emails call 'Spam' to plague your mailbox. Spam is annoying, but there are more malicious predators lurking on the web. Worms and viruses have nothing on these online conmen.

Scam artists regularly set fake ads, auctions or entire sites with the sole purpose of milking buyers of your hard-earned cash. Send a payment to one of these crooks and you can kiss it goodbye. You'll be old and gray, still waiting by the mailbox to receive your package. If you're shopping for golf clubs and you think the deal is too good to be true, it probably is. Beware and be sure before you buy.

There are many legitimate sellers on the web who stay in business by passing on real savings on good equipment. Don't let a few rotten apples frighten you away from your online search to save on golf clubs. By following save Internet buying practices you will be able to protect yourself from getting scammed.

The most important thing to remember when buying online, is never to provide personal information via email. The only time that you should send banking or credit details is when you're positive the site is secure. You can tell a website is secure by checking the Web address for a "https" rather than simply "http." The extra "s" on the web address stands for 'secure'. Many sites will also show a small key symbol that tells you it's a secure site.

Legitimate retailers will also offer optional methods of contacting them. If they have phone number and real address listed, follow up to be sure the store actually exists. If you're still not sure, try researching over a comparison site like MySimon. com, or check the Better Business Bureau's site. This extra step can mean the difference between a new set of clubs and a lesson learned the hard way.

You can save on golf clubs by shopping on the Internet. Shopping smart is the key to shopping safe.